Argentinian Cuts & Luxe Interiors: Is This Birmingham's Best Steakhouse?

Tucked away in Birmingham city centre, Gaucho is one of the more lavish restaurants knocking around. Unlike the cuisines of its neighbouring competitors, Italian from Gusto and Chinese at Tattu, this exclusive steakhouse is known for bringing a taste of Latin America to our British shores with an Argentinian-inspired menu.

Gaucho restaurant in Birmingham is perfect for those of you who fancy a little luxury.

Walking through the glass doors into the dimly lit interior, I felt like a member of a secret club, while relaxed jazz music playing in the background formed a cool, speakeasy ambience. With velvet chairs and neatly laid tables, it boasted a luxe feel. Although we were not seated underneath them, the tree-like features with fairy lights draped across the top of the branches were decorations that particularly caught my eye. 

Of course, we had to kick off the evening with a couple of cocktails, so we ordered the honey punch (£14.50) and lychee blossom (£12.50). Featuring a strong combination of rum and cognac, the former is not for the faint of heart, so if you are someone who prefers slightly lighter-tasting notes, then the gin-based latter is probably the way to go. Despite taking a while to arrive, both drinks were a cool, refreshing escape from the outdoor humidity. By the time we finished off the last sips of our cocktails, the starters appeared right on time.

Everything on Gaucho's menu was a delight, from the food to the cocktails.

While the truffle arancini (£10) had been deep-fried to a beautiful golden crisp, the real stars of the show were the seared diver scallops (£22). These buttery bites of heaven were the most tender scallops I have ever eaten, and the soft texture contrasted well with the crunchy lemon crumbs scattered on top. Something that really brought the two dishes together were their sauces, with the arancini having a truffle mayonnaise to tone down the sharpness of the melted provoleta insides, and the simple scallops being covered in a zesty verde dressing. 

For the main course, it felt wrong to go to a steakhouse and not order a steak, so we decided to opt for the speciality churrasco de chorizo (300g/£36, 500g/£48). Unlike an average cut of meat, these were marinated in garlic, parsley and olive oil, plus the even herb coating was a winner for me, bringing buckets of flavour. Cooked to a flawless medium rare, the succulency was unbeatable and brought out even more by the bottle of Melodias red malbec (£41) chosen for us by our sommelier.

Wondering " is Gaucho Birmingham halal?" It offers a diet-friendly sirloin that you'll need to order 48 hours in advance.

Sides-wise, we decided on the typical vegetables and potatoes option of spinach (£6) and chips (£6). However, to spice things up a bit, we also ordered a portion of the truffle mac and cheese (£7.50), which was quite possibly the best decision I have made this year. As it was created with three different kinds of cheese – mozzarella, taleggio and gruyère – I would not recommend this dish to the lactose intolerant. But with the creamiest base ever and an Instagram-worthy cheese pull, everyone and anyone else needs to try this once in their lifetime.

As someone with a sweet tooth, dessert is my favourite part of any meal. Although we were left to digest our food for the better half of twenty minutes, it ended up being well worth the wait. An elevated take on a toffee apple, the apple pancake (£7.50) had all the same flavours as the treats you would munch on from the fair as a child, though presented in a fancy way. The don pedro (£10), an authentic Argentinian dessert, pushed us into more unfamiliar territory, but was just as delicious. Comprised of silky whipped ice cream, flaky walnut bits and a decent amount of rum, this exotic taste was a show-stopping end to the meal.

DesignMyNight Digest 

Serving up sumptuous steaks, signature cocktails and Argentinian food done right, Gaucho was a truly special place. The luxurious atmosphere of the restaurant not only seeped into the walls, but also the food and the people. My only gripe would be that, at times, we had to wait a little longer for our dishes than we would have liked (especially considering the prices). Despite that, I can honestly say it's worth the trouble for such a unique dining experience.

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