First of all, the service was great. The food was good, but I was far from blown away. I don't go out to nice steak houses often, in fact this was my first non-business trip upscale steak house. I got the New York steak. It was very average in both flavor and texture. For the price I expected to be blown away by flavor and tenderness. Instead, it lacked flavor and was difficult to cut through at times. I didn't think it was any better than any steak I have picked up at Safeway and cooked myself. And it was so dark....I couldn't even see my steak to properly cut the fat cap off without using my phones flashlight. Good food overall, but not the quality I expected for that price. Disappointed in my $200 meal for two. read more

They not only know how to cook a steak, but they deliver on the sides as well. I had the Peppercorn New York and it was the size of a football. The temperature was perfect and the flavor was memorable. The most impressive side was the Lobster Mashed Potatoes, which was outstanding. One at our table ordered a flaming sword. I'm not sure how it turned out, but the display was very impressive. Service was competent and the sommelier made an outstanding wine recommendation. Overall, a great experience. read more

Some friends brought me here when I was visiting Seattle before I became a local and I was blown away. Really cool atmosphere and the food was fantastic. Ironically, my friends were both vegetarians. I've been back with my wife since and it was every bit as good as the first experience. I highly recommend any of their dishes that come flaming or on a spit. Or better yet, both! read more

My wife and I went here for our anniversary and enjoyed a fine evening. Though the atmosphere was a little noisier than I expected and the ambiance decent, the food was fantastic . I grew up on steak in the Heartland and this was easily the best steak I had. The filet mignon cut like butter and the mashed potatoes practically melted in my mouth. The dress code was mainly business casual, though the wait staff was in basic tuxedos. Women patrons wore both dresses and business casual attire. They had a nice large wine selection, with most wines priced by the bottle. read more

Excellent customer service as always!!! Great atmosphere you would always expect at El Gaucho (plush seats, dimly lit with candles, etc.) Favorite entrees:Chateaubriand, Filet, NY steak (Honestly, I've never had my steak over or under cooked - major plus!!!) I love the Tableside Flambe style desserts - Banana's Foster is my favorite! Very very spacious and excellent customer service....Whenever i head the bathroom they always clean the table free of crumbs and put my napkin "folded" on the table as well - I always wonder how they keep track of everyone leaving...! lol read more

My wife and I headed into Seattle for a long over due date. We were hooked up by a relative with a great room on the 17th floor of the Warwick overlooking the Space Needle. We caught an early show at the Regal Meridian 16 and were finishing off our evening with dinner at El Gaucho. Not sure what happened to the El Gaucho I used to frequent, but 50 minutes to get a Prawn appitizer is just to long!! If you are going to make us wait that long, you damn well better be able to surpass the anticipation expectations you just created by such a wait. My wifes veal was far from anything thing she could remember as being tastie and my Pan Fried Oysters would have been out matched by any Happy Hour menu down at the Pike Place Market. In this case, our expectation were not even remotely entertained. The sad thing is that my wife and I both concluded with out so much as a conversation, that the only thing good was the Chocolate Ganache. Our servers opinion was that El Gaucho slowed due to the closure of the Cigar Room. Word on the street is that they are trying to reopen the Cigar Room. I think El Gaucho will see that even if the Cigar Room is reopened, that will not make them busy in the resturant, they need to reopen the kitchen. read more

Screams romance w/top of the line service. Great wine list, comps you if your steak or dish isn't up to your standard.... gotta luv them! Top of the line for a date read more

El Gaucho - Excellent sommilier 2007 Spanish Clio - with steak awesome! - Steakhouses Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Amazing steakhouse, pricey but worth it. We didn't have a reservation but they made room for us. I had the Baseball cut and my wife had a filet. They were both amazing/the best we ever had. Steaks are about $50 each plus sides are additional. Service and atmosphere are excellent. read more

El Gaucho is my go to restaurant for special occasions in Seattle. The service is always amazing and the food is excellent. Hands down the best crab cakes I have ever had! I would recommend trying something other than the peppercorn new york as the one time I had that the pepper completely overwhelmed the flavor of the meat. If you're with someone willing to share I highly recommend trying the chateaubriand if you've never had that cut before. And if bananas foster is your thing then this is the place to go, best I've ever had. So if you're looking for a fun night out and you're ok spending a bit of money on your meal I highly recommend El Gaucho, they're consistently spectacular. read more

All I can say is: Wow. This was one of the most amazing dinners I've ever had!!! I went here tonight for my birthday dinner, and let me tell you, it was quite possibly the best dinner I've ever had! What really sets El Gaucho apart is their service! I felt like royalty from the moment I got there. I also knew it wasn't just me, they seemed to treat everyone as if they were the most important person in the restaurant. On top of all the amazing service, the food was delectable ! I've never had such a tender filet minion! People have said that El Gaucho was over priced, but I disagree. For the money you spend, you get amazing food, and impeccable service. I will be sure to frequent this establishment more often! My new favorite restaurant!!! read more

My husband and I come here often. I like to share my first experience. My honey surprised me with this amazing experience. He shared what this place meant to him. (Childhood Memories with his mother) The minute you pull up to park your car. You have a staff member car to your needs. I felt like I was the queen of the ball and the entire staff is there for your wants and needs. The timing of the food courses, to making the gourmet salads, pasta dishes and your flamin' dishes only in a candle lite setting and in front of your dining area. You are so just amazed with the superb treatment of your meals and they will wait to make sure you enjoy the first bite. I just smile when we talk or plan on returning to this Old Fashion Classic Royal Treatment of FINE Dining!!! I am in LOVE with El Gaucho's read more

AWESOME!! AWESOME!! AWESOME!! My wife and I celebrated our 6th year anniversary here. We called in to make reservations and they were very accommodating. When we arrived they took us straight to our booth. They had rose pedals and a hand written card congratulating on our anniversary. The service was beyond excellent. Our server Jeffery was very nice and funny. The atmosphere was very romantic. We had a great night. What really got me was when my wife had to use the restroom and she asked one of the workers and instead of pointing her in the right direction he put his arm out and escorted her. We will be back again and again. read more

I took my boyfriend to El Gaucho for his birthday and really enjoyed the experience we had. I loved the look and feel right away from the dark lighting to the gentleman playing piano in the corner. The staff was polite and our server was fantastic. She was very attentive and never once made us feel rushed. Our steaks were tender and flavorful, cooked just the way we both liked them. I definitely would recommend the Tenderloin Diablo for an appetizer, it's delicious. The spicy cream sauce was so good I could eat it as a soup! We also really enjoyed the scalloped potatoes, very cheesy and once again delicious. Lastly, the Chocolate Ganache was rich and amazing. We're both big chocolate and caramel fans and this dessert was perfect! This was our first visit to El Gaucho and I will definitely be back. This is a great restaurant for those celebrating a special occasion or for those just wanting a delicious steak for dinner! read more

The memories that El Gaucho has given me in the past years that I have been going to this steakhouse have been priceless. You add up the top notch service, the ambiance, and the quality of their food, and I would give them 6 stars if I could. I know that sounds very cliche, but it's the truth. I have taken my friends, family, dates, and even had business dinners at El Gaucho. I just feel like Sinatra when I go into this place, it's everything I expect and more from a high-end steakhouse. I've been to numerous other steakhouses that are comparable, but I have been a loyal fan of El Gaucho for the past 9 years. Every time I walk in I remember all the great times I've had at the restaurant, and I will continue to make more memories in the future. Thank You El Gaucho! read more

Food High! We had an absolute fantastic and exhilarating dining experience at El Gaucho. At first entry a bit dark, we were immediately taken to our reserved table and handed the menu with little flash lights. There was a lounge singer and it was a bit loud. We had the mixed greens with apple and almonds, prawns and grits, and to finish the bread pudding, as well as the truffle soup, filet mignon and the chocolate ganache. The food was to die for, everything cooked to the point and perfectly flavored. All four of us were in a food high at the end of our dinner. We will be back soon and try some of their other creations!! read more

If you are a big fan of steakhouses, I would highly recommend this place for celebrating a special occasion. I have dined here twice; one for a birthday in the main dining area during dinner and another time in the pampas room during dinner during a live show. What is interesting about this place is that you are transported back into time upon entering this establishment. Dark big booths, dim lighting, waiters in old school attire. The food is very pricey (which is why i recommend this for a special occasion or a date night), but the quality of the meat here is excellent and on par with the different types of steaks offered at the metropolitan. The ambiance and service here is one of a kind because you are in an environment where you are always receiving excellent service from your waiters. The waitstaff will create your caesar salad and bananas foster tableside for you which can be entertaining. My favorite part was the ending the meal with a huge bowl of fruit that far exceeds the size of my head. One negative I have to say about this place is that it is VERY dark. As expected with steakhouses, I would expect there to be dim lighting in this establishment but we found it so dark that it would be considered a safety hazard and liability for patrons to try navigating their way from the entrance all the way to your seat with very minimal light. read more

Absolutely delicious!! The steak was to die for!! Sauce amazing too. I recommend to go to this place if you're balling out. It's a place where you take a girl out that you really really really like. Dress business casual and you are good to go. The atmosphere in this place was badass. I suggest finishing everything off with a banana foster. If you plan on having an experience you should definitely go here. read more

Service is great. Love the table side preparations. Love coming back to El Gaucho. Would dine here every time when we're in Seattle but have to give others a try. read more

As more restaurants begin to pop up around the city I am grateful for this iconic Seattle steakhouse. A lot of times restaurants tend to have great food and terrible service or great service and mediocre food - El Gaucho has it all. I recommend starting the evening with a cocktail and ordering the oysters and steak tartare for starters. I'm a prime rib gal - so that paired with any of the many delicious Bordeaux on their menu...forget it about it. It's a hat trick if you bring the right company because you are guaranteed delicious food and amazing service. Note: they prepare steaks EXACTLY as asked so medium rare is indeed rare at the very center...as it should be. read more

The service was excellent! Everything was tasty! I would go back to sit at the bar just to have the starter salad. The dressing is sooo good! Dinner for 2 was $250 so a little pricey but worth it if you're celebrating a special occasion. It's too dark and romantic for me to take clients. read more

Amazing service and food loved the service and the food steak and lobster was cooked to perfection. And our waiter Dominic was a total sweetie read more

Incredible service. From the moment we walked in to the moment we left. I highly recommend starting with the truffle mushroom soup and the tuna tartare. The steak, lamb, chicken, and sides were all phenomenal. The whole night we couldn't stop talk about the phenomenal food. To end the night we had their banana and bread pudding dessert left us speechless. read more

El Gaucho - Steakhouses Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Went for the Seattle Restaurant week and had price fixe 3-course dinner. Ambiance is nice and waitress very good service. But food from soup to main entree were a bit salty. We were party of three so got to taste each others dishes of the 3 course meal with 3 different dishes per course. All soups and main were salty! Ordered escargot and risotto to share also which were quite tasty. Maybe my expectations were too high but didnt think the place lived up to its reputation. read more

Came here to try the burger, which was incredible but was blown away by how classy the place was. Coming back here soon for date night!

Recently attended the Valentine's Cabaret. Show was entertaining enough but the banquet style food left a lot to be desired. Food was cold, veggies burnt, appetizers were bland and small, the "El Goucho Style" addition of Lobster "Medallions" is a single 1" medallion with bearnaise. Service was excellent but overall not worth the $$$. My boyfriend and I have celebrated many birthdays and anniversaries here over the past 3 years. The last few visits have not impressed either of us. Disappointed that the execution has declined so much. read more

What a wonderful experience. A couple friends and I had a reservation for El Gaucho on a very busy night. When we checked in they told us the table would be available shortly. They mentioned a few guests were lingering in their tables but they would seat us as soon as they could. Once they came to grab us for the table, one of the workers handed us all free glasses of pink champagne since they knew we waited past our reservation time! After we were seated the waitress was SO helpful with the menu and helped us with anything we needed. The service was amazing but the food was even BETTER! Best steak I've had in a long time. We will for sure be returning for another dinner. read more

Absolutely love their wicked shrimp appetizer and banana's foster desert! I think their steaks rank up their with the met and daniel's. Its always fun to sit in the bar area and watch the cougars... we like to go there for appetizers before going out a movie. read more

I wish El Gaucho was my house. I've been a few times but this is my first review. No dress code for this place but there probably should be :) The service is pretty amazing and I love the the waiters have business cards. Our table was a little dare but I didn't worry because they dropped off a few branded flashlights that we got to keep. I had the steak El Gaucho which was great - Perfectly cooked (medium rare). We had a few sides but the winner was definately the sweet roasted corn. Seriously if you order only one side this should be it! We didn't do any apps cause we wanted to get straight to the good stuff, but we did stay for dessert which was one order each of the banana's foster/cherries jubilee, both really good. The complimentary fruit tray at the end of your meal is pretty slick. If you're paying make sure you have a healthy bank account. I've never seen a bill that is under like $900 for 5 people (we usually get wine and lots of drinks though). read more

The first time I ever went here, I was speechless. The steak was so good that I simply sat back in my seat, and chewed with the biggest smile possible while eating. I have been here numerous times for birthdays, dinner dates, meetings, and I have yet to ever taste anything that was not absolutely delicious. The service is quite chivalrous, at what other restaurant will your date be escorted to the bathroom? This is dinner done right. A great place for meat and potatoes, but also for succulent seafood. Table-side made Caesar salad for two? Yes please! The dessert is fantastic, banana's foster almost every time... and I do not like banana's, that's how good it is. If you haven't been here yet, try it out. read more

El Gaucho is not just about their incredible good food, it's also wonderful dining experience. This was a last minute thought so we didn't have reservations. But their amazing staff went so far out of their way to accommodate us with an excellent table. It's a nice dark place, just as it should be. We used their "pen light" that was provided by them to read the menu, but that is just part of the experience. My date and I shared a nice bottle of white wine in their medium price range, we both had the top sirloin steak with mushrooms and sauteed spinach. And as if all that is not enough, we let our waiter pick the dessert for us, A very good idea! He prepared in front of our table the "Banana Foster" you must try this. Cooper and Larry took such good care of us. Don't just go for happy hour, go have the dinner and enjoy a masterpiece of excellent service that is now so rare in these times. And don't be in a hurry, just relax, chill and enjoy evening. If you think you're food is not coming "fast enough" then sip more wine. The wait staff take great care of you. One word for you people in Seattle.... Please, dress up for dinner! read more

What can I say? El Gaucho is my F-A-V-O-R-I-T-E steakhouse! This is always my first choice for eating downtown. They have a great appetizer menu with lots of things you don't normally see (escargot is great). I LOVE the fillet Mignon and add a lobster tail. PERFECT! Very good drinks too. Cool bar with cooler atmosphere. Definitely where the cool kids play... See you there :) read more

Swanky!! What a birthday dinner! The chateaubriand was cooked perfectly with an awesome table side show from Larry, ( who also handled our Bananas Foster presentation.) The atmosphere, service and selection were all top notch. We enjoyed ourselves so much we wanted to stay at The Inn at El Gaucho upstairs, but unfortunately they were sold out. We look forward to returning soon. read more

El Gaucho has been on my radar for a long time and restaurant week felt like the perfect time. It has a feeling of an old theater into it, mood lighting, semi-circular dining area and two double doors at the entrance. The place was jam packed, so it looked promising. We were brought both the restaurant week and the normal menu. For the appetizer, we had a choice of a truffle soup or a salad, main was between a filet mignon and a brisket and appetizer was chocolate ganache, a pudding or sorbet. I decided to go with the truffle soup, filet mignon and the pudding and ice cream. Service was amazing.... they were fast and efficient. Food wise, however, it was just ok. The truffle soup was somewhat bland... apart from the amazing truffle oil aroma, the overall taste could improve a little. The main dish was a little bit on the salty side for me. I thought it might be an isolated incident, but there were two other people in my party who had the same problem with their dish. Having said that, I am slightly more sensitive to salt and it could have been my taste buds, rather than the dish itself. One of us got the brisket and that tasted much better. The final part of the dinner was the dessert, the ganache was better, the pudding a little disappointing. So overall, I am happy we tried this place. It has an exciting ambiance. Overall experience was ok. read more

Went to El Goucho for a quick dinner before a movie and it was the best service I have had in ages thanks to Mak!! The food was good, came out swiftly, everything was clean and the service was friendly and went above and beyond to put our left overs in the fridge until the movie was over so the food didn't go bad! Will definitely go back again many times! read more

This place was amazing! The food was great and the ambiance was very intimate. My husband and I had a great time. I wish I could remember our waitress name, because she was just the best! She suggested the right order and it was perfect. I walked out satisfied. It has been a while since we were there, but she was working on the night of January 24th. Sorry for the over due review. read more

My favorite. An instant classic. The ambiance is amazing. Table side service is something everyone should experience.

My Fiancé and I went to this place looking for a place to have our large Italian wedding, EAT, and to buy a cigar for my other half. We walked 5 miles to get here while in town from Southern California to watch a football game. We were excited. That excitement shortly went down hill when we were asked to leave the restaurant by the Manger (short bald guy). No one would tell us why- even the bar tender apologized where we got water because he didn't know why ether. As we walked outside we were extremely confused and embarssed so my Fiancé decided to head back in there and ask what on earth happened. I shortly followed to find the Manger and Him talking in a side room- right as I walked in the Manger points to me and says to my Fiancé that I am the reason we were asked to leave because I am "too drunk." I laughed at him because I thought he was kidding, until I realized he was serious. I told him that I was not drunk, that I had a single glass of wine before our 5 mile walk to this place- that he is mistakenly judged me probably because of my DIABETES- I told him I was starving and when my blood sugar goes down I shake, look pale, and get a little loopy. That I need to eat and he will see the drastic change. I also told him he didn't have to be so rude because we are happy to find Cigars and to eat a Steak after our long day. We were not Loud, We kept to ourselves when we were there waiting for a table, and oh yea HAPPY. The worst part was his response- he said "Maybe you have Diabetes and that is why but you will need to get that under control somewhere else." I wanted to give him a reason to kick us out after his snarky, horrible attitude and response to my medical problems. But somehow I was able to keep my anger down long enough and I really wish I had a way to file complaint against this man. As a regular person and successful Business Woman I refuse to be treated like that. I do business in Seattle and I will never send a client or do my meetings at this place. In addition, they lost out on having our huge Italian wedding. My blood is still boiling over his mistreatment still to this day! read more

At first moment when I walked into el gaucho I really like the romantic feeling I got from the restaurant with a kitchen that is open to view. We decided to take my in-laws to eat at a fancy restaurant since they don't get to go out too often to eat at these places. I only had el gaucho once and I thought that the sirloin last time was fantastic so I decided to have it again. We also ordered the truffle infused flavored soup and a few sides to share. Including the mac and cheese, asparagus and mashed potatoes. To be quite honest since the only other fancy steak restaurant I have ever had was capital grill, that would be my comparison. I think the best part of my meal was the truffle infused soup that was delicious. I can't say that my sirloin was up to par. The meat was tender and juicy but a bit oversalted in my opinion. Obviously not everyone's palate is the same. Unfortunately the sides were okay and not phenomenal. I'd have to say that capital grill's mac and cheese greater than el gaucho mac and cheese. Lastly, we were about to order desserts all around and wanted the tableside service for bananas foster. We waited and waited and then when we tried to flag down our waiter and call out for me like 3 times and every time he would zip away and forget about us. By the time we waited 15 minutes to try to order our dessert... we just lost our appetite and just wanted to leave before we would have to deal with flagging down for our check. It was clearly busy for the waiter but we really just wanted bananas foster! I guess we will never know what it will taste like! Seems like a great place for a drink and to enjoy swanky music if thats what you're into! read more

I've only been here a few times but always have a good time both times. I do like that they have valet parking because downtown Seattle parking at any time of the day is horrible, especially if it's raining. The decor is black painted walls and ceilings but there are street lamp style lighting throughout the dining area to give it an outdoor nighttime feel. Service is rather impeccable, everyone always has a smile on their face and very helpful and friendly. I've only been here for dessert so I can't comment on their menu items, however the drinks and desserts are delicious. Not the cheapest of places but I do love the bread pudding has to be one of the best if not the best bread pudding I've ever had. Soft smooth in texture and flavor but not mushy and wet. The creme burlee is a close 2nd to Daniel's Broiler (i love their vanilla bean creme burlee), just the right amount of burnt sugar on top, i do prefer the creme part to be a little more dense. Banana Fosters is a beautiful demonstration and presentation of the dessert. Delicious for what it is but it's definitely a special occasion dessert as it is a pretty penny to have. Overall, great service, atmosphere and they offer valet parking which is a huge plus for parking downtown is tough. I'll be back to try the rest of the menu sooner than later! read more

Superb first experience during Seattle Restaurant Week. Visited a second time for some great HH food selection at the bar!