Lisa Browder

I may well be one of the few people left on the planet who’d never tried ceviche. I have no explanation. Somehow, when it was described to me as “marinated but not cooked,” I envisioned sashimi in a sauce. I love sashimi but it’s expensive, you have to order a bazillion pieces to get the equivalent of a meal, and then you can’t pay the next month’s rent.

But I tried the ceviche at Terra Sur and it was delicious. The featured photo for this post is the one I ordered: shrimp, Peruvian corn (very different from American kernels – looks like hominy), mango, onion and avocado. I couldn’t stop eating and came damn close to licking the bowl. I’m no Gordon Ramsay but watch this: the balance of acidic and sweet was perfect on the palate.

Terra Sur is in a small shopping center and looks unimposing from the outside. Once you walk in, you’ll find booths and tables, a wine cellar against the far wall, a separate bar area, a welcoming staff, and peace and quiet.

My waitress, Delaney, was fantastic. She could describe the ingredients in every dish and tell you interesting tidbits like how Peruvian corn is different from American corn, what it adds to the dish and how it’s used in Peru.

She sold me on the grouper for my main course and I couldn’t have been more pleased. It was topped with seafood cooked in a seasoned broth comprised of tomato paste and coconut milk. She could’ve poured the sauce in a glass and I’d have drunk it.

Although there are lots of seafood dishes on the menu, they also have a selection of chicken and beef. The menu includes starters, salads, anticuchos (grilled skewers “inspired by street food carts”), Peruvian-style fried rice or pasta, and desserts.

Terra Sur is located at 5330 Ehrlich Rd., Tampa. The phone number is 813-269-2694. It is pricey but worth it.