Gaucho Covent Garden — Restaurant in London

I was looking forward to my birthday dinner, but this branch completely ruined the night. The front desk staff greeted us politely, but everything went downhill from there. The waitress assigned to our table was rude and dismissive when I explained my children’s allergies, questioning them as if I were lying. When I addressed the flickering lights, the manager dismissed it, claiming it was “normal” and part of the restaurant’s comfort lighting—clearly untrue. When I requested a table change, he lied that all lights were flickering to avoid relocating us.

Then the manager started taking photos of us without consent, using his phone while on duty. When I noticed, he panicked, acted dumb, and quickly moved downstairs, probably thinking I would confront him, and likely deleted the photos. Later, as we left, I saw him taking more pictures. This is a blatant GDPR violation, as customers’ personal data cannot be collected without consent.

Overall, the staff showed a complete lack of professionalism and customer care—from dismissive attitudes to using phones on duty to violating customer privacy. This was supposed to be a special birthday celebration, yet staff and management made it stressful, uncomfortable, and ruined the night.

Management/Owner note: Please check your CCTV from 7:45–7:50 on 15/09/2025 to confirm what happened and take steps to train your staff properly and enforce professional behavior.

Avoid this location if you value respectful, professional service and your privacy.

Firstly, in your reply you stated that you personally approached our table to apologize and reassure us that the flickering lights were a known issue being worked on. To be very clear, no such reassurance was given, and at no point were we offered to move to a different chair or table to resolve the problem.

You also admitted in your own response that this is an ongoing issue and even suggested we report it to main management — which makes it all the more concerning that nothing was done in the moment to improve our experience. If this flickering problem is so ongoing, then why are you not taking photos or documenting it when customers are not around? Instead, your phone was directed towards our table while we were dining. I am not blind, and I know where the phone was pointed.

You even claimed you went downstairs to report it to management. I had already been downstairs before all of this happened — the only people down there were kitchen staff and bartenders. So, who exactly were you “reporting it” to? That does not add up.

The fact that a manager chose to take photos during our meal is inappropriate and invasive. You invaded my privacy in what was supposed to be a comfortable environment, and instead made it uncomfortable. I do not want to continue explaining myself further — I will be reporting this matter to head management. This is not how a manager should behave, and it reflects very poorly on your professionalism.

Take note, future customers: the very manager replying to these reviews is the same one who invaded my privacy. Don’t waste your time here — go somewhere else, like Roka, where they actually deserve your money. If this is the behavior shown here, maybe it’s no surprise the staff don’t seem motivated — probably they aren’t being paid enough to...

Title: A Memorable 5 Year’s Anniversary Celebration at Gaucho Covent Garden

Review: (Food ordered by highlighted in ALL CAPS)

My girlfriend and I recently celebrated our anniversary at Gaucho Covent Garden, and we were blown away by the exceptional dining experience we had. From the moment we walked through the doors, we knew we were in for something special.

The ambiance of the restaurant was warm and inviting, with elegant decor and a cozy atmosphere. The attentive staff immediately made us feel welcomed, and our server, Aggelos went above and beyond to ensure our evening was memorable.

Being a steak lover, I opted for their signature steak CHURRASCO DE LOMO, and I must say, it was a carnivore's dream come true. Cooked to perfection, the steak was incredibly tender and bursting with flavor. Each bite was a culinary delight, and I could tell that the chefs at Gaucho take great pride in their craft. The presentation of the dish was impeccable, and it truly exceeded my expectations.

My girlfriend, who follows a vegetarian diet, was equally thrilled with her selection of multiple vegetarian starters. The variety of options available showcased the restaurant's commitment to catering to different dietary preferences. From the vibrant colors to the exquisite flavors, each starter was a work of art. The combination of fresh ingredients and imaginative culinary techniques made for an exceptional dining experience. Her favourite dishes were the BEETROOT CEVICHE and BURRATA

However, it wasn't just the food that impressed us; Aggelos our server, played a significant role in making our anniversary dinner unforgettable. His knowledge of the menu was outstanding, and he guided us through our choices with expertise and enthusiasm. He took the time to understand our preferences and offered excellent recommendations, ensuring that every dish we ordered was a delight.

Throughout the evening, Aggelos was attentive, ensuring our glasses were never empty and our needs were met promptly. His friendly demeanor and genuine passion for his work added an extra touch of warmth to our celebration. We truly appreciated his professionalism and the way he effortlessly enhanced our dining experience.

To complete our meal, we indulged in a mouthwatering dessert that left us on a sweet note. The TRAY BAKED COOKIE DOUGH. It was the perfect ending to a perfect evening.

Gaucho Covent Garden is undoubtedly a restaurant that goes above and beyond to provide an exceptional dining experience. From the delectable food to the impeccable service, everything about our anniversary celebration was simply perfect. I would highly recommend Gaucho Covent Garden to anyone seeking a remarkable culinary adventure, complemented by the warmest hospitality. Thank you to Aggelos and the entire team for creating such a memorable experience for us. We can't wait to visit again!

Rating: Food: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Service:...

Hi, Myself and 6 of my friends visited last night at 6.30 for our christmas night out. We could not wait as we heard so many good things but came out deeply disappointed. We arrived 15 minutes early and was waiting for 1 more. They said because we were early the 2 hour slot would start from when we sat down initially they kept telling us off for bring late which we were not. We asked to wait at the bar they declined our table was booked from 6.30-8.30. We had to ask to have our coats put in the cloakroom we had them piled up for a while surely when they sat us down they would of taken them then? When we sat down they said they will remind us when it's time to go. We did not feel made to feel welcome. Drinks arrived mine was wrong I asked for a bacardi and diet coke I got a dark rum. I asked the waitress and she assumed I asked for the dark rum to be fair she offered to change it but it was not worth the hassle. All of our dinners were cold when they came out. Myself and my friend did not get one of our sides we had to ask twice for them. We had eaten half our dinner by time they came and no apologies. We were still eating and the dessert menu was given to us. I think the waitress took a disliking to me as she did not give me a dessert menu but everyone else got one. (My drink was wrong and I got my veg late). At 8.27 whilst we were still eating and drinking they told us they were giving us the bill and we had to go. Bearing in mind we waited over 20 minutes from ordering dessert to receiving it. Given that our bill was over £600 I would of expected a much better customer service and to feel welcome. We decided that given the service we received we would tip but not the amount on the receipt, the waitress was clearly annoyed with us which was unacceptable not even a than-you for us custom. We then had to hunt around to find someone to get our coats. We were not roudy or misbehaving we were some mums finally having a well deserved night out. I have since looked at the reviews for this branch and again it's around customer service they have clearly not learnt from the feedback on Google reviews. We came out feeling really upset at...