El Gaucho

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319 Sw Broadway
Portland, OR 97205

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(503) 715-1738
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El Gaucho - Portland, OR
El Gaucho - Portland, OR
El Gaucho - Portland, OR
El Gaucho - Portland, OR
El Gaucho - Portland, OR
El Gaucho - Portland, OR
El Gaucho - Portland, OR
Reviews
( 51 )
( 15 )
( 16 )
( 8 )
( 20 )

Best

I have enjoyed a meal at El Gaucho several times. If my wallet was a tad better stuffed, I would eat here...

Worst

Although the steak was very good and the special treat of having the salad made right at the table was nice, the prices are over the top compared to many other fine dining places ...

YUMMMMMM! not affordable by any means, 4/30/2012

YUMMMMMM! not affordable by any means, but melt in your mouth :) more
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High Price for Horrible service for mediocre food 9/12/2011

Horrible service for mediocre food. We have no problem paying a premium for great food and service. However El Gaucho is not that place. The service was horrible from start to finish. The hostess was rude. I asked if there was a booth available. She told me more
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The Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of Portland Steakhouses 6/28/2011

I have enjoyed a meal at El Gaucho several times. If my wallet was a tad better stuffed, I would eat here... more
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The Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of Portland Steakhouses 6/28/2011

Rod Provided by Partner
I have enjoyed a meal at El Gaucho several times. If my wallet was a tad better stuffed, I would eat here once a month. But alas, nay is the case... more
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Good food - too high priced 6/10/2011

Although the steak was very good and the special treat of having the salad made right at the table was nice, the prices are over the top compared to many other fine dining places in Portland. If you've got money to burn, might as well burn it here as anywhere. more
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Want what you pay for, go somewhere else!!! 4/19/2011

The steaks are good but the some of the waitresses are rude. They must get it from the GM, whose even ruder. Used to be my favorite place years ago as I went atleast 3 times a week, but the service has gone down hill in the last year. Your better off going to Ringside or Mortons. Atleast there, you get the level of service you pay for. more
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Great hotel BUT.. 4/7/2011

It's a great hotel but if any of you are looking to save some $$ then book it at goo.gl/FPxYD They have some of the best hotel deals on the web! more
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Very good food; not worth the $$ 3/25/2011

Our meal consisted of 1 glass of scotch, a salad, steak, mashed potatos and asparagus. No wine (friend brought bottle of 2000 Quilceda Creek Cab) and no desert. The quality of the food was very high though not in any way creative. Great ingredients, high quality beef. No quarrel so far. The ambiance definitely needs an upgrade. It is simply old and well, old. The staff was fine but not what I would have expected at a top tier restaurant. The young and inexperienced hostesses literally bounced into each other. The waiter was fine but nothing special. The cost for the meal described above was $265. I've had equally good meals at Ruth's Chris and Morton's with better service and environment. Just simply not worth the money. Would no go back when I can find great steak or more interesting food in Portland for 2/3 the price. Last weekend, 4 of us enjoyed a wonderful array of food at Andina for $200. more
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The best place for steak and fine dining in the US! 10/29/2010

El Gaucho is one of the most awesome restaurants I've had the pleasure of dining at. It is top notch in all respects. Both the Chateaubriand and the Bananas Foster (specifically prepared by Sherwood) have both won multiple James Beard awards, which means they are the best in the nation. The staff is completely professional and the service is top drawer. I have been eating here for years and I always take my out of town business associates here for dinner. It's amazing that over the years the quality of both the food and the service has been rock solid every single time. The El Gaucho team never disappoints. more
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WoW! 9/7/2010

Wow! This is a must-go Restaurant if you're in Portland. The food is maybe not the bigger portion you'll ever have but it is so tasteful that it should be enough. I tried their Filet Mignon and their Flame Skewer and the meat was perfect. The Gaucho salad is just amazing and as Siders with your meat, I would suggest the Liguini and the Broccoli. As desert, you need to try their homemade Bananas Foster! Amazing! more
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Lost my business 5/10/2010

Let me start by saying this is my favorite restaurant. I eat here often and love this place. On a recent visit, I ordered two drinks, ordering them as a ""sidecar"". When I got the bill, the drinks were $240 a piece. Apparently, El Gaucho has a veery fancy version of this drink. I did not know about the fancy version, nor did I order it by name. The server didn't mention the price of this drink, or alert me to it's high price. Ultimately, after I complained the manager took $100 off my bill and felt that was a satisfactory gesture. I paid the bill and left. I emailed the general manager and never got a response. I will never go back to El Gaucho again! Pros: excellent food and service Cons: Let their mistake lose me forever more
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Because I'm worth it! 3/15/2010

El Gaucho is a spectacular culmination of food, service and atmosphere. Highly recommend this dining experience to anyone who appreciates the finer things in life; themselves! It can be a bit spendy but the happy hour gives you all the dining experiences mentioned above at a price any budget would appreciate. Pros: The standard for good service Cons: a bit spendy more
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Terrific Experience 12/15/2009

I've been to El Gaucho many times and I'm always delighted with the experience. This last week we went with friends and tried a few things other than our normal ""beef"". The osso bucco was fabulous, and the ostrich was quite a nice piece of meat, very steak-like. Of course, the filet was excellent as usual. It's pricey, but well worth it for special occasions. The fruit and nut tray is always a nice end to the evening. Don't miss it! Pros: Food, Service, Ambiance Cons: Price more
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Not Worth the money 11/20/2009

My first experience at El Gaucho was my last. I will never eat there again. The food was extremely overpriced and the service was not that good. It seems like the restaurant caters to the rich only. I'd rather eat at the London Grill or Portland City Grill. Pros: Decent Food Cons: Bad Service more
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Great Food and Good Service 10/25/2009

I have been here a few times and the food is absolutely good and has always been good!. Everything we had a few days ago was well prepared and of superb quality from the garlic bread to the sauteed spinach to everyones steaks! Nothing frou-frou, and certainly nothing super creative but just good food! The Bananas Foster were a great \r way to end a very satisfying meal.\r \r The service was attentive without being overbearing. \r \r The only negative was the faint smell of cigar/cigarette?? smoke which everyone at our table commented on that evening.\r \r I will go back in a heartbeat for one of the best steaks in Portland. Pros: Food Cons: Smell of smoke! more
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Not recommended 10/21/2009

I was pretty disappointed with El Gaucho. The service was slow and awkward and our waiter and bus boy reeked of cigarettes. It was so dark you could not see what you were eating and it was a relief when the amplified musical group took a break so that our party could hear one another. The food came extremely slowly. We were there on a slow Sunday night and dinner took 3.5 hours. The shrimp and roqufort salad was blah and my dinner, diver scallop brochette, was cold, bland, and oversalted. The steak was not as good as it should been for the reputation. The menu is unispired and required no thought on the chefs part as you get slab of meat on a white plate and it is up to you to pick your pairings (which of the five we chose were unispired, salty, and bland). With all the good food in Portland why do people still eat here? Save your pallete and nose and go somewhere else. Pros: Steak house nostalgia Cons: Salty uninspired food, waiter smells of cigarettes more
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You've Got To Be Kidding! 10/14/2009

Our Porterhouse steak was $65 ala carte. We split it. The steak was good but I think the price made it taste worse than it was. My wife and I split a ceaser salad and twice baked potato and they charged us extra for both. Hey, we needed to pay next months rent. Perhaps good for the business traveler on expense accounts, but for us regular ""Joe's"", it's way too much money for the food. Pros: Friendly Service Cons: Cost more
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Beautiful in every way. 9/10/2009

We went to El Gaucho last night for a special occasion and were truly blown away by everything. From the moment we walked in, we were treated like royalty. Many places in Portland has snobbish service and that is something I've just accepted. Not here, the hostess was friendly, the bus people were friendly, our waiter was outstanding and everyone was attentive and knowledgeable. We brought our own wine, and not only were they nice about it, but the waiter commented on how he's had it before and that it would be fab. Of course, it was. The food was amazing, the filet mignon was like butter and cooked to perfection. Every aspect of this meal was worth every penny. I cannot say enough how lovely the place was, not a bad table in the house and everyone was top notch professional, efficient and friendly. There are many places in this town where you can spend at least as much money for a meal, but at El Gaucho, we were not disappointed in any way. I have absolutely no complaints at all. Pros: Ambiance, service and food. Cons: Can't think of any. more
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Expectations exceeded 6/14/2009

The evening began with anticipation. We arrived early and took a temporary seat in the lounge where we were treated very graciously. We were finally seated but, half an hour past our reservation time. We inquired but did not complain. Sometimes you just can't control everything. We were finally seated accompanied by a very sincere apology and we were apprised that the Manager would be with us shortly. (I really didn't want to make a fuss). Moments later the Manager came to our table presenting crab cakes (the most amazing I have ever tasted) and two flutes of Champaigne. The Manager deeply apologized and took personal responsibility to make sure we were comfortably accomodated. The rest of the evening, the dinner, the service, the lovely table-side manner and personable demeanor of the servers, was truly memorable and heart warming. We had the most amazing Fois Gras, Caesar prepared table side, and Chateaubriand presented table side. The artisan combination of subtle flavors were kaleidoscopic and deliciously memorable! I can't wait to return! Pros: Marvelous fare prepared and presented with genuine care! Cons: Honestly, I don't have a single negative comment! more
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Oh so pampered 5/20/2009

My husband took me here for a birthday dinner, trying to recapture the experience of our favorite steak restaurant in Florida. Although not the same, it was a wonderful experience - very, very old school personal service with the table side ceasar salad and flambe desserts. Our server was phenominal! She had my mouth watering with everything we ordered. Lobster mash and ostrich were PHENOM!!! Duck appetizer just melted in your mouth. The complimentary fruit and cheese plate was a treat, but had to have the creme brule - light and refreshing. Very romantic, great wine list (although pricey), ala cart for more variety, sides sized for sharing. I highly resommend this for special occasions or all around treating yourself. Pros: Outstanding Service Cons: Can be pricey for some more
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Menu for El Gaucho


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Editorial

  • In Short
    The upscale dim dining room features dark wood fittings, huge, comfy chairs and a dramatic open kitchen, providing diners with old-guard steakhouse fare. Classic starters include...

  • 3/3/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Sun: 5pm-10pm, Mon-Thu: 5pm-1am
  • Payments: Diner's Club, Master Card, Visa, American Express
  • Neighborhoods: Neighbors West - Northwest, Downtown
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