Slightly different London restaurants (e.g. Brazilian steak)
Discussion
Taking my girlfriend to London in a couple of weeks for the weekend. Am looking to go for dinner on the Saturday night but would like to go somewhere a bit different to the mainstream (although not too wacky like that place where you eat in the dark!)
So far, I am considering Bodeans BBQ, Gaucho or one of the brazilian steakhouses such as Rodizio Preto.
Has anyone been to these or recommend anything similar?
So far, I am considering Bodeans BBQ, Gaucho or one of the brazilian steakhouses such as Rodizio Preto.
Has anyone been to these or recommend anything similar?
I live on the South Coast, but make fairly regular (maybe 4 times a year) visits to Gaucho.
I go to either the Richmond branch or the one in Swallow Street, Picadilly.
The Richmond restaurant is nothing too different or special, WRT ambience. The Picadilly one is a bit more 'happening' - the ground floor bar area is quite lively with a bit of a 'nightclub' feel. The eating area is on the first and second floors.
The furniture is quite funky with lots of 'cow hide' effects. It's always busy with a noisy buzz to it. So despite there being quite a few tables packed in there, it's noisy enough to still have a fairly private conversation at the table.
The staff are extremely professional and knowledgable about both the food and the wines. They bring you over a wooden board with all the available raw cuts of meat on them and explain what's available and what it's like. So may not be great if you / your G/F is a bit squeamish about seeing and discussing raw meat and where it's cut from!
But for me, I couldn't care too much about all of that - the reason I go is for the meat. It's all fresh Argentinian beef, and I favour the fillet, rare of course.
I've been to a lot of steak specialists, but in my opinion you can't beat the Gaucho stuff. It has flavour and delicacy to die for.
The fact that I'm happy to do a 150 mile round trip to London and back for it probably speaks volumes! Give it a go, you'll probably love it.
I go to either the Richmond branch or the one in Swallow Street, Picadilly.
The Richmond restaurant is nothing too different or special, WRT ambience. The Picadilly one is a bit more 'happening' - the ground floor bar area is quite lively with a bit of a 'nightclub' feel. The eating area is on the first and second floors.
The furniture is quite funky with lots of 'cow hide' effects. It's always busy with a noisy buzz to it. So despite there being quite a few tables packed in there, it's noisy enough to still have a fairly private conversation at the table.
The staff are extremely professional and knowledgable about both the food and the wines. They bring you over a wooden board with all the available raw cuts of meat on them and explain what's available and what it's like. So may not be great if you / your G/F is a bit squeamish about seeing and discussing raw meat and where it's cut from!
But for me, I couldn't care too much about all of that - the reason I go is for the meat. It's all fresh Argentinian beef, and I favour the fillet, rare of course.
I've been to a lot of steak specialists, but in my opinion you can't beat the Gaucho stuff. It has flavour and delicacy to die for.
The fact that I'm happy to do a 150 mile round trip to London and back for it probably speaks volumes! Give it a go, you'll probably love it.
if you can do spicy food, and are reasonably adventurous eaters (i.e. wouldnt get too scared by the occaisional pigs trotter or kidney) then this place is hard to beat:
http://www.bar-shu.co.uk/
very tasty Szechuan chinese food. not a sweet-and-sour to be seen on the menu...
http://www.bar-shu.co.uk/
very tasty Szechuan chinese food. not a sweet-and-sour to be seen on the menu...
OK well you have Gauchos (8/10) hard to complain too much about their food and a good choice of wine but I feel it has lost its spark lately, the same can be said for Hawkesmoor 8.5/10 and also for Goodmans 8/10. I wouldn't rate Bodeans and Rodizio Preto in the same league, still good fun food but Gauchos/Hawkesmoor and Goodmans are in a different food and price league.
I have recommended it here before but this place http://www.santamariadelsur.co.uk/ (9/10) for me is superb lots more of an authentic feel and food is top notch.
I have recommended it here before but this place http://www.santamariadelsur.co.uk/ (9/10) for me is superb lots more of an authentic feel and food is top notch.
Eversleigh said:
I have recommended it here before but this place http://www.santamariadelsur.co.uk/ (9/10) for me is superb lots more of an authentic feel and food is top notch.
Haven't been there, but I'd certainly recommend the original branch in Hackney (Santa Maria del Buen Ayre - http://www.buenayre.co.uk )I think Gaucho is very expensive for what it is.
Steak was average. I could have cooked it better myself given access to the same quality of ingredients.
However what really grates is that absolutely everything else is extra: £2.75 for a sauce... £3.25 for a tiny bowl of chips... £5.25 for a tiny bowl of (bagged) salad leaves...
Wine is extortionate: £30+ for the cheapest bottle.
A meal for five - two of whom were not drinking alcohol - came in at £600.
Go if the GF will be impressed by a few cowskin rugs, but not for the food. That said, the mojitos were excellent.
Steak was average. I could have cooked it better myself given access to the same quality of ingredients.
However what really grates is that absolutely everything else is extra: £2.75 for a sauce... £3.25 for a tiny bowl of chips... £5.25 for a tiny bowl of (bagged) salad leaves...
Wine is extortionate: £30+ for the cheapest bottle.
A meal for five - two of whom were not drinking alcohol - came in at £600.
Go if the GF will be impressed by a few cowskin rugs, but not for the food. That said, the mojitos were excellent.
I love Rodizio Rico http://www.rodiziorico.com/ for more "fun" evening though have to agree with the comments about Gaucho, the steak really is excellent (though I think a little on the expensive side). Went to La Pampa grill near Clapham Junction last week, good old-fashioned sawdust and wooden tables place with good service and excellent steaks. Another woth a try is Constancia http://www.constancia.co.uk/ despite it being in Bermondsey!! Then of course there's Rodizio Brazil in Clapham (another eat too much!) http://www.rodiziobrazil.com/ or even the Hawksmoor (more mainstream Euro steak) http://thehawksmoor.com/
As above really. I've eaten in all of those mentioned above and to be honest Gaucho lost its way 2 years ago when it was bought by private equity and expanded fast at the cost of quality and portion size. Hawksmoor Spitelfields and Seven Dials are great, Goodmans is excellent also. You don't mention budget but you could also try Palm and The Cut on Park Lane. If you want excellent food on a resaonable budget the Constancia on Tower bridge road is excellent VFM. The owner is Argentinian and works there too - getting a short notice table is quite hard, not bad for a restaurant in Bermondsey!
Rodizo Rico and Bodeans are not in the same league as these, they are like Burger King vs Giraffe. They both serve burgers but that's where the similarity ends.
Rodizo Rico and Bodeans are not in the same league as these, they are like Burger King vs Giraffe. They both serve burgers but that's where the similarity ends.
Thanks for all the great suggestions. Totally agree about Gaucho, I have been there a few times with work and the interior looks good (if a little too dark) but the food does seem overpriced for what you get especially with the expected sides being extra.
We are staying close to Tower Bridge so I am thinking that Constancia in Bermondsey could be a good option.
We are staying close to Tower Bridge so I am thinking that Constancia in Bermondsey could be a good option.
As said already on this thread if you're eating steak then Hawksmoor (or Hix Oyster and Chophouse) would be well above Gauchos in my order of preference. St John in Farringdon is also good for the meat eater.
If you like fish then the Lobsterpot in Kennington is excellent. Quirky, friendly and excellent french-style seafood. Try the 10 course tasting menu.
http://www.lobsterpotrestaurant.co.uk/home.php
http://www.london-eating.co.uk/1726.htm
If you like fish then the Lobsterpot in Kennington is excellent. Quirky, friendly and excellent french-style seafood. Try the 10 course tasting menu.
http://www.lobsterpotrestaurant.co.uk/home.php
http://www.london-eating.co.uk/1726.htm
maturin23 said:
As said already on this thread if you're eating steak then Hawksmoor (or Hix Oyster and Chophouse) would be well above Gauchos in my order of preference. St John in Farringdon is also good for the meat eater.
If you like fish then the Lobsterpot in Kennington is excellent. Quirky, friendly and excellent french-style seafood. Try the 10 course tasting menu.
http://www.lobsterpotrestaurant.co.uk/home.php
http://www.london-eating.co.uk/1726.htm
Not much of a fish lover. Hawksmoor keeps popping up again so will check that out. Think my budget keeps rising though!If you like fish then the Lobsterpot in Kennington is excellent. Quirky, friendly and excellent french-style seafood. Try the 10 course tasting menu.
http://www.lobsterpotrestaurant.co.uk/home.php
http://www.london-eating.co.uk/1726.htm
Personally I love Hix Oyster and Chop House, however I suspect the GF might not be so enthusiastic.
I think it's more of a 'man's' restaurant, with black and white tiled walls and scrapey wooden chairs.
Whether the atmosphere changes at weekends I couldn't say; certainly during the week there's a fair amount of City / Clerkenwell t
ttage.
I think it's more of a 'man's' restaurant, with black and white tiled walls and scrapey wooden chairs.
Whether the atmosphere changes at weekends I couldn't say; certainly during the week there's a fair amount of City / Clerkenwell t
ttage.its all about the t bone at the hoxton grill http://www.hoxtongrill.com/
been to all the others but this place has had the best steak so far
good atmos on wknds too
been to all the others but this place has had the best steak so far
good atmos on wknds too
housen said:
its all about the t bone at the hoxton grill http://www.hoxtongrill.com/
been to all the others but this place has had the best steak so far
good atmos on wknds too
That actually looks pretty decent. Starting to think this is more within my budget too, Gaucho / Constancia look to be pretty pricey. We are doing lots of other things over the weekend including afternoon tea which isnt too cheap either but something she has wanted to do for a while.been to all the others but this place has had the best steak so far
good atmos on wknds too
wilbo83 said:
housen said:
its all about the t bone at the hoxton grill http://www.hoxtongrill.com/
been to all the others but this place has had the best steak so far
good atmos on wknds too
That actually looks pretty decent. Starting to think this is more within my budget too, Gaucho / Constancia look to be pretty pricey. We are doing lots of other things over the weekend including afternoon tea which isnt too cheap either but something she has wanted to do for a while.been to all the others but this place has had the best steak so far
good atmos on wknds too
although i think hoxton grill is part of the shoreditch house gang but thats why its so good ...service, food and bar are all 10/10
should have never moved away from that area for this place alone
Santa Marie De Sur
http://www.santamariadelsur.co.uk/
Preto
http://rodiziopreto.co.uk/
Smith's of Smithfield
http://www.smithsofsmithfield.co.uk/sos/index.html
http://www.santamariadelsur.co.uk/
Preto
http://rodiziopreto.co.uk/
Smith's of Smithfield
http://www.smithsofsmithfield.co.uk/sos/index.html
Rodizios in general are nowhere near as good as i thought they would be. I've been to 2 now and was underwhelmed. Lots of 'filler', and the keep the 'killer' back and don't bring it out as often as they should. Ham so salty i practically had a face-drop stroke there and then. Even the super carnivore Mrs 2CV was not enamored enough to return so probs won't go back.
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