Gaucho Smithfield

Fancied somewhere different near Farringdon and we all were craving meat. Where better to go to than Gaucho. Started with a glass of bubbly in the bar area. Was pretty busy for a Thursday evening but nice atmosphere. Everyone was very friendly from the minute you walked in to the time we were seated to our table. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful with our selections. We have been before, and hadn't been for a while. It was great to go back and have a very good piece of steak. We weren't rushed, we could stay and chat and have a great evening which we did as we almost all missed our last tube home. If you are in and around Farringdon station and fancy a good steak - would add this one to your list. Enjoy!

Located adjacent to the Smithfield market, a real gem for lovers of good argentinian beef and malbec (the wine cellar is an Argentinian tour de force, and you will not be disappointed). As restaurant afficionados know, consistency in the quality of food and service is a rare thing. We go there on a fairly regular basis (once every month or two), and I am happy to report that they get it better than in most restaurants across the city. We have been going there for at least two years, and although we certainly would not qualify as “regulars”, they almost always seem to remember us (especially the manager Rachel Rojas, who is delightful) and some detail about our last visit—and in any event we always get a warm welcome. We tend to indulge in a glass or two before being seated, and the lounge area towards the front is intimate and comfortable, and they do not try to rush you to the table if you need some time to unwind (although they generally will come and ask if you are ready just as you are about to finish your drink, which is a nice touch). Once at the table, the meat menu is displayed on a large wooden cutting board that is brought to the table—a rustic touch in an otherwise very stylish atmosphere. The meat is high quality, cooked to order and delivered hot—even if you order it blue, which reveals an institutional understanding of these important nuances; not just of the kitchen staff, but of the waiting staff and management as well. The side dishes are thoughtfully selected and generally prepared to a high standard. On the odd occasion that something is not up to par, it has been our experience that the managment and staff are quick to respond and remedy. Two recommendations: try the house Malbec, which is very yummy (if you will pardon the technical term), and the bife de lomo medallions served rare served with the chimichurri salsa rather than the more continental offering of bernaise or mushroom sauces.

Gaucho's are on the whole good, really wouldn't go above that as praise. Having eaten here recently I was disappointed that the rib-eye was a bit tough. Having mentioned that in passing to the waitress, my meal was whisked away in a flash with many apologies and I was told a replacement would be out. Sure enough it was as well as replacement side dishes without being asked. Problem is that the meat really wasn't that great, not a patch on the quality of the Hawksmoor. I was told it was the wrong time of year in Argentina and it can be a little tough. So why, at those heavy prices, do they still sell it? Overall, they are a solid performer but the prices don't justify the product. I do think in a time when people are concerned by the carbon footprint of their food, why go for this when you can pay less for a better British product? Service is impeccable.

This place is like going into a club and being asked to eat there – it's dark with thumping music (and I'm no old biddy – I'm 23 and love going out – but when I go out for dinner, you just don't want that!) The prices are insane, I swear they must have raised them just because of the popularity of the place. You can go round the corner to a little French restaurant (Le Cafe Du Marche) and get a much better steak for a fraction of the price. My colleagues Risotto had too much salt and apart for that was quite bland. Good cocktails, lovely staff. Good bread selection and dip. But apart from that, a total waste of money – just so overpriced. Average chips are charged at £3 for a saucer of them and they don't come with a burger (which again was as good as a Wetherspoons one). I doubt I'll be going again!

Gaucho Smithfield is a bit of a puzzle: I should like it, I eat there in preference to the top floor at Smiths (which I consider uninspired and vastly overpriced), but I can't say I truly rate it. The decor is discrete/opulent which is fine for City lunches (though at the moment the City seems very depressed and the traffic volumes are hardly ever what the “used to be”). The service is very attentive and the Brazilian waitresses there are especially pleasant. The little cheese rolls served with the bread really hit the spot when they are served hot (send them back if they are not !). The food is the closest to delivering “what it says on the tin” that one could ask for…BUT: 1. The starters are always mean even though they deliver the taste and quality (I love palm hearts, for instance); 2. The steaks always look like they are the the smaller sibblings of the ones shown on the board they bring round – the cooked weight is a fraction of the alleged uncooked weight so NEVER order the smallest size; and 3. The sides are also mean. Saving grace: the wine ! Though you can pay well over the odds here, Argentinian reds can be simply wonderful. Try the wines listed at the back of the red selection which are exclusive to Gaucho – the Malbec blends are seriously good. A friend who lives in the far East took me there for lunch when he was in London recently, and asked me to pick any wine (he owed me a favour): I picked the most expensive of these exclusive wines (52 quid, I think) and he agreed it was worth every penny ! Another plus: the tables are not close together so conversations are unlikely to be overheard. I can't help thinking that this could easiy be a place I really look forward to visiting, so come on the management, please think about the comments above and do something, you are nearly there.

The food here really is fantastic, but the atmosphere does take away from it a bit for me. You probably won't find a better steak in London, and I'm sure that some absolutely love the atmosphere here, but I enjoy a more relaxed place.

I had one of the most stressful meals of my life here last saturday. For a start it was so dark I wondered if I had inadvertently stumbled into ‘Dans le Noir’ and had to use my mobile phone light to even locate the menu on the table, let alone read it! The pumping house music raised my blood pressure further, as did the slightly pushy service, where a request for tap water was met with a sneer. The food itself – steak, chips, salad – was simple but tasty but having to order sides seperately bumped up the price considerably. The exclusively Argentinean wine list was well laid out and descriptive with some interesting choices at reasonable prices although my first three choices were out of stock! All in all, good if you prefer clubbing to dining, but I won't be rushing back.