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 ...

TOTAL RIP OFF!! 4/9/2006

I have eaten at a lot of nice restaurants, and EL GAUCHO IS NOT ONE OF THEM! I have no idea how this place could have received a 9.6 overall rating. It was absolutely the worst service I have ever had. When I asked for a glass of cabernet the waiter pulled the menu from my hand and irritatedly pointed out the wines by the glass on the back. When he took our order he didn't even look directly at us. Finally our food arrived and it was just terrible. Everything was very bland. I could have made a better meal myself for $35. Instead it cost $220. I will never go back and will tell everyone I know what a terrible place it is. I have no idea how it's been in business this long. Please don't make the mistake of eating there. Pros: NONE, NONE, NONE Cons: Horrible Service, Terrible Food, Total Rip Off more
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Worth every penny 4/6/2006

It's gonna cost, but it's worth it. The baseball steak with blue cheese, best thing out there, Save room for the fruit/cheese plate at the end, it's to die for. The waiters were super, the music a little loud, but we were a little close more
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The worst service I've received at a restaurant 4/6/2006

I took my wife on 4/2/06 and had high expectations based on other citysearch reviews/comments. I ordered a ribeye and was shocked to hear that they were out of them. That's the first time a steakhouse has been out of a certain cut of meat. I told the waitress that I was dissapointed (was very friendly about it) and she walked off! I've already got my car valet parked, beers are 1/2 gone, appetizers 1/2 eaten, and no ribeyes! The manager offered to get a ribeye from the benson which the same quality steak I can get at Albertson's for $7. It really defeats the purpose of going to a nice steakhouse. They didn't charge me anything, I walked out, called Ruths Chris on my cell phone, and 10 minutes later was seated there, with outstanding customer service, and a dinner that was to die for (like usual). Cons: Out of steak, Waitress walks off more
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Best Steak in Town! 12/7/2005

My husband and I love to seek out a good steak. Weve been to just about every steakhouse in Portland, and El Gaucho takes first prize. Nice romantic atmosphere, though somewhat loud when the guitars are playing. Im not complaining, though they sound great. If you go, get the ribeye and ask to have it oscared (that is, with crab and a cream sauce...mmmmm). Cherries jubilee will make you swallow your tongue. Ive never tried the bananas foster (my husband hates bananas), but Ive seen them being prepared for other tables and they look and smell delicious. Service it great. Waiters and staff have always been friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. Everytime that Ive eaten here has been a great culinary treat. Pros: Great food Cons: Pricy, but worth it, Parking more
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The best meal in portland 10/21/2005

This is as good as dinner gets, best steak in the city (frenched rib) order it Oscar its worth the money! The apps are incredile service is great Pros: service, selection more
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Portland's BEST restaurant, HAND's DOWN cont. 10/20/2005

Adding to my previous comment, I've never had service from the moment entering to the second exiting as I did @ El Gaucho. I could see waiters tending to every table but we were NEVER neglected for a single MOMENT during the ENTIRE meal. I'm extremely picky, a server myself, I've millions of questions about the menu, entree's, modifications, etc.. our waiter was possibly more knowledgeable than I'd ever been serving, & was very friendly and patient while doing so. I've eatten everywherein the Pearl, & all of Portland's fine dining, seafood, steak, you name it, and I can't believe I haven't come across El Gaucho sooner. If you don't want the bit pricey but worth every penny entrees, a fabulous wine list and DELICIOUS APPETIZERS are highly recommended, they don't need a cheap happy hour. Whatever their price, your experience is worth EVERY PENNY. Pros: SERVICE, STEAKS&FOOD, EVERYTHING more
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Fantastic place to eat for a special night out... 9/8/2005

My fiance and I have been there twice, and both times we have received fantastic food and fantastic service. My steak was melt in your mouth perfect, and the dessert was to die for! I highly recommend the Bananas foster (like everyone else) and our waiter Sherwood was wonderful. We did spend about $200 dollars which is royally expensive, but appropriate for a special occasion. Pros: Service, Food , Ambiance Cons: Price more
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Unbelievable 7/27/2005

Last night was the first time my husband and I had ever eaten at El Gaucho and we can't wait to go back! What an experience. The food was cooked exactly how we asked, the recommended drinks were to die for and the atmosphere was perfect to celebrate a romantic birthday together. The great food will bring us back by itself, but the staff was the topping on the cake. The attention given to each table was outstanding, and we still felt like we were the center of attention for them. Everything about El Gaucho is exceptional! Pros: Atmosphere, Staff, Banana's Foster more
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So delish! 6/5/2005

I have been several times and am never disappointed. The Chatueu Briand for 2 is divine and hte Banas foster is seriously heaven. The caesar salad can ba a bit overwhelming with a lot of garlic, but I actually liked it. I highly recommend this restaurant compared to so many other type establishments in Portland more
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great for the big wigs 5/13/2005

If you venture here on a romantic date....he just might pop the question. Top service from captains Sherwood & Chad. Dont be surprised if they give you a complimentary dessert for your birthday, anniversary, what have you. The lovely classical guitars nightly make this a superior class act. Pros: sherwood, bananas foster, tax write-offs Cons: bathroom location, vegetarian entrees, stuffy clientele more
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User review by littlemouse 4/14/2005

We took some friends and had a party of 6, we were watched others come in after us and they recieved there meals before us. Our steaks were not cooked as requested. The waiter kept on bumping into us and made no comments. For the price of the meal I will continue to fly to Palm Springs and go to the Desert Turtle, there you have 3 wait staff at your disposal and the meal cost the same and you do not have to ask for water. Pros: Location Cons: Service, Wait Staff, tight dining space more
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Birthday dinner 4/13/2005

Possibly the best lobster I've ever had. We dined on a Wednesday night, but the place was still quite full. We received exceptional attention and although the waiters were attentive and friendly, they allowed us a romantic dinner. We also appreciated them keeping up the pace without making us feel rushed. It was very entertaining having our salads and desserts prepared at our table. Our meal wasn't cheap, but well worth the price. We will definately be back soon. Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere more
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El Gouge'o 1/19/2005

El Gaucho NO more like El Gouge O Met with a sizable group of friends in the bar on a Monday nite....the place was virtually deserted. Servers acted rather annoyed to have something to do...approx 5 servers milling around w nothing to do. It would seem that a virtually deserted bar would have been happy to have the business and bend over backwards to make for an enjoyable experience. WRONG apparently. It was a big ordeal to just request multiple tables pulled together. THEN asked about ""happy hour"" and got that famous speach ""everything is happy"" EVERYTHING that is started at $6+ THEN for ZERO service they demanded to tack on an 18% tip. DO NOT DO NO DO NOT patronize this place. Maybe then the owners and management might get the message. Pros: NOTHING Cons: , EXPENSIVE, POOR SERVICE more
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Good food, POOR service 1/9/2005

Bad experience - worth warning others While the food was fairly good (my NY Pepper Corn Steak great / sister's Filet Mignon average), the service was lacking in both attention and warmth. We were for the most part ignored, with our waiter 'attending' a desert 'prep' at the next table while our finished plates were left uncleared for 5-10 min. This was after our salad plates sat collecting dust for over 10 min. My sister and I did not order 'premium' wine, and our waiter focused exclusively on other customers... ruining our dinner experience and making us both feel uncomfortable. Overall, not worth the '$$$$' or time Pros: Attentive Hostess, Good Steaks, Scallop Potatoes more
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Best Restaurent in Portland 11/29/2004

Between the exceptional service, the spectacular food and the entertaining tableside caesar salad and bananas foster preparation, this is easily the best restaurent in Portland. I've been to most steakhouses and many of the finer establishments in town and none compare with El Gaucho. Hands down, this is the best place for a wonderful meal!! Pros: Food, Service, Wine more
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Go ANYWHERE Else!! 11/10/2004

This was by far the worst dining experience I have ever had. The steaks were so salty, we couldn't eat them. The service was lacking, and very pompous, and the response by the manager was so incredibly unprofessional that I was speechless!! I would have felt better if I had thrown the $250 into my fireplace than giving it to that joke of a restaurant. I am from New York and I dine out five times a week. I have seen a lot of restuarants come and go and I can assure you all, this one is on it's way down! Pros: nothing, nothing, nothing Cons: , Bad Service, Bad Management more
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Perfection 10/11/2004

The food...amazing. Service...impecable. It is expensive, but worth every penny. This restaurant rises above all others in Portland for world class dining. more
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Horrible steak!!!! 9/26/2004

My wife and I went to El Gaucho's on Saturday and had a horrible experience. Are steaks were burnt on the outside and cold on the inside and the service was below average. We were seated between the door and another table when I had asked for a private table to celebrate our anniversary. The only thing that was good about the night is that we received free dessert. I recommend to anyone to go to Ruth Chris or Morton's before wasting your money at what we thought was the premier steakhouse in Portland! Pros: Dessert Cons: , Steaks, Service more
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Think twice 8/29/2004

I have to find a new favorite steakhouse. Prices have been recently jacked up to new extremes while meats are nothing special, due to quality or wrong cooking. The tableside preparation gets old after a while. The baked potato cheese sauce is dreadful as is the steak tomato. Desserts are forgettable. The banana foster can be delicious (skip Dreyer's ice cream). But on a busy day, you get a sandy mess because to rush it, they fail to melt the sugar completely. The wine list offers no good values. Service is not shining. If you want to smoke, you face two challenges: the cigar room is usually occupied by private parties AND they have a cutting fee. In conclusion, after being a fan for several years, lately we have come out of our dinners either thinking nothing of it, or being flat out disappointed. Pros: ambiance, valet, steaks Cons: , value more
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Terrible! 8/29/2004

We went for an anniversary and found it to be not worth the price at all. Service was friendly but inexperienced. Busboys checked to see if we needed more bread by pressing down on the basket (not exactly a fine dining experience). The steak is flavorless and both entrees were served barely warm. Hostess station seemed unorganized and the atmosphere was more like an Applebee's. Not portland elite-Portland wanna be's. Go to Ruth's Chris or Morton's for a good steak experience that's worth the price! Cons: , no atmosphere 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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