Gaucho (Piccadilly)

Went there yesterday with 4 friends. This is my 2nd time here. The first time was so-so. This time was worse. I only came because one of my crowd had wanted to try. I have made memo to self NEVER to come back.

The service was nothing special but the food came fairly quickly. The food is very expensive. A mixed platter starter cost £15 and had 10 pieces which had to be cut into minute pieces for 5 people. The steaks were between £20-40 for the the steak alone. Any dressing that you wanted with the steak cost £4 and each of the very small side orders cost another £4 each. Because of the small side you need to order at least 2 of these. You can see how this can become a very expensive meal. Despite this being a South American steak restaurant, the chefs did not prepare my steak the way I asked for: I wanted medium-well done and still the steak was red in the middle and was very salty.

The total bill came to over £250 for 5 people and that doesn't include tip. We didn't have dessert as that would have been another £9 each. This place is overhyped and I am sure there are better and cheaper places out there.
Comment on this reader review

AD - View all reviews by this user
5 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Sunday, January 29, 2012

Generally very disappointed with my first experience of Gaucho. I've lived in London for a number of years but never quite made it through the door of one of their restaurants until recently, in hindsight I'm glad i didn't rush. We booked a table for my brother in laws birthday, for five of us. I was overwhelmingly unimpressed with the chaotic approach to the clockroom service, which was underlined again when we came to leave and they couldn't find half the coats or bags we had checked with them.

With exception of one of the waitresses, who bought the steaks to the table to explain the different cuts of meat to us, the staff were rude, arrogant and clearly rated themselves of greater importance than any of the guests in the restaurant. We own a couple of award winning restaurants ourselves so I know that attractive staff are a bonus, but I would urge Gaucho to reconsider their choice of front of house staff - customer service and politeness should rate more highly than attractiveness.

Whilst the starters had a nice balance of flavours, i was deeply unimpressed with the scallop special when I discovered it was one scallop cut finely into four slices. Not what you expect when paying £11. The steak was one of the best I have had admittedly and cooked very nicely. However the side orders were very small and cold. The service as I have already alluded to was really quite shocking at times. After waiting more than 30minutes between starters and main courses my husband had to get up from the table to chase part of our order and request condiments. There was no check back, no one asked us how our food was or if we wanted more drinks.

I would agree with some of the previous postings, I think you can find an equally nice steak, at better value and with much better service elsewhere. I won't be rushing back, which is a shame, I had high hopes!
Comment on this reader review

SJames
4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 3
Friday, January 27, 2012

Had a very pleasant time because I was out with family but have to say I did not think it was worth the money paid,the starters expensive and not great, the steak after all is steak the sauces come in small pots I like peppered steak served with the sauce. All vegetables priced seperately which I know is not unusual but very small portions. Desserts unappealing. Toilets were so dark it was difficult to see!. The atmosphere was good but overpriced doubt I would go back.
Comment on this reader review

6 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 2
Sunday, November 13, 2011

I've always found Gaucho a bit on a pricey side. This isn't a problem when the company is paying, but I wouldn't want to be funding this myself on a regular basis! However, it is very nice in here. If you like your meat and don't mind paying a premium for it, you could do worse than come to Gaucho.

The imposing dark interior may not appeal to all, but it really appealed to me. It seems to give a sense of privacy. It can get a little noisy, though.

The service was just as good as it's Hampstead cousin. Very attentive and not too pushy.

But the most important element was the food, which really did hit the mark. Steaks cooked to perfection - exactly to specification. I just wish it could be a little cheaper, so I could go more regularly. I know it's good, but it is a steak-house, after all!

Recommended, though.
Comment on this reader review

Alan Ingham - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 6
Thursday, November 10, 2011

Went here with a client dinner during the week and was really pleased with the experience. The client was suitably impressed and the service and food was near perfect despite the restaurant being very busy.

The restaurant is ideal for an 'occasion' and I would visit again for both client entertainment or a date scenario.

Great Mojitos!
Comment on this reader review

Nadine Lee
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Monday, November 07, 2011

Party of four for a birthday. In the dungeon, everything is black and you can barely see. Seats built for dwarves. Very uncomfortable. Noisy but conversation possible. Steaks tender but characterless. Good Malbec. 1/2 way through, got splashed with neighbours drinks. Assured it was no problem by staff (subsequently shirt turned out to be stained red). Waitress tipped gravy down my trousers when removing plate - 'we've got nuthin' to clean up with' was the reply. Overall - very poor value for money - clearly trading on some kind of reputation gained somewhere....
Comment on this reader review

John
3 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Saturday, August 20, 2011

Six of us went for dinner to Gaucho on Friday night and I have to say I was really disappointed. On arrival, we were sent to the bar where we ordered drinks some of us who had arrived first got ours and then when we were shown to our table two of us had to wait a further 10 minutes for our drinks to get to the table. The waitress was bringing us the wine for our meal as the drinks arrived so we had to just say we didn't want them and we would just have the wine. The service was slow, there was a DJ in the restaurant so the music was so loud you couldn't hear the waitress explaining what the meat cuts were. We ordered our food and it was quite slow to arrive and when it did three of our steaks were not cooked the way we had asked for them. Mine was supposed to be medium rare but in fact was well done on one side and medium on the other. Without hesitation they took them back and brought us back another steak each plus side orders but I wasn't even that impressed with the quality of the meat. The peppercorn sauce tasted really salty and like it had been made from a packet mix - gravy like instead of creamy. Chips were ok as was the spinach. The tables are marble and they don't give you steak knives so as you cut into your food your plate slides around the table. We waited another 15 mins or so for them to come back after bringing dessert menus. We got the bill and it worked out just under £60 a head and we only had one course and two bottles of wine between 6! This was easily the least value I have ever experienced for the money. Like someone on here says you could have just as nice a meal somewhere else for half the price - Cote for example.
Comment on this reader review

Gillian
2 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Sunday, March 27, 2011

Some people are just TOO fussy!!! - ive been here, Piccadilly l5 times now, and to 1 of the others and have NEVER been disappointed with any aspect of service food or drink.

Last time i was there a table of french tourists were back for the second night in a row!!

Top place - top food!!
Comment on this reader review

c jones
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Four of us ate here on Friday night. Although we had booked in advance we were shown to a large round table for six that we couldn't fit around which meant that conversation was difficult. Adding the that, the music was so incredibly loud that we could barely hear anything any of the waiting staff said. The woman with the steak board was practically screaming to be heard.

The food was okay. Nothing spectacular. The house Malbec was delicious.

All in all we had a fun night but won't be returning.
Comment on this reader review

Brixton Bird - View all reviews by this user
5 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 4
Monday, January 24, 2011

Just had lunch at Gauchos Piccadilly and everything about it was superb from the welcome, the attentiveness and friendliness of our waitress to the absolutely wonderful meal. The steaks were just the best we had all eaten and the whole thing was a memorable experience so I just cannot understand some of the reviews that have been written previously. We will definitley chose to eat there again on our rare visits to London and will certainly recommend
Comment on this reader review

Gwyn Devas
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, January 04, 2011