Many of the capital’s leading luxury restaurant groups have established a Manchester outpost, this including Gaucho: the fine-dining steak restaurant. Situated in a converted church in the centre of Deansgate; cow skins line the glamourous interior to proudly embody the contents of its menu, whilst a highly bespoke menu of indulgent food and an unabashed atmosphere certify it is nothing less than a theatrical experience from start to finish.
Gaucho deliver their fine-dining promise to carnivores across the city, citing themselves as ‘the finest steak restaurant in Manchester’. Suitable for smart lunches and dinners throughout the week, and a social centre point at weekends with DJ brunches, a thriving cocktail bar and Sunday roasts for the whole family – Gaucho’s many menus offer a slice of their signature Argentinian steak for all.
I was booked in to review their classic à la carte menu one Thursday evening. A generous offering centred around their signature South American steak; Gaucho’s cuts come from premium Black Angus cattle that have been bred in Argentina at hand-selected farms. Reared by Gaucho’s trusted partners who they have worked with for many years, each cow grazes on seventeen different types of grass from the Pampas provinces of Argentina – known for its lush and verdant grasses and highly fertile soil. It is these elements combined with a happy, free-range lifestyle that ensures a high quality of Gaucho’s meat across its generous offering.
Gaucho offer a wide variety of cuts that highlight the consistent quality from across the animal. Even for those who may consider themselves a steak aficionado it can be an overwhelming task to identify the type of cut you may be after. Thankfully, Gaucho’s à la carte menu does all the hard work for you, offering clear descriptions of each. Examples of this include the ‘Cuadril’ rump steak – Gaucho’s leanest cut with a pure, distinctive flavour at £18.50 for 225g, up to £29.50 for 400g, or the full-bodied and delicately marbled ‘Ancho’ ribeye at £29.50 for 300g, up to £42.50 for 500g.
Should you and your guest want to share a steak however (as we did) I’d recommend the chateaubriand sharing steak for two. A centre cut of lomo, this beautifully lean and succulent, slow grilled steak is £65 for 450g, or £95 for 700g. Pimped up with sauces and sides of your choice, this is the ultimate sharing steak experience (for those with large appetites). A dining experience that is brilliantly bespoke, create your own dining experience by hand picking the huge variety of sauces, sides and toppings that are available. Sauces span from firecracker chimichurri for some added spice, to the rich and traditional peppercorn and buttery béarnaise options.
With our chosen blue cheese sauce, our chateaubriand was lined up alongside a piping hot dish of truffle mac and cheese – indulgently combining mozzarella, taleggio and gruyere underneath a parmesan herb crumb, creamed mash potato and chips in thyme salt. Other sides include spinach with garlic and lemon, heritage carrots or green beans among others. This includes Gaucho’s ‘invisible chips’, a charitable donation with proceeds going to Hospitality Action, who are committed to getting the hospitality industry back on its feet, ‘one portion at a time’. Steak toppings include a fried egg, chorizo butter, bone marrow or half a lobster with garlic butter at £20 a pop should you want to push the boat out.
A sustainable drinks menu offers diners a hand selected range of beverages that support Gaucho’s conscious mission to become an environmentally friendly and carbon neutral restaurant group. This includes a carbon-positive vodka that plants trees and is made of 100% British wheat, and working with an Italian brewery and English wine maker, who are helping to re-plant the amazon rain forest. Whilst the menu may be deliciously indulgent, this leaves you feeling rest assured that Gaucho may be glutinous, but they give back too.
Factbox
Address: 2A St Mary’s St, Manchester M3 2LB
Phone: 0161 833 4333
Website: gauchorestaurants.com
