El Gaucho Portland

Had a wonderful experience celebrating a friend’s birthday here. We arrived at a lovely table adorned with yellow petals, with a signed birthday card waiting for us. The staff not only acknowledged my friend’s birthday but also made sure she felt special, from asking for her order first to placing a birthday candle on her dessert. It made for a memorable evening for the birthday girl. We started with roasted pork belly sitting on a butternut squash puree, which was incredibly soft and flavorful. The grilled apples complemented the dish perfectly. For the entrée, I had the ribeye, a 28-day dry-aged prime grade Angus beef, served with bordelaise sauce and accompanied by roasted sweet corn, crab mac and cheese, and lobster mashed potatoes. The highlight of the evening for me was the bananas foster. Prepared tableside, a drizzle of rum was then ignited in the pan, causing a flame to swirl above it, resplendent in its glow. The taste of the caramelized bananas with the rum infused sauce was so delicious that I wished I had gotten seconds. The service was phenomenal. Our waitstaff was attentive and checked on us multiple times, ensuring our needs were satisfied and making l sure our drinks were never empty. The ambiance was lovely with live music, though the lighting was quite dark. Though we didn’t request it, I saw a staff member walk a woman to the bathroom, his arm bent at the elbow while she held onto it, and his other hand holding a small blue flashlight to illuminate their path. It’s the little attention to detail that made this dining experience exceptional.

Absolutely fantastic dinner at El Gaucho on Saturday. The food was phenomenal and our waiter was an absolute pleasure! The crab mac and cheese is out of this world. I would 100% recommend this place for a special occasion. We had the best possible seat for two foodies. It was so close to the kitchen!

This place never disappoints. Food and service is impeccable. I don't think I ever git something I didn't like but I'm very impressive with the peppered strip steak. Warning, it's a lot of black pepper, so much that it's crunchy on the outside. If you're lactose intolerant, skip the scallop potatoes. Thr caesar salad was delicious and surprisingly very filling.

Last night, my wife and I celebrated my birthday at El Gaucho, and as always, it was an unforgettable experience. Julie was amazing, just like every time — she helped set up my reservation, greeted us warmly when we arrived, and personally walked us to our reserved table. Our server, Mathisen, was outstanding from start to finish. He knew the menu inside and out, offered spot-on recommendations, and delivered impeccable service throughout the evening. Between the live music, phenomenal food, and the welcoming atmosphere, it reminded me why El Gaucho is my favorite restaurant in Portland. It’s our go-to place for birthdays, anniversaries, and every special occasion. I’m already looking forward to our next visit.

Went with the tableside Chateaubriand for two, which came with tableside baked potatoes, asparagus & cheese-encrusted broiled tomato. The steak was incredibly tender and outstanding and the baked potatoes are consistently perfect. Is it strange to get excited over a baked potato? They do an amazing job and the staff are very friendly and knowledgeable! The lighting was low but light enough so you can see what’s on your plate. There was a solo guitarist playing off near the bar and taking requests. Loved when he played Radiohead’s “Creep”. Thank you, El Goucho!

Another birthday dinner at El Gaucho!! The food was superb. I love a medium rare steak and they did not disappoint - Jose suggested medium-rare-plus and it was perfect. One of the servers remembered us from a year ago, which was pretty impressive. The service is always top notch, this visit we had the chateaubriand for 2 with baked potato’s and veggies. The baked potato I had been hungry for was delicious. We usually split a salad but accidentally had a late lunch so we added mushrooms and I had truffle butter which was delicious on the steak. Capped off the evening with the flaming bananas foster, such a delicious way to end the night!!

This was such an incredible experience. The service here is top notch. Our server Michael did such an amazing job. We went for our 5th wedding anniversary and it didn’t disappoint. The food was incredible and drinks were delicious. Sign up for their loyalty program it’s worth it.

First time here. Really enjoyed the atmosphere, food and service. My steak was cooked perfectly and the chicken meal was super tender. Drinks and dessert was delicious. I will definitely be coming back to try more items on the menu.

I ate here Saturday night with my wife and friends. This was my first experience at an El Gaucho. They have other restaurants in other Pacific Northwest cities (so I'm told). It's a dimly lit restaurant with an open live fire kitchen. Nice interior design and atmosphere. They had a keyboard player playing Spanish and contemporary music that enhanced the atmosphere of our dining experience. Service: Michael was our server. He was fun, helpful, and a very good professional waiter. We started with a bottle of sparkling wine from a local Oregon winery. El Gaucho has a decent wine list with one or two sommeliers working. One of the somm's helped us select the sparkling wine to start, and a bottle of California cab for dinner. The restaurant serves a complimentary yummy warm garlic bread (5/5). This bread is addictive. We ordered soups and salads for our starters. I had the French onion soup (5/5). Savory and rich onion forward broth. Crunchy croutons that progressively got soft as they soaked up the broth. Lots of gooey cheese. It was a perfect start to my meal. My wife and friends also enjoyed their bisque and salads. For my entree I ordered the top sirloin with a 2oz portion of seared fois gras on top plus their peppercorn sauce (5/5). The steak was cooked to the correct temperature. The combination of textures and flavors together was amazing. For a side I got the frites (5/5) to share with my wife. They were crispy, salty, and perfect. We had a wonderful dinner at El Gaucho's. I would highly recommend this steakhouse when dining in downtown Portland.

This is the smallest El Gaucho I've been to, but it definitely has its own vibe. The place was packed, with live music playing in the background. It felt a little chaotic but in a lively way. I might be wrong, but it seems like this location has some special items (like the 30 oz T-bone) that aren't listed on the menu and that I haven't seen at other locations. I stuck with my usual order this time, but I'd come back just to try that T-bone. Our server mentioned he likes to make the Caesar extra flavorful and he wasn't kidding. It was better than the Caesars I've had at other El Gaucho locations. As always, the food was excellent. That said, we waited over an hour for our steaks, which is something I've never experienced at any other El Gaucho, even during peak dinner hours. Not sure if this is normal for the Portland location. The server carving our Chateaubriand also seemed distracted, constantly looking around at other tables while rushing through the tableside service. They forgot to give us back the customized menu, and we forgot to ask for it too. A bit of a bummer. Parking is easy. There's a garage conveniently located right across the street.

On a whim, we decided to alter our dinner plans, shop for some suitable clothes, and make reservations at El Gaucho toward the end of a hiking trip around the Pacific NW. It was also our third anniversary week! We initially made an 8pm reservation for a Friday but were able to arrive around 7pm. The hostesses were very accommodating and after a quick drink at the bar, where I had a properly iced and garnished old fashioned ($20), we were seated in a private back room. They had live music in the main dining area and it was a lively atmosphere, we were happy to sit in an area where conversation was more possible. Our server did a comprehensive job of acclimating us to the menu and specials while also suggesting some personal favorites. We had scouted out the menu online beforehand, so we knew what we wanted! We started with the tableside filet mignon tartare, which is seasoned, mixed, and egged before your very eyes. I added a bit of horseradish and enjoyed the dish! The spicy crab bisque, while not especially spicy, came with some nice chunks of crab and tasted great. We split the 18 ounce Canadian lobster tail which was deshelled at the table and cut into two portions with drawn butter. Expensive at $125 but so delicious! My wife had the petite 6oz filet and asparagus and enjoyed them both. I ordered the bone in ribeye Pittsburgh style and got exactly what I ordered! The char tasted great. We powered through to dessert where we shared a slice of strawberry rhubarb cheesecake with an outstanding sauce and crust. We also received a fruit and cheese plate as a part of the course. The dessert was also comped due to our anniversary. We were given a congratulations card and some rose petals strewn across the table to celebrate our anniversary as well. All in all, a great experience! The tip was figured into our final tally, with an option for additional gratuity but our server made it clear that the auto grat was present. If I had to find a "room for improvement" it would maybe be the yukon gold mashed potatoes, they could use some embedded skins or additional flavoring like garlic.

Had the most unforgettable experience at this magical place for my birthday. Best birthday dinner to date!!! The amount of care we received and service was just stellar!!!! We ordered the seafood tower which we forgot to take a photo of but it was so amazing and what really caught me was the oysters so of course I had to get a half dozen more! The steak was so perfectly prepared you can taste that quality. I am drooling and dreaming of it now. I am beyond happy to have celebrated here because there was nothing that could have been better!

Went for a work dinner. The customer experience was amazing. Top notch and will definitely be back. The food was great. What stood out for my was the salad and bananas foster which were both prepared in front of us. Drinks were yummy as well. Our party of 5 was there for about 3 hours! Great service food and staff!

We made a late reservation and ended up having to wait about 30 minutes anyway because of a larger party before us. The hostess repeatedly checked on us and gave us updates which was really good service. I ordered a pear salad that I ended up not enjoying. My steak was cooked perfectly, melt in your mouth so I'm glad I didn't have to use the chimichurri I ordered which was awful. When I mentioned it to our server she went to the back, tasted and came back and agreed with me and promptly removed it from the bill. The baked potato has it own personal fluffer which was fun to watch table side. Bread was delicious. All in all a wonderful, unrushed meal. Oh, and the cheese and fruit plate?! Such a beautiful touch. We had a great view of the kitchen from our booth and watching the level of care the server and the other staff took in playing etc was great. This is a staff with very high professional standards and it shows. Definitely would go back!

El Gaucho's is, without a doubt, the best restaurant in town. From the moment you walk in, you're welcomed like family--but with the attention and care of a true luxury dining experience. The service is second to none: attentive, knowledgeable, and warm without ever feeling forced. The food? Absolutely phenomenal. The porterhouse steak is a showstopper--cooked to perfection, full of flavor, and paired beautifully with green peas and a rich, velvety béarnaise sauce. Every bite feels crafted with precision and passion. For drinks, their Buffalo Trace bourbon pours are spot-on, making the meal feel even more indulgent. And when it comes to dessert, El Gaucho's doesn't hold back. The crème brûlée is perfectly torched, the bread pudding is decadent and comforting, and the key lime pie offers that perfect, zesty finish. But my absolute favorite part? The cigar room. It's a hidden gem that makes El Gaucho's truly unique--a refined, cozy space where you can unwind and extend the evening in style. Dining here isn't just about food. It's about an elevated, high-quality experience where everything--from the ambiance to the menu--is done with intention. El Gaucho's manages to be upscale while still feeling like home, and that's what keeps me coming back. A true five-star experience. My favorite place in town--hands down. Thank you to our server Connor for who took great care of our party. He made a phenomenal Caesar and delivered with top notch service. Thank you to the El Gauchos team. You all are amazing ‍

I heard about El Gaucho when I moved to town. The classic, downtown, fine dining, table side, top quality steak house! Upon arrival, it feels like the kind of place that would make you wear a sport coat or jacket to enter. However, I saw a guy in a white, Hawaii T-shirt. We were asked if we would be following our dinner with time in the smoking lounge, tempting - but we did not. Top notch service with exceptional attentiveness. The table side Caesar salad was a highlight. I opted for the Steak el Gaucho, sauce on the side (smart decision). While I enjoyed it, the lobster was a little overcooked and the steak was not the best I've had. Overall, a delicious meal made better by the experience. Prices are reflective of the service more than the quality.

Great service.. Great hospitality.... The food was amazing, calamari, asparagus, sweet, roasted corn and potatoes was ordered and was very good.. The ambience was really good the vibes, dark, sexy. This place is a staple steakhouse in Portland.

Ate here for a holiday party. The server was very charismatic and created a great experience. The food was "okay" for me, as I am a vegetarian. Everyone who ordered steak was pleased. They do prepare things a bit more rare, so ask for a bit more well done than you expect.

Love El Gaucho. Steaks are pricey but so delicious. The service is top-notch. And the complimentary tray of fruits and nuts at the end of the meal is such a classy touch.

Great steaks nice romantic vibe awesome food gives you that old school mafia vibe a must if visiting Portland id recommend the steak and cheesecake

Mmm mmm, EL 'effin' Gaucho is more like it! I'm gonna start by saying that my lasting impression of this steakhouse was simply thinking, "Whoa! When the scallops taste as soft and as tender as the steak, then that's perfection!" Here's the gist: :: Location & Parking :: At the corner of Broadway and Harvey Milk St, in the heart of downtown. You're gonna need to whip out that Parking Kitty app to find street parking. We did find parking at a small garage across Broadway, but it might be safer to park on the street versus a garage in my opinion. Just realize you're in the heart of downtown. ::: Dining & Atmosphere ::: White table cloth dining. It's like your typical steakhouse experience; Low lighting, but not super low to where you can't see the menu. Just right. Wine flowing, but I didn't see your common wine refrigeration display. I only saw big wine bottles around the tables, but also not a big deal. Happy patrons dressed to the nines, but also dressed comfortably. You can come here wearing a t-shirt, but you'll stand out as the odd one. Everything else appeared pretty clean. Even with a restroom break, I'd say it was fairly clean inside as well. :::: Starters, Steak & Service :::: My party wanted to share a few sides. So we did the Gaucho Mac n Cheese ($14) and mmm mmm what a great starter indeed. Loved the toasted bread crumbs on top. We tried the Grilled Sweet Corn ($14) which was also a pleasant honeyed sweet choice. And finally we gave the good ol' fashioned Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes ($14) a try, and yeah "light and lovely!" I'm not a fan of the "Lets add some seasoning to mashed potatoes" type. They kept it basic, and the side itself was truly golden! As for me, I kept eyeing the French Onion Soup ($16), so I'm glad I gave it a try. It wasn't overly salty and the cheesiness level was just full of stretchy ropy fun! The way it should be. Since I've never been here, I did their signature plate, the Steak El Gaucho ($89). An 8oz aged filet with Maine lobster medallion on top covered with this creamy bearnaise sauce. And of course an asparagus companion. I had the steak medium-rare, took one bite, and ugggh heaven! Grilled perfectly! Honestly, I could do without the toppings which were also delectable, but the filet was one of the best I've ever had in a long time. My friend ordered a side of scallops, and I had one with my steak. And man, that tenderness comparison just topped it all! Finally, with service. Maaan, I cannot thank Mathisen enough. He was serious when I asked him snooty question, but also hospitable when I threw stupid 'dad jokes' at him. He made an excellent wine pairing to go with my steak, and he definitely kept our party entertained. Mathisen deserves a promotion. He brings a lot to the table! (: hehe :) At the end of our dinner, we were also greeted by Gillian, the manager. She too was very courteous and another reason why we plan to come back someday. Thank you Mathisen and Gillian, it was a pleasure dining here.

Great restaurant! Excellent food and service. I've known the Ward family who started it since I was little. Was one of my dad's fav restaurants

My amazing boyfriend took me there for the first time! I can't begin to express my appreciation for such a decadent experience! The service was impeccable, the wait staff was attentive, friendly and efficient, the ambiance was exceptional, From the lovely drinks to the phenomenal cuisine it surpassed every expectation! It was truly a night I will never forget! I highly recommend it and I will be looking forward to returning and making new memories! -They don't disappoint-

My wife and I have been going here for special occasions over the past 15 years, and it never disappoints. The steaks are done exactly as you ask, and the scallops are to die for. There are a wide variety of side dishes, salads, and entrée add-ons. The wine list is extensive, and the bartender can make anything you can describe. The ambience is top-notch, with dim lighting, comfortable seating, live music, and customized recognition of your special event. The wait staff are professional and attentive. They also remind you that the 20% service charge added to all tickets goes towards their gratuities, but of course they also allow you to tip above and beyond that.

Is it expensive? Yes. Is it worth it? 100%!!! Our server Michael was as amazing as all the food was. My husband took me there to celebrate my 40th birthday as well as me being listed for a heart transplant. The environment and staff were so elegant yet welcoming. The food from the bread, apps, steaks to dessert was beyond exceptional. I love my steaks cooked black and blue and nearly no restaurant cooks it right but it was perfect here! A perfect well seasoned hard sear on the outside with a lovely rare in the center. My husband had the rack of lamb which was so tender. We are huge fans of oysters and have them frequently at restaurants or just getting them at the coast and the ones served were exceptional petite fresh oysters. The table side Caesar salad wasn't just a gimmick, they explained the history of it, showed us how they made the dressing and it was amazing. Perfectly dressed fresh and crisp lettuce. The crème brûlée was so silky and by the far the best we've ever had topped with some fresh raspberries. The sides, wow, so much fresh crab on the max and cheese which was creamy with so much flavor. The scalloped potatoes had a perfectly crisp top and was so well seasoned. We used the valet parking which was so nice and convenient. When they brought our car back after dinner they left us some cookies in the console! After leaving I immediately reached out to all my friends and posted on social media how much we loved our dinner and experience. We both absolutely feel it's the best restaurant in Portland and plan to make it a regular even for our birthdays and anniversary and hopefully more times through the year. Thank you so much for making it an incredible experience and one of my best birthdays!

Five star meal with five star service by Melissa Perfect anniversary experience and meal!

I'm so disappointed in my experience at El Gaucho. The Seattle location is my favorite restaurant and the El Gaucho name implies excellence, so I had really looked forward to celebrating my birthday at the Portland location. While Portland had the same dimly lit ambiance and live music, it wasn't kept as clean as I had expected. This was especially true for the restrooms, which had toilet paper strewn all over the floors, dirty mirrors, and water all over the counters. This was truly the least of my concerns, but it was a notable difference from what I've experienced at other locations. Onto what's important here - the meal. I ordered my steak medium-well and mentioned my preference for "more towards the well side." My steak came out much closer to medium rare, very red and bloody. At a place of this caliber, I expected my meal to be prepared as I ordered it. This may be an unpopular opinion, but I prefer my beef cooked thoroughly and it grosses me out a bit when it's still bleeding on my plate. $80 to be grossed out by a meal I had been looking forward to was disappointing, to say the least. We also ordered the brussel sprouts, calamari, and my date got the steak El Gaucho. The calamari was delicious! The brussel sprouts were burnt and cooked in a spicy sauce that we did not enjoy. We picked out a couple pieces that weren't totally burnt, but most of the sprouts went uneaten. My date prefers his steak on the rare side and he enjoyed his main course, but he agreed the dishes (both main and sides) didn't live up to the meals we've enjoyed at other El Gaucho locations. We also ordered a bottle of pinot noir, which was great. Our host allowed us to taste a couple wines. He was knowledgeable (and brutally honest) about which wines he recommended. This was a nice touch and allowed us to make a great choice. At the end of our meal, we paid cash. We anticipated the service charge being factored in, and we expected to tip more on top of it- as we usually do. From my understanding, the service charge is not fully in-place of a tip, however it does benefit the employees and an extra tip on top is encouraged yet not necessarily expected unless the staff goes above and beyond. My boyfriend handed the waiter a few hundreds. The amount he gave our waiter covered significantly more than the total cost of our meal and the included service charge. The service was so-so, the meal was disappointing, and the service charge had been paid. We paid in large bills, so the waiter should have given back a few $20 bills, and we intended to leave a couple on the table as his tip. Instead, he made the assumption that it was all a tip and kept it in full. While we expected to drop a decent amount on a nice meal, the arrogance shown by the waiter by keeping all of the change (which amounted to nearly $100) really rubbed me the wrong way.

Unfortunately, we left extremely disappointed. While we dropped a ridiculous amount of money, we were unsatisfied and irritated. We came for my wife's birthday and they immediately treated us like their own special guests. They had rose petals on the table and a card, great touch. The service here was impeccable, however, that was the only highlight. We waited 2 hours for our food. Yes, you read that correctly, 2 hours for our food. We ordered the table side Caesar salad which was done fairly quickly after we ordered. Somehow the salad came out spicy? My wife is very sensitive to spice so she couldn't even eat it. $17pp so that was money down the drain. 2 hours later, the rest of the food came. We ordered lobster mashed potatoes, mac n cheese, brussell sprouts and the bone in rib eye. The rib eye was cooked perfectly but all of the side dishes were not seasoned well. We ended up taking a bite or two then packing it up to take home and fix later. By the time we got all of our food it was 9:30 (we were sat at 7pm) so we were exhausted and no longer hungry. We walked away with two bags full of food. They also gave us a complimentary platter of cheese and fruit. They chose a very strong bleu cheese and they didn't even slice the apple. Just a weird choice. Overall, while the service was impeccable, the food and the wait was bad enough for us to never want to come again

It was such an honor to be served by Douglas Musgrove. I have enjoyed his service over the years and I'm saddened to see him retired.

The environment was nice, drinks good and employees were friendly. Unfortunately, I took my partner there for her birthday and we had a few issues. When we entered we were told it would be a few minutes while they set up a special booth for us. We got a table right next to the kitchen which was pretty loud, and didn't feel that special as they had said. We ordered food and it took a long time to come out, which I can understand as it seemed busy. They problem was after the wait, they got the cook wrong on both our steaks. My partners was undercooked and mine was over. I asked for a new one, but my partner said she was fine with the lower temp. When my next steak came out it was rare (I had asked for med rare). I did not want to send it back again. Server came to check on the new one, and I told them this time it was rare (especially the further I got as it was a filet). I said I would eat it though, and they didn't seem to really care it was prepared wrong again, had just said okay and left. Normally I wouldn't have even said anything, It Just felt like a lot for what we were paying for the steaks, and being a steakhouse. Everything else was okay. Probably won't come back for another special occasion.

I literally never write reviews but I had such an amazing night I feel I ought to share it. Two things you don't want to miss. 1) The Crab Bisque and 2) The Bone in Ribeye. I got it with peppercorns and I highly recommend it! They cook the steaks over charcoal and I think it makes a big difference. We went in to the cigar room for after our meal. The server (who was amazing!) recommended the house Manhattan paired with a cigar. I know you're supposed to drink scotch with a cigar but I prefer bourbon. I don't think there is a better way to celebrate.

I have been to most of the locations in the Pacific Northwest. It is a chain that I enjoy very much. From the food, service, and ambiance. It has not disappointed me, ever! Came here on a Wed night. There was live music. I ordered the table side cosmo, table side beef tartare and oysters. I always get the escargots. Dinner for 1 or 10, this is a great place. Make sure to sign up for their rewards program as well!

Is this place cheap? Absolutely not. Can you roll in wearing a jersey and a baseball hat? Also no. But does El Gaucho serve up top-notch fine dining in a warm, classy atmosphere? 100% yes! This is a classic steakhouse where the service is as impeccable as the steaks are mouthwatering. If you're looking for the best steak around, look no further!

Very disappointed in this place, I last came here with my wife before covid and had a subpar experience including a long wait for our food that led to dinner for two being a 2 hour dinner. I decided to come by here again on Tuesday, june 6th to celebrate my birthday with my friend. Ironically, the service again was ridiculously slow. Took about 70 minutes after ordering to get our steaks - both being rare and medium rare. We ordered a Caesar salad and that came out right away upon ordering. Dinner ended up being nearly 2 hours long and they decided to give us a sorry fruit-cheese platter with the apple unsliced. It honestly looked like they just grabbed a bunch of random stuff they could find and put it together as an apology. Unfortunately this will be my last time attending this restaurant. Steaks were 3.5/5, service was 1/5. If you're looking to dine here for a party of 2, expect to take 2+ hours of your time for dinner.

The service is amazing! I felt so welcomed, the environment there since I stepped on the restaurant was very friendly and kind. My server was the best, so helpful and considerate with our questions. The food was so delicious , I was speechless. Also the wait for our food was so fast, definitely coming back.!

One of my favorite places for dinner in the Northwest States is El Gaucho. I enjoyed a bottle of Pinot Noir with my meal, as well as the table-side Caesar salad, the filet, and the table-side banana foster dessert made with Bacardi. The service, atmosphere, and food and wine were all incredible. Be prepared to spend a little (expect to spend over $700), however it's definitely worth it. I can't wait to go back.

This had to be to date one of my top 3 meals. Michel was my server and was polite, professional, knowledgeable, and very personable. I was sitting in the bar area and the music from the artist staged near the door was excellent! The steak was perfectly cooked with an amazing addition of PNW crab. The salad was crisp and refreshing, the brussels sprouts were seasoned to perfection. The drinks were spot on. The entire experience was amazing. With a minimal background of me, I was a chef for 10 year and CIA trained (Culinary Institute of America not the spies ;-) I can not say enough good things of this visit. Worth every penny!

By far the most expensive and least memorable steak I've had. The tab for 5 of us cost more than $600 at the end, I think their cheapest steak was $80. Nothing tasted bad per se but I was hoping for an amazing steak at those prices and it was just decent. The ambiance inside is very dark and classy w/ some cozy looking booths but they put us at a big circle table in the middle of the floor cause one of us didn't have her ID (even tho she's over 30 and wasn't drinking.

Excelente encantada lo recomiendo la comida exquisita los cócteles y el postre el servicio excelente, el restaurante muy elegante muy acogedor romántico y la música en vivo

My boyfriend and I came in on Fathers Day as a sort of going away gift for me. Ambiance: I loved the dark lighting and the live guitar. Our seats were perfect for the two of us. It was really cool that we could see the chef and the kitchen out in the open. They all looked so focused and were in sync with eachother. Service: Daniel was incredible. He explained everything so thoroughly and made us want to try new foods. I even got a fancy mocktail, which I never do. The water was always full and it actually tasted so good. The food did take a while to get there (about 1hr) but it was really busy and the bread was soooooo good so I can't complain. The food: Ok, this is where I was a tiny bit disappointed but to be fair, I should have listened to Daniel when he said the medium rare was slightly more rare than I would be used to. We ordered the roasted corn 10/10 yum, the Yukon potatoes 10/10 yum, the Diablo steak bites 8/10 still yum, and the ribeye 7/10. I guess maybe I've never had 28 day aged steak because I thought it would be something different. It wasn't very juicy but it wasn't dry if that makes sense. It definitely had a cool red center so my boyfriend wouldn't eat it but I did and it was pretty good. I feel like it could have been a little more seasoned but again, I'm not a steak expert so I don't know. Overall, we had a really good experience and would definitely come back. They had a peach tomato salad and some French onion soup on the menu that I saw come out of the kitchen and I kicked myself for not getting that too. It was also fun to watch other people get the table side food made so I would probably do that next time.

Is it possible to give more than 5 stars to El Gaucho and their Amazing Team!! This old school restaurant provided old-school fine dining service mixed with high quality ingredients. This place is a gem! We learned about this restaurant while staying at the historical Benson Hotel in downtown Portland. Dining at El Gaucho like stepping back in time by offering table side dining, live music, and exemplary service that goes above and beyond. The El Gaucho team is truly like a family. Isaac took excellent care of us during our two dining experiences. We were so blessed! Isaac is not only charming, knowledgeable, detailed oriented, and has a photographic memory; Isaac is talented and makes The BEST table side Cesar Salad. Yum! Everything we ordered was delicious! Beverages: Smoked Boulevardier - Smokes Table Side Espresso Martini - dessert in a glass DeLille Cellars D2 red wine (by the glass & bottle) Appetizers: Baked Oysters - classic and comforting Escargot - Oh la la! Garlicky Buttery and Delicious! Cesar Salad - Table Side & Delicious! Garlic Parmesan Goodness! Steaks - The steaks are cooked on a charcoal grill giving them extra flavor. They were cooked to perfection! - A5 Wagyu 4 oz - Japanese steak that melted in my mouth - Bone-In Ribeye 18 oz (my partner ordered this both visits; He said it may be the BEST ribeye he has ever eaten) - Trio of Steak Special 3x 4 oz (baseball, new york, and filet cuts, each served with a different sauce and preparation...fun to try!) Sides: Scalloped Potatoes - Comforting - Delish when reheated the next day! Asparagus with Béarnaise - some veggies Desserts: Creme Brulee - Classic and Delicious Cherries Jubilee- Table Side by Jim Cheese Course - Complimentary We loved El Gaucho so much that we dined 2 evenings in one week. It was our last meal in Portland before returning to LA. The food is the best of classic dishes! Literally every dish we ordered was pure perfection! This is a special place with true love for great food! To take the experience to a whole new level, and with heart, Isaac sent a beautiful hand Thank You written card to our home. It truly warmed my heart. I look forward to returning. thanks

I hate to write this review because I've been to El Gaucho many times came in by myself and was expecting to have a nice meal. Have a nice day and be able to eat. My food got sat down right away, which was fantastic. The ambience is always great inside of the restaurant, but I sat at my table for 10 to 15 minutes without somebody as much as saying hi welcome to El Guacho bringing me a glass of water bread. Anything was one of the worst experiences at a high fine dining places I've had in a long time if I am coming to spend well over $100 on a Mehl having to wait 15 minutes to even get a glass of water I think is outrageous and way ridiculous. Hopefully just because somebody is by themselves, they don't disregard it and think that it will be a low paying bill or things of that nature. Extremely disappointed.

This place has always been a solid place to get some good food and superb service. I think the staff here does a great job at providing a wonderful experience. Every time I've dined here, I've received excellent customer service. The food is still good, and my favorite is still the Tenderloin Diablo and their garlic cheese bread. Both are simple, but there's something about those two items that I just love.

Top 5 steakhouse in the country for me...and I've been to a lot of them. This place has everything. Great service. Great ambience and most importantly...the star of the show....great food! Went here for our anniversary and the wife and I shared a 16 ounce bone in ribeye (oh man is that so damn good!!) We also shared some au gratin potato and Brussels sprouts-- both ridiculously good...especially the sprouts. And even the house cheese garlic bread was amazing. The prices include tip...and dinner for two with a couple of drinks was about $225...on par with the top steakhouses in Portland and worth every penny!

El Gaucho is our favorite steakhouse in Portland. We have a wonderful tradition of coming here for New Year's Eve and sharing a truly delicious meal with friends to ring in the new year. We make a late reservation so we can celebrate with complimentary champagne and noise makers at midnight. I would really give it 4.5 stars, but it falls short of 5 stars just because of issues with the cramped location. The tables are too close together, and with the noise of patrons plus the live music, it can become difficult in certain parts to have a quiet conversation. My only other complaint is that when they are very busy, once in a while I have felt like the service was rushed and I didn't have enough time between my courses. As far as the food, here are my recommendations. I always get the filet, medium rare. It comes in 8 oz and 12 oz portions, but you can split a 12oz portion between two people and it's the perfect amount for me. I usually get bordelaise, peppercorn, or Roquefort sauce on the side, which are also good with various side dishes as well often. I highly recommend the table side Caesar salad. The dressing has a very strong flavor which I love, but you can ask them to tone down the garlic or the anchovies if you prefer a milder flavor since they are making it right in front of you. I wish it also had toasted pine nuts- I feel like that would take it to the next level flavor wise. For another appetizer, the wicked shrimp is delicious- spicy and buttery, served with bread for dipping in the sauce. For sides, they have seasonal and rotating options for vegetables, but of the standard ones the baked potato and mashed potatoes are standouts, and I have high standards for potatoes. This is the only restaurant that consistently makes mashed potatoes that are better than mine. My husband likes the Mac and cheese, but I often find at the Portland location it is too dry and sometimes the pasta is over cooked. At best it's good but not as special as the other sides they offer. You get a small complimentary cheese plate after your meal, after which I am often too full for dessert, but once in a while I indulge. Their dessert menu changes often but any type of molten cake or ice cream is always amazing. The bananas foster (or Sherwood, with nuts) is also a favorite. They have excellent cocktails, with the G-22 dark Manhattan being my favorite, and a great wine list, even if the markups are high. You can bring your own bottle for a corkage fee.

Ribeye Steak was burned. To the credit of the establishment they removed the charge and offered a replacement entree, but could not fire another ribeye as they had run out of ribeye steaks (on a Saturday night). Romain lettuce used in the table side Caesar was mostly the butt end and was overly bitter. My wife very much enjoyed the 8oz filet she ordered. I have never posted a review as I prefer to give grace even when I personally have a less than expected experience, but for the money this was a massive miss.

This is one of my favorite restaurants to visit when I want a fancier dinner but this last visit I was just wanting some appetizers and a good drink in the bar are and I was not disappointed. Food: 8.5-9/10 overall rating 1. Wicked Shrimp- 9/10nice jumbo shrimp in a light sauce that has a little bit of a kick on the back end (I like spicy food so to me this wasn't spicy but if you don't this might be spicy for you). 2. Diablo tenderloin- 9/10 I love the creamy sauce this comes in, it is seasoned just right and of course the beef is delicious. I would say there is a slight kick to it but not much. I love dipping the table bread in the sauce 3. Table side Caesar- 9/10 absolutely loved!! Just the right amount of dressing and very leafy fresh lettuce! 4. Mac and cheese- 6/10 this is my second time having this and I must say this time around it missed the mark for me, I couldn't put my finger on it but it didn't taste as great as the first time I had it. 5. Old fashioned- 10/10 HIGHLY recommend Service: 10/10 Dennis took care of us for the evening and he was great, extremely personable and great at his job. Props to you Dennis, thank you for great service! Extra brownie points for making an amazing table side Caesar. Final note, the live music in the bar was an added bonus and helped to set the note for a great evening.

We had dinner last week on Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The food was amazing and the attention we received was outstanding if you want something special I suggest an evening at El gaucho downtown Portland.

Excellent service, great food and an awesome atmosphere. This place lived up to the hype and I am glad I got the opportunity to dine here. From the time we walked in the door u til we left everything was great.! I highly recommend this place!!

The epitome of hospitality! So impressed with every staff interaction and every bite. Staying at The Ritz Carlton, it was a nice walk. And El Gaucho surpassed The Ritz in hospitality. We loved the table side Caesar salad, the flaming tenderloin, the lobster mashed potatoes and our perfect Manhattan cocktails. They really went the extra mile for our Anniversary!

Solid 4 stars here. I would have given them 5 stars but I think the food is just a little too expensive in comparison to other establishments in the area. I had great service and the food was delicious. Steak was cooked well and the clam chowder was great. You will get a 20% service charge already in your bill so keep that in mind. Worth checking out but you will pay a higher price.

Food is always on point. The service was very attentive. The mood and music helped to make the night special.

Oooooo I'm a huge El Gaucho fan. Been to the Seattle El Gaucho and loved it. I was in Porland for a few days to attend the Warriors Blazers game. My compadre and I wanted to hit a steakhouse. El Gaucho was an easy decision. This El Gaucho is located in a hotel. Cool ambiance, but different from the very dimly lit Seattle outpost.We had a great dinner at the Portland location. Arrival: Reservations for 7:30. Manager said they were running a bit behind. Suggested a drink in the bar , but the bar was full. He suggested to hit the lobby bar in the hotel, and they would text us when our table was ready. After about 15 minutes we received a text that our table was ready. What we ordered: Old Fashined/Local Hazy Ipa: Started with an Old Fashioned. Delicious and well-made. Followed it up with nice haxy ipa. Wicked Shrimp: One of their signature appetizers. Grilled Shrimp with their signature spicy sauce. Simply delicious. One of my favorite appetizers at any restaurant anywhere. Wedge Salad: Nice tasty cold salad. Good dressing. Chateaubriand for two carved tableside: Another El Gaucho signature dish. Nice hunk of tenderloin carved at the table. Comes with baked potatoes, asparagus, tomato, and cliff sauce. This dish is phenomenonal. Great cook and flavor on the meat. We got some creamy horseradish with it. I LOVE the Baked Potatoes at El Gaucho. Why you ask? They use cheese sauce on their baked potatoes which is amazing ! I haven't seen any other steakhouse do this. Asparagus was very nice. Double Espresso: Ended the meal with a pick me up to snap me out of my food coma. Strong and tasty. Service: It was great. Our waiter was a professional. He made sure we were take care of. Outro: Great Choice for a steakhouse. Old School flair and great food. Lots of good signature dishes. You can't go wrong. Highly recommended. W

It was our anniversary and my birthday, they treated us to a complimentary glass of champagne! The server, Mindy was so nice and welcoming, knowledgeable about the menu, drinks etc. it was such a beautiful experience from start to finish. First class staff, food and atmosphere

I've been to El Gaucho a handful times now for a nice night out, and have always had an amazing experience. Going to a steakhouse as a vegan can be difficult. The staff here are always able to create a delicious meal for me though! I typically get the sautéed mushrooms (without the butter) to go along with the complimentary bread. For my entree they're able to make a delicious risotto with some extra vegetables thrown in. I would definitely recommend coming to El Gaucho for a lovely evening out.

Our food was superb! Our waiter Aaron was attentive and fun so glad to be back! It is fun to watch the lane cooks sling steaks!

Food was top tier. Service was excellent and vibe was amazing. Highly recommend this place. I love food and this place did not disappoint.