Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse, established in 2015, opened its first location in Jacksonville, Florida. The founders aimed to introduce an authentic Southern Brazilian churrasco dining experience to the United States. As we reported in June 2024, the restaurant will expand into Maryland, recently receiving a permit to start construction at Rockville’s Twinbrook Quarter development, which also hosts the county’s newest Wegmans.
After the initial success in Jacksonville, Terra Gaucha began to expand. They opened locations Tampa, Florida, Stamford, Connecticut (opened October 22, 2022) Indianapolis, Indiana (opened December 13, 2024), and Omaha, Nebraska (expected to open in Spring 2025). Terra Gaucha recently received a permit valued at $2.5 million from the City of Rockville to begin building out its restaurant that will be located on the corner of Festival St. and Chapman Ave., off of Rockville Pike. An opening timeframe is not yet available.
The concept of churrasco itself has deep historical roots, originating in the 1800s with the gauchos (Brazilian cowboys) of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil’s southernmost state. These ranchers developed a method of slow-roasting meat over open flames, seasoned only with rock salt, to bring out its natural flavor. Terra Gaucha aims to carry on this centuries-old tradition, with “gaucho chefs” meticulously selecting, butchering, seasoning, and fire-roasting each skewer.
One of the founders, Rodolfo Melo, shared that he and his partners met while working for a renowned restaurant chain and decided to pool their resources to create their own Brazilian steakhouse concept with a focus on authenticity and hospitality. Chef Alceu Pressi, born in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, a region known as the birthplace of churrasco, also plays a significant role, having started his career as a Gaucho Chef in Brazil in 1998 and later contributing to the spread of Gaucho cuisine in the US starting in 2000.