Gaucho - Argentinian restaurant in Linden, JHB

To start with, we really liked the look of this place. It’s very stylish, with lots of exposed brickwork, black paint, wood, contemporary furniture, plants and an Open flame kitchen - for which it’s known) which takes centre stage in the restaurant.

There was a very nice vibe in this restaurant when we went - Saturday night, full but not packed (I would recommend booking in advance as this is one of the best restaurants in Linden) and lots of all kinds of people just enjoying a leisurely night out over a really good meal.

We had a fantastic waitress (Angela) who was warm and enthusiastic, pointing out all her favourite things on the menu. I think the staff and service here are really excellent. We had vegetarian empanadas to start, corn and cheese, and they were delicious and authentic. I had a sirloin with honey roasted vegetables and goats cheese - this was unbelievably delicious. That’s the thing here - the sides are imaginative, hearty and authentic. Mains come with a side, and so it’s not a very expensive restaurant and still feels like good value. Typically food is cooked over the open flame with just salt and pepper, and the cuts are just very good quality. My husband had another steak - a famous Argentinian cut- with chimchirri sauce. All delicious and plate-lickingly good. We took our own wine, but their own wine list is good. There are lots of good things for dessert like churros but we didn’t have space for more. I cannot recommend this place enough. Look out for the imaginative and wholesome sides.