Chow Down Atlanta

Went here last year with the lovely Blissful Glutton and have been coming back regularly. It’s great that there are two locations in opposite sides of the city. The original spot in Marietta is pretty cool — it’s a grocery, travel agency, jewelry store, deli, butcher shop, and a cafeteria, all in one. While the smaller one in Alpharetta is only a grocery and cafe.

You can get snacks, sandwiches, platters, and desserts. For snacks, there are assorted meat pies, pizza, savory pastries, and such. My absolute favorite is the Pamonha (pa-moan-yah). Unlike its cousin, the Mexican tamale, the dough is made from grated fresh corn. There are two kinds: sweet or savory. I love the plain, sweet kind as it makes for a great dessert (or appetizer). You taste nothing but sweet corn. Mmm. So yummy.

If you’ve been to meat-paradise Fogo, then you’re familiar with those addicting light and airy, chewy, cheese gougieres. The ones in Marietta are a bad imitation but the ones in Alpharetta are quite competitive. They’re a bit denser and thicker, but still good, nonetheless.

I don’t know what this “cupcake” is called. It tastes like pamonha but with grated coconut mixed in. It’s moist, much heavier than cake, but not as sweet. Good dessert.

Platters and sandwiches rule here. I particularly like the platters that come with your choice of meat, rice, salad, beans, and mashed potatoes or fries. It makes for a hearty meal. And for $5.99, it’s an awesome deal. The grilled steak has all the fatty goodness. It’s tender, juicy, and well seasoned. Beans are like the Mexican charos.

The sandwiches, an intimidating sight to behold, is a humongous, beautiful creation. I like the $7.99 X-Coisas do Brasil a lot as it really hits the spot. Yeasty, soft, buttered bread is filled with a hamburger patty, chicken, bacon, fried egg, mozzarella, a slice of ham, sausage, pineapple, tomato, lettuce, corn, and peas. You’ll have to flatten the sandwich a whole lot to fit it in your mouth. This is a delicious sandwich. I like that with all the meat, it’s not salty at all. The veggies cancel out the meat so you’re all good

If you’re feeling a lot less hungry, go for the $5.99 X-Tudo instead. It’s got a hamburger patty, fried egg, mozzarella, ham, tomato slices, lettuce, corn, and peas. It’s a teeny bit smaller but still filling. Either way, you can’t go wrong.

Definitely cheap but good eats. Go now.

Note: The platters are not available on weekends in Alpharetta. Available everyday in Marietta.

Coisas do Brasil
2 Locations:
Marietta:
1480 Terrell Mill Road
Marietta, GA
770-541-1117

Alpharetta:
4055 Old Milton Parkway
Alpharetta, GA
678-867-2115

Technorati Tags: Alpharetta, Marietta, Brazilian, tidal

My family has been a fan of churrascaria for many years now way before the craze even hit Atlanta. Back then, we’d had to go to New York City just to get our fill. So you can just imagine our excitement when Fogo opened in Atlanta in 2001. Throughout the years, we’ve seen waiters become meat slicers and meat slicers become assistant managers who turn into regular managers and then on to head managers. But what has remained the same is the outstanding quality of the food and the impeccable service.

In a nutshell, Fogo is a steakhouse with a twist complete with a lavish salad bar. Men in gaucho attire parade around with slabs of meat in skewers and stop at every table to give diners a slice or two. There are 15 different cuts of meat accompanied by side dishes brought to each table which include fried bananas, polenta, mashed potatoes and hot-off-the-oven cheese bread. The gourmet salad bar is a vegetarian’s dream complete with fresh buffalo mozzarella, hearts of palm, fresh vegetables, and other Brazilian side items.

While some might balk at the price tag ($44 for dinner/$29 for lunch – beverages and dessert not included), do note that all the meats are top rate quality and you do come out ahead considering the selection of food available and the fact that you can eat as much as you like. They have an extensive wine list plus a variety of desserts and after dinner drinks. Fogo is definitely a meat-lover’s paradise.

Insider tip:
The lemonade is fabulous. So is the Papaya Cream dessert drizzled with cassis liqueur.

The scoop:
Fogo De Chao
3101 Piedmont Rd. Atlanta
404-266-9988
Lunch M-F 11am-2pm
Dinner daily from 5pm
Valet parking available

Technorati Tags: Fogo De Chao, Piedmont Rd., Buckhead restaurants, Atlanta, churrascaria, Brazilian cuisine, salad bar, steakhouse, all-you-can-eat