At the end of the street, on the left, in the grade-II listed former Virgin Money building, is our destination, Gaucho, which promises to cook ' the best steak in Newcastle'. The company has a reputation for high quality Argentine cuisine and the Tyneside branch is one of more than 20 around the country. Now in its 30th year chefs cook 100 per cent pure pedigree Aberdeen Angus, a Scottish breed of cattle brought to Argentina in 1879 by Don Carlos Guerrero.
As well as an impressive array of steaks, the extensive menu offers amazing-sounding appetizers, sumptuous seafood, and very tempting, but ultimately unpersuasive, vegetarian options. We visit late, one quiet Sunday afternoon, and are shown to our table as a pianist plays, accompanied by a singer who does a mean version of You Know I’m No Good by Amy Winehouse. We sink into comfortable leather seating with burnt orange backrests, drinking in the opulent décor, modern and stylish, while agonising over the mouth-watering choices.
Low lighting sets the mood, and in front of us the bar, all cool greys and metallic blues, has a top shelf displaying a collection of good-looking red wines that entice you to indulge. Kamila, our waitress, brings out some raw steaks so we can tell what we are ordering and presents the thickest and juiciest looking cuts, taking time to explain what they are and how they will be cooked. Such care, and attention to detail, tells me when it comes to fine Argentine dining we are in good hands.
We are.
