For our first restaurant review we chose to go to Gauchos in Valparaiso. It was a restaurant that neither one of us had ever experienced, so we thought it would a great first one to try.
Upon further investigation, we learned that during the month of your birthday, you receive a free meal ($39.95 value, ID required). We also discovered the night we chose (Wednesday) has a special called Wild Wild Wednseday. The specials include $10 off any Feast of Meats, $4 Long Islands and Long Beaches, $5 Martinis, children ages 6-12 eat for only $7, and children 5 and under always eat free.
We suggest when going to Gauchos that you dress a little above jeans and a tshirt.
We arrived around 6:30 and were seated almost immediately. Our waiter, Robert, Rob, Bob, bobo, or hey you (in his words) approached our table promptly. He was polite, knowledgeable, and friendly. Since it was our first time at Gauchos, he explained what a Brazilian feast was, as well as a brief description of each feast. He then explained the birthday special, which we found a little misleading. The special online says “Free birthday meal during the month of your birthday, which includes all you care to eat Feast of the Meats or Seafood Feast.” You really only get $39.95 off your meal; therefore if you get the all you care to eat Seafood Feast, like the special states, you will still have to pay $10 because the meal is $49.95.
We both chose the Surf and Turf Feast of Meals so we could get the full experience of the meat and seafood that they offer.
Crystal enjoyed a Long Island, Rebecca had a Long Beach, and Delilah had a Cherry Lemonade that she loved. Both adult drinks were delicious!
Before we began our feast we had small salads from the salad bar and Delilah had some fruit, cucumbers, and cheese. There was a large selection to choose from and all the items were fresh. When we were done with our salad our waiter brought out Stop/Go cards for each of us. The cards are to let the Gauchos (the person who brings around the fresh meats and seafood around) know when you are ready for the next meat/seafood and when to pass your table. To prepare us for the meal the waiter brought out mashed potatoes, bread, glass bowls (for crab legs), and a collection of dipping sauces for our meal.
Once we flipped our cards to Go, our feast began! The meats arrived on skewers one at a time. We could choose to partake or pass and wait for the next meat/seafood to come around. Before long our plates were full of delicious smelling food and we had to turn our cards to Stop so we could enjoy it all.
Rebecca is not a fan of red meat so she only tried the chicken and few of the meats. “The chicken wrapped in bacon was moist and flavorful. I tried the ribeye and while it was cooked to my taste (medium well) I didn’t feel it had much flavor to it.” Rebecca tried all of the seafood and was pleasantly surprised at how fresh and well-cooked it was. “The grilled and mesquite shrimp were both tasty and the crab legs were the best that I had in a long time and I would recommend them to anyone.”
Crystal likes red meat, chicken, and seafood, so she tried a little bit of everything. “The red meats were good except for the filet mignon wrapped in bacon was a little dry and hard to swallow. I like that all the meats were cooked medium rare to medium, unless requested otherwise. My favorite was the crab legs as well and I feel they were steamed to perfection. The only disappointment for me was that the ribs did not come around once during our hour and a half dinner.
There was not a kids menu so the children are expected to choose the same options as the adults. The only items Delilah would eat were the fish (Lake Perch) that she thought tasted like chicken. We do not suggest Gauchos if you have picky children who do not like to try new things.
We recommend Gauchos for couples, groups, and occasional Sunday family dinner.
Everything at Gauchos seemed to be well maintained and clean. The bathrooms were clean; however, they were not child friendly. The toilet paper was so high that Delilah (5) could not reach it and then when washing her hands she could not reach the paper towels without assistance.
Cost: For two people each getting the Surf and Turf Feasts (with $39.95 off for Crystal’s birthday), three drink specials, Delilah eating free, and a cherry lemonade, our bill totaled $110.00 plus tip.
Worth it?
For our first experience, yes. However, it is not a place we would frequent often due to: cost, location, and Gaucho style service.
Before leaving one person at every table was asked to spin a “wheel of fortune” type wheel. You had a chance to win a free dinner, do the robot, or $10, $20, $50 off your next meal. Crystal spun the wheel and it landed on “do the robot.” After doing the robot, she was given a $25 off certificate for two or more people with her next visit within 90 days.
Cleanliness: **** stars
Cost: ***** stars
Food: **** stars
Service: ***** stars
Overall: **** stars
Upon further investigation, we learned that during the month of your birthday, you receive a free meal ($39.95 value, ID required). We also discovered the night we chose (Wednesday) has a special called Wild Wild Wednseday. The specials include $10 off any Feast of Meats, $4 Long Islands and Long Beaches, $5 Martinis, children ages 6-12 eat for only $7, and children 5 and under always eat free.
We suggest when going to Gauchos that you dress a little above jeans and a tshirt.
We arrived around 6:30 and were seated almost immediately. Our waiter, Robert, Rob, Bob, bobo, or hey you (in his words) approached our table promptly. He was polite, knowledgeable, and friendly. Since it was our first time at Gauchos, he explained what a Brazilian feast was, as well as a brief description of each feast. He then explained the birthday special, which we found a little misleading. The special online says “Free birthday meal during the month of your birthday, which includes all you care to eat Feast of the Meats or Seafood Feast.” You really only get $39.95 off your meal; therefore if you get the all you care to eat Seafood Feast, like the special states, you will still have to pay $10 because the meal is $49.95.
We both chose the Surf and Turf Feast of Meals so we could get the full experience of the meat and seafood that they offer.
Crystal enjoyed a Long Island, Rebecca had a Long Beach, and Delilah had a Cherry Lemonade that she loved. Both adult drinks were delicious!
Before we began our feast we had small salads from the salad bar and Delilah had some fruit, cucumbers, and cheese. There was a large selection to choose from and all the items were fresh. When we were done with our salad our waiter brought out Stop/Go cards for each of us. The cards are to let the Gauchos (the person who brings around the fresh meats and seafood around) know when you are ready for the next meat/seafood and when to pass your table. To prepare us for the meal the waiter brought out mashed potatoes, bread, glass bowls (for crab legs), and a collection of dipping sauces for our meal.
Once we flipped our cards to Go, our feast began! The meats arrived on skewers one at a time. We could choose to partake or pass and wait for the next meat/seafood to come around. Before long our plates were full of delicious smelling food and we had to turn our cards to Stop so we could enjoy it all.
Rebecca is not a fan of red meat so she only tried the chicken and few of the meats. “The chicken wrapped in bacon was moist and flavorful. I tried the ribeye and while it was cooked to my taste (medium well) I didn’t feel it had much flavor to it.” Rebecca tried all of the seafood and was pleasantly surprised at how fresh and well-cooked it was. “The grilled and mesquite shrimp were both tasty and the crab legs were the best that I had in a long time and I would recommend them to anyone.”
Crystal likes red meat, chicken, and seafood, so she tried a little bit of everything. “The red meats were good except for the filet mignon wrapped in bacon was a little dry and hard to swallow. I like that all the meats were cooked medium rare to medium, unless requested otherwise. My favorite was the crab legs as well and I feel they were steamed to perfection. The only disappointment for me was that the ribs did not come around once during our hour and a half dinner.
There was not a kids menu so the children are expected to choose the same options as the adults. The only items Delilah would eat were the fish (Lake Perch) that she thought tasted like chicken. We do not suggest Gauchos if you have picky children who do not like to try new things.
We recommend Gauchos for couples, groups, and occasional Sunday family dinner.
Everything at Gauchos seemed to be well maintained and clean. The bathrooms were clean; however, they were not child friendly. The toilet paper was so high that Delilah (5) could not reach it and then when washing her hands she could not reach the paper towels without assistance.
Cost: For two people each getting the Surf and Turf Feasts (with $39.95 off for Crystal’s birthday), three drink specials, Delilah eating free, and a cherry lemonade, our bill totaled $110.00 plus tip.
Worth it?
For our first experience, yes. However, it is not a place we would frequent often due to: cost, location, and Gaucho style service.
Before leaving one person at every table was asked to spin a “wheel of fortune” type wheel. You had a chance to win a free dinner, do the robot, or $10, $20, $50 off your next meal. Crystal spun the wheel and it landed on “do the robot.” After doing the robot, she was given a $25 off certificate for two or more people with her next visit within 90 days.
Cleanliness: **** stars
Cost: ***** stars
Food: **** stars
Service: ***** stars
Overall: **** stars
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