A taste of ...
Gauchos Churrasco BBQ
499 Hutt Rd, Alicetown, Lower Hutt. We’d heard… The Hutt was home to an all-you-can-eat South American-inspired meat feast, situated at the four-venue strong Station Gardens complex, and well worth driving out for.
We ordered… The $40 buffet – covering everything apart from booze and desserts – which is the main attraction.
We helped ourselves at the salad bar first, which displayed a plentiful selection of sides, ranging from deep-fried polenta chips to leafy green salads and antipasti staples (think mushrooms, artichokes, sundried tomatoes). If you’re so inclined, you could make yourself a pretty healthy plate.
We tucked into feta cheese, garlic stuffed olives, and the bounty of just-off-the-grill meat that came to our table, carried by waitstaff, on giant skewers.
The pork chorizo sausage unleashed a pleasant heat, while the tender chicken thighs arrived wrapped in bacon. The real highlight here though is the beef – the pink, medium-thick slices simply melting.
While dining, we were brought other treats – such as the patatas bravas, Spanish style deep-fried potato chunks with a side of subtly sweet black garlic aioli. (Pro tip: keep this on the table. It’s delicious for dipping in just about anything and when you run out, order more.)
The grilled pineapple, coated in cinnamon, makes a welcome (and addictive) sweet snack to break up the parade of meat.
The service… Playful but professional. The staff like to make jokes and engage in some friendly chat. The meat is brought to your table and carved in front of you, and the waitpeople are on the ball and incredibly attentive.
The vibe… Casual, fun-time feasting. The servers help create a very welcoming atmosphere in the dining space which, full of large booths and open floor space, is perfectly set up for a great night out with a big group of friends.
Remember though, with a time limit of 90 minutes for each sitting, you’re here for a good time, not a long time.
If you go… Book. Especially at peak times. The joint was packed with merry-making folks and we had trouble finding a spot to park the car on the complex forecourt on a Friday night.
Leave room for dessert too, as we didn’t and have been coveting the Family Deep Fried Banana Split ($14) ever since our visit. Rating out of 5: 4.5 – Janan Jay