Walk down Park Row and you could be forgiven for walking passed one of the finest restaurants in the city – Gaucho.

With its entrance below street level it has no glitzy signs but just a very tasteful sign on its railings.

Take a deep breath as you descend the Edwardian stone staircase for you will be totally unprepared for what you are about to experience . Step inside and the sophisticated ambience of Gaucho is revealed in its full glory.

Truly a hidden gem of the Leeds dining scene Gaucho is more than a steak restaurant – it’s a celebration of modern Argentinian cuisine with old style customer service and a staff that get every single thing one hundred per cent perfect. This is what makes them one of the city’s best restaurants and sees customers returning again again to indulge in the Gaucho dining experience.

Within  minutes of entering the extend of the restaurant’s personal service to its customers was revealed with a warm and sincere welcome as our coats were whisked away and we were ushered into the cocktail bar. This is a very sophisticated area with a gold leaf bar and comfortable seating and beautifully lit – but its plus side is you can actually hear the mixologist shaking your superbly presented pre-dinner cocktails.

I went with the recommendation and tried Mezcalita Fresca – llegal Joven Mezcal shaken with Cointreau, cucumber and lime. This was a wonderful mix with the cucumber expertly wrapped inside the glass adding flavour and having a cooling effect.

My colleague went for the Peach Royale with Ketal One Vodka shaken with Briottet Peach Liqueur, citrus and topped with Chandon. Totally enamoured by the mix. It was so smooth and she loved the strong taste of peach and  the fact it was not too fizzy and  was more than over the moon with its presentation.

Gaucho is a very beautiful and well planned restaurant with amazing lighting. Its on tiered levels and even when its very busy it never feels overcrowded . There’s an eclectic mix of styles of seating. Tables of different sizes, with the Gaucho swing chairs that alleviate the pushing of chairs when you need to leave the table are laden with glistening cutlery and sparkling glasses .

There is banquette seating that is comfortable with tables at the right height  and distance that is often overlooked in other establishments.

But what I really loved about Gaucho was the fact that no one rushed us at any time which added to the totally relaxing ambience of the place.

For starters there were so many to choose from but I went for the Empanadas with three cheese. The casing was crispy and the inside of cheese very flavoursome. It was garnished with watercress and came with a chimichurri sauce.

My colleague tried the Ricotta & Parmesan Ravioli. It had a crisp brioche topping and the sauce was creamy and the dish beautifully cheesy. It was the perfect size starter portion.

When it came to main course for me it had to be steak. Their selected prime cuts are from grass fed beef. As I am not a big steak eater I opted for the 200g fillet. It was lean and tender and succulent and cooked to absolute perfection the way I like it – sorry but I always ask for it very very well done.

It came with  a chimichurri sauce, chips and a green salad which was absolutely delicious . This portion was just the right size and enough for me and I really savoured every mouthful.

Although the restaurant is primarily known for its steaks it has a menu crammed full of fish and chicken dishes plus a good range of vegetarian and vegan options.

My colleague opted for the Grilled Chicken Salad – this was a superb take on t Caesar salad. The chicken was moist and tender. It came with a large portion of vegetables including  green beans and petit pois. The lettuce was crisp and the light minty dressing was superbly delicious.

We savoured our main course and eventually settled on our dessert. My colleague chose from the Gaucho Classic Range. Her Dulce De Leche Cheesecake had a crispy biscuit base and the filling was creamy and smooth.

I decided on the Lemon Meringue Tart which came with Strawberry sauce and strawberries. This was truly my heaven on a plate. The tart pastry was crispy, the filling oozed with lemon flavour and the meringue was light yet crisp. Just pure decadence.

Soon it was time to leave Gaucho as the bewitching hour was fast approaching. But there was no rush and as we thanked our hosts and were helped on with our coats. As we climbed the steps and walked down Park Row we both made ourselves a promise that we must come back soon

Gaucho is open Monday to Thursday 12 noon to 23.00; Friday to Sunday 12noon to 22.30.

Gaucho – 21-22 Park Row, Leeds Tel: 0113 2461777

Web: gauchorestaurants.com/restaurants/leeds