It was a wild idea, something that hadn’t been done before in North Texas, this crazy concept that Evandro Caregnato and Vanderleia Mallmann dreamed up for a new restaurant: Take a Brazilian steakhouse, remove the skewers of meat, replace with slices of pizza.
Odd as it may sound, Delucca Gaucho Pizza & Wine has been a hit since the North Texas couple opened the first location two years ago in Southlake — so much of a hit, the two have opened additional locations in Plano and Dallas. Now, a Fort Worth store is slated to open Feb. 16 in the old Bravo! Italian Kitchen building along Hulen Street.
The couple worked together at Texas de Brazil before they struck out on their own with this unusual, upscale concept, which pays tribute to Texas de Brazil and other churrascaria-style restaurants.
For the uninitiated, this is how it works: Diners pay a fixed price, around $22, for bottomless slices of wood-fired oven pizza, delivered by roaming gauchos. The price also includes an arugula salad, lobster bisque, and housemade Kobe meatballs. Varieties of pizza include cheese and truffle, classic pepperoni, shrimp and fontina, and Turkish lamb with sumac onions; there are vegan and gluten-free options, too.
The set price also includes all-you-can-eat slices of dessert pizzas. Among the flavors are roasted pear, gorgonzola and honey; banana flambé; and blackberry and mascarpone.
The menu at the Fort Worth location, Evandro says, will be different than at other stores. A first for the mini chain, several a la carte items will be offered, including prime and wagyu steaks, salads, and seafood dishes. In addition, a la carte pizzas will be served in the bar and patio areas.
While the attractive, old world-style dining room will be open, curbside service and to-go orders will be available, too.
3010 South Hulen St., delucca.com
