Gaucho Leeds — Restaurant in Leeds

It’s a fairly subtle entrance, through an iron gate and down some steep steps to find the reception. Don’t be intimidated by this though as it’s a super friendly welcome when you enter and the service throughout is lovely. Coats are quickly taken care of when you arrive and there’s genuine conversation while being shown to the table. It’s not the largest of restaurants in the chain but it makes for a more intimate feel and there’s still some areas which can be sectioned off from the main dining area if needed.

The initial round of drinks was brought quickly and both presented and poured professionally. Food orders were taken well, with reassuring comments on both the selection and a good display of the meat board prior. The proximity of our table to the kitchen meant conversations could be overheard which weren’t always the most reassuring as to whether dishes would be arriving on time, but fortunately we weren’t left in the lurch.

We opted for the ‘big sausage platter’ as a sharing starter. This wasn’t quite the platter we had in mind, instead being a number of small sausage slices on skewer. This was delicious but proved quite hard to remove the meat given the metal skewer was scolding hot. The two dips provided were delicious and complemented the meat well and it proved to be the ideal size.

I ordered the 225g Lomo medium-rare which ended up being served more medium, but was still tasty. The sides were all delicious and a great size to share. The bowl of mushrooms perhaps had a little too much liquid in the bottom but the truffle Mac & cheese was perfect with the flavours. Naturally everything was presented well with everything on the table being spotlessly clean.

Wine glasses were kept topped up, staff checked everything was well during the meal and there was a nice pleasant atmosphere with the background music. Having picked up on the subtle conversation while being seated it was nice to be surprised at the end of the meal with a sweet treat for our anniversary too.

Overall it was a great lunch and somewhere I’d consider in the future, as well as for dinner - a great option in this area...

On arrival, our party of 4 was greeted by a nice lady who took our coats. We were asked to wait for our table at the bar. We made our way over to a tiny opening (away from the service area of the bar, which was clearly marked), next to 2 people who were the only others at this small bar. To my amazement, waiters kept ushering all 4 of us out of the tiny bar area so they can deliver empty, dirty glasses, at the bar, in the area we were standing at - rather than the service area. Additionally, at this tiny bar, no one came to take our drinks order, despite 4+ waiters stood around talking near the service area. Eventually, after 20 minutes, we caught someone's attention and got some drinks. Not a great first impression - I wouldn't even expect this from a roughed up village pub.

We eventually got sat down and given our menus by our server for the night (this is how he introduced himself), but he didn't turn up to take our order - not even drinks. After 35 minutes, I asked a passing manager if he could take our order. He sent over a new waitress, and the evening only went uphill from there.

She offered fantastic service, always smiling, the food was excellent, the ambiance was excellent - and I'll say it again, the food was to die for - every single course. We were really enjoying ourselves at this point.

It's just a shame that a couple of minor areas are really letting this place down. It's not the level of service I expect when paying ~£100 a head.

1.5 stars lost for the horrific experience at the bar, and 0.5 stars lost for the lack of service once sat down. The first 1 hour of our visit was shameful.

Thankfully, our new waitress really pulled it out the bag - if we received that level of service from arrival, this review would be...

Went for the set menu during a late Thursday afternoon lunch, and it turned out to be a real treat.

From the outset, front-of-house staff were very attentive, and that high level of service remained consistent throughout the meal.

Started with a prawn dish—big, juicy king prawns that were packed with flavour. For the main, I had steak and chips. The beef was cooked beautifully: tender, medium rare, exactly as requested. The chimichurri was the only slight letdown—it lacked the bold punch I was hoping for. That said, the fries were spot on: crisp on the outside, fluffy in the centre, and well-seasoned.

Dessert was a chocolate brownie with ice cream. Nothing groundbreaking, but still very enjoyable and a nice way to finish the meal.

At £20 for three courses, it’s an absolute bargain. Of course, you’re not getting the same cuts you’d expect from the full à la carte menu at Gaucho—but for a set lunch, it’s excellent value. I had no complaints at all with either the food or the service.

We had a bottle of sparkling water and a glass of Malbec recommended by the front-of-house team, which paired really nicely with the meal.

All in all, it was a very pleasant experience—great value, a lovely setting, and a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. I’ve only ever dined at Gaucho Manchester before, but I actually prefer the layout and vibe of this Leeds branch.

Will definitely be returning next time...