I first dined at this restaurant when I was considering moving to Panama about 8 years ago. I thought it was nothing special and kind of expensive, all things considered. I never considered returning. Last Sunday I was invited to a boy's night out and the organizer had chosen Gaucho. I was unenthused but went along. It turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. I ordered the sweetbreads (mollejas) for my appetizer and they were perfect; simply grilled and delicious. The waiter brought a cart of raw steaks and they had my favorite cut, vacio. I chose the larger version while most of the others ordered Delmonico (ribeye). The steak was cooked to the requested rare and was tender and delicious. I asked for grilled veggies and was served whole charred onions, tomatoes and peppers. The provided chimichurri was one of the best I had tasted. The service was professional, if unenthusiastic. Typical steakhouse atmosphere. Fine, but not the place for a romantic dinner. All in all, very enjoyable and I will put it on my list of restaurants to which I will return.
