Happy, Happy Hour

Over the last year, prices have risen everywhere as inflation has crept up on the country. Coral Gables has been no exception. Except that is, for one Brazilian oasis on Ponce de Leon Boulevard. It appears inflation simply has not hit Fogo de Chão. 

Is there anywhere else in Coral Gables — nay, in all of Miami — where you can get an $8 gourmet burger nowadays? Or six empanadas for $5? How about an inexpensive plate of hummus? It’s $10 at KAIA Greek or $8.50 at Sawa — or $5 at Fogo de Chão. We don’t know how they do it, but the Brazilian temple of meat has, by far, the best prices we’ve seen in the Gables in a long time, even for a happy hour. 

In addition to food specials (available in the bar and patio Monday through Friday 4:30-6:30 pm), the restaurant also has an all-day happy hour drinks menu, which consists mostly of variations on Brazil’s national drink, the caipirinha. There are also South American wines for $7 and $5 beers (Stella and Xingu Black). 

The caipirinhas are exquisite, made with lime, sugar, and cachaça, a distilled spirit made from fermented sugarcane juice. It is only produced in Brazil and has a flavor profile adjacent to a Blanco tequila crossed with rum. The lime is muddled with granulated sugar, which releases the juice from the lime and the oils from the aromatic peel. During happy hour at Fogo, there’s the traditional drink as well as two variations, one with passionfruit and the other with strawberry and hibiscus. All are deceptively simple yet strong and tangy with a sour bite to them — and a steal at $9.

Fogo de Chão

 2801 Ponce de Leon
(786) 297-8788
fogodechao.com