Gaucho Richmond — Restaurant in London

Very disappointing. I was debating whether to give it 3 starts or 2 but for the price it has to be 2. We have eaten at Goucho in Richmond several times before but never again. This time it was to celebrate my wife’s birthday, the 2 of us and our 6 year old. Our table was booked for 1.45 but we arrived early at 1.15 and were told the table wouldn’t be ready till 1.45. That’s fair enough. We took a walk for 15 minutes and then went back to sit in the bar and have drinks until our table was ready. Nobody came to take our drink order. We thought maybe we need to go to the bar but the barman told us someone will be round. There was a cocktail menu but no wine list. I had to go back to reception to ask for a wine list. The man on reception said the drinks menu is at the bar but I couldn’t find it. He handed me a wine list and we ordered some champagne. 1.45 came and went. At 1.55 I flagged down a waitress and she said she would go check. She came back and said our table would be another 10 minutes. We asked for menus to save time when our table did eventually become available. Around 2 o’clock we were eventually seated. We ordered at the first opportunity. Both myself and my wife ordered starters. At 2.30 her starter arrived. After 10 minutes and my starter not arriving I flagged down a waiter and evidently there was some confusion. My order for a starter had not been taken but they assured me it would be along imminently. I told my wife not to wait any longer and start eating. About 5 minutes later our lomo steak main course was brought out (2x steaks at £136 not including sides). My wife had just started her starter and I was still waiting for mine. I told the waiter I was still waiting for my starter. He looked puzzled and took the main courses away. After another 15 minutes my starter arrived. I ate it quickly because firstly my wife had finished eating hers and secondly, I had this horrible feeling our main course was just sitting on a counter somewhere. Everyone makes mistakes, but it’s how mistakes are dealt with that defines an establishment. Bringing back the same plates that were first brought out 25 minutes earlier is not the way to deal with the mistake. Fresh steaks should have been cooked but these were clearly the ones brought to the table earlier. I can’t say they were cold but to call them lukewarm would also be a bit of an exaggeration. They were tired and at this point rather unappetizing. The table next to us finished their food and as they were leaving a lady commented on the mix up with our main course coming out before I had received my starter and she remarked they had also had a difficult meal with poor service and she thought they were understaffed. They give you strict timings for eating. A table of 3 for example is allowed 1 hour and 45 minutes. We only had 2 courses and didn’t get out of the restaurant until after 4.00 but that was none of our doing. I read that the management has changed, both at the Richmond branch and overall at the head of Goucho. My wife commented that it was like night and day. The business model now seems more in line with a budget airline - cram them in and make them pay for everything (gone are the lovely dough balls at the table). I’m sure it will work as there are queues of people trying to get in so who cares what the dining experience is like, the tills are ringing up. It was more like a bank holiday at a motorway service station than a fine dining experience which is fine, everything has its place, but at £363 for 2 courses for 2 adults and one children’s main course it’s simply not good enough. It is no longer a pleasant place to dine and the food now can be described at best as very average. They are trying to turn over the tables as quickly as possible so care and attention to detail are sacrificed as they churn it out factory style. Shame. It used to be a nice...

Monday 27th March 2024 - This is the second review that I'm writing for Gaucho Richmond as I think it's world class and a place that deserves all the credit it receives.

My mother, step father and I were going for a late afternoon lunch on a busy bank holiday Monday. We booked a table at Gaucho Richmond and it was predictably very full.

We were quickly attended to and seated at a comfortable table outside with a great view, by the very efficient reception team. We were then instantaneously taken care of by Marvellous Melvin. He was courteous, professional, very well mannered and a fantastic ambassador for this fantastic venue.

His recommendations were spot on, from what food to choose and wine to order. And he made us feel right like celebrities by dashing to our rescue, when it started to rain, whilst hastily helping us move inside with all our drinks & belongings. Melvin also checked on us regularly and in an empathetic manner.

The food is always delicious and there was nothing left on any of our plates. Gaucho Richmond is perfectly run and the thing that always catches my eye, is how brilliant and well trained all the staff are. Melvin is the perfect example of a fine dining waiter and he completed our dining experience formidably.

Gaucho Richmond has a lifelong fan in me.

Monday 13th March 2023 -

My girlfriend and I like to go out for a very nice dinner once a week to celebrate. This week I was going to treat her to Gaucho in Richmond as I had heard good things about it and had been there once before for lunch a long time ago, so had only vague memories of what to expect.

On arrival at the restaurant we were warmly and promptly greeted by Anita who then went on to hang up our coats before introducing us to Debra. Debra then took us to our table, took out the seats to the table and invited us to take a seat. She then came back and filled us with her extensive knowledge of the food menu, different meats, wine recommendations and delicious sauces to accompany the food that we were ordering.

Our wines were topped up in a timely manner, we were conveniently checked on at regularly intervals to ensure that we were enjoying the meal, punctually offered replacements of anything we had run out of and extremely well looked after throughout the meal by Debra, her very professional manager Jessica and other waiting staff who happened to be walking by our table.

After the meal we were seated by Jessica in the bar area who brought over all our drinks and made her own recommendations of which wines or cocktails to continue drinking there. Whilst enjoying our drinks, the excellent service standards and care continued by Jessica, Anita (when she wasn't assisting arriving or departing guests) and any nearby waiting staff.

This was the best service and most delicious food that we have received in a while. We had dined at 'The Ting' restaurant in the shard, a week before, and this dinning experience had trumped that and was exponentially better!!

Gaucho Richmond was excellently run; serves exquisite food, wine and cocktails; is immaculately clean; displayed 5 star service standards, team work and communication from start to finish and is the place to go for a night to remember.

We will definitely be back and are both grateful for the amazing time...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Gaucho Richmond, a charming restaurant located in the heart of Richmond, London. Overall, I had a delightful experience with delicious food and exceptional service. However, there was one notable drawback that affected the ambiance of the establishment.

Let's start with the positives. Gaucho Richmond boasts a menu that is sure to satisfy any meat lover's cravings. The food I had was simply outstanding. From perfectly cooked steaks to mouthwatering sides, every dish was a testament to the chef's expertise. The flavors were rich, and the presentation was visually appealing. The menu offered a wide variety of options, ensuring that there is something for everyone.

The staff at Gaucho Richmond deserve special mention for their warm and friendly demeanor. From the moment I stepped foot into the restaurant, I was greeted with genuine smiles and attentive service. The servers were knowledgeable about the menu, providing helpful recommendations and ensuring that our dining experience was comfortable and enjoyable. Their professionalism and dedication to customer satisfaction were truly commendable.

However, there was one issue that dampened the overall experience: the acoustics of the restaurant. When the restaurant was full, the noise levels became quite disruptive. Conversations at the table became difficult, as we had to strain to hear one another amidst the din. It would be beneficial for Gaucho Richmond to address this concern and take steps to improve the acoustics within the space. Implementing sound-absorbing materials or reconfiguring the layout could make a significant difference in enhancing the dining atmosphere.

Despite the acoustic challenges, I would still highly recommend Gaucho Richmond for its delectable food and exceptional service. It is an ideal destination for meat enthusiasts looking to indulge in a memorable dining experience. Just be prepared to raise your voice a bit if the restaurant gets crowded. With a bit of attention to the acoustics, Gaucho Richmond has the potential to become an even more remarkable dining destination in...