Gaucho Liverpool

Gaucho Liverpool impresses as soon as you step inside. The Grade-II listed former Bank of Liverpool building has a scale and sense of occasion like few other restaurants in the city, managing to feel warm and welcoming despite the building’s vertiginous vaulted ceilings.

It felt right to go fresh and light with the starters in anticipation of the beefy delights ahead. The tuna tiradito really sang with lime that brightened the umami salinity of the tuna. The cocktail menu provided a similarly zesty accompaniment in the form of a citrus negroni, the perfect opener for the richer road ahead, for which we chose a light Argentinian red.

Our waiter guided us through Gaucho’s alluring steak offerings (all 100% carbon neutral) by presenting the cuts on a platter, a nice touch given that some of the Argentine options could be unfamiliar to some British diners. We went for the churrasco de chorizo, a spiral cut sirloin marinated in garlic, parsley and olive oil, and a more unassuming rare rump steak. The sirloin was a treat - the spiral cut preparation resulted in a thinner steak than you might expect, but that added surface area provided ample space for a deep maillard crust to form, resulting in phenomenal flavour. The rump was just as impressive, packed with a depth and tenderness that gave away its quality.

Sides offered further opportunities for fun. Humita (a kind of ground corn puree) with whipped cheese and ancho chilli oil was sweet and rich, and intense oyster mushrooms bathed in brown butter hit the spot. The chimichurri was bright and punchy, and combined with all that beefy goodness struck a perfect balance. In short, it was a joyful combination.

After all that beef, the dessert menu can seem a little intimidating, especially this one which leans towards the sweet, with brownies, cookie dough and pancakes all vying for your attention. A shared Don Pedro was just right - whipped ice cream, walnuts and a glug of rum was light as a feather and provided the perfect sugar hit needed to send us off into the night.

Gaucho Liverpool has some of the finest cuts of carbon-neutral Argentinian steak, fine wines and signature cocktails, making it the ideal spot for a weekday lunch, after-work cocktails or a romantic meal for two. Housed in the former Bank of Liverpool, the Grade II listed building on Water Street is conveniently located in the city centre.

The set lunch menu at Gaucho Liverpool offers an array of lighter dishes, perfect for a quick bite to eat or a leisurely lunch. Featuring rump steak frites with chimichurri, pan-fried fish, dulce de leche pancakes to finish, all at a very affordable price point and available as two or three courses. 

The a la carte menu features a broader selection of steaks, all of which are sourced from Argentinian herds grazing freely in the Pampas region. We're talking cuts like sirloin, ribeye, rump, and fillet available in a variety of sizes and each served with chimichurri sauce and a side of either chips, creamy mashed potato or green salad. Alternatively, explore the marinated steak selection, or, if you're unable to decide, just go for The Gaucho Sampler to share between two. 

And, if you're not really in the mood for steak, you'll be glad to hear Gaucho Liverpool offers a range of chicken, fish, and burger dishes available too, along with roast dinners on Sundays. Tuck into mouth-watering roast sirloin of beef, served with crispy roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and unlimited Yorkshire puddings.

As for the wine list, you'll find plenty of fantastic bottles from Argentine vineyards, alongside a small selection of old-world wines. That said, the cocktails here are very popular. From a Strawberry Negroni to The Alfajores, the team takes pride in their offering. If you're looking to push the boat out, the wagyu Martini with burnt lemon oil is the way to go.