El Gaucho

I took my dad here for a special occasion and was terribly disappointed with my entire experience. We were seated at a tiny table near the door and by the ramp, and though we ordered the tableside Ceasar salad, it arrived pre-tossed... when we asked why, they told us that it was impossible to toss it at our table because of the ramp. That's fine, but why not tell us when we ordered it! I felt like that was indicative of the service of the entire night--I definitely felt like a persona non grata because we weren't spending much. Because of budget concerns we shared a steak and a side of scalloped potatoes. The steak WAS really good, tender and perfectly-cooked; the potatoes were just ok and definitely not worth the price. That was my biggest issue with the entire experience. Why pay $60/person to share dinner and be treated indifferently, when you can get a great steak at Jak's Grill instead for half the price? Pros: Good steak Cons: Expensive, indifferent haughty service more

El Gaucho is a perennial favorite for a good steak and good wine in the Seattle downtown area. They have an expensive wine list but make sure you ask the waiter for the regular list that has the lower priced wines besides the three and four figured ones. They are known for the Ceasar salad that is prepared in front of you but it is probably a little better than the one served at the Olive Garden. The steaks are good and so are the lamb chops but grossly overpriced. I have eaten there three times and never have I got one cooked to my liking. After your meal they serve nuts, cheese and fruit on the house, which is just not too bad after you are done with your meal and finishing your wine. They are also known for their Bananas Foster that is again prepared in front of you. Make sure you share it with two people. I found it a little too sweet and again why go through all that rigamarole. The ambience is a little cheesy with all the black and they could do a better job with the lighting as you have to use a flashlight at your table. The staff is snotty and perhaps only favor the people who spend through their noses and do not care about value for money. more

Truly the gourmet experience, El Gaucho will take you back to the 30's with it's romantic art deco look,... more

Truly the gourmet experience, El Gaucho will take you back to the 30's with it's romantic art deco look, and formally attired wait staff. The bar ... more

Bring your wallet for some of the best food in Seattle. The hotel is nice too for the money. Great interior design!!! Pros: Near Pike Market Cons: Expensive more

Wish i could say better of my experience. Service was innattentive. An old captain service system from days gone by left me with un-empowered bussers and a captain who rarely visited the table. Cheap tuxedo outfits with clip on bow ties didn't help my impression of them. Crab cake unedible(and i did not eat it, but they still charged me for it). "Dry Aged" steak could not have been that tough and truly dry aged. Ambience, graciousness, warmth....all lacking. A very fun bar, with an overpriced top shelf is great for cigars with the boys on a bachelor party. Otherwise, save the special evening for a place that isn't resting on its laurrels. At that price? ...I expected better of the Seattle dining scene. Pros: dark, swanky, very old school Cons: service, food, ambience more

This place scuks. A far better steak for half the price and a much livlier atmosphere can be had at The Buenos Aires Grill down the road. People who know, don't eat here. Pros: none Cons: all more

I don't understand what all the fuss is about. This place is all reputation with little follow through. My steak was undercooked, the server did not seem to care to fix the situation, I was not impressed with the dark depressing atmosphere and the overall snobiness of the waitstaff. NOT WORTH THE MONEY. You can get better steak much cheaper at Daniels, and if you want to have a nice steak meal with class, try the Met. Pros: Salads tableside- fun Cons: Steak, snobby service, atmosphere more

I travel and eat steak all around the U.S. and El Gaucho is still my favorite. The ambience is perfect. The french ribbed steak is great, and they have the best ceasar in Seattle. The other reviews stating the menu items were overpriced, no specailty drinks, etc... This is not Outback and that is obviously the caliber of restraunt they are accostomed to. The olnly suggestion I would make is they carry kobe beef. (Harrison's in San fransisco has a kobe beef that is exellent) And for those of you who need a drink menu, as opposed to a WINE menu El Gaucho is not the place for you! Pros: EVERYTHING, they serve food until 1am! Cons: resevation needed on weekends more

I used to love El Gaucho but the staff has become quite rude and talked down to me when I did not order a super high end wine. I watched the general manager apologize to a table over and over again but never did anything other then treat the problem with words.. not action. I will never find a reason to go back. Pros: none Cons: rude service staff, to much money, over priced, tables to close more

Despite reserving well in advance, we were seated at the worst table in the joint, about 6 feet from the grill so my back was either roasting or alternatively freezing when the cold air return kicked in. Right by where the waiters picked up the food, there was continuous rushing by our table on both sides. Seated side by side, we looked at either the person at the next table or at the waiters' prep table. The wine waiter brought the wrong vintage, the 2002 instead of the award winning 2003, pretty shabby as presumably they would have charged the same hefty price. My shrimp starter was tough. The steak was raw despite requesting medium, the baked potato cold and soggy, all served on a lake of slop. A $300 bill for two. There are many fine restaurants in Seattle; this isn't one of them. Cons: beware wine rip-off, too dark, seedy joint more

For those of you who want to try something new, the ostrich filet here is amazing! I have to admit it is the only thing I get here, mostly because it is so good I can never try anything else. It is so lean and tender, yet tastes and looks like beef, and it simply melts in your mouth. The chefs consistently prepare the meat to the temperature requested. The service is phenomenal, and the tableside preparation of many items is fun. I prefer the darker and more mature atmosphere of El Gaucho to the bright and bustling Met. Reservations are a must, and the bar serves fantastic drinks while you wait for your table. Ask for a mink-lined booth for a truly excesive evening. Pros: Menu options, Atmosphere, Table-side service more

My husband thought his peppercorn steak had too many peppercorns on it. My new york was delicious with just au joux (sp?) . I wish I had tried the bananas foster. We were too full to order deseret but we were given the fruit compote and my husband got a free cheescake for his bday. $200 together, including tip. Biggest need for improvement -atmosphere. Like the concept, but looks like it was done on a t.v. home decorating shows where they are given a room, no budget and a can of paint. Cheapy. Did not like how the bar blended into the restaurant. We sat rail-side, crammed very closely to other tables. I expected something more elegant. Daniels or the Met better atmosphere. Also, don't expect any specialty cocktails, I had to get a seperate menu brought up from the bar. Below avg. martinis that cost $12 each (ouch). Pros: food, service Cons: atmosphere more

The BEST filet mignon I have ever had. The meaning of "medium rare" has been perfected by the chef. The atmosphere is indescribeable. What a wonderful experience. Our server sent a thank you card after our dining experience. Superb. Pros: Wonderful Service, Excellent food, Great Wine Selection Cons: Very expensive , Crowded, Stuffy more

After being an avid fan of this place it has gone downhill in a hurry. Most notably it appears that most of the staff I loved has been "let go". There are no familiar faces and when asked the new staff simply says that the staff has been cut way back. One captain even let on that service has suffered because of it. So while the food is still good.. the service is sadly lacking and when spending that kind of money I think I will find out where all the staff that used to make sure it was an experience.. not just a meal went... maybe the Met? Pros: Near Belltown hot spots Cons: staff is green more

Overpriced and overvalued! Food was not worth the price. Service was not that great. If you don't mind overpaying for substandard food than this is the place for you. Decor was basic and plain and hostess was not nice. Cons: overpriced, food substandard, bad customer service more

I opened the doors into darkness. Slowly my eyes adjusted, dim candlelight barely illuminating one of Seattle's most renowned hotspots -- El Gaucho's. A kindly old server guided us to our table and our waitress introduced herself. The service was impeccable -- our glasses of water never reached the bottom. I ordered the Wicked Shrimp a New York and a glass of Nelm's Road, my girlfriend ordered the Filet Mignon. Advice: Get the Wicked Shrimp, Get the Filet Mignon, Do not get the New York, and while there is no dress code, please bother to look nice. Anyway, the Service is incredible, while it's okay for a date, it is the perfect place to close a deal. Other tables have a way of fading away, creating a more intimate setting, but one not particularly romantic. While the food is good, there are better restuarants for less money. Pros: Service, Atmosphere, Private more

I had just gotten back from NY where I had a steak at Peter Lugers. I was expecting El Gaucho's food to be comparable. Not even close. The NY steak was ok, not great. You are definitely not getting your money's worth here (the check was nearly double Peter Luger's). To make matters worse, the piano player was so loud you couldn't have a conversation and the smokey air added to the distate of the food. Someone wrote that the restaurant's atmosphere added to the experience (smokey, dark and noisy). For a $200+ bill, I don't think so. more

I love going to El Gaucho, the service is over the top... the Food, the Atmosphere, the Show... everyone should experience El Gaucho. If you love being taken care and want the great service, then this is the place for you... it takes service to an entirely new level. Pros: service, food & wine, atmosphere more

What stood out the most for me the entire evening was the service. The waitstaff was approachable and very knowledable about the food choices and wines. The ceasar salad that was prepared fresh at the table was without a doubt the best I have ever had. I might add that the server exclaimed, "Making the salad is my favorite part". The filet mignon was perfectly prepared and tasted excellent. The only thing I was disappointed with during the evening was the steamed mussels, but I am not much of a seafood fan anyways, so to each their own. Overall I had a fantastic experience and will be eating here again soon. Pros: Service, Food more