This is the last of my review series of kosher restuarants in Atlanta, and I think we’re going to end on a high note. Fuego (5600 Roswell Rd H120, Sandy Springs, GA 30342; phone (470) 264-9430; fuegoatl.com; under Atlanta Kosher Commission (AKC) supervision; meat) is a fleishig restaurant located in the Sandy Springs neighborhood of Atlanta, not terribly far from the major Jewish community hubs. My son and I stopped off there for lunch while my wife and daughter were at a family event.
Fuego is not hard to find, and is located inside of a trendy, dare I say “hip”, shopping center with a number of other restaurants. Parking is easily (and freely) available.
Despite the unassuming exterior, the inside is pretty roomy, and utilizes an open kitchen concept. We were asked if we had reservations; we did not (nor did I expect to need them), but we were seated quickly and efficiently.
The ambience is legitimately pretty good. The restaurant leans into the whole “craft kitchen” thing, and the decor reflects as such. I don’t know that I could give you a theme to the decor, but it was clean and well-lit. I’d hesitate to call it fancy, but my experience is that this would be a great spot for a semi-casual business meeting.
If you look at their website, they are a little ambiguous about exactly what kind of food they’re serving:
We wanted to strip things back to the essentials: real fire, real ingredients, and recipes that stand on their own. Our menu blends comfort and creativity—artisanal burgers, vibrant bowls, and reimagined classics that remind you why simple food done right never goes out of style.
There’s a clear quality and creativity emphasis, which is encouraging. The menu is meat and sandwich-driven, but has a smattering of cross-cultural entries. My AI researcher reliably informs me that this is turning into its own style of restaurant – the “craft kitchen”. Suffice it to say, there is something for everyone on the menu.
We went for the mango tuna ceviche as an appetizer, and a classic burger (medium-rare) and a schnitzel sandwich for our mains.
Let me say that I was extremely impressed by the service at the restaurant. The place was pretty packed, but our waiter was johnny-on-the-spot any time I needed him, and checked in regularly. Similarly, the food came out fast, which I loved.
Let’s start with the tuna ceviche. Both of us really liked it, and if we needed more chips, they were free on offer. There was a nice amount of sour to go with the savory tuna, and while I am not a cilantro guy, it wasn’t overdone. There was easily enough for two people, which is nice since it’s not a cheap appetizer.
Our sandwiches came out, and they were similarly well-executed. My son’s medium-rare burger, was, in fact, medium-rare! He gobbled it down and opined that it was quite a good hamburger. I tried some of the beans, and enjoyed them.
My schnitzel sandwich was also very good, and had a yummy complex flavor profile between the aioli, slaw, and jam. It was very “craft kitchen” in concept. I think my only critique is that the menu proclaimed it was “shatter-crisp chicken”, and I have to tell you that it was just the usual bendy schnitzel. (Surprisingly, the server noticed me testing this, which I think is a first in terms of service attention. Nicely-done.) The fries were just french fries, which is fine.
If you can’t tell by now, I really liked Fuego. It is a touch on the expensive side (you’re unlikely to get out of there for less than $40 a person between drinks, apps, and mains), but the food was great and the service was fantastic. Combine that with some good ambience and a great location, and I think it’s a showcase restaurant for the kosher community in Atlanta. I highly recommend you give it a visit if you’re in Atlanta!
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