Gaucho (Piccadilly)

My wife and I went to the Piccadilly restaurant October 2009 for a late lunch. Unfortunately the grill broke after our starter which meant we could not have a main course.

We were offered the opportunity to move over to the Charlotte St branch. There was no request for payment for the starter and a couple of bottles of water. Gaucho Piccadilly paid the taxi to Charlotte St.

The quality of steak at Charlotte St was outstanding, we shared a fillet, sirloin and rump, all medium rare and a couple more bottles of water.

To our very pleasant surprise Gaucho Charlotte St made no charge for our lunch.

The Piccadilly restaurant is lively at lunch time while the Charlotte St branch is quiet.

Staff were polite, engaging and courteous at both locations.
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steve
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Thursday, October 29, 2009

Abismal experience. Never ever again. It was our second time there and I can confirm that it has gone way downhill. Overpriced below average food, awful service, overcrowded, very loud speed-you-up music.

I booked a table for 4 -all in our 30s-, Saturday 10th October 2009 for 9:45. We were made to wait standing in reception, and then made to wait again in the bar, until were given our table well passed 11pm.

The table service was awful. Flustered and rude waitresss got orders wrong, took my husbands credit card away from us with the pin number in! and did not return for a while. The couple next to us arrived later than us and the waitress took their order and served them before us.

If you are thinking about it, don't.
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Elena Dennison
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, October 12, 2009

The beef is from Argentina. The cooks are not. The portions are a joke. Check the bill, they love double accounting and will be sorry when you catch it.
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Bernd Metzger
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Saturday, August 15, 2009

Went to Gaucho's with my partner for a birthday dinner. Me being a bit of a steak fanatic thought this would be heaven on earth. It was good but not earth shattering. Firstly the Piccadily branch is nicely laid out and had good atmosphere, but it was soo dark in there I could barely see my date who was sitting 2 ft from me. I'm sure the other branches aren't so dark!

The seating arrangements and service level was excellent. The staff really knew their steaks/wines and were really helpful. We went the whole hog and had the 4 steak taster menu (4x300g of Rib Eye/Rump/Sirloin/Fillet) and after a whole day of shopping thought it was required. At £75 its perfect for sharing between 3/4 - between 2 people - you have to eat like champions!

The bread offering at the seating stage was excellent and fresh! The cold starters were good and set the tone for the rest of the meal. All courses arrived prompt.

The steaks were excellent. The fillet as expected to be soft and tender. The sirloin to be juicy and the Rump to be flavorsome. You can't really better this deal anywhere else, and for the price it's an excellent choice.

All said and done with a desert and coffee came to £65 a head (not including alcohol!). For the price I would have expected fireworks. Personally I would have rather spent my money in Black and Blue down by Borough market. The meat there is basically second to none, and last time I had a fillet at B&B it reminded me of the Kobe Wagyu Beef I had in Hong Kong! Should also note that B&B is probably on the whole 10-15% cheaper.

In conclusion, the visit was worth it, the food was good, service was excellent, but just lacked that little edge.
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Hon Chan
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Monday, July 27, 2009

Food was excellent, no complaint what so ever. Very good atmosphere in general.

Service was little slow, however our waitress was very nice and friendly.

I would definitely be coming back!
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Saturday, May 02, 2009

Maybe it's just me but I feel im missing something when I go to a Gaucho. So many people bang on about them doing the best steaks in London yet every steak I have had there (including the one I had at the Piccadilly branch) has been fine but nothing more. I can honestly say that the steaks at my local JD pub are just as good and a fraction of the price. And don't even get me started on paying £2.50 for a tiny pot of Bearnaise sauce. My pot only covered about a third of my steak so I asked for some more and was charged another £2.50. After some chips and mushrooms my £17.50 Sirloin was about £30.

As far as the restaurants themselves go they all look great, I like the all Argentine wine list, but again not the prices, and the service is generally fine.

Maybe it is just me but from now on if I want a good steak I will be sticking to Buen Ayre or Hawksmoor instead.
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Chris - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Thursday, April 30, 2009

I'm an Australian living in London and for all the hype, I can honestly say I'd get a better steak in the local pub at home for $10 (5 GBP!) than I had here. Add to this the impolite and snobby attitude of the management and you get a perfect representation of the nasty side of eating out in London, which thankfully now has so many great restaurants to offer. Won't be returning.
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Dana Allman
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Monday, April 27, 2009

My boyfriend had been here before and was talking about it endlessly....to be honest, I thought he must have just been very hungry...

Until I took him there again for his birthday yesterday to see what it was about this place that had made such an imprint on his mind. This place exceeded all my expectations. As a chef myself, I'm particularly analytical about restaurants on all levels but can assuredly say there is very little I can say to fault this place.

Upon arrival, the genuine warmth in the reception was one I haven't experienced at any place before. All members of staff seemed to know it was his birthday and celebrated him for his special day as we were lead to the table. In addition, he was given a cocktail, and myself a glass of champagne, for free! Moreover, they did the classical candle in the pudding (bless) That aside, the service was fantastic.

I have read the reviews of people who seemed to have an unpleasant experience - i can't speak for them but my presumption is that they must have gone somewhere else wishing they were in Gaucho instead (it happens)

Of course, we had meat - steak medium rare to be exact. The fine quality of the meat cannot be pardoned, it was one of the best steaks I have eaten. The warm juices flowed with an overwhelming taste of perfection (i don't mince my words) I had the bearnaise sauce, and thankfully this wasn't too powerful to override the main focus of the dish (fillet) but the flavour was present enough to compliment the meat; accompanied by the sweetness of the sweet potato chips (no pun intended) It was absolutely beautiful.

If you are planning on coming here for an intimate dinner or in a group, this restaurants caters for those levels.

Give this place a try; you will not be disappointed.
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Afeeya
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, April 17, 2009

We went Saturday night for the first time. Very organised hosting by glamorous young ladies. We were on the 1st floor and have to say we found the music too loud and were having to shout to one another across the table.

We both had steaks (what else??) and they were fantastic, also enjoyed the sweet potato chips. The starters of seafood were disappointing and expensive but the steaks and great wine (Argentinian Red) made up for it.

The service was annoyingly quick with our starters and mains and got fed up with all the staff calling us 'guys' (maybe I'm just getting old!!!) but they gave us time to relax with the dessert and coffee. I would recommend bringing a torch with you to read the menu as it is rather dark (or maybe they are trying to save on the electric consumption!). Would I return?? Maybe for a great steak and good wine but not much else.
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Sue - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 6
Sunday, April 12, 2009

We came to Gaucho early this sunday evening on the recommendation of a friend, and I have to say we were delighted with everything. From the moment we walked through the door and were greeted at the coat check, the experience was perfect. Spirited up to the second floor and to a nice table for two, under a spotlight so we can read our beautiful menus, we ordered cocktails and tucked into the delicious bread/ butter/ dip board they lay on.

We enjoyed the waiter's performance table side with the platter of raw meat, and went for a rump steak and a rib eye. Side of chips, which were adequate but no more than that. The grilled portobello mushrooms on the other hand were done to perfection, and the rocket and onion salad was beautifully dressed. The sauces we opted for were alright, the mushroom was good, but the bernaise was bland. The bathrooms, on the other hand, were tranquil.

But the meat! The steaks were fantastic. I'm no connoisseur, but my ribeye was by far the best steak I have ever eaten. Melt in the mouth medium bracing bloody perfection.

I loved the cowhide decor swivel chairs in the dark womb-like interior, and the table linen was immaculate. As was the service. Not officious as others have said. And unrushed, but this was a Sunday. The place was full but not in the least bit hectic. The floor manager took the time to come over and check up on us. All the waiting and greeting staff were warm and friendly. And it seemed genuine, not put on.

£35 a head, which for this fine dining experience was entirely reasonable. Bravo to the Gaucho, we'll definitely be back.
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mick
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, February 08, 2009