Fine dining of a bygone era. We anticipate your needs, delivering personalized and unparalleled service where every detail is carefully and thoughtfully executed. We invite you to escape to a world of shimmering candlelight, live music and the anticipation of an exceptional dining experience featuring our signature tableside service.
Elegant steakhouse offering a menu of high-end classics like Angus beef & seafood.
Jenny Bergschneider
We had a lovely dinner at El Gaucho! My husband has been to the Seattle location multiple times so he had high expectations, while understanding they are still working through challenges that come with all restaurant openings. The service and atmosphere were wonderful. Some of the food needed small improvements. We started with cocktails at the bar, with Canaan as our absolutely fantastic bartender. All of our cocktails were amazing, and our friend said his martini was the best he’s had in Boise. I had the Love by the Moon and another friend had the smoked old fashioned and my husband had a glass of wine. With dinner, we had 3 different bottles of wine that were all fantastic and we appreciated the help of our Somm, Greg. We also had great service from Sophia, who seated us, Victor, who kept our still and sparkling water glasses full, Chris our captain who made sure everything was going well, and Greg (another Greg) our very attentive and personable server. As far as the food, we agree with another review that said the escargot was very heavy on the garlic. Our group shared many plates and enjoyed exploring much of the menu, including the escargot, oysters, crab cakes, and wicked shrimp for appetizers. The oysters should have been shucked, something in the learning curve we imagine. We also shared the tableside Caesar salad. We ordered entrees for ourselves and a couple extras so we could share everything, which all included the salmon, ahi tuna, 2 bone-in Ribeyes, and the grilled prawn linguine, also adding scallops. We also got the mushroom shareable side. For dessert we shared the chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, key lime pie and tableside flambe of bananas foster. The bananas could have been cooked/caramelized more, but it was a fun tableside show. Overall, it was a great night and we appreciate the entire staff’s hard work, positivity, and enthusiasm!
… moreAndrew Aczel
Another good steakhouse. The space has been completely converted to a new more modern elegant design. The staff was incredibly friendly, our server Bretton was very knowledgeable and funny while still being very professional. The food was all good, the sides we tried (Mac & cheese and brussel sprouts) were amazing, some of the larger meat cuts that we tired like the Chateaubriand and pork chop were both good but not the best value in town. We had the bread pudding and it was great. Some of the table side stuff like the Cesar salad and flaming steak seem a bit gimmicky but the non flashy stuff we tried was all pretty good. Would recommend giving it a try.
… moreJimmy Gadson
A Thoughtful First Impression
The evening began with promise. I was seated immediately upon arrival, my coat taken and my table graciously presented. Within moments, a server’s assistant appeared. Sparkling water was ordered, though it arrived regrettably flat.The dining room is arranged around a low central seating area, with a raised surrounding booths, giving the space the feel of a modern salon. Despite the steady hum of conversation, the pianist remained audible, lending the room a gentle elegance. Although I chose not to drink alcohol, I ordered a half bottle of Amarone to observe the wine service, along with a Heineken 0.0. The menu mirrors the conventions of Idaho “fine dining”, while the cocktail and wine programs are notably expansive, with a thoughtful representation of Washington wineries. Wine service lacked fluidity and felt hesitant, and the non-alcoholic beer arrived later than expected, particularly given the light traffic at the bar. These are understandable growing pains in a new restaurant and should improve with time and refinement. I began with the escargot, followed by the 4-ounce A5 Wagyu, accompanied by mushrooms and lobster mash. The escargot was assertively seasoned with garlic, which overshadowed the delicacy of the dish, though the accompanying cheese bread was delightful and well-suited for soaking up the sauce. Service revealed moments of polish and moments of informality. While bussers were overheard making inappropriate jokes within earshot of guests, they were also efficient and attentive. A small but gracious touch came when my napkin was refolded during a brief step away from the table. The Wagyu arrived pre-sliced with striking presentation, accented by balsamic. Unfortunately, the beef was drier than expected and dominated by onion and vinegar notes that masked its natural richness. The mushrooms lacked depth, and the lobster mash—though generously portioned—was texturally chunky and muted in flavor, despite the lobster itself being well prepared.
By the conclusion of the main course, anticipation had softened into disappointment. Dessert, however, changed the direction of the evening. I ordered the crème brûlée, and management thoughtfully added a cheese plate as well. For many years, I have sought a crème brûlée reminiscent of one I enjoyed in Paris’s 5th arrondissement. Until now, the closest I had found was at El Gaucho. This version was truly exceptional, with a silky custard and an expertly caramelized top. The cheese plate was equally memorable, highlighted by an aged goat cheese of remarkable character. The evening ultimately revealed a restaurant still finding its footing and perhaps not ready for the competition Boise has to offer (Barbacoa, Chandlers, Hemlock). While the savory courses fell short of the kitchen’s evident ambitions, the dessert course demonstrated real potential. Though it did not fully redeem the meal, it offered a glimpse of what this restaurant may soon become.
I will return, this time with my wife, to experience the tableside Caesar, the Flaming Sword, and—most importantly—another crème brûlée.
… moreDanielle Crump
We had Valentines date night here tonight! SUPERB! Steak and salad delicious(amazing dressing), sides mashed potatoes and scalloped cheesy potatoes; amazing. Great service and beautiful ambience and piano playing. We really enjoyed the food. Lovely dress up date night place. We will come back.
… moreJeff Hooker
Long time fan of the Fire & Vine brand restaurants. We are moving to the Boise area next month from Seattle, and are thrilled that El gaucho is in the downtown Boise area. I took my son and grandson there tonight for a guys night out and had the greatest experience. The ambience was great as usual. The customer service was exceptional as well. Spending years in the wine industry, I was pleased to see their broad and creative wine list. I was able to meet Greg, their wine manager, and I’m excited about their wines and what’s to come as well. Love that they represent a lot of Washington wines.The appetizers were amazing, the main course was superb, and the desserts were even better. My son and grandson and I had an amazing time and will be back.
… moreAlexander Heap
I celebrated my belated birthday at El Gaucho this last Friday. They went above and beyond what I expected. I had menus with my name on them, a handwritten card on the table, the most amazing souffle for dessert, etc. The food prices are less than competitors in the valley, and the food supersedes the competition. Definitely looking to come back soon!
… morejessica Brockman
I recently dined at El Gaucho – Boise and had such an enjoyable experience. The service was attentive without being overbearing, and the atmosphere felt upscale but still comfortable. I especially loved the tableside Caesar — it was such a fun, classic touch and tasted fantastic. The crème brûlée absolutely blew me away and was the perfect way to end the meal. I’m already looking forward to coming back to try the wicked shrimp next time. Overall, a great night out and definitely worth a visit.
… morePhil Sigler
Incredible…from hostess to server Courtney to the bar captain Richie. My wife and I had a perfect night out with high quality drinks, food, and perfect service!
Looking forward to going back very soon.
… moreNatalie Brooks
El Gaucho delivers exactly what you expect from a classic steakhouse. Elegant, polished, and consistent. From the moment we walked in, the service felt attentive. Our server, Kristina was knowledgeable, paced the evening well, and gave great recommendations. The scallops were to die for!
The steaks were cooked perfectly and clearly high quality, and the tableside elements added a nice old-school touch. Drinks were well-made, and the wine list was solid. The atmosphere is upscale and romantic, making it perfect for a special occasion.
It’s definitely a place you go for the experience as much as the food. Pricey, but you’re paying for consistency, service, and ambiance! I will definitely be back!
… moreCorinne Sweat
I had the pleasure of visiting El Gaucho during their soft opening, and even with them not even being open yet it blew me away. I let the bartender choose my drink, appetizer, entree and dessert for me and he nailed it! The onion soup was to die for, my pork chop and Brussels sprouts were insanely good- and sooo much food, I brought more than half of it home to enjoy later. He made my table side bananas foster and it might have been the best dessert I’ve ever had. All of this paired with the Love By the Moon cocktail, amazing service, incredible ambiance and a live piano? Literally could not get any better! Highly recommend
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