El Gaucho

User Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The current description states that there is a cigar lounge. Fortunately, the laws were changed a few years back, and smoking is no longer allowed indoors. You might want to update your information.

The food is good, the service solicitious (if a little snooty, at times) but El Gaucho is overpriced, especially since everything is a la carte. And for those high prices, it would be nice if they'd sweep up the cigarette butts on their sidewalk. It was equally filthy at 3PM as it was at 8AM the next morning. Gross.

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User Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

I never been so disappointed with a dinner. They have there regulars and if you are not one....they will make you fell that way. Ruth Chris is so much better.

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User Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Christmas Eve service and food was exactly what I was expecting - MARVELOUS! El Gaucho remains my absolute favorite restaurant in Seattle. We are moving out of state soon and I knew that I just had to dine here again before we left. I love the open room - it makes me feel like this is a place to see and be seen!

Even though it was Christmas Eve, we found the staff to be in great spirits. We changed our reservation twice without a hitch in the hostess' voice and even arrived early - and were granted waiting space in the private dining room (due to having a minor in our group). We chatted away (with constant cocktail and water service) for half an hour until our table was ready exactly at the reservation time.

The service was just as stellar as it always has been, in fact, there was an abundance of assistance. I was thrilled with the manner that our waiter helped me choose an excellent wine that was extremely tasty and not insanely expensive. I didn't feel self conscious about not being a connoisseur at all (I love drinking wine, but know nothing about selecting wine).

I can't say enough about the food itself. I'm a picky customer and find fault with many meals because I sense a lack of concern from the preparer or the server. I could find nothing to complain about and so much to be happy with. We were all surprised by the generous size of the Ahi Tuna dinner, which was perfected seared on the outside to create that lovely pink color on the inside. The Filet Mignon that was ordered 'blue' was served still chilly on the inside, exactly as requested! The Steak El Gaucho was rich with the excellent lobster medallions and the Chateaubriand & Lobster for two was proportioned just right. The must have sides of southwestern potatoes and creamed spinach were devoured with relish! El Gaucho knows how to do it all.

The only thing that should be improved is the music. It occasionally detracted from the experience because it was loud here and there. Don’t let the music dissuade you from dining here, it wasn’t that bad. However, I'd love to hear old time jazz and blues that suit the 'speakeasy' era.

As with anything of great quality, one should be prepared to pay more for the best. Certainly, you can't expect to be immersed in the El Gaucho experience if you are budget sensitive, but you can be budget savvy and still kind of rub elbows with the El Gaucho Experience while sipping perfect cocktails at the bar (which is open to the restaurant)! For six diners, our bill was over $700.00, but I gladly paid for such an well executed dinner experience.

El Gaucho will be a destination for us when we return to Seattle for visits!

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