One of my HS classmates came home for a quick visit from SF. A flurry of texts later we all decided to have lunch at Gaucho in Robinsons Magnolia. She wanted Chinese food but we vetoed her.
It’s always a good thing to discover new and good restaurants not located in Makati or The Fort. Less traffic and more convenient for people who live in Greenhills and Quezon City.
Gaucho is an Argentinian restaurant located at the 3rd floor of the Al Fresco area of the mall. They got a really nice space that stood out from the other restaurants which were lined up on one side.
This the fire pit where they roast different kinds of meat. The problem was they only used it at night.
I wanted to order the lamb and suckling pig but all these were available only for dinner service. I guess I just have to go back to try it. Hmmm unlimited garlic rice comes with it. Perfec
The lamb empanadas didn’t go so well with me and my friends. The ground lamb filling was dry and the flavor was too gamey.
On the other hand the ultra thin, ultra crispy Argentinian pizza made with chickpea flour & provolone cheese was a big, big hit. An order contained 8 slices which can easily be eaten by one person. I know I could. We all liked the chorizo, anchovies, tomatoes, olives fugazetta (P470) more than spinach & prosciutto version (P490). Must order.
Since they elected me to order I made the executive decision in ordering a 1.5kg Tomahawk Steak which is a bone-in US rib eye steak. I figured it would be enough for 15 women, some supposedly on a diet.
Another angle of the behemoth steak served with peppercorn jus and a whole head of roasted garlic.
After I finished taking pictures they took it back and sliced it for us. I’m not a steak eater but I really, really liked the well seasoned, juicy steak. It’s amazing how evenly cooked the steak was in spite of its size. I liberally doused my meat with chimichurri (forgot to take a pic), a sauce made with chopped parsley, garlic, olive oil and vinegar. Chimichurri is now favorite steak sauce. The simple blend of herbs and spices brightened my grilled steak.
I initially hesitated ordering roasted chicken since it seemed ordinary but I’m glad I did. The chicken was roasted in olive oil, lemon and garlic and the flavors were intense and I could taste it in the succulent chicken breast which I ate.
I had to order fish for the non-beef eater seated in front of me. Too bad this fish was dry and a tad overcooked.
With proteins comes sides and they had a pretty good selection of carbs. My ultimate favorite was the baked corn cake topped with a generous helping of provolone cheese. Think bibingka but made with cornmeal and studded with corn kernels. I can eat one whole order of this by myself.
Black squid ink rice with squid, shrimp, leeks and bell peppers could be a meal in itself too. Since Filipinos eat steak with rice this black rice is a better option.
I ordered just one plate of brussel sprouts and still there were leftovers. These look sad don’t they? They sure don’t look like the brussel sprouts I had in the US.
A perfect end to a delicious lunch were these crepes filled with dulce de leche and toasted nuts with a scoop of cinnamon ice cream.
Just enough sauce and lots of crunchy nuts made these crepes a joy to eat.
This is one restaurant I want to go back to. Good steak, good sides, good dessert and even good strong coffee what more can I ask for?
I was relieved everyone enjoyed their meal and no one blamed me for choosing Gaucho.
Gaucho Cocina y Vinos Argentinos (closed)
3rd Floor, Al Fresco, Robinsons Magnolia, Dona Hemady corner Aurora Boulevard, New Manila, Quezon City.
telephone: (02) 654-3148
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