There's nothing like being wined and dined, and a steak dinner is always a real treat for me.
The glitzy and glamorous steak restaurant Gaucho on Water Street is nothing short of impressive, set in a vast Grade II listed building and oozing with charm. The Argentinian-inspired restaurant opened in November and is Gaucho's largest venue outside of London.
With 100% carbon neutral beef, there are various different cuts of steak to choose from. I visited the restaurant on a quiet Wednesday evening - and it just so happened to be the same night that Coleen Rooney decided to pay a visit.
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Knowing I was in the same restaurant as Coleen Rooney was exciting to say the least, and it heightened my expectations of what Gaucho had to offer. So, what was it actually like?
The interior
Now, I'm fully aware that the interiors of a restaurant has nothing to do with the food, but for me, it adds to the whole experience. The high ceilings and dimmed mood lighting in Gaucho added an extra something to the already glamorous restaurant.
As soon as I stepped foot in the restaurant, I was greeted with a smile and taken aback by the striking central island bar and orange marble pillars. The ceilings feature intricate detailing, and the warm earthy tones throughout the restaurant made the place feel posh yet inviting.
Although the size of Gaucho is quite vast, it didn't feel particularly overwhelming to me. It's an airy and spacious restaurant that still offers intimate, cosy tables for couples and families.
The food
As we sat down, we were immediately shown the different cuts of meat that were on offer, and given plenty of detail on each piece of meat by our lovely waitress. I'd usually opt for a sirloin if I was out for steak, but the sheer choice at Gaucho was pretty impressive to say the least.
The different cuts of steak on offer included ribeye, sirloin, fillet and rump. There were also 'specialty cuts' available to purchase, including 'Tira De Ancho', 'Churrasco De Chorizo', 'Churrasco De Lomo' and 'Colita De Lomo'.
Each specialty cut was spiral cut and marinated with either chimichurri or garlic parsley and olive oil. Interestingly, the 'Colita De Lomo' was described as having the punchiest flavour, and is the fillet tail of the cow.
Now, let's talk about the main thing - prices. I knew that if I was dining in the same place as Coleen Rooney, it wasn't going to cost me £10 for a piece of steak, because this was very much a premium experience.
Each steak was measured between 300-700g, with the 1.2kg 'Gaucho Sampler' costing a whopping £125 alone. The prices of steak ranged from £20 for the rump up to £70 for the 700g Tira De Ancho (which is spiral cut, and slow grilled with chimichurri).
I chose the chorizo sirloin in 400g which costs £44.50, and that was without sides. I was a little shocked by the price, but it wasn't until my steak actually arrived that I fully understood why it was so expensive.
I added peppercorn sauce for £4 to my order and shared some £6 chips and £7.50 truffle mac & cheese with my partner. Once my steak arrived, I was in awe; it was actually pretty beautiful.
In terms of how it was cooked, I chose medium rare like I always do, and it was honestly cooked to perfection. The steak was perfectly seasoned, and had a subtle chorizo flavour to it without being too overpowering.
Although this steak was supposed to include 'chorizo crackling', I wasn't too sure what to expect. I can only assume it meant the edge of the steak itself which was a tad crispy, but not overly.
The steak was like velvet in my mouth, and incredibly tender to cut into. I'm usually used to a tough old piece from a supermarket with a few oven chips, so this was definitely next level.
With every bite you could just tell that this was an expensive steak, and although £44.50 sounds like a lot, for the amount you get and the sheer quality of the taste, it was worth it to me.
The truffle mac & cheese side didn't taste that much of truffle at all, but it was incredibly cheesy, so that was a plus. I popped a few chips onto my plate (that were perfectly salted, may I add) and dipped them into the juice of the steak and I was in heaven.
You get a lot for your money in terms of steak, but it was a bit of a shame that the sides were separate. Still, by the end of the night I was full to the brim, with a very satisfied stomach.
The verdict
It's clear to see why people like Coleen Rooney would choose to come to Gaucho, because everything about my experience here was luxurious. I was made to feel special, and the food was incredibly high quality.
With the timeless yet trendy interiors, the lovely staff and of course, the steak, it's safe to say I'll be visiting Gaucho again. I think somewhere like Gaucho is perfect for a special occasion with the prices being quite steep, but you definitely don't have to worry about them skimping on quality, because the food was to die for.
You can find Gaucho at 7 Water Street, Liverpool, L2 0RD. Visit its website here.
This review was originally published on January 28, 2023.
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