She said they modeled Delucca Gaucho Pizza & Wine after that familiar concept—an eatery where gauchos, which is a South American term for cowboys, bring slice after slice of pizza to guests creating “a dining experience rather than a regular meal.” Mallman explained the experience consists of a five-course continuous dining experience, with a fixed price of $24.50, starting with lobster bisque, salad and meatballs before the parade of gourmet pizza.
Reading the menu, which was created by Caregnato, the 18 pizza flavors mirror the couple’s passports. A sampling of the savory pizzas include Turkish lamb, Mexican elote and classic pepperoni. Sweet pizzas also share an international flair with dulce de leche, and Romeo and Juliet featuring Brazilian guava marmalade.
Mallman chooses the wines available at the restaurant and said they only serve her personal favorites. They also have a full bar which spotlights a Caipirinha, the house specialty that is made with sugar cane rum.
The couple opened their first Delucca Gaucho Pizza & Wine in Southlake four years ago. A Dallas location followed and then locations in Plano and Fort Worth opened in 2020 and an Austin location is slated to debut in July.
Prior to this venture, the couple, who have been married 24 years, worked for Texas de Brazil for almost two decades. Caregnato was the executive chef and wrote the book, “Churrasco, Grilling the Brazilian Way.”Mallman said her favorite thing about co-owning this restaurant is talking to customers and employees.
“[Servers] get more elegant and polished over time,” she said. “Their energy changes, [and] their skills and confidence grow.”
Mallman said within five years they anticipate having Delucca franchises in other states and countries.
Delucca Gaucho Pizza & Wine
8240 Preston Road, Ste. 100, Plano
www.delucca.com
469-888-4747
Hours: Sun.-Thu. 4:30-9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 4:30-10 p.m.
