Was underwhelmed. Maybe it was because we ordered off the Restaurant Week menu, but my dinner was disappointing at best. The garlic bread at the beginning was cold and didn't have as much flavor as when I had it at the Bellevue location. I asked for more and at least the second loaf was much warmer, but still lacked the seasoning. The salad was fine yet unnoteworthy, and the truffle soup was fine too - rich earthy mushroom flavor, but neither stood out. The filet medallions were mediocre. They plated it with a bunch of soggy flavorless potatoes so first off, it didn't even look visually appealing with all the brown neutral shades. They should've paired the steak with something green like asparagus or brussel sprouts. There was some brownish red chimichurri sauce under the steak, it had a bit of a kick, tasted like a medium salsa, not really something I would put on a steak. The fillet medallions themselves were essentially a filet mignon but cut into thirds height-ways, so you have three thin slivers of steak. They were tender but didn't have much flavor and just seemed sort of bland. Got the blackberry sorbet for dessert, it was very refreshing but tasted like raspberry sorbet. The atmosphere was nice and service was good at least. I hate that they add a 20% service charge, but I would've tipped her 20% regardless so it didn't make a difference to me financially, it's just the principle that I dislike. The restaurant sort of had a feel of a classy strip club just from the layout, leather upholstered doors, and connected hotel room. They have complimentary valet parking but the sign in front says $15 and in small print it says "complimentary with validation". I wish I knew it was complimentary, I ended up driving around the block and finding street parking instead. I'm not sure why they would put the validation part in fine print, it's a good thing, not something they should hide. Even with Restaurant Week, it still isn't a cheap dinner, yet the food was not exquisite. I left being unimpressed and was the value wasn't even that good despite the Restaurant Week prices. read more

Expensive - Went during Restaurant Week for the $65 Price-fix menu and it was Fantastic! Great ambiance. Wonderful service. Love that you can just taste the anchovy in the Ceasar. Meat cooked exactly right. Rich sauces that enhanced and did not overpower. Everything was seasoned perfectly. Only thing not 5 star - the Lobster bisque was not quite right - OK, but a bit bland and a touch bitter. Maybe I just really miss Chandler's. It was so creamy with the warmth from the sherry. Appreciate that the wine prices are not astronomical. Valet parking available. (which I would recommend). If you ask, they can add it to the bill. Heads up - like other restaurants in the area a 20% Gratuity is automatically added to the bill. read more

I have eaten their three times this week and each time was pretty much amazing. I had steak and crab legs the first time. Steak was cooked perfectly, crab was ok (smelt a little old). The only bad thing Of the three times. But our bartender Jason makes up for any bad crab we had. He is prob the nicest, best bartender I have ever had the experience meeting and I travel 100k miles a year. So I have met a few. The second meal was ribs. Ok these are great. I couldn't finish them cause the portion was so large. But still - they were very good. Third meal was the burger and fries. This was outstanding. The burger was one of the best I have ever had. The fries are cooked in duck fat - which is kind epic. And yet again - Jason was our bartender. It was packed and he worked the bar like a champ. He knew everyone's name, was very quick, super friendly. Great drinks as well. I am here in Seattle once a month on business and there are several good places to eat in Seattle. But this one gets my business cause the service. Well done. read more

El Gaucho - Jason the 2017 Bartender Of the Year - Steakhouses Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Another update **** annoying people have been "complimenting" my review by saying I don't know what I am talking about. NOTE that steaks are aged to improve flavor and texture but if you know anything about meat is that if you need to go through any process to improve taste or texture then tinge steak wasn't good to begin with. Nothing, absolutely nothing beats fresh steak! Yes, marinate it for a day or town but anything else other than that is just a waste of money. Plus, we don't know how old the steaks were prior to entering the "28 day aging" process. Think about it. No need to message me though. Keep your thoughts to yourself! Update*** after the managers response I was even more disappointed. I'm not sure why would anyone think that a 28old steak would taste great. I have been to many steakhouses around the world and no one, nowhere raves about old steak. It is what it is: old steak. Do you have a cellar with salt walls where the steak ages to bring out the flavors? I doubt it. Bring fresh steak and kill the cow that same morning, then you'll have raving fans everywhere talking about this place. I bet you have never had steak 2-3 hours old in your life. It's something Americans just don't even know it's possible. They are so used to the 2-4 week old meats they get at the grocery stores and restaurants they think a steak that tastes like coagulated blood is a good steak. ANY restaurant can have OLD MEAT. No offense. I do not wish to have your job and have to justify and "sell" this product. Good luck to you! I used to love this place but a lot of things have changed. Not worth the $250+ dinner for 2, no alcohol included. I am giving it two stars only because the waiters were nice (but of course they have to be to earn that 20-25% tip,) and the fact that they still make the famous bananas foster. They were polite and even escort you to the bathroom but here is why... The open kitchen concept is good but splatters grease on the floors so HEELS and shoes can slip easily. They have black mats but don't seem to help much unless they cleaned the grease from mats every day, which is not the case. The place doesn't have an intimate feel more like a very dim/dark setting. The walls and ceiling are painted with the same paint type and color. They get creative with the use of space as it is a small restaurant. I feel they waste much space by having an old outdated bar in the middle in the front area. The open kitchen is great except you can't see much going on cooking wise other than the steaks. The tables are on the smaller side and very close together. No room to place your purse on table. There's barely room to sign the check on the table. They really need to re think the set up to be honest. The steaks I got were undercooked and rare instead of medium rare and tasted like old old meat. Even though they gave me a new set of steaks it was too late for me to eat them. I had them pack to go instead. It pretty much ruined our celebration. The "28 day" steak statement they had is sad really. Why would anyone want an old steak no matter how it is aged? Sort of concerning really. I've been spoiled unlike most Americans, to have a steak hours old not days or months. I know what fresh meat tastes like and I feel sorry for those who don't because they don't k know what they are missing out on and most importantly, they are overpaying for old meats every day. The worst part is that they no longer cook the bananas foster in front of you. You have to watch the show from 5-10 feet away. All while the waiter manages to not bump into anyone going down the hallway as it is a very skinny hallway. I am glad they still have them. It was the only reason I had to go there but it's just not the same. I'm deeply saddened... I hope someone comes in and manages this place a bit better. read more

El Gaucho - This is the type of people who frequent el gaucho. Sounds like he's related to someone who works there. #annoyingpeople - Steakhouses Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is one of my favorite restaurants I've visited since living in Seattle. The food was great and the service was better (and that's saying a lot, because the food was GREAT). Me and a co-worker came to dine in for restaurant week and were taken care of by Chaz. He was super knowledgeable on ALL of the menu items. He was very personable and fun as well. Our table was touched by multiple staff members throughout the night who all made sure we were enjoying our meal and had everything we needed. The staff went above and beyond throughout the whole night and made us feel at home. The eggplant and the filet medallions were delectable. We also had a short conversation with Gavin who was bartending and even though he wasn't taking care of us he was so warm and welcoming. I loved the ambiance. I don't often go out to nicer restaurants (my budget simply doesn't allow it) so when I do it can sometimes feel intimidating but this was not one of those experiences. read more

I'm at 3.5 stars right now for my first experience at El Gaucho. Let me start by saying I was in a large, private holiday party in a separate event dining room. We had a designated server. I had heard that El Gaucho was a must-try in Seattle. So I was really excited to visit and have one of those totally pampering dining experiences. And the food didn't disappoint. But the service, unfortunately did. Our server was flustered, sweaty, and unorganized the entire meal. First of all, instead of walking around the table and individually taking drink orders, he just screamed over the conversation at our 15+ person table to see who else wanted drinks from the bar. He didn't make eye contact. Didn't say "you're welcome" when you thanked him for things like refilling waters, wine, etc. And when he set plates of food down, he tossed them on the table. In fact, the one dish almost lost all the food off of it when he set it down. He kept yelling over our table instead of individually taking orders. And he just seemed so over-whelmed and unprofessional. Especially in comparison to the servers on the main floor, who will escort you by the arm the dang restroom. It was a vastly different experience than our party room. So I'm settling on a 3.5 for now until I go back in a smaller party. But for the price and the reputation of great service, we just didn't get what I'd heard so many great things about. read more

My vote for zero stars. My husband surprised me with anniversary date with Restaurant and stay at Hotel at the El Gaucho Inn followed by Movie downstairs. While we got seated and 25mins into getting our meal the head Restaurant Manager JEFFERY YOUNG came to our table with paperwork and said I hope your having a Happy Anniversary I have some bad news for you, your car was SCRATCHED by their valet. Then he proceeded to tell us it happens all the time and we take good care of it, and we need to do nothing as he was filling out incident report with my car at our table. Keep in mind we are trying to eat our anniversary dinner. This was not only shocking, but we were drinking and not thinking Clearly straight about the situation. Then after we let it sink in, I was feeling anxiety and wanted to leave asap. I was worried and wanted my husband to go look and he took pics. Jeffery assured us he was told it was just a scratch. Keep in mind this was at 5:30pm at night and no one went to look at it and he went by what his valet told him. We saw the car and took pics, it was more than scratched. It was dented. They scraped and dented the paint off the side of my passenger door to the back of the wheel based. I was not only upset, I was upset that we still paid over $250 for dinner with no one suggesting a free dessert or drink for the incident. Nada!! No apologies either, just that it happens? Who says that???? How is that classy service? We left our dinner without eating and made a complaint with the manger of the El Gaucho hotel which didn't seem to care other than he heard it was being taken care of. We left the next day and paid for EVERYTHING. Move, Hotel and Dinner.....Nothing was comp or offered to make it better for us, until my husband called the next day to want to file a complaint and talk to the owners of the establishment. We ended up using our own insurance to get my car fixed which was not even our faults and taking time off from our jobs to deal with this mess they created. This has been an ongoing 3 month battle to get my car repaired by their insurance. This is now getting escalated to an attorney. Yes, over their valet using my car and hitting a side bar while we were celebrating our 2nd Anniversary. I'm beyond disgusted and will never go to El Gaucho Restaurant in Seattle again! They ruined my anniversary weekend get away and we cant get that back! read more

Amazing experience, from the ambiance, to the staff, to the impeccably prepared food... In every way, this is what a PNW steakhouse should be. Our server was attentive and ensured that our wine glasses were never empty, and never rushed us through courses or pressured us into selections. This kept the evening quite relaxed. Tableside Caesar salad is a must here! The flavor of the freshly muddled anchovies with the fresh squeezed lemon is everything yoi"ve ever want to experience on a sea of romaine. The grilled octopus starter was a well sized portion that was excellently prepared to be just chatted enough for taste, while remaining tender enough to enjoy and cut thinly. Our steaks (a filet and a bone-in ribeye) were both plated well and quite tasty. The dry aging is evident, especially on the rib steak (the fat oozes into the meat), and makes you appreciate where the money for the evening is being spent. Live piano music is the mood setter at this location, and the talent was working hard that night, to the delight of the crowd. The music is never overpowering, but instead, compliments the background and doesn't disrupt conversation. read more

Great meal and atmosphere. Excellent service. True throwback to steakhouses long gone by. I will be back.

I searched yelp for a few hours a few months ago prior to coming to seattle. El gaucho was top of the list. I do have to admit the pictures of the outside and the really dark photo's didn't do it that much justice. But I booked based on food reviews rather than atmosphere. We were celebrating a birthday and anniversary. The Caesar salad here is an absolute must. The steaks also were incredible. Everything about this place was amazing. The 500$ for two people price tag nearly killed us at the end but flying into Seattle for a birthday dinner. This was the place to go. Still dreaming about our meal here. read more

El Gaucho - Steakhouses Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Really nice and fancy place to eat, pricey but definitely worth it. The Caesar Salad is great, and the steak for 2 is delicious! Chaz is a great server and is fun! read more

El Gaucho - Steakhouses Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The New Seattle location on western is in a beautifully restored (and now earthquake-safe) building. The food and service are excellent. If you belong to the Revelers club you can get a nice discount on your bill on your birthday and/or anniversary. In our case, we combined both discounts for an outstanding and affordable dining experience. The beautiful dining area could use a few sound baffles but is otherwise a great place to enjoy a wonderful meal. read more

ordered the El Gaucho special- a filet over priced & tough, chewey couldn't eat it though I tried took the price off our tab,brought me two more aspergus spears with a small bit of lobster- Really??? drank more wine won't go back read more

I visited El Gaucho for the very first time in Bellevue on a date night with my boyfriend, it was wonderful. I particularly was obsessed with the Tenderloin Diablo; the sauce, the crostini, the steak, so rich, creamy and flavorful. Ever since that visit, whenever I visit my boyfriend in Seattle, which is about every two weeks or so, I tend to go pick up some of the Diablo to-go at this location. I've gotten to-go here numerous times over the course of the last few months and every time, it's different. There is no consistency what so ever. Sometimes the bread is packaged in with the beef and sauce, sometimes it's separate. Sometimes everything is packaged separately. Sometimes the sauce is oily and more liquid, sometimes it's super thick. I always ask for extra crostini that comes with the Diablo and I think that has only ever happened once or at most twice even though I clarify this over the phone twice or three times. This last to-go pick up was one of the worst yet. I didn't get the crostini but instead their normal bread, and it wasn't extra at that, and the beef was the worst it had ever been. It was extremely tough, to the point I couldn't eat half of it. And when you're paying $45 for steak bites, it has to be good otherwise it is a complete waste. I believe this may very well be the last time I try ordering from this Gaucho. read more

My first time at El Gaucho was a great experience. The live piano music and the dim lighting reminded me of NYC. The service was great, albeit a bit excessive with how often we got checked in on. The waiter was knowledgeable in the dishes and suggested his favorites when I asked what's popular on the menu. Complimentary cheesy warm bread came out quickly after our water was filled. Our appetizers of truffle soup and wicked shrimp followed shortly after ordering. The shrimp was hot and plump which I liked. I asked the waiter what the sauce was made of and he explained it's a butter white wine sauce with cayenne or chipotle spice, I don't recall. Our steaks took a bit longer to come out as I'm sure they take some time to cook. The peppercorn NY strip was too big for me to finish but I definitely enjoyed it! It was cooked a perfectly medium rare "plus." (I asked for the steak to be cooked a bit more than medium rare) The steak was nicely seared and had a crisp char on both sides. Surf and turf: The filet mignon was good as well. The popular roasted corn coated in chipotle butter, served family style, was more than enough for 2. I'm a bit sensitive to salt and found the corn a tad too salty for me. The complimentary fruit and cheese platter was a nice break from the heavy meal. The dollop of blue cheese smeared with the jam on the cracker was delicious and I usually don't like blue cheese. The grapes, pear, and apple were the bit of freshness I needed. My sweet tooth loved the Bailey's bread pudding. It was the prettiest dish of the evening! The key lime pie was good as well. I'd definitely come back when I get another craving for steak! read more

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To start off we waited to be seated even though we had a reservation. The staff was top tier in the front when it came to checking our coats, making sure we knew where everything was and just being genuinely nice. As we were seated the food was spectacular! We ordered the caesar salad for an appetizer, then I order the shrimp and scallop pasta while my husband ordered the El Gaucho. Everything was superb! The bread was probably my favorite because we had about three baskets. Which is probably why we didn't have any dessert! We would not go back here though because we have had way better food at a lower price. I'm not sure if we were paying for the experience but overall nice visit. Thanks for having us! read more

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Visiting from San Francisco, our night at El Guacho was incredible! The decor was moody and fun. The Wicked Shrimp and ribeye were perfect! And, the service was great. What a great place to grab a Manhattan or settle in for a memorable meal. read more

We enjoyed our time and meal. Service was good, the meal was amazing. This is more of a question, since we don't get downtown often, we're not familiar with the "Service fee" (20%) added to the check, and the difference between that and a general Gratuity. Are you supposed to pay the 20% fee included in the check, AND another 20% Tip? Any help would be appreciated for future visits. Thank you, KSN read more

Everyone was so welcoming and warm. I use a mobility scooter and it can be a little uncomfortable asking for accommodations, but the entire staff made me feel so welcome and not at all like it was any trouble. I appreciate that so much! Our server, Sara, was just perfect! She was so attentive, had the best recommendations, and just the sweetest! The steak was cooked perfectly, and the tableside salad, baked potato, and bananas foster was as much a treat to watch as they were delicious. The entire experience was fantastic! Heartfelt gratitude all around! read more

My boyfriend surprised me with dinner here for my birthday last week and I had the most amazing time! We had an 8pm reservation arranged and we were seated a few minutes after we arrived. We were seated in the section taken care of by Maik, our wonderful server for the evening. It was a great rounded booth, which was perfect for sitting close to my boyfriend (and for sneaking bites off food of his plate!). The ambiance was incredibly romantic and classy - dim lighting, a live piano player, great decor, even a cigar room! You just feel so...cool and cozy sitting in the gorgeous dining room. The place has a fantastic vibe. The service was stellar. Part of this may have been due to the fact that we knew our server personally (he is a friend and neighbor of my boyfriend and he helped make the reservation for my big birthday surprise), but we had several other servers help throughout the night as well and each and every one of them proved that the service is impeccable here. Now, onto the food! Oh, the glorious food! I started with a glass of Pinot Gris, which was very good. The bread they bring out ahead of time is very flavorful and fluffy. Kind of reminded me of a very fancy French bread. My boyfriend and I also split the Tableside Caesar Salad for Two. It was a really cool experience to watch our server make the salad fresh at the table - Maik explained all of the ingredients in the dressing and salad and what he was doing to create it. It was extremely impressive. The experience was only enhanced when I took a bite of the salad and found it to be, hands down, the best Caesar salad I have ever had. So fresh and delicious! I highly recommend you get this immediately upon sitting down. Then came the entrees! I am not really a steak person, but El Gaucho has so many options to choose from that I wasn't worried. I decided to go with a series of small plates that would basically combine into one huge entree. I chose the Diver Sea Scallops appetizer, the Pancetta Wrapped Prawns appetizer, and the side of Crimini and Shiitake Risotto. My favorite out of all of these was the Pancetta Wrapped Prawns. They had some sort of a pesto sauce on them that was so incredibly delicious. The scallops were also very good - cooked just right with a lemon beurre blanc. I also enjoyed the risotto, although it was a bit heavy and the portion size was far more than I was expecting! I carried most of it home as leftovers. My boyfriend had the Steak El Gaucho, which I tried a bite of and found to be quite delicious even though I am not a big fan of red meat. He also gave me a bite of the lobster medallions that accompanied the steak and it was so good - I guess I finally know what expensive, delicious lobster tastes like! Haha! We also split a couple of extra sides - the Roasted Sweet Corn (the chipotle honey butter on this is divine!) and the Scalloped Potatoes. Get the Sweet Corn and you will NOT regret it. It is even good as leftovers the next day. After that incredibly filling meal, we were brought an after dinner platter of fruit, nuts, crackers, and cheese. I had a few bites of a combination of pear, blue cheese, and dates recommended by Maik. It was delicious but I was reaching maximum capacity at this point and I had to save room for dessert! I am a sucker for creme brulee, so when I saw Burnt Cream on the dessert menu I knew I had to get it. It was brought over with a lit birthday candle - so nice! I made my wish and dug right in. It was some of the best Burnt Cream I have ever had. The caramelized top was done just right and the custard underneath was warm (!) and so flavorful. The bill, of course, did a bit of damage on my boyfriend's wallet (be prepared - the prices here are quite extravagant), but we both agreed the price was absolutely worth it for our meal. It was delicious, romantic, oh so fancy, and fun, too! Overall, this was one of the best meals I have ever had. I was blown away at the food, the ambiance, the service, heck - everything! I would absolutely love to come back here to enjoy another meal. I am already dreaming of the next big celebratory event that might bring us back here soon...and I'd better figure out what that is so I can come back ASAP! 5 stars, easily. read more

El Gaucho - Card from my birthday dinner - so nice! - Steakhouses Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Went for happy hour, twice in one week! We entered the venue and had to adjust our eyes to the dark setting that is El Gaucho. The BF and I split the steak sandwich and I am glad we did since the thing is a monstrosity (and in a good way)!! The meat was cooked perfectly and had a lot of flavor. They serve it open face and I believe it came with some chips on the side. We also indulged in their mac & cheese and for the record, I think I died and went to mac & cheese heaven... literally, I died. It is so good - so good I made the BF come back here a few days before we had to head back to LA so I could stuff my fatty little face with it. I almost didn't share.. maybe I didn't. And maybe we had to order two. Conveniently, I don't remember, but I do remember it is that good. Maybe my #1 mac & cheese, wow, right? We also ordered the wicked shrimp. The first visit, it was amazing. If any of you reading this are LA locals and familiar with Killer Shrimp, well hello, you have an almost perfect knock off of it. I say almost because on our second visit a few nights later, we ordered this again (as it was the BF's fave) and it was still good but had too much black pepper. Maybe it was a different chef with a heavy hand, but at any rate it definitely struck a familiar chord as our taste buds were whisked back to LA's Killer Shrimp for a hot second. Dip your bread in the sauce, you won't regret it. Anyway, we got quite merry after a few glasses of the Sharecropper's Cab - smooth and full body, I took quite a fancy to it and found I can purchase it at Total Wine & More here in LA, winning!! Service here was top notch and I admire their decor. The seating of the main dining room reminds me of those scenes of old movies where women and gents are dressed up and there is a singer staged in the middle of the semi-circular dining area... get the picture? We exited the venue and the valet guys gave us fresh baked cookies on our first visit, second visit they ran out, I was a tiny bit crushed. Overall, I look forward to my next visit and plan to enjoy a little bit of HH before transitioning into a full-blown meal complete with mac & cheese and dessert of course, then settling into a food coma afterwards. read more

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On my most recent trip to Seattle, I planned a fancy dinner for family and friends. I've dined at many top-notch steakhouses in Los Angeles, however I'm only slightly familiar with the Seattle food scene so I was very excited to try El Gaucho. Having a strong 4 1/2 star rating, I thought it'd be amazing. Instead, I was horribly disappointed. The open floor dining area has a great vibe. The dim lighting and live piano music provide a charming and intimate ambiance. The large booths along the walls have a good view of the restaurant; best seat in the house. I started with a daily special: the Truffle-Infused Mushroom Soup. It was spectacular. I loved every spoonful. Unfortunately, it all went downhill after that. We ordered a bottle of Frank Family Cabernet (2010, Napa, $110), which is more than double retail price. Corkage fee is $30 so it's better to bring your own bottle -- no limit on bottles per table, nor labels. My friend ordered a cocktail. The wine was decanted and served, but we waited for my friend's cocktail to arrive so we could toast. 15 minutes later and still no cocktail. Surely an aberration for a high-end restaurant because service is typically impeccable. After failed attempts to flag down service, I got up to ask about the drink. It came soon after ...totally watered down. Must have been sitting at the bar for a while. (I told him to return it but he didn't want to make a fuss. I think the server should have inquired about it, knowing that it wasn't delivered in a timely manner. but he didn't mention it.) My favorite steak is the bone-in ribeye so I opted for the closest cut -- the Frenched Rib Chop ($68). We also ordered Filet Mignon ($62) and Bone-In New Yorks ($74). My friend intended to order the Japanese Wagyu, but changed his mind after the sommelier raved about the NY (claiming that if he didn't love it, he would comp his steak). After such a high endorsement, he felt compelled to try it. My medium rare steak was served burnt charred and medium well. I felt bad returning an expensive steak but for $68, I deserved to enjoy my entree and I hate overcooked meat. (see the burnt char in my pics). The server was nice and brought a complimentary appetizer so I could nibble on something while my party ate. I noticed the Shortrib Croquettes on the daily specials list and contemplated ordering it (like arancini but a shortrib mixture instead of risotto). Good thing I didn't because I would've been pissed... $18 for 2 golf ball sized bites that tasted mediocre. Other steaks were not cooked as ordered, but close enough that they didn't say anything about it. However, all of us were disappointed. Given the stellar rating and exorbitant prices, we expected better taste and quality. Also, the sommelier never returned to inquire about the Bone-In NY (my friend regretted passing on the wagyu but wasn't asked so didn't mention it). We also tried the mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, asparagus and mac & cheese. The scalloped potatoes were very good; the mashed potatoes and asparagus were fine/typical. But the mac and cheese ...my friend said: "They should be ashamed to serve this." It looked like gemelli pasta sitting in a bowl of thin cheese sauce. It could have been much better. We felt so disappointed with the meal that we didn't even bother with dessert. I don't like writing poor reviews but the current Yelp rating completely deceived me so I figure my experience is worth mentioning. read more

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Distinguished. World-Class. Debonair. At El Gaucho, the food, ambiance and service are all of these things. I attended a green card party for a friend at El Gaucho recently and realized although this was a place that I frequented every few years or so, the experience was consistently the same. We sat in the private room, adorned with a wall of champagnes and wines and decorated with fine wood furnishings. We had our own server who handled our very eclectic, loud, drunk and politically-incorrect group with nothing but grace and a smile. We ordered lots of wine, appetizers, dinner and dessert and one by one we oooh'd and ahhh'd everything we ate. So what did we have? Most of us ordered the 8oz filet mignon..this vegetarian included (out of principle, folks) and we ordered a variety of sides including mashed potatoes, mushroom risotto, baked potatoes, lobster mashed potatoes and soups and salads. The hubby had the Crimini and Portobello risotto which was creamy and heavenly and we also ordered several desserts on the menu. Of course the flambé dessert is always a winner, watching the two dessert chefs eloquently dodge flames, adding liqueurs to dessert plates full of goodness. At one point I had to excuse myself and use the ladies room when an employee met me half way, reached out his arm, and next thing I knew I was being personally escorted to the restroom arm in arm being given total red carpet treatment. Gotta love it! Ahhhhh, El Gaucho.. like a vintage classic movie, this is a restaurant which will be forever elegant and stylishly timeless. read more

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My wife and I came for Restaurant Week, and overall, we had a pleasant experience. Appetizer: I had the Wicked Shrimp for an appetizer, and that was the lowlight of the meal. The shrimp was overcooked, and thus was very chewy and not tender. The sauce it was in was just ok. My wife ordered the Insane Truffle Soup. She liked it. I'm generally ambivalent to truffles, and this wasn't any different. Entree: I had the Tenderloin Medallions, and that was the best steak I've had in a while. It was perfectly cooked, super tender, super flavorful, and the mushrooms and sauce it came in complemented it perfectly. This was hands down, the star of the meal. My wife tried the Braised Brisket with polenta and mushrooms. She enjoyed it, but we both agreed that the meat in my dish was superior. However, her polenta was well-made, and the dish came together nicely. Dessert: I tried the Bailey's Bread Pudding, which I enjoyed. It was quite substantive, but not too sweet. My wife got the Chocolate Ganache Cake, which we both agreed was way too dense. My wife appreciated that it was dark chocolate, so it wasn't overly sweet. We couldn't finish it, though. The service was excellent - friendly, helpful, and thorough. The atmosphere was what you'd expect in a high-end restaurant. A little dark, so we needed flashlights to read the menus, but likely done purposefully. I was a big fan of the live music. If it weren't for restaurant week, I'm not sure my wife and I would have checked this place out. The normal prices are pretty steep, but for good reason. Yay for Restaurant Week! read more

A friend was visiting from out of town and I gave her a list of restaurants to meet me at and she chose this one. I warned her it was pricey. I waited in the bar alone. The bartenders were extremely attentive and friendly. It looked like they had a good bar menu and the piano was playing in the background. We were taken to our table and had lots to catch up about. The waitress was very friendly and asked us to put a menu on the corner of our table when we were ready, so we just chatted and nibbled on garlic bread. My friend ordered a 9 ounce glass of wine and it was like a half bottle! My friend started looking at the menu and was floored by the prices. I felt really bad. She loved the atmosphere though! I encouraged her to order the Copper River Salmon but then we found out it was $72. She was expensing her dinner so that was a no go. She decided on the Cream of Asparagus Soup and the Crab Cakes. She really enjoyed both. I wasn't that hungry either so I had clam chowder, which was delicious, and the Apple Salad off the vegetarian menu. Really really delicious but a huge portion. Sadly, my friend didn't want dessert. I'm going to have to come back because I'm craving the bananas Fosters like mad now! We were not offered the fruit and nut tray for dessert. So I missed my true El Gaucho experience. But that's ok, it was still really nice, beautiful atmosphere and the service was exemplary, as usual. The waitress had a great attitude despite the low check amount. And I was enthusiastically escorted to the ladies room by a waiter which is always fun. He said it's the best part of his job. Lol. Great staff. Couldn't ask for better customer service. I only weird part was the manager stopped by to check on us. And that's nice, most places do that. But he asked us what the occasion was and I said my friend was in from out of town. Then he asked how we knew each other and I said through work. He asked if we worked together and I said no, we met through industry events. Then he asked further questions about our relationship and I had to explain that my friend was very important in our industry and she sits on a board with my boyfriend. I mean, okay, he's being friendly I'm ok with that, but my friend felt it was awkward and intrusive. Regardless, trying to figure out when I can go back!!! Love this place! read more

El Gaucho - Make sure you go to the Seattle location. Dark Supper club atmosphere, incredible customer service. One of my favorite gems in Seattle. - Steakhouses Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place is super mob and sexy vibes You definitely feel bad ass my husband and I went for our date here and they set the table with roses and made us feel special the food I would have to say 3/5 I got the mashed potatoes it was super baby food. Mashed but the macaroni super delicious had a Smokey aged cheese In it which was to die for I got a ribeye steak and felt like I needed some A1 steak sauce the steak was so blan and my husband got the filet which he agreed needed some A1 definitely disappointed but there was so much food I went home so stuffed read more

Stepping into this beautiful restaurant is like you went back in time about 5 decades ago. Has that 50's gansta feel. Multi level seating both booth and tables. Table side service to make salads and desserts. This was our best meal in Seattle. Of course we started off with a dozen fresh oysters. Then had a spinach salad table side. I had the bone-in rib eye. While my wife had the chateaubriand. Both where perfectly cooked and well seasoned. The portions were huge and I absolutely did not have room for dessert. Now for me to not have dessert, that is saying something big. It mean I was full and satisfied. There was only one other fine dining restaurant that has done this to me before. Service is on spot in all aspects. From the hostess, to each waiter and busser. All polite, professional and efficient. Cant find much better than this in Seattle. read more

I haven't been to El Gaucho since high school and I remember it blowing my socks off back then so I was excited to finally go back. Steakhouses are suppose to be dark, but El Gaucho takes that to another level. I feel like I'm walking through the former Nocturnal Exhibit at the Woodland Park Zoo. We received excellent service throughout the evening. They were a little slow to refilling our waters, but after I asked once for more water they were on top of it from then on. Now to the food. The warm, cheesy garlic bread is so so good. I ate so much of it...I have no idea how I had any room left for my actual meal. I wish they would have sent me home with a bucket full of it. I started with a Caesar Salad. I love anchovies so I was glad that they were able to accommodate me and serve my salad with anchovy fillets rather than chopped up in the dressing like they normally serve it. Only complaint is that I had asked for the dressing on the side, and they seemed to have still put some on. For my entree I had the Scallops. This was the dish with the biggest problem of the night. Half of the scallops were cooked beautifully and just melted in my mouth. The other half, however, were way overcooked and burnt so rather than tasting the scallop, I just tasted charcoal. Eww. My dining companion had the Baseball Cut Top Sirloin. Boy was it massive. It wasn't a baseball, it was more like a softball or a shot put! But they seemed to love the dish and I enjoyed the little bite I had. For dessert we had the cheesecake, banana bread pudding, and the chocolate ganache. They were all absolutely delicious. read more

Happy Hour Review------ Seattle, you made baby Rene cry. At this moment, I am in my hotel sobbing over the thought that I left over half my burger at El Gaucho. Seattle is home the world champion Seattle Seahawks and might also hold the same title when it comes to burgers. Me? Well, I am a 49er fan but I must admit when presented with true greatness. I've done my research, scoured the internet and read through the Seattle talk threads. The burger here is frequently brought up. So I made it a point. I followed your advice and arrived early. I was fortunate enough to find a seat at the warm and inviting bar area. I took a peek at the menu, but it was predetermined that I would order the famous 410 burger. It's a steakhouse, so medium rare is safe. They know meat. And as expected, my burger arrived grilled to perfection. My first bite was nothing short of amazing. The combination of flavors from the the house made thousand island (my burger condiment of choice) to the delicate toasted brioche bun I was instantly sent to burger Heaven. It's HUGE! If you come with a friend, you can easily split and share. Seattle, you are a true burger dynasty. read more

Literally feels like our own semi-private world. 20s, dim, fun. Happy hour dinner was divine.The burger and shrimp/prawn dishes...Yummmmmmy! Awesome mocktail mojito and real-tail ;) lemon drop. Our server (Chaz) was fun and laughed with us. We didn't feel like it was too bougie or stuffy. We are staying at the Inn and the attention to detail and our delight has been beyond awesome. Even the fabulous valet (Tim) knew our name when we drove up and was super accommodating to our too tall SUV. I called ahead and the staff had answers to my weird questions .. when they didn't I had a brief hold and they came back with info. The room had a thoughtful card and goodies. There was romantic music, the heat was perfect, and it felt like coming home. We have a special private dinner (Thankyou Shannon and David) tomorrow evening and I am so excited. It's our 20th anniversary and it is so important to make great memories.. The next evening we had a private dinner in the 410 room. It was epic. Dreamy. Delicious. Perfect! read more

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This is a really great steakhouse. It has a speakesie type vibe to it. Super nice and elegant inside and the servers dressed decked out in suits. It's nice! We ordered the New York prime steak, roasted corn and scalloped potatoes. The servings come in separate dishes and are enough for two. The Caesar salad we ordered was made table side. The food was insanely good. At the end they give you a huge fruit dish to eat off of, which includes things like grapes, whole nuts of different varieties, cheeses, breads. And the great part is, whatever you don't eat off the tray, they will pack it and give it to a homeless person. Which I think is great!! Can't wait to come back. read more

El Gaucho - The fruit and nut tray you're given at the end of your meal. - Steakhouses Near Me - Seattle, Washington

So Joey Bishop died last week. What's that got to do with a review of El Gaucho? Nothing really. Except that Bishop was the last remaing member of The Rat Pack. And while I was having my birthday dinner a few weeks ago, sitting at the prime table on the second tier, being served thick steaks by tuxedoed waiters, I thought that this was the kind of place that Sinatra would have called swell. For a few minutes I wasn't in rainy downtown Seattle. I I was hanging out at some swank joint in New York with Frank, Dean and Sammy. Frank was looking for a few classy dames to spend the night with. Dean wasnursing a scotch and Sammy was playing drums with the Caesar Salad Tongs. This place knows what it's supposed to be and executes it perfectly. As Frank would say, Ring a ding ding baby! read more

My husband and I happened to stumble across this place, and we were delighted to find a swanky vibe with such a great ambiance. The live piano added to our overall experience. We shared the Thai spicy ribs, and ordered a Manhattan and a glass of Cabernet...everything was delish! Can't say enough about our bartender/server, Miguel--attentive and so friendly! He gave us some great insight about the local scene and some recommendations for our next trip to Seattle. ¡Gracias, Miguel! El Gaucho is on our list as a MUST for dinner the next time we visit Seattle! read more

El Gaucho - Thai Spicy Ribs and a scrumptious Manhattan - Steakhouses Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Their happy hour is absolutely EXCELLENT. We got filet sliders for $10 and they were amazing cuts of meat. Their burger was also delicious and their fries just as great. Also the place looks like an old Hollywood nightclub we're Sinatra would perform... Highly recommend! read more

All day Monday happy hour! Better service when you sit at the bar rather than the tables in the bar. Bartenders are very friendly and helpful. Order the house red wine. I really like their mixed green salad, among other great options on the bar menu. I feel like I'm in NY somewhere in an underground club since it's do dark in there! They give you a tiny flashlight to look at the menu. read more

El Gaucho - Steakhouses Near Me - Seattle, Washington

As far as I'm concerned, this is the best restaurant in the city. These guys are professionals, and they know how to cook steak. There is nothing bad on the menu, everything is a winner. The waiters truly respect you as a customer, and it is a real treat to visit here. El Gaucho is a class act all the way, and it's good to know that when I really want to make a very lasting and outstanding impression, I won't hesitate to take any of my guests or business partners here. How many ways can I say that I love El Gaucho? Millions. The only thing that comes close is Rover's and possibly Canlis, the latter of which is definitely overpriced compared to what you get at El Gaucho. It really marks Seattle as having a world-class restaurant we can be proud of. read more

I love being entertained when I visit restaurants. The tableside Flambe Cherries Jubilee was quite a show. Not only was it fun watching the preparation but it was also fun eating the dessert. Have you ever read a menu with a flashlight? If not, you will here. It's definitely a place that caters to customers who prefer privacy. I say this because it's very dim, quiet, and our server didn't stop by often. I had the 410 burger with fries. It was delicious. While dining I saw an employee making Caesar Salad. I love how they prepare food in front of their guests. I also like the design of the open kitchen. The live music coming from the piano player was very catchy. It's truly an experience any foodie should try. read more

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(5 star) Dry-aged NY bone-in was delicious, perfectly flavorful (4 star) Mushroom risotto - very buttery, earthy, savory (3.5 star) Ahi tuna tartare - very simple preparation with garnishes mixed tableside. Have had better elsewhere (4 star) Ambiance - sit in the main room, which has a supper club feel with the live piano bar - best seats in the house are the raised tables along the perimeter. Would skip the back room. (4 star) Service - professional, pleasant read more

Normally I do not like these type of high end steak houses....but in this case I have to tell you it was amazing. First of all I do not eat red meat so I can't really comment on the steak but everyone that did eat it loved it. I think a lot of it had to do with the way it is cooked on a custom make Kingsbridge Coal grill. The Cesar Salad was amazing not overpowering but done just right and I had the corn which was some of the best I ever had. The service was fantastic and the ambiance was great. All though it was a little on the dark side for me. Another thing that made this great was that they had a live piano player who i got to meet and he was charming and fantastic at his craft. Finally make sure to as the host to tell you a little bit about the building.....I won't tell you but it's a good story. El Fantastic!!!!!! read more

This place is really cool. Haha, that's just it. It feels like the set of a Mr. & Mrs. Smith scene. Its fanciness is obvious. I was visiting from California and am so glad that I chose this restaurant to dine at. Service was awesome. I liked everybody. They sat me at a table-booth where I got a view of the entire dining floor. I appreciated that. There's a suave Piano Man to entertain the diners all throughout the night. That was cute. My bf ordered the tasting menu and I ordered the Cod with Lobster addition. I LOVED THE COD. It tasted amazing; so buttery. The lobster was too salty for my preference when I usually love lobster :/. I had them make me a bloody caeser drink, and I liked that too. I had also tasted the mushroom soup that came with the tasting menu. Omg that mushroom soup is heavenly. Highly recommend overall. Go eat here. read more