I have wanted to try Terra Mediterranean Grill for quite some time now. I have recently been slowing segueing into trying more Greek food. In the past I hadn’t been much of a fan but I believe that was probably due to the quality of the food I was sampling. Lately I have found many favorites. Terra didn’t disappoint.
Located on a street just off of 7th Street in Fort Worth, it fits right in with the modern main street vibe of shops and restaurants. Fun and unique al fresco dining experiences seem to be a focus on this block and Terra chimes right in with their outdoor bar that looks into the restaurant. It is definitely a neat way to have a drink and not miss out on all the activity and people watching outside.
Bryan and I met our best friends, Denyse and Chris, at around 8:00 p.m. on a Saturday night. They happened to honeymoon in Greece and are world travelers so I am usually following them to their best restaurant recommendations. Since I recommended this one, I was hoping that they would love it.
At first impression, the atmosphere felt like a contemporary fast-paced cafe or cafeteria. After finding out that they offer a lunch buffet, the empty, stainless steel food stations made more sense. It did tend to transfer a very casual feeling to the dinner crowd, however. We were seated in a corner across from the bar at a half booth, half table set up. Denyse and Chris sat on the booth bench while Bryan and I were in the chairs on the opposite side. When Denyse scooted into the booth she almost slide right off the bench onto the floor by the wall. There was a gap of about a foot between the end of the booth and wall. Although she had to almost sit in Chris’ lap through the meal, we made a joke of it and went on. We decided it must have been an order mishap and made it the purse holding section.
As we decided on appetizer selections, we ordered drinks. It took quite some time for drinks to arrive and they came one at a time which was a little odd. The guys got beer and Denyse and I had a very fruity and smooth Hob Nob Pinot Noir. It had a slight raisin finish. Great wine and equally great price point. For appetizers we ordered hummus, calamari and baba ghanouj. Baba gah what? This not something I was familiar with. I immediately started singing Baba O’Riley by The Who! Baba ghanouj is a dip of pureed eggplant, tahini, lemon, garlic and olive oil. Absolutely didn’t sound as fabulous as it was! I could have licked the bowl. The soft pita bread was warm, fresh and just the right accompaniment to the dips. This dish reminded me of the dress that on the rack looks unflattering but when put on is the perfect, flattering fit! On the menu it didn’t stand out but in reality, I would go back for this one dish alone. The hummus was very flavorful and silky but the calamari was very forgettable. It lacked flavor and seasoning. We ate very little of it.
A wonderful Mediterranean meal!
Each of us ordered something different so we could try many things on the menu. Denyse had the sea bass special, Chris got the roasted chicken, Bryan the gyro and I got the lamb chops. Lamb chops are a new experience for me as well. I had them for the first time at my brother’s wedding reception at Zizikis earlier this summer. I loved them! Terra’s version was also very tasty. They were perfectly cooked with the right amount of pink. Chris and Bryan also had delicious entrees but the star of the night was definitely the sea bass. It melted like butter in your mouth.
The portions at Terra are huge which is probably why they charge $3 for split entrees. I don’t blame them. They serve great food for a terrific value. Don’t let the $20 price tag for the lamb chops fool you. I had about 10 chops on my plate with a generous portion of saffron rice and grilled vegetables. It was well worth it. If you are a little hesitant, pay the extra $3 and split your meal. You won’t regret it.
The evening had a slow start but grew to meet the expectations we had of Terra. If you are looking for a lively place to meet friends and share some wine and flavorful Mediterranean fare, head here. And don’t forget the baba ghanouj! My mouth is watering just thinking of it.
