Deals
share
(206) 728-1337
2505 1st Ave
Seattle,
WA
98121
47.6147
-122.349
Neighborhoods: Belltown, Downtown
Years in business
Established in 2004
Price:
$$$$
Last updated 10.20.11
Category:
Payment Methods:
Gift Certificate, Check, American Express, Visa, Diners Club, MasterCard, Travelers Check
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Late Night Dining, Celeb Hangout, Fine Dining, People Watching, Business Dining, Date Spot, Dine At The Bar, Notable Wine List, Bar Scene
Cuisine:
Bar & Club Special Features:
What People Are Saying About El Gaucho
Featured Review
Contributor
Contributor
In Short – Don't be fooled by the high school gym-like foyer--"swanky" best describes the 1950s supper-club scene that awaits. Inside, the dining room rises dramatically in three tiers and the lounge, all mirrors and light, glitters appealingly. All steaks are dry-aged Angus; the filet mignon, chateaubriand for two and baseball-cut top sirloin (a nearly round hunk of meat) are fully satisfying. Start with the wicked shrimp and don't skip the Caesar, which is entertainingly tossed tableside.
Editor's Tips
- What to Drink:
- The sommelier loves to collect wine, no matter how available it is. Selections low in quantity but high in quality may not make the wine list, so be sure to ask what's not listed.
- Where to Sit:
- Tableside service isn't offered at all tables--if you're into the experience, check where you'll be placed when you make your reservation.
- Save Money:
- Be ready to plunk down $20 or more for a fine Macanudo from the cigar menu or save a few bucks and bring your own smokes.
- The Extras:
- A complimentary fruit, nut and cheese arrangement arrives after dinner and before dessert.
- What to Drink:
- You can count on the traditional cocktails (priced at $9 with name-brand alcohol) but if your tastes lean toward the sweet, try a specialty drink like a Gaucho Punch or a flaming Spanish coffee.
- Know Before You Go:
- If you're looking for dinner, dancing and live jazz, check out El Gaucho's Pampas Room, open Friday and Saturday nights only.
10/13/11
Room for lots of improvement......................
by reviews by dahlia at Citysearch
Very disappointed in the new El Gaucho since it moved to First Avenue. A far, far, far cry from it's prior location in downtown with regard to service. Actually the food is still excellent, it's just the cooks don't know the true meaning of a rare or medium rare steak or how to judge thickness when cooking these steaks for the customer. HINT: go to Jak's and take a lesson on how to cook steaks.
Service very uppity and slow (unless you plan on having a 4 hour dinner with more wait time than eating and relaxing).
As for the women with the baby complaining about the extreme kissing couple - El Gaucho may be listed as a family friendly restaurant - but it's NO place for an infant. People that go to nice and expensive restaurants go to relax and enjoy the company their with - not to be entertained by a fussy crying baby from across the room. Use you brain lady!!
01/08/11
Overrated; cold staff
by Samara at Citysearch
You expect so much more from the place, but it doesn't deliver. Go somewhere else. Too dark, too loud. My fish was good, but others' steaks were not - overcooked and dry. Primary server and host definitely not warm or friendly. Had a great time anyway, but that was mostly due to good company!
12/17/10
Worst Experience Ever at Steak House
by coopdeville at Citysearch
For the amount of money my fiance and I spent (over $500) for dinner, one would think they would've acknowledged the over-cooked steak without having to have an NFL like "review" of the slab to determine it to be just that - over-cooked. by the time I got my steak back my fiance was almost through with hers. The salad was supposed to be a ceasar salad - and our server was so incredibely snotty that we were actually making fun of her by the time we left. If we weren't en-route to the opera and off to Hawaii the day after we would have excused ourselves and cut down on the bill much earlier, but we are blessed and life is good for us - even when the food or service isn't. But if we were strapped and if i was trying to impress business partners - I would be writing a letter to Mackay Rest. Group rather than reviewing them on City Search. From the hostess rolling her eyes at us, to our snotty waiter, and to the GM who disappeared after saying he would comp items off our bill - that were never taken off and couldn't be approved otherwise - a thumbs down expereience. Truly dissappointing. go to the met, or Ruth's Chris, or Daniels, or Jacks, or Sizzler for that matter.
10/18/10
What can you say it is the best
by WACKER at Citysearch
If you have some extra money and want to treat you and the wife out. This is the place. Great food great service. The best wine around.
10/09/10
There are better choices for a good steak.
by switzblitz at Citysearch
This place is mainly hype, but what do you expect from a belltown restaurant?
After dining hear and at Canlis in the same month, I would go to Canlis again and forget about El Gaucho.
It is tough to be pretentious enough to make me not want to go back to a high end steak house, but they just did not appreciate our patronage.
