http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly <b>Gaucho Piccadilly</b><br />London, 19 Swallow Street, W1B 4DJ, United Kingdom en http://trustedplaces.com/uploads/placepics/trustedplaces.comaPlacePic['name']}.140.jpg http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1r8dm7
Review by DanWilkinson

Rating: 4.00
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Now, for some reason, the below-mentioned hype surrounding this place has passed me by, which probably contributes to my positive review. All I'd heard was that the steaks were pretty good, and Gaucho more than delivered on that.

The missus took me here for my birthday, as she knows all too well how much I like a nicely-treated ribeye. It was a Wednesday night, and the place was rammed, but the sort of 'lively' rammed, rather than the 'sardines' type. Despite this, our waitress managed to deliver the sort of prompt, attentive and competent service that should really be standard in London, but which is sadly somewhat rare.

We kicked off by sharing a ceviche platter, partnered by a lovely light, crisp Torrontes which said waitress had recommended. Torrontes can be a bit oily and over-aromatic in the wrong hands, but this was spot on, cutting through the lime, chilli and herbs in the ceviches and gently underpinning the more delicate seafood notes with ease.

The steaks were indeed excellent, although the practice of bringing examples of all of them to the table was pretty superfluous and a bit gimmicky if I'm honest. Mine was as rare as I'd asked for, which in itself isn't that common for steaks in London. The Norton Privada that accompanied it was as great as always, so good to see that wine on the list too.

With a well-kept selection of cheeses to finish with and a complimentary glass of birthday Champagne too, I couldn't fault the entire experience.

I'm sure that, if you've been to Argentina, or if you've been told this is up there with the Fat Duck, you'll be disappointed. However, Argentina this is not, and it's a high-mid-priced central London restaurant, so with that in mind I think you'll find it's really pretty good.]]> Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:47:43 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1r8dm7489131368 DanWilkinson 51.509686 -0.137728 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1u5bo8
Review by vexille

Rating: 5.00
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...in London?

Well, that's what I thought! It's a quarterly outing for myself, friends and family. Situated just by Picadilly Circus you wouldn't really expect it to be tucked away when the food is that good.

The ambience is fantastic, light enough to be comfortable and everthing looks as you would imagine in a far pricier restaurant. Cow skin seats and chandelliers litter the room.

Service is again top notch, waiters and waitresses taking their time to explain each cut of meat, where it's from and the best way to enjoy it. Always at your beck and call but never obtrusive. The selection of beef is incredible from clean cut steaks to 30 days marinaded cuts. Chose from selected sizes or ask for the largest cut you can handle!

Price is very reasonable for what are very good cuts of meat, approximately £35 per head with wine.

Highly recommended!]]> Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:48:49 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1u5bo8632266627 vexille 51.509686 -0.137728 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1u59y7
Review by Browners

Rating: 2.00
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Victoria and Alex gave us a very good pre meal analysis. Expect glitz and glamour; immaculate mear; slick service; steep prices; good chips. But occassionaly watch out for inconsistent service, greasy vegetables and listen to how you should have your steak.

Armed with this wealth of advice it all seemed to correct as we shown to our table amongst a dark and sultry dining room. A huge space, crawling with money and girls who had spent hours getting ready and men who were about to spend a fortune.

We settled in and were shown the array of steaks on a wooden board. The waitress gabbled through the description so rapidly we didn't catch a word she said. But Victoria had given us a good sumamry so we weren't too fussed. I ordered a 400g lump of rib eye which the waitress advised me to have medium. I insisted that it should be pink and she said it would be. Cowie ordered a trout ceviche and a prawn and palm heart salad.

The trout ceviche wasn't. It was a collection of three generous slices of cured trout. But it hadn't been cured in citric acid. Now I am clearly no Peruvian but I did think that lemon or lime juice was the central ingredient. A bit like ordering toast and getting bread. It was very tasty, just a bit of a problem for anyone who gets annoyed by misdescriptions.

Then onto the main show. The warm up was over and the headline act was taking the stage. My mega steak arrived with great cermeony. Lots of bernaise. Some chips. A big hunk of....

O dear....

Massively overcooked steak. Grey and rigid it stood lifeless like those a performance artist in Covent Garden. And the chips were cold.

We called over the waitress with a smile and a firm look. She whisked it away and told the chef to cook a fresh one. Meanwhile Cowie devoured her prawn and palm heart salad. It was tasty but incredibly stingy. Cowie counted six medium sized prawns. And then realised that they had all been sliced in half so she had actually only had 3! Three prawns! Not good enough.

10 minutes later my replacement steak arrived. I could hear it mooing as it arrived. As I sliced it in half I could hear the staff collectively sigh with relief. Or maybe I could hear myself. It was tender, juicy and tasted of animal. You could really taste the beef. A delightful piece of meat. The bernaise sauce was fantastic but the second bowl of chips were as cold as the first. Disappointing.

Our carafe of Malbec was delicious. But we didn't need it pouring for us. If you are given a jug of wine the protocol is that you pour it yourself. Cowie only wanted one glass. Having finished her first glass the waitress steamed over and agressively filled it to the brim leaving me with 3/4 of a steak to eat with no wine. Yet another irritant. Cowie and I swapped glasses. But we shouldn't have had to.

Scanning the room we completely agreed that this is one of the best restaurants we have been to for people spotting. Over Cowie's left shoulder was a girl tarted up to the nines wearing a short black dress, some scary heels with a tattoo on her foot. The both fesated on well done steaks whilst drinking glasses of rose topped up to the brim. Kissing and fondling their way through the meal they were having a great time.

It's also great fun to watch the chef at work on the grill. With an earpiece wedged into the side of his head I was surprised he managed to completely balls up my steak.

It was one of the best steaks I have had in London. But given that the first was awful the overall mark averages out as being well below par. Add to that Cowie's measly prawn salad and the abysmal service and you've got glitzy money trap. Give me the steaks we had in Buenos Aires or the USA anyday.]]> Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:36:19 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1u59y71988068856 Browners 51.509686 -0.137728 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1r07s9
Review by Thomasinho

Rating: 2.00
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When I was asked to Join a group of friends to grab a steak at Gaucho, I was filled with the excitement, you might expect a child to have, on the way to visit the ultimate tellie tubbies celebration. A good steak is fantastic to someone who spent four years living in the South of Brazil in the city of Curitiba, So I have had my fair share of Latin American Steaks. I was expecting a fine, delicious piece of meat, but was frankly dissapointed,
The place was packed full of people, the atmosphere, was similar to what you may find in a busy mall restaurant, the waitress came presenting a tray with examples of meat, and I made my choice.
When it came, it was nothing like the meat I had experienced in Sao Paulo, at some of the fine argentine steak houses they have, or Mario's in Rio. It was lesser quality, less taste. The wine was good, the service rubbish, and I just felt I could have got a better deal somewhere else.
I think Floridita makes a better steak, for a better price, and you get great ambience, and ok service.]]> Wed, 19 Mar 2008 11:33:02 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1r07s91961083890 Thomasinho 51.509686 -0.137728 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1y25r8
Review by GreenHippo

Rating: 4.00
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I had heard of Gaucho - something about steak and being not bad so my expectations were not that high...

However, I experienced this place last week when I took a client for lunch. Let me start with the greeting - the girl on the door was fun and had a real sense of humour. I was greeted by name when I went upstairs (so I guess the door girl was efficient too!) and shown to a "quiet" table (something I had requsted at the time I booked).

The decor is cool - cowhide on the walls and a preponderance of wood and leather....but swish too.

They had a good cocktail list - and the mojitos were fab - so good that I found myself ordering two (even though this was lunchtime!).

But you come here for the steak - and the choice was pretty substantive. Various choices of cuts, side dishes, etc. The waiter explained the choices in detail which was much appreciated as some of the cuts were Argentinian and not that familiar. Personally, I thought the food excellent - decent in quantity and quality.

I will definitely come back....]]> Wed, 05 Dec 2007 13:31:29 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1y25r82115346896 GreenHippo 51.509686 -0.137728 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1y95c7
Review by mad4IT

Rating: 2.00
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Gaucho's do unarguably good steaks, but it's expensive and dull.

Avoid if you have vegetarians in your group!!!]]> Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:19:08 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1y95c7508744939 mad4IT 51.509686 -0.137728 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1y1518
Review by Sami

Rating: 4.00
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My boyfriend took me to Gaucho for my birthday recently; we both love steak and have wanted to try Gaucho, so it was a very suitable choice.

We were immediately struck by the decor; the restaurant is clad entirely in cowhide, from the walls to the banquette seating. After climbing three floors to get to our table, we were seated quickly and presented with their menu, along with a full explanation of the wine list and the various steaks they feature. In contrast to other reviews posted, the service we received was both very good and knowledgeable. We found our waitress to be efficient, responsive, and aware of our every need, whether it was more wine, water, or calling a taxi for us.

The steaks were fantastic - not as good as the American chain of steakhouses "Ruth's Chris" if anyone is familiar with them, but very, very good. We thought that the sides were small when they came to the table, but it was a good lesson in a need to stop judging sides by appearance - it would have been a waste for there to have been more, as we bumbled disgracefully down the stairs after eating what turned out to be a vast quantity of food.

I was also quite impressed with their wine selection - I have a hard time paying for wine knowing how exponential the wine mark up is, and we decided to go for their in-house wines - and lucked out, as the Argentinian Malbec we had was a perfect match. Gaucho have also succeeded in finding an appropriate partner to produce their in-house wine and I was very pleased with what we had chosen.

While we ate, a three piece band was playing in the background unobtrusively and was a nice addition to the ambience.

The meal came to a very, very reasonably 90 pounds for the 2 of us - definitely a pleasant surprise.

I'm looking forward to the next time we go - but then again, we are spoiled for choice in London and the next steak restaurant I want to return to is the Argentinian grill Buen Ayre, in Hackney.]]> Mon, 03 Dec 2007 23:17:56 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1y15181174943813 Sami 51.509686 -0.137728 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1c64x7
Review by mattencolin

Rating: 3.00
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The place is great, a modern setting even if the table was a little poorly dressed.

Gaucho is famous for its Argentinean meat, it has been presented and explained by the manager in a very good way. It was nice and of one of the best I've ever eaten in London, however I expected something simply awesome.
Not as expensive as expected. Good value for money.
The service in the entrance area and at cloakroom was nicer than what we hat at the table.

I'll come back probably just for the steak but i do not consider this place as an amazing experience. ]]> Wed, 29 Aug 2007 16:00:18 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1c64x71779096579 mattencolin 51.509686 -0.137728 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1y03j9
Review by Shona

Rating: 5.00
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I had heard rave reviews of this place and was keen to try it out so when my Dad visited it seemed like the perfect opportunity. While it was not as good as it should have been the steaks were amazing. We arrived 10 minutes late to be told our table was not ready and waited a further 30 minutes before being seated on the top floor. We waited in the fab bar and enjoyed a cocktail. The top floor is stunning with very low lighting and an intimate atmosphere, so much so my Dad could hardly read the menu! Our waitress was great but it took a long time to order wine and to get it. I did love the way they bring the steaks to you and explain about the cuts. Our starters were disappointing, a lot of money for not very much food, before they had even been cleared from the table I saw someone standing waiting with our mains, too fast! I went to the bathroom and came back to find my steak was cold, no surprise, we sent back the steaks and sides and were brought new ones, which were fantastic, melt in the mouth. We didnt have dessert , no space and my Dad loved his burger. I spoke to the manager and explained we were disappointed at the lack of table on arrival and the fact our mains had left the kitchen before we'd finished your starters, he obviously knew our service that night was unacceptable and immediately took the drinks off the bill. I was disappointed by the service which at these prices should be faultless but the steaks were amazing, will I be back? Yes but now I've found trusted places there are so many other places to try that it won't be for a while!]]> Tue, 31 Jul 2007 13:13:29 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1y03j9107801615 Shona 51.509686 -0.137728 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1002j9
Review by Lacrimosa

Rating: 4.00
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Having not enjoyed another Gaucho restaurant in the past (Gaucho Canary) I recently attended a meal at Gaucho Piccadilly with some trepidation. Firstly, I was pleasantly wowed by the sumptuous decor and, having had my coat taken in the cloakroom, by the way I was escorted to meet my friends in the bar. I must add at this point that it was just as well that I was escorted since, on account of the very low and moody lighting throughout, I genuinely didn't recognise my friends even when they were pointed out to me. This is definitely a restaurant in which one needs time to let one's eyes adjust.

Onwards and (literally) upwards to the restaurant: more low lighting, cowhide lining the wall, and packed to the gills with buzzy customers. I'm not a great lover of steak so, of the four of us, I alone ordered spicy lamb sausages, garlic mashed potato, and a mashed sweet corn side dish called humitas, chased down with a sizeable Bloody Mary. I wasn't feeling too well that day but, despite this, clearly ordered the right thing because it all tasted like manna from heaven. Christian, however, received a dud steak, which was replaced with no fuss or bother once the waitress was made aware of it, although it took a long time to come.

This isn't perhaps the sort of restaurant I would visit regularly but I'm giving it a thumbs up on the basis of this one visit. The food was delicious, the Bloody Mary one of the best I've had, and I enjoyed the theatrical over-the-topness of the decor and lighting.]]> Sun, 01 Apr 2007 14:42:47 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1002j9202944894 Lacrimosa 51.509686 -0.137728 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1x71m8
Review by sue

Rating: 3.00
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Gaucho Grill is a chain of Argentinean Steak restaurant. I had heard a lot about the Gaucho Grill before we went there. It was apparently one of 'the' places to go for steak in London, with an excellent wine list as well. We went with friends to the one just near Piccadilly Circus. Upon entry from the street, you go down into the basement level where you will find the dining area. The atmosphere here is fabulous - a moodily lit, cellar like environment. The downside was that once the place filled up, it was quite noisy and hence hard for us to have a conversation with our dining companions.

Service was very slow. In fact we waited for so long for some attention after we were seated, that my friend had to get up and ask for someone to take our order. Apparently none of the waiting staff had been assigned our table, so they were all ignoring us! Anyway, we managed to place our order eventually and order some drinks, though the first 2 bottles of wine that we selected from the wine list were not available.

Starters finally arrived. We shared the Chicken Longaniza sausage, which was well received, and the Scallop Ceviche which was 80% onion and not the greatest. For main course, the boys both ordered the Churrasco de Lomo, which is a spiral cut beef fillet, marinated in loads of garlic and other herbs. The girls had the 225g Bife Ancho (Rib eye), which were cooked as requested and good quality. Overall, I was a little disappointed in the steak...it certainly wasn't anything amazing, though to be fair, it was entirely edible.

We decided we should try out some desserts - for the sake of this review at the least - so we tried the Churros (which were dipped into hot chocolate sauce), the 3 Layer Chocolate Cake and the Argentine Pancakes. All desserts disappeared without complaint.
]]> Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:29:24 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1x71m842191757 sue 51.509686 -0.137728 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1t01a9
Review by ohneil

Rating: 4.00
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Fine dining in what I can describe as a modern setting.

Gaucho is famous for its steaks, and I definitely haven't come across a better place that serves steak of this quality in London, yet.

Not too sure about the waiting area by the entrance, but the complimentary cloakroom helps.

]]> Thu, 22 Mar 2007 14:31:38 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1t01a91416686714 ohneil 51.509686 -0.137728 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1e91b8
Review by nickthespur

Rating: 5.00
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Very good steaks. Don;t go there if you don;t like red meat though. Good if pricey south american wine list. service always good in any branch]]> Thu, 01 Mar 2007 18:31:11 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1e91b8798351359 nickthespur 51.509686 -0.137728 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1e5168
Review by bharniman

Rating: 5.00
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Gaucho Grill is a great place to eat steak. Coming from a Yank, I think that means something! I had a nice meal with 5 of my friends on the cowhide seats. We enjoyed the meal and the atmosphere. After dinner we stayed at the bar for a few pints. I recommend it heartily!]]> Thu, 01 Mar 2007 14:29:09 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1e5168678541974 bharniman 51.509686 -0.137728 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1d01t8
Review by NatWilde

Rating: 0.00
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If you're into red meat, then this place is one of the best. The Argies claim that their beef is the best in the world and after eating here you have to believe them. Great decor as well]]> Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:36:22 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1a11i81/gaucho-piccadilly/1d01t81778709792 NatWilde 51.509686 -0.137728