Fogo de Chão, Brazilian steakhouse in Avenidas Novas, Lisbon, Portugal
Fogo de Chão is a Brazilian steakhouse in Avenidas Novas, Lisbon, where meat is cooked on long metal skewers over open flames and then carved directly at the table. The restaurant operates on the rodízio format, meaning servers walk continuously through the dining room carrying different cuts of meat.
The rodízio tradition traces back to the 19th century in the grasslands of southern Brazil, where gauchos grilled meat over open fires and shared it among themselves. Over time, this practice moved into restaurants and spread across Brazil before reaching other countries.
The staff wear traditional gaucho clothing from southern Brazil and move through the dining room carrying long skewers of grilled meat to slice directly at each table. The overall feel reflects the open-fire cooking traditions of the Pampas region.
Booking ahead is a good idea, especially on weekends and holidays, as the restaurant tends to fill up. The neighborhood is well connected and the space works for both couples and larger groups.
Each table has a small two-sided disc in red and green that guests flip to signal whether they want more meat or need a break from service. This system comes directly from traditional churrascarias in southern Brazil.
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