El Gaucho
Categories: Jazz & Blues, Steakhouses [Edit]
Neighborhood: Belltown2505 1st Ave
Seattle, WA 98121 (206) 728-1337
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 5:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m.
Sun 5:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street, Valet
- Attire: Dressy
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Music: Live
- Happy Hour: No
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: Yes
75 Reviews for El Gaucho
Absolutely wonderful atmosphere, great food, large wine selection and a new hotel just above the restaurant. They used to have one of the 2 best cigar lounges in or near Seattle however with our new ridiculous smoking ban, I'm unsure if they have that feature or not. I will say it was one of the few Lounges that I could come out of and not need my clothes dry cleaned immediately, they did a suburb job at cleansing the air.
El Gaucho is a Seattle staple, and probably one of my top five favorite restaurants.
I mean, they serve food on flaming swords! Gimmicks aside, it's the best steak I've had in this city, and possibly the world. The sommeliers know their stuff. The waiters are very friendly and knowledgeable. The bar is very impressive. The ambiance is very much my style - swanky, but comfortable.
I've been coming here for over a decade now, and I've never been disappointed. When you've got friends or relatives over from out of town, you take them here to show them that when it wants to, Seattle can do world-class food.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
I first went to El Gaucho in 1997 after a major plumbing accident with my toilet, which left me exhausted and stressed out. My roommate and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and now 11 years later, although Dave the bartender is no longer there and finding a cigar bar in WA is close to impossible, I am happy to say that El Gaucho still brings excellent food, service, and ambiance together in a way very few restaurants can. What hasn't changed is the windowless art-deco inspired room with tuxedo clad servers that hearkens another era. The showmanship extends to table-side prepared salads, steaks (for two) and flaming kabobs.
As for a recent dinner here last week, we started off with a Dungeness crab cocktail, which was very fresh and thankfully, a lighter start to the dinner. We both ordered the New York Strip, after finding out that the rib eye was out. The steaks were magnificent, but for people who prefer theirs more well-done (like my wife), their scale is a tad bit on the rare side, as other reviewers have noted.
We also ordered the mushroom risotto and broccoli, which were both excellent as well. El Gaucho also has an award-winning wine lists which is only proper, and the 2004 Ramey Claret was our drink of choice. The wine markups are definitely on the high side (over 250% for our bottle), but you're not here to complain about prices. The hedonism ends with a cheese, nut and fruit platter, but we were too full to have much of it.
Overall, El Gaucho is my favorite steakhouse in Seattle. Perhaps I am also partial to it because it is one of our very own and not a chain. And I hope it won't be another 11 years before my next visit!
I'd been to El Gaucho twice before, on special occasions. I absolutely love this place. It's so anti-Seattle. It's an older, fancier dressed, probably richer, crowd than I normally hang with. The food, service, atmosphere are always top notch. I'll have to review it later.
But this review is for their downstairs Pampas Room, which I love just as much as the upstairs restaurant. We went here last night after dinner at another restaurant. We wanted desert and decided to come here. This isn't a casual place to hang out. It a place to dress fancy, and experience an old school type of classy restaurant. And if you like things on fire, all the better, because at any given moment, there is a flaming dish or desert somewhere within eye-shot of you. The service, as always, was excellent. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. We ordered a cocktail, coffee, and tea. Also, we got the Chocolate Bourbon cake, banana bread Pudding, and the Bananas Foster (because we needed our desert set on fire). The deserts were all spectacular. But even better was the live Jazz band playing and watching the diners get up to dance. This is a great place to people watch.
El Gaucho/Pampas Room is not cheap, but if you are looking for a great restaurant experience for a special occasion, I would highly recommend it.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
I've been catching the Microsoft Connector shuttle to work in front of this place for two weeks, and I never knew that there was a top-class Argentinian steak house behind the doors. The lighting is dim, the seats are leather, and the wait staff is dressed in tuxedos (with golden bullfighter-style embroidery on their jacket cuffs as an added touch).
Crabcakes and Wicked Shrimp - Wicked indeed. Nice and spicy; I need to figure out how to make their sauce. And crabcakes too.
Filet Mignon - I ordered an 8 oz, rare. It was rare indeed - the filet looked like it had touched the skillet/grill for about two seconds. Yup, the steak was pretty much raw, but it was delicious. Perhaps a little too rare for me, though, as I seemed to have issues with it later on during the night =X
Sides: Grilled Portobello, Roasted Chipotle Honey Butter Sweet Corn, Wild Mushroom Risotto - The titles should be enough to perk your interest. And you get a lot, so make sure everyone orders something different.
Fruit and Cheese Platter - We got a raised platter of fruit that came straight out of your typical Roman/Medieval stereotype, complete with grapes and everything. Pretty funny.
Bananas Foster - When people get this it's more for the show, and they do it well. Tastes good too.
I'm a sucker for El Gaucho. The upholstered doors. Coat check. Tinkling piano music. Low light and tiered horseshoe booths. Ceasar salads made at the table. An employee whose sole job is to impale meat on a skewer and set it on fire. The fruit and nut plate after dinner (like you have any room to eat it!). And, sigh, I miss the cigar room.
I've never had a bad meal there either, and the steaks are very good. It's that combination of good food and amazing ambiance that creates the entire El Gaucho experience.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
The last time I ate here I just got out of jail (i know, I'm a bad ass).. so naturally I looked like I just got out of jail! My girlfriend came to pick me up and she decided to dress a bit sexy since I just spent 48 hours in hell, but food comes before sex and I needed the best steak in town.. Normally if you go in to a high end resturant looking like you just awoke from a gutter and picked up a prostitute on the way in you'd get the boot, but not at El Gaucho! They served us just like before and I didn't even look at the menu- I just told him what I wanted and they made it to my asking. We ended up racking a LARGE bill and I gave the waiter a hefty tip and he actually thanked me for my generosity... I then proceded home to finsh the second task ;)
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (3)
Cool (1)
I went here for my birfday in October. The steak was awesome and the baked potato they decorate at your table was fabulous. Their beer cheese sauce, yum! I got a free large chocolate cake dessert but I was so stuffed by then I would have been satisfied with the nuts and fruit they give you. Oh how I love fruit and nuts. This restaurant is definitely worth the price.
I felt like I was stepping back in time upon entering here Saturday night. Lots of older couples dressed to the nines (hey honey, if your over 60 you might want to lower your hem from stripper length to at least schoolgirl). It seemed like Dean Martin or Sammy Davis was going to walk over to our table at any given moment, but instead it was just the attentive wait staff (couldn't keep track of which of the three servers catering to us was really ours). Went for some post-dinner wine and a bite for the bf (since he was a late arrival at our group dinner). He had a glass of the Layer Cake Shiraz which kicked the ass out of my Klinker Brick Zin. Great selection of WA wines by the bottle, but as with any fancy pants restaurant totally marked up.
My friend and I had already eaten, so the bf enjoyed the steak sandwich (it's not on the menu, you need to ask for it). He had ordered it medium and came out a bit more pink than he would have liked, but still enjoyed it. It was a decent size sandwich and felt it was worth the $16.
Overall, a solid place, obviously a perennial Seattle favorite, but at the end of the day, it is still a chain. There are SO many other places I would rather spent my time and money wining and dining.
So Joey Bishop died last week. What's that got to do with a review of El Gaucho? Nothing really. Except that Bishop was the last remaing member of The Rat Pack. And while I was having my birthday dinner a few weeks ago, sitting at the prime table on the second tier, being served thick steaks by tuxedoed waiters, I thought that this was the kind of place that Sinatra would have called swell.
For a few minutes I wasn't in rainy downtown Seattle. I I was hanging out at some swank joint in New York with Frank, Dean and Sammy. Frank was looking for a few classy dames to spend the night with. Dean wasnursing a scotch and Sammy was playing drums with the Caesar Salad Tongs.
This place knows what it's supposed to be and executes it perfectly. As Frank would say, Ring a ding ding baby!
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (5)
Cool (3)
If you want a special occasion dining experience, go here. The service is impeccable. The servers are friendly and they'll offer the lady an arm if they see them walking to the bathroom alone. They'll also fold your napkin if you leave the table and put it back on you when you come back. They make sure your table is clear of crumbs...the whole thing is quite entertaining.
The boy and I had dinner with a couple friends there. We started at the bar with a few drinks then was wisked to our table.
I start with the escargot...though I am disappointed that it's not still in their shell so I can re-enact the Pretty Woman scene and blurt out "slippery little suckers!". It was still good; though I burned my tongue. Since it was my birthday, the waiter brought out an order of their wicked shrimp which was oh so good! Too bad the boy is allergic...more for us!
I ordered the Steak El Gaucho and so did the boy, although he requested the lobster on a seperate dish since he was frightened he would have an allergic reaction (he'd just give the side to the greedy gf and best friends). The friends ordered salad, I personally don't remember- who the hell orders a salad by a choice...at a steakhouse anyway??? They said they weren't hungry since they ate a few hours beforehand.
The dinners came and the friends' salads were huge. Like you could share it between 4 people huge. I could not help but laugh at the look on their faces. Their eyes were pleading me to help them- hell no! I'm saving myself for the steak. The Steak El Gaucho's came out, and sadly the boy's lobster was on the same plate as the steak. Along with plenty of apologies, the plate was quickly taken away, and he was given a fresh plate with a brand new steak. On top of that he brought an side of extra lobster on top of the side he already ordered.
Between meals and dessert you get this huge cheese plate with fruit but do not overfill thy tummy yet...
I die and go to heaven when I have the bananas flambe. You MUST have this when you go there. I would go here just for this...it's THAT GOOD.
If anything come at least once for the experience, because it will be quite a memorable one. Oh and don't come in looking like dirt either- even though the place is dimly lighted, you'll probably feel a bit trashy by the ambiance.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (3)
Cool (2)
El Gaucho is really worth a trip for a special occasion. The food was outstanding and the service was impeccable. It's my personal opinion of the overall experience that makes me give El Gaucho four stars rather than five. The large, theatrical setting didn't feel very intimate - more like a Vegas restaurant. Not necessarily bad, just not my style.
One thing I found really strange was the personal escorting I received every time I got up to go to the ladies' room. Once I rose from my chair and set my napkin down, suddenly in swooped who I swear was the sommelier - it's been a couple years - who offered an arm to escort me through the restaurant and deposit me at the ladies' room door. A thoughtful touch, but a little attention-getting, frankly. I prefer a subtle exit, and if I go more than once, I don't want any extra ceremony that might lead others to speculate why I'm going into the bathroom so many times. Sometimes well-meaning service can be creepy.
Apparently, to do dinner right at El Gaucho, plan on spending 3-4 hours during your visit. (Which explains above note about 1+ visits to restroom.) If you foresee a tedious dinner with the in-laws, pick somewhere else, but for a romantic birthday dinner date, I would highly recommend it.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
I don't think it's particularly fair of me to review El Gaucho on several levels because a) I don't eat beef and b) I wasn't paying. That being said, I feel compelled to write something because the wine, my dinner, and the service were all impeccable. Particularly the service. And the wine.
I can't wait for that one day when I say, "I feel like a big steak!" because I am going to head up the hill to El Gaucho.
Our servers put up with a lot - we were a large, obnoxious group, and they dealt with us perfectly. We had special requests, our food came out perfectly timed; all in all it was a terrific experience.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
This place is cool enough to have brought me to its doors on several occasion. Seeing that I don't and won't eat meat, it is laughable that one of my favorite restaurants is El Gaucho. They have ONE veggie-friendly item (and it is good!), and they will almost always make jokes about vegetarians, but the atmosphere and the food is so good that I forgive it all. The place is super expensive, and it will take you 2 to 3 hours to have your meal. Make sure you save room for dessert and get the cherries jubilee (they set the dish on fire while doing a table side preparation). I always have fun!
Oh, it is absolutely NOT vegan friendly. I swear that even the water has milk in it.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (5)
Funny (4)
Cool (3)
Let us first be clear about what El Gaucho is NOT:
1. A cheap date spot
2. Vegetarian friendly
3. One of those chi-chi "fusion" eateries
Nope, the 'Gauch exists for one reason and one reason only: to allow YOU, dear meat-eating reader, the opportunity to stuff as much succulent red-blooded American cow down your slavering throat as possible. And to that end, it succeeds, and succeeds triumphantly. Stupefyingly. Flamboyantly.
I always leave here knowing that I consumed more than I needed to, yet not - never - as much as I *wanted* to. Damn you, you sinfully and addictively wicked shrimp! Fie upon you, o succulent filet mignon, dry-aged and bloody! Curse you, o perfect martini and mouthwatering merlot! And dessert... I mean really, how could you leave without trying the Cherries Jubilee or Bananas Foster?
But I digress. The reason, the real reason to come (back) to El Gaucho is the steak. And what steak it is: dry-aged Angus whose equal I have not yet found in this town - not even at the venerable Met. Having tried the New York, the porterhouse and the chateaubriand - any of which is spectacular - I personally keep coming back to the filet. Buttery, velvety, mouthwatering perfection, and it's a "user friendlier" (if you will) cut than the rest - there is nothing to get in the way of your enjoyment of purest cow. The 12 ounce filet, medium rare, served with the peppercorn sauce, scalloped 'taters and a side of asparagus.... why, it's a little slice of paradise. I shed a tear at the memory.
The service at this establishment is worthy of special mention. I've attended several functions at the Gaucho and the waitstaff has been uniformly excellent, and in fact puts other "fine dining" outfits in this city to shame.
I could go on, but I've tortured myself enough already. Damn you, El Gaucho - you've ruined me for all other steakhouses.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Cool place for a little jazz, drinks, and perhaps dinner.
The band wasn't playing much and took a lot of long breaks on the Saturday night we crashed their party with our party. They were fairly chill and groovalicious when they were playing though.
No cover, no problems with seating a large group of people, but the way they run a tab for a larger group is a little difficult. I'd advise just having people get their drinks at the bar instead of trying to split up a large bill at the table.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (9)
Cool (1)
A definite special occasion restaurant. I went here for the works on my 21st birthday with the parents. It's the kind of place you don't feel silly dressing up a little for- which in Seattle is sometimes hard to come by. The service is friendly and knowledgeable. Oh and when you get up to use the restroom waiters catch up to you and escort you across the restaurant. Weird? Yes a little. But a unique touch.
Enjoyed the tableside ceasar salad, lobster mashed potatoes, and of course, new york steak. All delicious. They brought out a complimentary dessert that was honestly the most delicious dessert I have ever had. Granted I was a number of drinks in on my 21st birthday but uhhh... so good, some kind of delicious chocolate cake, ice cream, caramel creation. YUM.
Not necessarily a restaurant you'd be inclined to just pop into on any given night- but definitely a great place if there's reason to celebrate and enjoy a nice, expensive, meal.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (2)
Cool (3)
The BEST dining experience? No.
It was good - but not the greatest.
We had an 8:15 reservation for Saturday night, we strolled in and were told to wait 20 minutes - which was fine...we were seated at a nice 2 person booth around the top section of the restaurant.
A gentleman came by and asked for our drink order, which we gave him - but we felt like we were slowing him down. This guy was running!
We got our drinks another 15 minutes later, and then nothing..
No server, no "Welcome to El Gaucho". But we did see the water guy about 5 times who seemed to come by our table every time he saw us pick up our water glasses! He gets 5 stars!
A woman came by and asked if I would like my wine opened to breathe, we said yes and asked her for different stemware. The stemware they put on the tables is thick glass (Think Applebee's Wine Glass) and I was looking for something a bit better....she brought out some nice hand blown glasses for us and I was happy.
I got excited thinking she was our waitress....but she wasn't.
We sat at our table for about 30 minutes total before the man who took our bar order came to see us again and asked if we'd ever been to El Gaucho. We told him no, so he gave us a quick rundown of the menu.
We told him we had figured out what we were ordering and he seemed impressed (gee we had forever with our menu at that point, I could have almost done the run-down myself.)
We ordered:
Crab & Prawn Cocktail (to share)
Caesar Salad for two
Petite Filet Mignon Med-Rare
Baseball Sirloin & Lobster Medallions
Roasted Corn
El Gaucho Potato
Linguine Alfredo
The crab and prawn cocktail was GREAT. We were starving and ate it all pretty quickly, we almost ate the garnish ;)
The caesar salad was pretty good to me, however my husband said it didn't do anything for him. If I had to nit-pick, I would say MORE GARLIC PLEASE!
Our entrees came and my filet was perfect! It was flavorful, juicy and generally AWESOME! (but oddly it came on a plate just by itself with no garnish. Just meat, on a plate.) My husband's meal was great as well - we both enjoyed the roasted corn - the linguine was very bland, we only ate about 2 bites, and the potato - while "good" was dressed "El Gaucho" style" which meant 1/2 a stick of butter, watery cheese sauce and green onions.
We did the best we could with our meals - I polished off my 8 ounce filet and Romeo did a pretty good job on his 12 ounce sirloin.
They came by with a large platter of fruit and nuts and some REALLY BLUE cheese and melba toast. I cracked a walnut, ate a few grapes, I thought about eating some pear but I didn't feel like cutting it.
We ordered the Chocolate Ganache for dessert - Romeo was too full for the Bananas Foster (probably a good idea we didn't eat more than we did). The dessert was pretty good - great bittersweet chocolate and it went well with our Napa Valley Cab.
I offered our waiter a taste of our wine, which he ran over at the end of dinner to collect on - he was clearly in a rush - but said he thought it was great.
The damage? $227.
Here's my rundown of the good:
-Cool place, very dark - I think the Pampas Room would be fun to visit downstairs - I hear they have live jazz there nightly.
-Food was slightly above average - steaks were fantastic!
-Drinks were great - my husband's Silver Patron Margarita was the best he ever had.
The not so good:
-Rushed service. Get in then wait to see who your waiter is going to be for 30 minutes - then order, eat, eat, eat, and seeee ya later!
I thought about my favorite Seattle restaurant for comparison - Canlis.
Everyone there is truly happy to see you when you come in, and you are pampered with fantastic service - your server takes time to help you choose your meal, asks about you in general (what you do, where you are from, etc.) and seems to take a personal interest in each of their patrons. Not here, not at all. Its just not "personal".
-Bathrooms could have used some repairs and updating - 2 of the restroom doors were broken and didn't have locks. 2 of the 3 toilets were also backed up..
I chose the toilet that looked the cleanest but didn't have a locking door. (Process of elimination ;)) Soap dispensers didn't work. And there were no attendants working that night (i've read here that they have them usually?) Maybe if they had them, things would be running more smoothly in the restrooms that night.
-I think the place could be out of this world with some updating. The faux plants were old and dusty, and the uniforms for the servers were el-cheesy.
Wow, don't I sound picky? Its because I am. When you are looking for a great evening out and you are willing to pay the price of a great evening out - I think everything should be up to par.
There were some hits here and some clear misses. With that said - I will not be back (if we are paying)...for my money I will go to Canlis and have a fantastic time every time.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (6)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
El Gaucho is a great place for a meal if you like eating in an amusement park. By that, I mean you're willing to pay three times what's reasonable, and it's important to you that your dining experience includes a display of pyrotechnics.
But let's talk about the food and start with the highlight. The caesar salad was actually fantastic, although the theatrics of the table-side preparation didn't contribute. The escargot appetizer was tasty. My main course was the Steak El Gaucho, and it was good. The meat was cooked and seasoned well, and the lobster was ok, but the sauce sang a little loud. In fact I was a little surprised at the amount of sauce that came with the dish, since it kind of detracted from both meats. For sides, I split mashed potatoes with lobster sauce, spicy scalloped potatoes, broccoli, asparagus, hash browns, ... all executed just fine, but nothing to write home about.
I'm glad I visited, just because I wanted to see for myself. This place is overrated. Whenever anyone tells you that their favorite restaurant in the whole world is El Gaucho, they've probably confused 'expensive' with 'good.' If you want to spend a ton of money and have a fantastic meal, there are places to do that in Seattle, and they aren't here.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
The ambiance is standard for fine dining but the food was spectacular. Our meal started off with a delicious caesar salad made table side, and I ordered the filet mignon for my entree. The steak was cooked medium rare perfectly and the seasoning was exceptional.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
Went here with a girlfriend on a Sat night. They had a 4 piece jazz band playing until midnight. This place is totally unassuming from the outside. When you get inside, you feel like you are in a Las Vegas old-school restaurant. Very high-class, but with a timely touch.
I definitely recommend this place if you just want to listen to some music and have a classic night. The staff is all in tuxedos and as at many old, fine restaurants, you can have certain items prepared in front of you on a portable cart. For as fancy as this place is, there is no snootiness to be found! The staff was wonderful.
I just came here for drinks. I asked for the Spanish coffee that was made in front of me. There was fire and brandy. Definitely a fun way to have your drink served and it was delicious, with a touch of cinnamon ($14). There is no cover to come in and just listen to music.
The crowd is on the older side. This is not the place to go if you are looking to mingle with young singles or to try to be a jazz band groupy. In fact, it's a great place to go to avoid the cat calls and sleazy boys and girls wearing nothing more than bandannas.
Even though this place is underground, the air flow is great and not at all stuffy. The music that was playing while the band was taking a break was really nice too. Think Buddha Bar.
Be sure to dress up here. Even if young Seattle can't dress up, the older crowd knows better than to go out on the town in jeans! Don't come here if you are trying to get sloshed. These people don't want to see you falling over and the prices are steep anyways.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Cool (2)
5 stars for the service, drinks, and atmosphere in the Pampas Room. A great night out and something different.
Negative 5 stars for their special events team. We were considering having our wedding there and made an appointment to see someone. We showed up and they were not there, no one could show us the space. Appointment 2, with different person, went fine and we started the process of getting a contract. When were ready to put down a deposit, we called and email over 10 times over the course of 2 months and never heard back. Maybe she quit? Maybe she died? Who knows, but neither her nor any other staff ever called and we moved our wedding elsewhere.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (2)
This isn't the most fair review, because I'm not reviewing the food or any of that associated with the actual restaurant, so keep that in mind with my rating. We used to go to the bar here to have a cigar and a drink and relax. It was fun and a great atmosphere, even for one of the main people in my party who doesn't drink. But one night, we came here for just that, went through valet, got in to find the bar packed--more people in the bar than the dining room. We also got unnecessary attitude from the staff. What is up with shitty service in this town? People really don't want or like to be treated like crap. Or do they? I know I don't. So we left, went to get our car (which hadn't even been parked yet, just moved down the street and around the block) and got in to a car filled with farts. Disgusting. I'd be surprised if the valet attendant left without wiping, it was that bad. Dude, do it while running between cars in the street, not in my car.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (9)
Cool (5)
There's not much I can add to what has already been said here about El Gaucho, but this place was really fantastic. We tried it out of curiosity (what IS behind those thick padded doors? dancing girls? lunatics?) and the minute we stepped in it was like we back in time on the set of an old black and white movie.
The service - from the friendly and unpretentious hostess who seated us to the waiter whom I would call Uncle if he were Chinese - was perfection.
And the food! We almost couldn't eat our dinner because we OD-ed on thecomplimentary garlic bread. We shared a salad with apples and candied almonds in it - spectacular. I had the scallops on garlic noodles and it came with a pile of gigantic, juicy, sweet delicious scallops. My husband got the NY strip and loved it. We shared a side of corn and it was shaved from fresh corn cobs with a smoky chipotle sauce.
Yeah, we'll be going back.
So, I'm not sure what the hype about this place is. It's good don't get me wrong, but it just wasn't AMAZING to me.
I just felt like my fillet should have had more flavor and juices...
Plus...they let me eat there in running shorts and a t-shirt. I was totally expecting them to tell me there was a dress code and there wasn't. I'm sorry but if I was paying that much for a meal I wouldn't have wanted someone looking like "me" to be sitting at the table next to them. I seriously didn't think they would serve me and they did and I have to give them props, because they treated me like any other patron. BUT seriously...I should not have been in there.
On a more positive note: I didn't have dessert, but definitely plan on coming back for that. And the bar looked pretty swanky and cool.
It's definitely more of a "special occasion" place then a casual dinner. I will never go there again without a dress on that's for SURE!
** I feel bad the afternoon after writing this review...I got a personalized letter from one of the managers at El Gaucho...I filled out the comments card and got a hand written letter in the mail!! That's service!
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
My frenched rib eye: wicked good.
Lobster medallions: mmmm
Scalloped potatoes: solid
Oysters: sure, great
King crab legs: awe-inspiring
Wicked shrimp: spicy goodness
Service: outstanding
Bill: Staggering
Regret: I wish I had the dough to dominate the captain's list, but alas.
GOOD DINNER
I'll start out by saying I went here for a corporate dinner type thing, so my experience was somewhat different from what you would normally have.
The company rented out a private room, which was not nearly as atmospheric as the main dining room. The art was kind of tacky and didn't really make sense in the room. We started with cocktails and appetizers. The cocktails were ok, she made them a bit too sweet. The crabcakes were perfect, and the spicy prawns were huge and flavorful, cooked just right. Our dinner menu was somewhat set, Caesar salad, choice of 4 entrees, banana bread pudding for dessert and diablo coffee. The salad was not as delightful as I'd been led to believe. I had the NY strip, and it was of very high quality. They cooked it perfectly. The "full Gaucho" baked potato is nothing to write home about. They really make far too big a deal of it. Dessert was delish, and the diablo coffee is actually quite good. Fruit, nut, and cheese plate was, again, not all that stellar.
I hated the waiters. They act extremely smug about where they work.
My opinion may change if I ever go back and have a regular meal, but I probably won't. It's just too much money to spend on food. If I were to factor in that I got an evening of pretty good food and endless drinks for free, though, totally 5 stars.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Sure sometimes you gotta wait for things in the dining room but it's the best. Love most of the bartenders especially the female one.
Wicked Shrimp makes a meal with bread for only $11 or something.
Get in here!! Steak good. yum.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
I got to go here with Pete in December, and while I thought it was an odd choice for me (I haven't eaten a steak in 12 years), it turned out to be a very memorable and pleasant experience.
We got a great little table by the bar, which was very private. My coat (and Pete's hat) were taken on arrival, and our waiter was phenomenal. I felt like I was back in the 20's enjoying an experience, not just a dinner.
I ordered a salad, and shared some mushroom risotto and some great cheesy potatoes, and I believe there was some creme brulee near the end (the drinks were very good, too).
What a great Seattle spot. I believe the hype.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
I've yet to be disappointed by a trip to El Gaucho! My husband and I have been there for a few special occasion meals and it's great every time! The food is always really good and I just feel like they make an extra effort to make it a good experience for you. They don't shuffle you in and out - they expect that you'll stay for the evening. And I had this chocolate/bourbon cake last time that was absolutely delicious!
I'd recommend sitting in the elevated portion of the restaurant, in a booth. It's more romantic if you're going with your significant other and the booths are comfy.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
great place to take me out to dinner ..i mean hahahah great place to take out someone special or if you have a friend that has an expense account!! perfect place to go eat at... but besides that kind of expensive..... but the wicked shrimp, caesar salad, lobster with the baked potato with salsa liquid cheese yes please.. and the fruit and cheese platter that they bring you in the end of dinner.. yes please ;) but if i were paying.. uhm can i have some crackers with soda water with lemon?? lol jp really worth going for a nice date
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
I am flabbergasted that this place gets such good ratings. Did I go to the same place? The cheesy movie theater turned wanna-be swanky supper club?
The food and service were average for a nice restaurant. They did not go above and beyond at all. The bathroom escorts were a cute touch I guess, but that's not exactly unique to this place. The risotto was good, but it was grainy and undercooked at first and we had to ask them to re-cook it. The best part of my meal was the glass of Sauternes at the end. The only reason I'd go back is to eat the bananas foster.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
The bar area should be referred to as El Groucho. The staff here is, totally.
The dining experience, however, begs to differ. The food is expensive, but almost understandably so. The few times I've been to this portion of Groucho/Gaucho I've had great service and awesome recommendations.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (2)
Awesome!
Escargo: Full of garlic and butter. Can't go wrong.
Cesear Salad: Fresh, lots of anchovies, and delicious.
Baseball Cut Sirloin w/ Roquefort: Slaps your face every time you take a bite. Can't wait to have the leftovers.
Scallops: Cooked perfectly with tasty garlic noodles.
Wild Mushroom Risotto: Call it wild mushroom with risotto. There's so much mushroom reduction, it makes your head spin.
Bananas Foster: One of the best. A nice syrup with the right balance; not a gooey caramel.
My "beef": Smelling like steak after leaving the restaurant.
Almost too much flavor popping in the dishes. But is that a bad thing?
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (2)
As my sister so eloquently put it, "El Gaucho is not a restaurant, it is a dining experience." The restaurant has the feel of an exclusive supper club out of the 1920s or 30s. The dining room is decked out in mahogany and dark leather with mood lighting to match. While this means it can occasionally be hard to see your food, it also means you don't have to look at the ridiculous gaucho jackets they make the servers wear. Seriously, the name is enough. We get it.
While the servers attire is a bit eccentric, the food is absolutely top-notch. Granted, the top-notch quality comes with top-notch prices. I paid $60 for my steak, but what a steak it was! El Gaucho does not suffer from the presentation over substance curse of other upscale dining establishments. Their food is straightforward like a slab of beef to the face.
I started my meal with the Gaucho salad, which was ample and covered in juicy cocktail shrimp. The salad was basic, high quality greens, dressing and shrimp piled high.
I ordered the New York peppercorn steak as my main course. Many of the steaks at El Gaucho can be ordered in a variety of sizes. The peppercorn however comes only as a massive 16 oz cut encrusted in black pepper and served in nothing but its juices.
Side dishes are served family style at El Gaucho. We ordered two helpings of asparagus, an order of mashed potatoes and the mushroom risotto. The asparagus was delicate and steamed to perfection with just the right amount of crunch. The mashed potatoes were unremarkable, but they were the cheapest side on the menu at only $5. The risotto drop kicked the Flying Fish's risotto in the face and ran off with its girlfriend. It was flavorful and rich without being overbearing and the grains of rice retained their firm texture while still blending nicely with the sauce.
For desert, my mother and sister ordered Bananas Foster, which came with a flaming floor show (meaning fire, not geigh). I had the chocolate bourbon cake. The cake was fluffy and moist... like the inside of a baby bunny if it were made of chocolate cake.
In the end, our meal came to a little over $100 per person, but every once in a while you just need to blow a wad on a giant hunk of meaty goodness.
P.S. I ate about half of the peppercorn steak at the restaurant and had the BEST grilled steak and cheese sandwich today with the leftovers.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (8)
Funny (5)
Cool (4)
Been here twice, and what can I say? Fantastic porterhouse! But that is not what makes this place stand out from other steakhouses. What really stood out for me was the Caeser salad. A real one as a matter of fact. They make it right in front of you, even mince the anchovies there. I do not eat seafood, and cringe just thinking about anchovies, but you can not taste them at all in the salad. Wonderful! Also loved the ambiance of the place.
Rock!
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Cool (1)
Swankiest club in town; a fantastic little hide-away under the infamous El Gouge-O. Prepare to be taken back to the 50's when adult entertainment didn't mean barely legal girls performing yoga like manuevers with breasts even God wouldn't take credit for. By all means, I'm not condemning these acts but there's a time and a place for these.. namely my bedroom.. but I digress.
Fridays and Saturdays are decorated with a wonderful jazz quartet, a dance floor, tables and bar for your night out on the town. Forget the bass thumping and gyrating hips, leave that to the dozen or so, dime-a-dozen nightclubs in the area and actually enjoy your company with non-screaming conversation, good wine and good food. Take your date here and you'll stand out from the crowd; ask her to dance and she'll melt like butter.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (2)
Cool (4)