I attended dinner at the El Gaucho Steakhouse in Portland, OR last Saturday. I did not make a reservation as i was traveling through Portland for business, and decidedly approached El Gaucho via their lounge. The atmosphere was amiable, a flamenco guitar group played pleasantly in the corner while I enjoyed my first course of wicked shrimp, as instructed by a friend's recommendation who frequents the lounge. My entree was less than impressionable: steaks were supposedly the forefront of the show. I had ordered my entree medium rare and at the price of $48 dollars was incredibly disappointed. The highlight of my entree was mediocre for the prized execution, and presentation was equally disappointing. I would expect the highest standards for an entree presented from this establishment. I am not surprised when presented with rumors that this business purchases its '30-DAY DRY AGED BEEF VIA JOHN TARPOFF' as the supreme nomenclature, when the product itself comes from the local united grocers' sect. This is unacceptable at the least.
Pros: service, ambiance
Cons: atmosphere as a whole
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