El Gaucho The Benson, A Coast Hotel El Gaucho

El Gaucho

The Benson, A Coast Hotel
319 SW Broadway (SW Stark St.)
Portland, OR 97205
503-227-8794
Map
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Retro special occasion dining at a steakhouse exuding elegance and excess, with professional panache.
Openings: Dinner nightly

Features

El Gaucho, Portland, OR


El Gaucho Restaurant Review:


A dinner at El Gaucho, an independent Northwest steakhouse chain, is always something special. Tender, marbled meat is, of course, the main attraction, ranging from the eight-ounce filet mignon to the 34-ounce porterhouse for two. Everything verges on excess, from the über-attentive tuxedoed waiters to the lamb shish kebabs on a silver saber, to the oversize steaks and the butter- and cream-laced sauces on absolutely everything. If beef isn't your thing, try the well-prepared fish, whether it’s the lobster with truffle gravy or more modest sea bass, salmon or tuna. You could also make a meal out of the sides: crab bisque splashed with Johnny Walker, a fully loaded baked potato the size of a football, or best of all, lobster mashed potatoes. Make sure to order a dish requiring a dramatic tableside execution by the staff, such as the complicated Caesar salad or the flaming bananas Foster. Following dinner, if you wish, retreat to the cigar room for a selection from the exclusive cigar menu. There’s a lengthy wine list, but we recommend sticking with a martini. Order it shaken, not stirred. Bargain hunters may want to check out the more reasonable happy hour offerings.