Pretty much everything about Gaucho makes a big statement. The name has been synonymous with contemporary Argentinian cuisine since first opening in London, circa 1994. Bringing this concept to Manchester, the chic bar and expansive main dining room have sat on historic St Mary’s Street since 2001, occupying a former-church with a truly spectacular interior. Then there’s the food itself, a refined selection of innovative and iconic global dishes, although the emphasis still falls on the country that inspired the brand.
Once you’ve got over how stunning the interior is — with the original church organ just one of many eye-catching features — the menus are next to impress. To start, options include sea bass ceviche, aji amarillo and ponzu dressing, lime, avocado crema, pickled jalapeño, and red onion; the famed Argentine sausage plate — think morcilla, chorizo, picante rojo, and lemon aioli; and seared diver scallops with ‘nduja butter, aguachile verde, and lemon crumb. Provoleta (melted Provolone cheese served hot in a cast-iron pan with confit cherry tomatoes, fresh oregano and sourdough), salmon tartare tacos, grilled butterfly prawns and steak tartare are among the other dishes available.
This brings us to the star of this show. Gaucho means high quality steaks, and every kilo of beef is 100% carbon offset, a scheme in place while the business works on reducing actual footprint at source. Chorizo sirloin, ancho ribeye, cuadril rump, and lomo fillet are on offer, alongside speciality cuts such as churrasco de chorizo (spiralled, marinated in garlic and parsley), tira de ancho (slow grilled with chimichurri), and colita de lomo (fillet tail). Meanwhile, sharing plates — Chateaubriand, beef bar sampler, Gaucho sampler — are also here, in case you want to go big. Alternatively, opt for something different, like spaghetti romesco, dry rubbed spatchcock chicken, or barbecue miso aubergine. Add an enviable Argentine wine list, exceptional bottles from other parts of the world, and a super-strong dessert