Founded in 2015, Terra GauchaBrazilian Steakhouse first opened its doors in Jacksonville, Florida. The owners wanted to provide Americans with a genuine churrasco dining experience from Southern Brazil. The restaurant will open in Maryland, as we revealed in June 2024. It recently obtained a permission to begin construction at Rockville’s Twinbrook Quarter development, which also houses the county’s newest Wegmans.
Following its early success in Jacksonville, Terra Gaucha started to grow. Stamford, Connecticut (opened October 22, 2022), Tampa, Florida, Indianapolis, Indiana (opened December 13, 2024), and Omaha, Nebraska (scheduled to open in spring 2025) are among the new locations they have opened. The City of Rockville recently granted Terra Gaucha a $2.5 million permit to start construction of its restaurant, which will be situated off of Rockville Pike at the intersection of Festival St. and Chapman Ave. There is currently no opening timeframe available.
In the 1800s, the gauchos (Brazilian cowboys) of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil’s southernmost state, introduced the idea of churrasco, which has a long history. These ranchers discovered a way to enhance the natural flavor of meat by slow-roasting it over open flames with just rock salt. Gaucho chefs at Terra Gaucha carefully choose, slaughter, season, and fire-roast each skewer in an effort to preserve this centuries-old custom.
Rodolfo Melo, one of the founders, revealed that he and his partners decided to combine their resources to develop their own Brazilian steakhouse concept with an emphasis on authenticity and hospitality after meeting while working for a well-known restaurant chain. Another important figure is Chef Alceu Pressi, who began his career as a Gaucho chef in Brazil in 1998 and later helped establish Gaucho cuisine in the US beginning in 2000. Pressi was born in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, which is regarded as the birthplace of churrasco.
