Argentinian steak house Gaucho promises some of the ‘best steak in the world’ in an unusual setting of a converted church in the heart of Manchester. Set-up on Deansgate, the restaurant has prime location to entice newly returning city centre diners. Gaucho Manchester is one of several in the UK, with the first originating in 1994 in London.
Stepping through the entrance gives way to a dimly lit bar that you bypass to find the bigger restaurant area. Not just into beef to eat, the venue uses its menu as literal inspiration for the interior decor. Retro-feel cow prints adorn the seating area and walls to give an edge to the otherwise more classic aesthetic. The main dining space is open plan and includes typical tables and booths to suit a range of party sizes. Remnants of the rooms former courthouse glory can be identified in the ceiling cornices, wall panels and glass ceiling.
The sausage platter featured a combination of morcilla and chorizo, served with a side of rich romesco sauce. This starter is designed to share and gives you just enough to nibble on without overwhelming on portion size. The mix of sausages gives you a variety of flavours, with a hint of spice to wake-up your tastebuds for the courses to come.
The steaks were the obvious choice for mains and did not disappoint on taste or presentation. The Churrasco de lomo comes spiral cut and marinated garlic, parsley and olive oil for 48 hours prior. The level of preparation yields positive results, as the marinade offers delightful extra seasoning to the tender beef. Also good is the classic fillet, a thick cut of premium beef cooked exactly to specification and working well as a regular favourite for diners.
The dessert menu puts an agrentinian twist on classic dessert options. Choices including the Don Pedro and ice cream play up to Gaucho’s staple inspirations. The salted dulce de leche cheesecake is no doubt a popular choice among the masses, however, tailored to those with a particularly sweet tooth. Dense and round, the cheesecake comes served with two stripes of sauce and toasted marshmallow and was delicious when sampled. Perfect to share, the cheesecake makes the perfect latin american inspired dish to complete the dessert list.
On our visit the service was found to be excellent. Staff were attentive and especially considerate to check in with guests around any anxieties over social distancing measures. Servers asked us before placing glasses and disposable menus were used to keep guests concerns at ease. The restaurant also benefits from vast open space that allows diners a decent seating distance from one another to stay safe and enjoy their dining experience.
Verdict: Overall Gaucho is worth a visit. The restaurant has a modern look and warm atmosphere, service also exceeds expectations. Whilst some side dishes weren’t as flavoursome, the main steaks were delicious and competitively priced for a Manchester city centre location.
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