A Lesser-Known Brazilian Steakhouse Settles Into Maryland
Move over, Fogo de Chao – there’s a new all-you-can-eat meat game in town. Open since late December in Rockville, Maryland, Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse marks the sixth location of the restaurant – and the first in the mid-Atlantic region.
“vibrant diversity, strong sense of community, and appreciation for high-quality dining … closely aligns with the authentic, communal spirit of Gaúcho cuisine,”
While many steakhouses of its kind opt to plant their flags in larger cities, Terra Gaucha made a concerted decision to instead focus on smaller to mid-size metro areas, starting with Jacksonville, Florida a decade ago. Others followed in Tampa; Stamford, Connecticut; Indianapolis, Indiana; Omaha, Nebraska; and now, Rockville, Maryland (1651 Chapman Ave, Rockville, Maryland). To note, Fogo de Chao — its global competitor for AYCE meats in a formal sit-down setting — maintains a North Bethesda outpost located less than two miles away.
The Maryland region’s “vibrant diversity, strong sense of community, and appreciation for high-quality dining … closely aligns with the authentic, communal spirit of Gaúcho cuisine,” assistant marketing director Stephanie Rizzon tells Eater.
Her father, João Rizzon, is one of the founders and hails from southern Brazil, where this dining style originated. “That heritage continues to shape everything we do,” she says.
Terra Gaucha’s menu is influenced by churrasco’s South American birthplace in the Pampas grasslands. This traditional cowboy – or gaucho – grilling method leverages open flames and skewers of various proteins, including beef, pork, chicken, and sausage. Terra Gaucha roasts its meats with gaucho seasonings, and hand selects each skewer that gets carved tableside to eagerly waiting diners. Along with a full-service bar, the soaring restaurant carves out room for 200 seats in a white table-clothed atmosphere.
“We offer the widest variety of cuts of meat than any other churrascaria so you’re sure to get something you enjoy,” says Rizzon. In total, Terra Gaucha offers no fewer than eight cuts of beef, including both filet mignon and enormous beef ribs, which are seasoned simply with rock salt and slowly cooked on a traditional rotisserie grill. Lunch is $39.95 and dinner is $59.95. See menu here.
Its specialty cut is the Picanha, or top portion of the top sirloin that’s considered the most tender and juicy part. “One of our secrets is that we never remove the cap of fat, this is what truly brings flavor and moisture to the meat,” she adds.
If you’re looking for more variety, you’ll also find lamb, pork, and chicken on the menu, including bacon-wrapped chicken breasts and Brazilian pork sausage. And for those vying for seafood, there’s also grilled salmon and grilled shrimp finished with a passionfruit and mango glaze.
To break up the flavor of the grill, you’ll also find a gourmet (as in 55-item strong) hot and cold table at Terra Gaucha filled with a range of Brazilian and global sides. Warm up with a bowl of lobster bisque, or try the traditional pork belly feijoada, a black bean stew native to Brazil. Other offerings include hearts of palm, a full salad bar, and a wide selection of cheese and charcuterie.
Starches to round out the meal include pao de queijo – the Brazilian cheese bread that is naturally gluten-free thanks to the use of tapioca flour – plus beautifully creamy mashed potatoes and fluffy white rice.
For something sweet, a “colossal” cheesecake is made New York-style with a crumbly graham cracker crust, while the more traditional creme de papaya blends fresh fruit with vanilla bean ice cream, before topping it all off with cassis liqueur. Drinks also stay true to form, with Rizzon highly recommending its caipirinha made with muddled lime, sugar, ice, and cachaça, Brazil’s beloved sugarcane spirit.
