Argentinian steak restaurant, Gaucho, has recently opened its doors in Newcastle city centre and Portfolio North was invited along to try the new menu.
After exploring the pampas region of South America, visiting farms and vineyards and meeting gauchos, the founder of the popular chain brought the way of life back to England in the 1990s. Since the conception of his first site, Gaucho has expanded rapidly, with customers returning for the high-quality steak and unusual Latin wine list.
The beef comes from Argentinian Black-Angus cattle bred at selected farms where they graze on 17 different types of grass, ensuring they are natural and free-range.
With the largest of Argentinian wines outside of the country, as well as a range of wines from around the world, Gaucho ensures there is something for every taste. From a Patagonian Malbec to a sparkling wine created in Hampshire, there is much to explore on the wine list. Gaucho have a real focus on sustainability and work with wineries across the world to provide sustainable wines and donate to reforestation projects by charity Not For Sale, who take those at risk out of danger of modern-day slavery.
The recently-opened Newcastle branch is inspired by New York and features an impressive bar and pampas grass, as a nod to their heritage, as well as comfortable seating options and an area for live music. Following a regeneration of a Pilgrim Street site, Gaucho Newcastle has created an oasis of luxury in the heart of the city.
On our visit to Gaucho, we started with cocktails. The Citrus Negroni was strong and delicious and the limited edition coconut cocktail was light and foamy- similar to a Pina Colada but lighter. The staff suggested wines to us that would pair with the steaks we were going to have and the wine they brought over was delicious and really went well with the steaks. You could tell that the staff were knowledgeable about their menu and the best pairings.
For starters, we had the prawns and avocado and the garlic prawns. The portions were the perfect size for a starter, as sometimes as starter can be too filling. The prawns were fresh and delicious and well-seasoned. We then both had fillet steaks for our mains and the staff were on hand again to talk us through which steak would work with our preferences. Whilst some of the newer staff were slightly nervous, they were all very attentive and friendly and the more senior staff members were experienced and comfortable.
We chose to have truffle macaroni cheese, fries, mushrooms and broccoli with our steaks and the sides were delicious and again, a good portion size. The steaks were perfectly cooked to our specifications and were lovely. We tried peppercorn and firecracker chimichurri sauces, both of which paired well with the steaks and the red wine.
For dessert we had a brownie and the salted caramel cheesecake and they were both excellent and left us on the right side of full after such a high-quality meal. The Gaucho experience is a luxury one and for that reason, it is perfect for a treat or special occasion. The evening felt glamorous, with a lot of diners dressed up for the restaurant. We also had a look in their private dining space and it seemed a great place for a larger group or corporate event away from the noise of the main restaurant, which can be quite busy and therefore a bit louder than the private dining area. However, the atmosphere across the restaurant was energetic and upbeat and the music was great.
For a birthday or special event, Gaucho feels like a great choice. With high-quality and sustainable food and wine, the venue is ideal for such a celebration and the interior design felt luxurious and fresh. Gaucho is already proving popular and it’s no surprise why- the steaks were delicious, the staff were lovely and we really enjoyed our visit.
