Claire's reviews
Review of The Gaucho Grill
18 Oct 07, 19:24
Steak out 
If you're looking for tip top steak in London, this be one of your best bets. It's now become a mini chain with several outposts around the city, but it still seems to have managed to maintain standards.
This place spreads over several floors with a downstairs bar with a mirrored ceiling and mirrored tables which make for interesting people spying opportunities. There's a huge amount of cowhide all over the place, mixed with ornate chandeliers and very, very low lighting. It's almost got a clubby feel to it.
Upstairs is the main dining room - there's a real buzz here and the customer base mixes big groups of friends and colleagues round large tables with couples gazing into each others eyes.
Starters are all interesting but go for something light to avoid filling up before the main event. The ceviches are good - crisp, interesting flavours with a bit of a twist.
Then the steak - (there are other main options but why would you bother?) - it's superb. A number of different cuts are available in a number of different sizes, served plain or with one of several sauces. I usually have a plain small Lomo cooked rare and it's sublime - melt in the mouth tender.
Sides are expensive for the size of portion but tasty for all that - the potato with chorizo is very good indeed, as are the chips and the spinach.
Two courses with sides, a bottle of wine and two pre-dinner cocktails weighed in at about £60 a head including service.
Well worth it for simply fantastic steak.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of La Pampa Grill
06 Aug 07, 23:36
Steak it out
I'm sorry Fiona B had a bad meal here. A lot of people had recommended it to me and I wondered if it could live up to expectation, but I really liked it.
Went with a group of friends on a Sunday evening, place was quiet but still had atmosphere, mostly brought about by helpful staff who didn't seem to object to our noise levels and even encouraged us by bringing the birthday boy a shot of traditional Argentine filth.
There are no frills here when it comes to the decor - you kind of get the feeling you could be sitting at a long scrubbed table on a ranch somewhere in South America (well, you do if you have a slightly overactive imagination).
I'm picky about my steak and was impressed with both the cooking and the tenderness of what I'd ordered. Great chips, decent veg and a fruity red to wash it all down with.
No complaints here. Price seems fair for what it is and where it is. It's cheaper than the Gaucho Grills but less pretentious too. Vegetarians will hate it. And starve.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.