Settled in the middle of Belltown, this restaurant has everything a Hollywood Movie Star would want... Only, this is Seattle, and in Seattle, Jeans seem to be appropriate anywhere. However, this is... More

Settled in the middle of Belltown, this restaurant has everything a Hollywood Movie Star would want... Only, this is Seattle, and in Seattle, Jeans seem to be appropriate anywhere. However, this is one of the few places in Seattle that you may just feel under dressed if you show up in Jeans. Great food, wonderful atmosphere, a pianist serenading the crowd, a fantastic bar with pricey drinks with a few leeches, a cigar room and Jazz music in the basement!
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El Gaucho is known for great steaks. This place is very expensive, but they go to great lengths to make it worth it, whether it's by creating and mixing your Ceasar salad tableside or putting on a... More

El Gaucho is known for great steaks. This place is very expensive, but they go to great lengths to make it worth it, whether it's by creating and mixing your Ceasar salad tableside or putting on a wild fire show for your steak shishkabobs. They have an extensive beef menu, and also offer chicken, fish, etc. They offer three desserts that are cooked tableside as well, including Cherries Jubilee. The wine list is never ending and they have bottles in all price ranges. Downstairs is the Pampas Room and they also have a cigar room. The ambiance is dark and there aren't any windows or a view, which is the only drawback. It has the feeling of a gentleman's club.
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Seriously. I'm not making this up. There are few restaurant experiences as exciting as El Gaucho's flaming sword of lamb. They take well-seasoned lamb chunks, mount them on a sword alternately... More

Seriously. I'm not making this up. There are few restaurant experiences as exciting as El Gaucho's flaming sword of lamb. They take well-seasoned lamb chunks, mount them on a sword alternately with vegetables and then light the entire sword on fire. Once the exterior of the lamb has been perfectly charred, the table chef then drains the flaming juices from the hilt of the sword down several feet into a baked potato. The entire experience appeals to one's deepest carnivorous instincts (meat, fire AND swords!). Did I mention that the lamb was awesome? El Gaucho opts for a dark, open, fairly modern decor which is a welcome change from the many wood-panelled, heavily upholstered steak houses out there. This also means that you can watch other flaming swords being prepared across the room. A great place to go for just about any occasion short of your vegetarian friend's birthday.
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Went to dinner at El Gaucho last night with two friends and had one of the top 5 steak dining experiences of my life. The meal opens with garlic bread fresh out of the oven and I had the French... More

Went to dinner at El Gaucho last night with two friends and had one of the top 5 steak dining experiences of my life. The meal opens with garlic bread fresh out of the oven and I had the French Onion Soup to start. It's rich and decadent and delicious. I followed that up with the frenched rib steak - which is essentially a rib eye on the bone. Again, an absolutely delicious hunk of medium-rare perfection. If you go there, and I urge you to do, be sure that one member of your table gets the 'flaming sword of lamb.' This involves a sideboard being pulled up to your table which is then graced by a waiter with a three foot long skewer which he sets ablaze. He spoons burning fat from the base of the skewer over the lamb medallions and 'spills' it expertly onto the baked potato waiting below. After your meat is perfectly charred, he then pours the burning liquid into a tiny cup from about three feet in the air. It is spectacular. I guarantee it will be the best lamb you've ever had. Dinner at El Gaucho is not cheap, but it is worth every penny (especially if you can get someone else to pay.) The service is impeccable if a little formal and the room is dark, dimly lit with piano music wafting gently in the background. Highly Recommended
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