Separated by a shared kitchen, each of the two restaurants has a distinct character. OKA, which translates as ‘house’ in Tupi-Guarani, an ancient language once spoken in Rego’s hometown of Rio de Janeiro, is an intimate, dinner-only space with just 16 covers, where guests embark on a gastronomic journey along two great Brazilian rivers with the seven-course “Amazonia” and five-course “Paraná” tasting menus. FOGO, meaning ‘fire’, is a more relaxed, 40-seat dining room with an adjoining bar and grill, open for lunch and dinner serving a soulful menu of fire-grilled dishes in the spirit of Brazil’s herdsmen, or gauchos. For intimate occasions, there is also an alcove seating up to six guests, as well as a cellar-like tasting room with more than 5,000 wine and champagne references.
Behzadi’s skillful partnering of exotic woods and luxurious stones begins with the double venue’s facade, where panels of Jatoba wood from the Amazon sit above a plinth of striated Iranian marble. The warm hues of wood extend throughout the interiors of both restaurants, seen in wall paneling and built-in furnishings, which are beautifully complemented by white travertine and green-toned marble. The addition of rattan cane, brown leather and plush fabrics further enriches the texture of the design, while chairs by the late Brazilian designer Sergio Rodrigues infuse the space with an essence of Brazilian modernism.