Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse in South Tampa
I'm one of the few people who haven't experience the glory of dining at a Brazilian steakhouse - I know, silly me. But, Terra Gaucha, a new churrascaria that recently opened in South Tampa, introduced me to the finer things in life, and set the bar pretty high as far as my expectations of a Brazilian steakhouse goes.
After greeting us, our server recommended that we try the Caipirinha, a house-made, traditional Brazilian cocktail consisting of muddled lime with cane sugar and cachaça. It was perfectly proportioned, and quite the refreshing start to our evening. We were also provided with a basket of pao de queijo, a sort of cheese bread that is gluten-free, thanks to the use of cassava flour instead of wheat.
Next up, the Gourmet Salad and Hot Bar: Terra Gaucha offers this all-you-can-eat option by itself, but it's best paired with all the meats you can devour for a full rodizio experience. From cheese and charcuterie to side dishes to lobster bisque, this beautifully-adorned island has it all.
I should probably mention by now - if you're like me and haven't been to a Brazilian steakhouse yourself, then prepare to make room in your belly for all of the meat. From lamb to beef to poultry to pork, the options are endless, and so long as you're still hungry, so are the portions. Alongside the meat, our server brought us garlic mashed potatoes, crispy polenta and caramelized bananas to enjoy.
Everything was incredibly flavorful and tasty, and surprisingly, my favorite choice was the leg of lamb - aside from gyro meat, I typically stay away from lamb due to its gamy aftertaste. But, Terra Gaucha prepares it in such a way that you can barely taste it, and instead, focus more on the savory flavor it's seasoned with.
We only made it a few rounds before we surrendered and flipped our table cards to the red, "no, thank you" side. I ended our incredible evening with a cappuccino and the pudim de leite, a Brazilian-style flan. The custard flavor was wonderful, but I will have to admit, I taken aback by how thick the consistency was. When it comes to flan, I'm usually used to a thinner texture - I'll have to try the crème brûlée next time and see how that treats me!
Overall, we had such an amazing time at Terra Gaucha, and we will absolutely be back! From the flavor of the many dishes to the hospitality of the staff, Terra Gaucha offers a dining experience that is one to be remembered.
Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse is located at 1108 South Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa. The restaurant is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., as well as dinner Monday through Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. You can view the menus here. To stay updated on the latest happenings at Terra Gaucha in Tampa, follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
*Disclosure: The meal featured in this post was provided by Terra Gaucha for editorial consideration. This post was written on my own accord, and opinions expressed here are my own and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Terra Gaucha.
