Gaucho (Canary Wharf)

I went to Gaucho last friday as it was close to my partner's office. We were joined by his mom and sister, who were visiting that day. I had no problem getting a table at my selected time and when we arrived we were swiftly sat in the top floor. Our waitress seemed competent and confident and took us dutifully through the different meats and cuts available. I don't eat meat (although everyone else in the table did) so I chose a couple of dishes, one to be brought as a starter and one as a main. She brought them both to the table alongside another starters before the rest got their mains and when I mentioned this to her she started to raise her voice over mine to maintain that I had asked for both to come together. I told her quietly that it was not the case as I remembered clearly stating that one was to be served as the main and when everyone in the table agreed she rolled her eyes and took my main back to the kitchen while I was still talking! I utterly unnecessary and blatantly rude. My food, tuna sashimi and risotto was lovely but I'm told the meat was not 'anything special' . The place is noisy as it is mainly visited by office parties and business meetings and I probably would not go back with friends and/or family or for leisure.
Comment on this reader review

Miss T - View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Thursday, March 04, 2010

THE BEST BEEF IN LONDON

My husband, my 20 month old baby girl and I went to London last week for a short holiday. We discovered Gaucho at Canary Wharf after our disastrous visit to Rodizio Rico and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the meats they have there.

I am from South America and very familiar with the beef form Brazil and Argentina and I have to say, when I tried the filet-churrasco at this restaurant, I felt like home . My husband had the rib eye which also was very tasty but our definite winner is the filet.

The service was very good, they have an amazing wine selection (we recommend the Malbec-president's blend) and in general they were very attentive with us even though we had a very active 20 month old with us.

Don't forget to try the minced beef empanadas (appetizer) they are just like in Buenos Aires.........the real deal !

The restaurant is beautiful, romantic and well located.

BTW we lked it that much ......we went back the next evening and again the beef was superb. There was some sort of event-cocktail that night and the waiters were a little distressed and eventhough the service was alittle slower than the night before, it was kind and nice.

I agree with the poster who said that they have the smallest bowl of chips I have ever seen for 3 pounds, but we LOVED the bernaise sauce, it was fingerlicking good.

Yes its pricey but I think is worth it!
Comment on this reader review

Peter and Pilar
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Sunday, December 13, 2009

I have been visiting Canary Gaucho about 2 years now.

My experience at the Gaucho have been fantastic but unfortunately they new minicab company ruins the idea of good evening. Seems that Gaucho don't care what is gonna happen to their cliental after leaving the restaurant. It is a shame but we won't be back again.
Comment on this reader review

Rain
6 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Sunday, March 08, 2009

I had not been to a Gaucho's for some time as the last steak I had in the West end branch had been a tough bit of rump and the last time I went to the Docklands one, the extractor fans were broken and they couldn't cook anything! I gave the Docklands one another go last week. I thought the place looked good and had obviously had a spruce up. The staff generally were good and very friendly, however the main event, the steak, was a tough bit of meat. Rib-eye this time, which was the waiters recommendation. To be fair to them, I said it wasn't very good when they asked and they did offer to exchange but by then your meal is already ruined and yet again you remind yourself that if you want a decent steak in London then go to your butcher and cook it yourself. Any premium supermarket steak or one from a good butcher would beat the meat here so please go home, see your partner and eat a decent steak together for a fraction of the price.
Comment on this reader review

Matt - View all reviews by this user
5 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Monday, July 21, 2008

On a recent trip to the O2, we decided to arrive early to be able to have a meal before the show started. The Gaucho seemed very busy but they found us a table after a 10 minute wait in the fancy bar downstairs. We were ushered into a lift to take us upstairs to our table, and a very attentive waitress appeared wiith the various menus

My partner ordered the Bife de Chorize with a Bearnaise sause and roasted veg and I went for the Churrasco de Quadril with chips.

My partner's steak was fine, although her sauce and veg were cold when they arrived. For myself, I got the tiniest bowl of chips you're ever seen (for £3) and the toughest, most sinewy piece of steak I think I've ever had (for £16). I had to resort to cutting it into the tiniest peices just to be able to eat it.

As I mentioned before, the waitress was very good. However, I wouldn't recommend going to this Gaucho's on the night of a big event. I would imagine this place is normally half empty most nights of the week and the sudden influx of so many people obviously causes problems in the kitchen. However, even with all that said, there's no excuse with charging so much money for such a poor quality piece of steak.

Our total bill came to over £80 as we also had one glass of wine and one beer. That's an awful lot of money for a not very good dinner.
Comment on this reader review

Mike
4 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, July 08, 2008

My boyfriend took me to the gaucho at the O2 , and I loved it . We were taken upstairs in a lift to the restaurant, which is large and nicely decorated but quite dark, we had only one tea light on our table.

The food was amazing and came quickly , we both had Bife de chorizo, the chips were mediocre but the mash my boyfriend ordered was superb. Humitas is also a must .

Overall the experience was a pleasant one but for £100 it was an expensive lunch. I also recommend the cocktails .
Comment on this reader review

- View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Monday, June 09, 2008

My wife and I dined there last Saturday night and we sat by the isle near to the bar staff entrance. That was our fourth visit to this restaurant. Within 5 minutes a waiter knocked my head with his elbow and lots of customers rushed past my back. I just couldn't relax and my wife felt cold from the draught throught the front door whenever someone opened the door. My wife just wanted to leave. In the end we moved to another table.

The whole restaurant was very dark. We cannot read the menu with a tea light provided on the table. Customers on the next table asked for a torch. A waitress told me that supposed to be romantic. My interpretation of romantic is you can see your girlfriend/wife face glows with lighting. Basically we cannot see each other well and what we were eating. My rib eye steak arrived and it was chewy and actually too raw and chips were disappointing. The waitress offered to take it back to freshen up but never suggested to replace it. That surprised me and I cannot be bothered. This used to be our favorite place fo steak but not anymore. We won't recommend it .
Comment on this reader review

T Chung
3 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Monday, March 17, 2008

Having returned from the Gaucho this evening, I'm feeling lighter in the pocket and not equally satisified in the stomach.

The chevicho raw salmon cooked in lime, pepper and onion was insubstantial - thin slices of salmon drenched in overpowering sauce.

My empanadas starter of beef and ham & cheese pastries were very average and just reminded me of english pasties that you can buy at the local bakery for £1.40.

I chose a mixed seafood dish as the main, which was the most expensive fish dish at £22 so I was expecting something quite different. What came back was several pieces of seafood sitting on what almost tasted like your generic seafood sauce. It was no fresher than seafood dishes that you can find in your high street restaurant and was just a very boring dish.

My boyfriend however, had a steak which was perfectly cooked, succulent and tender which he clearly enjoyed very much! He says its one of the best steaks he's had in London.

Service was friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere good for a special evening out.

Just don't go to Gaucho if you're not going to have steak!
Comment on this reader review

7 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 4
Saturday, March 15, 2008

Me and my boyfriend went here at the end of Febuary (2008) on a Saturday night for a meal , wow this place is fantastic! Service is efficient and slick , the management is clearly doing something right , we took our baby with us , the staff made sure he was happy and we had everything we needed.

the food excellent I had the organic salmon it was delicious my boyfriend had the rib eye steak , cooked to absolute perfection,and beautifully tender

I cannot fault this place run by pros who certainly seem to know what they are doing!
Comment on this reader review

10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, March 07, 2008

I really like this place, I took my boyfriend here for a special treat. The service was very attentive, the cocktails were good. Our starter was prawns and lobster which we shared - it was simple yet effective. We both had sirloin steaks for our main - mine was OK - I had asked for medium-rare however as sirloin has a bit fat running through it, it really needs to be at least medium or else the fat hasn't broken down properly and is a bit chewy - perhaps more my fault in the ordering rather than the quality of the food. My boyfriend on the other hand had the sirloin medium and it was perfect. I like the atmosphere, the view the water is pretty and it has a very laid back atmosphere. I'd definitely go here again and would recommend.
Comment on this reader review

Clare
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, November 02, 2007