El Gaucho Boise

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Alexander Heap

via Google

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!

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Jimmy Gadson

via Google

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.

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Corinne Sweat

via Google

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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Karina Mondragon

via Google

We had an amazing experience at El Gaucho in Boise! From start to finish, everything was exceptional. Our server, Karla Brown, truly made the night special, she provided outstanding 5-star service, was attentive, friendly, and made us feel so well taken care of. The Caesar salad was absolutely delicious, fresh, and perfectly prepared. The steak was cooked to perfection—tender, flavorful, and easily one of the best we’ve had. To top it all off, the banana bread dessert was incredible warm, comforting, and the perfect sweet ending to an already fantastic meal. Highly recommend El Gaucho for a special night out, and if you can, ask for Karla Brown, she is phenomenal

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Andrew Aczel

via Google

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.