Brian L.
Yelp
I went here to try it with my aunt during the Dine LA time frame where restaurants have menus to try their items while also saving a little bit off the regular price. Gaucho Grill Argentine Steakhouse is located among the other various shops and restaurants within the Promenade at Downey.It and it's accompanying bakery next door are in front of the Cinemark along Apollo Way.
This is an upscale steakhouse, very modern, wood accents from the bartops to part of the walls. The painted brick walls gave a very studio-esque feel. There is plenty of seating options from outside to indoor. The bar is front and center from when you walk in. There are two restrooms (not gender neutral from what I remember). As I mentioned, we went for Dine LA however we weren't aware that for their specific menu it started at 4:30pm, which I think needs to be updated on the Dine LA website. No biggie, the hostess was great letting us know as we got there an hour earlier so we said we'd be back and walked around to their next door bakery Gaucho Mercado.
Once we returned we were seated almost immediately, it wasn't too busy at 4:30pm on a Wednesday evening, but people gradually started to fill the space. Matias was our server and what I can guess one of the managers as most of the serving staff were wearing the same outfits. He was so genuinely warm and friendly explaining to us the confusion about the time for Dine LA. Service for us was amazing, as he took care of us for most of the evening. Starting off with taking our order he explained how it worked (though we were familiar with Dine LA experiences) and mentioned some of the items. For Gaucho Grill if you are able to go during Dine LA, it's a 3 course offering one starter, one main entree, and a dessert for $45.
I ordered the Smoked Short Rib Empanada, New York Milanesa, and Gauho Flan with Dulce de Leche. My aunt got the Broccoli and Argentinian Chorizo Soup with Chili Oil, Sea Bass, and Freddo ice cream. The empanada was amazing with a flaky outer crust, pipping hot filling of short rib, onions, and tomato in a rich sauce. I would love to try their other filling options another time. The Broccoli and Argentinian Chorizo Soup with Chili Oil, was a little mild in flavor. It might have been because the empanada I had, had such strong flavor. The chroizo element was almost non existent in it, maybe like a small piece or two, but it wasn't bad. The New York Milanesa was delicious, a long chicken cutlet breaded perfectly with microgreens and a cabbage slaw of what I think had some nuts and cranberries is in. The cutlet was laid on a mound of mashed potatoes. Everything was so flavorful. My aunts fish was very tender also on a mount of mashed potatoes surrounded by a butter sauce. Now the dessert was SO GOOD. There were only two options and we each got one choice...The Dulce De Leche flan was so satisfyingly creamy, yet firm. Pipped next to it was fresh whipped cream and berries, the plate drizzled with caramel and flan topped with a thick dulce de leche caramel. It was so toasty and for lack of a better word caramel-y. Matias joked about how they used dulce de leche in everything and I wasn't complaining. Now Freddo ice cream I had not had before, and to my understanding is an Argentinian specialty. There is a standalone Freddo shop, which Matias explained, gets the ice cream imported over from Argentina to the shop and they have it shipped to them for use at Gauchos. The Deulce de Leche ice cream was so good. Slightly salty like a salted caramel but rich caramel flavor, thick and so creamy. The chocolate scoop was delicious as well.
The one thing that was disrupting our service a little was there was a party of two men and a lady who were there from when we first arrived. They looked to be shooting film for what I assume was for their review or maybe for some advertising for Gaucho Grill. But the annoying thing was that they had this bright environment lighting and where using it while filming the food items and drinks they order. At times the gentleman was right behind us and the light was really bright and off putting. It wasn't so terrible where it interrupted our meal but was a little annoying.
If you've made it this far in my review congrats! Overall if you're able to try Gauchos, their Dine LA is a great option so as to not break the bank, because they do have typical steakhouse prices. Service was above and beyond, Matias was a great host. Food was spectacular and I'd go again when the occasion arises. Definitely give this a try!