In an era where Goodman’s, Hawksmoor, Blacklock and Temper dominate the steak scene, Gaucho has been left out of the conversation for a while. I wanted to see if the chain can still cut the mustard. Was it any good? Time to find out…
Ideal for:
A sit down meal after pounding the streets of Greenwich & The O2
Steak lovers that want a decent wine selection to pair their meat
Quiet date spot before heading into the City for drinks
Ambience & Décor
The Gaucho décor was classy, modern and cool. The matte black ceiling, shiny black marble flooring and white furniture gave the vibe of a 5-star dining experience. I like this colour contrast personally but it was not for everyone. The restaurant was empty so it was a quiet spot to meet old friends for a natter.
Service
The service was nondescript apart from the time the waiter spent explaining all of the cuts of meat by bringing out a meat board. That got me salivating. The waiters were all dressed in black, like assassins. I get this is meant to match the black and white cool décor but it was just a bit too serious.
Food
Despite being lunch, three ravenous gentlemen went for 2 large courses to share. Kicking things off we had the Sausage Platter. This was an assortment of sausages; my favourite being the chorizo and pork & fennel. A very good way to kick off the meal.
We wanted a sharing steak so ordered the Galician T-Bone (see right) along with thin chips, spinach and mac & cheese. The sauce accompanying the steak was a fiery chimichurri. The steak looked gorgeous and I was itching for my first bite. Sadly, the meat was underwhelming. Some bits were cooked medium rare and some were overdone and tough. However, the worst thing by a country mile was the spinach. It was vile and inedible. The mac and cheese was also a gloopy mess as the overcooked pasta turned to mush. The chips were the saving grace and the fiery chimichurri was essential to liven up the under-seasoned and overcooked meat. What an utter disappointment.
Gaucho O2 is more style over substance. The lovely décor superficially hides the horrors of the meal. I can see why Gaucho is falling behind its contemporaries. For the same price, you can eat a far better meal at any decent steak house. I was offended that a reputable restaurant put out such mediocrity. The chips and sausage platter saved Gaucho from total annihilation. E rating.
Photos of Gaucho O2 and more can be found on Instagram here.
Final grade: E
Final comment: Total culinary disaster cooked with no care; will never return.
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