We came by Gaucho on a previous night around 7pm it was swamped with people. If you want to try…read moreGaucho, come early and be brave and just dive in. We came for lunch the next day and it was more manageable. We bucked up and dove in. We learned that the drill is to find a table or bar space and order drinks, then peruse the tapa offerings along the bar. You pay when you've ordered the items you want. When you want more, you return to the bar, get more and pay. Tables are precious, but they do turn over so just be patient. The folks behind the bar get busy. If you speak Spanish, you can get their attention more easily. If not, don't be shy, signal you are ready to order.
The staff is there to move customers, so be quick about decisions. They do understand and speak some English though there's not much chatting going on.
This was some of the best tapas we've had on the the trip and we went to Madrid and San Sebastian. We just picked things that looked interesting not knowing what they were. Everything was delicious. Several items were creamy and rich like the crispy duck, crispy spinach and shrimp, and the sea urchin. The foie gras was cooked just enough to brown but still had plenty of melty richness. We had everything plus 4 beers for about $57.
It's a great place and definitely worth a visit if you're in Pamplona.
