Strolling up a sweeping curve of gorgeous Georgian architecture on Grey Street, past the ever-impressive Theatre Royal, we turn right onto Market Street before we reach the towering city centre monument.

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 not to be disappointed.

The hands of God perhaps?

I start with an Argentine sausage selection (£21) of morcilla, a blood sausage, and chorizo, with lemon aioli, and smattering of salad with red onion.

Each piece is juicy and packed with flavour. The morcilla is more crumbly than black pudding and not as fatty, the chorizo is smoky and spicy and comes in satisfying chewy chunks.

(Image: Gavin Havery) Finn has opted for a Wagyu beef empanada (£9.50) and describes it as ‘the fanciest steak bake he is ever likely to have’.

He is not wrong.

The pastry falls apart to reveal the most tender and tasty filling.

Sorry Greggs, you need to lift your game.

The main event arrives with silent fanfare as we are presented with the most appetising  and enjoyable plates of meat I have ever encountered.

I go for the churrasco de chorizo, which was a spiral cut rib eye marinated in garlic, parsley and olive oil (£52.50) while Finn chooses the Ancho ribeye (£41).

(Image: Gavin Havery) They were simply perfect, and my first surgical incision the steak knife glides through as if it were butter.

Inside, the pink medium rare meat is surrounded by the most marvellous crust a few millimetres thick.

The chef gets this, I am told, by using a slightly angled grill where the heat comes from below, like a barbecue, but with water sprays that mix with the fat from the meat and soak back into it as it cooks to lock in the flavour.

Both dishes are a triumph and the chips that come with it are neither thick and chunky nor skinny and long, but smallish scrappy looking things, delightful nonetheless.

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In hindsight, we are fools for not having sides with plenty to choose from, including sauteed broccoli, confit mushrooms, green salad, and spinach, which would break the meat feast up a bit and add a dash a of colour to our plates.

Not to worry, it is incredible all the same.

I wash it down with an alcohol-free Days Pale Ale (£6.25) which hit the spot without the licence-threatening worry of having real beer with my meal as well as a rather less manly peach, ginger and chai spritzer soft drink.  

To round things off Finn has the rich and gooey chocolate brownie with white chocolate ice cream (£8.50) while I am persuaded to try the basque dulce de leche cheesecake. (£10.50)

Made with caramelised condensed milk, it comes on a crumbly biscuit base and is sensational.

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Service throughout our meal is fast, efficient and super friendly, the atmosphere is laidback and classy without being snooty.

Gaucho, the name, refers the nomadic horsemen and cowhands who roamed Argentine and Uruguayan grasslands from the mid-18th to the mid-19th centuries who now old their own place in South American lore.

Here I suppose the romantic association is made with Argentine cuisine in the same way cowboys might be in a Texan steakhouse. 

The food here is far better though in my opinion, ideal for that ‘something special’.

Gaucho

2-6 Market Street, Newcastle, NE1 6JF

0191 260 3600

gauchorestaurants.com

 

Opening hours

Mon- Sun: 12noon-10.45 pm

 

Ratings:

Food: 9/10

Service: 9/10

Surroundings: 8/10

Value: 7/10