Review: Gaucho Manchester

After dining at Gaucho Manchester, Daniel Flay can't bring himself to order steak anywhere else.

Gaucho Manchester certainly isn't shy. With its striking black and white cowhide interior and overindulgent selection of steaks, this Argentinian institution is most definitely a vegetarian free zone. 

As its menu proves, there's so much more to this up-market restaurant group than its flash felt-covered aesthetic. With an unrivalled array of juicy Rumps, succulent Sirloins and rich Rib Eyes, Gaucho is just as easy on the eye as it is on the palette. 

The restaurant specialises in Argentinian meat, specifically beef which has been reared in the South American region of Pampas. To keep all of its delicious natural flavours alive, meat is chilled (not frozen) and shipped directly to the UK. 

As part of the Gaucho experience, our waiter, Phil chatted to us about the various different cuts and sizes on offer. Much to our surprise, he presented us with large board of raw beef and explained each variety in great detail. The board included classics, such as Rump, Sirloin, Fillet and Rib-eye, as well as more expensive options like Chateaubriand and Churrasco de Chorizo. 

When it comes to cooking, each chunk of meat is lightly-salted on one side, turned over only once and left to sear on the grill. 

Each cut of steak is available in four different sizes, these range from a humble 225g medallion to a mighty 500g hunk of beef. After some careful consideration and some words of encouragement from Phil, I opted for the 300g Fillet. 

As I eagerly awaited the arrival of my steak. I snacked on a plate of empanadas to keep my hunger at bay. These tender, flaky pastry pockets were wonderfully crisp and contained a lightly spiced and incredibly moreish filling consisting of hand diced beef, red peppers, Spanish onion and ají molido. Other options included provolone and onion, and smoked ham and mozzarella. 

Another area in which Gaucho excels is wine. The chain proudly serves a selection of Argentinian creations, made especially for its restaurants. If you're bored of tasting the same old wines, then a bottle of Gaucho's Torrontés will make a delightful alternative to a glass of Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay. The wine was dry yet refreshing, with a long, silky and fruity finish.

The Torrontés also went incredibly well with my choice of steak - which was faultless. The 300g Fillet was more than enough for my appetite, but I was still incredibly disappointed when I realised that I'd gnawed my way through the whole thing. It was tender, delicious, perfectly cooked and bursting with the full-bodied flavour that you'd expect from a steak of this caliber.

The chips were also an impressive accompaniment and matched the steak in both size and might. With their thick and fluffy centre and crisp outer shell, they certainly helped to elevate the dish to a whole new level of enjoyment. 

Staying true to the "go big or go home" mantra that I'd seemingly adopted throughout my meal, I rounded off the evening with a Dulce De Leche Pancake with Chocolate Ice Cream and Walnuts - which really was just as satisfying as it sounds. 

The restaurant's uncomplicated menu and glamourous aesthetic is sure to delight and impress even the most seasoned of steak lovers. Be warned though, once you've dined here, steak will never taste the same anywhere else again.