Fogo de Chao brings bite of Brazil to Downtown Summerlin

Take a trip to Brazil without leaving Las Vegas. Or, at least, let your taste buds travel there.

Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse opened its second Las Vegas Valley location Nov. 5 at Downtown Summerlin, 10975 Oval Park Drive, Suite D2A. It invites one try dishes straight from the traditions of South America. Step into upscale dining with a stacked stone cocktail area and the open kitchen set off by twin tree sculptures of wood. Off to one side, a glass tower holds as many as 2,000 bottles of wine.

The churrasco (a Portuguese and Spanish term referring to beef or grilled meat) experience is paired with a gourmet salad bar that is a cornucopia of delights: soups; olives; vegetables; salads; and sliced meats. It starts your dining experience. The wait staff will complement what you've selected with other choices, such as fried plantains, fried polenta and garlic mashed potatoes. Be mindful of filling up on the cheese bread, as it is deceptively innocent looking and hard to resist.

When you're ready for the meat selections, flip over your colored disk from red to green. It's an invitation for the carvers to step over with a selection of still-on-the-barbecue-skewer meats such as filet mignon, top sirloin, rib eye, pork ribs, lamb, pork sausage and chicken. The meat carvers — known in Brazilian steakhouses as gauchos — will slice your preference as your mouth waters.

The rodizio (all-you-can-eat) dining is $32.95 for dinner or $15 for lunch (although selecting meat from the grill will add another $6 to $9, depending on the meat you want).

Seafood is available a la carte for an additional cost and includes Chilean sea bass, shrimp and seasonal fish.

Fogo de Chao is open at Downtown Summerlin from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch Sunday through Friday and from 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner Monday through Thursday, until 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Call 702-228-7300.

There is also a location near the Strip at 360 E. Flamingo Road. Call 702-431-4500.

Visit fogodechao.com.