ABOUT US
The AQUA by El Gaucho experience blends impeccable service and exceptional quality. Our team of talented chefs and dedicated staff provide old school, tableside service for people celebrating their lives. Each ritual, from the greeting at the front door to the fire-dancing desserts, is part of our nod to the past and vision for how fine dining should remain.
El Gaucho was founded by Paul Mackay and is now led by his son, CEO Chad Mackay. Each of the locations is based on Paul’s original vision and is designed to present guests with a unique, unparalleled service encounter—one in which every single detail is considered an essential element to the overall experience.
Seattle’s original El Gaucho opened in 1953 by Jim Ward; its sister restaurant was the 13 Coins. Paul Mackay opened the Seattle 13 Coins for Mr. Ward and became the General Manager of the original El Gaucho. After Mr. Ward passed, the restaurants were sold off and El Gaucho closed its doors shortly after, in 1985. By that time, Mr. Mackay had already left and ran many restaurants such as Elliott’s, Metropolitan Grill, Yarrow Bay Grill, and opened his own restaurant, the Flying Fish, in 1995 with Christine Keff.
It was Paul’s dream to bring El Gaucho back and did in 1996 at 1st and Wall in Belltown and eventually expanded to include El Gaucho Portland (2000), AQUA by El Gaucho (2000), El Gaucho Tacoma (2002), Inn at El Gaucho (2005), El Gaucho Bellevue (2008), El Gaucho Vancouver, WA (2022), and El Gaucho Boise (2026). A new Seattle location opened in 2020 on Western and Blanchard.
El Gaucho is part of the Fire & Vine Rewards collection of iconic Pacific Northwest lodging and restaurants which includes Aerlume, Yellowhawk Resort, Witness Tree Lounge and Walla Walla Steak Co.
Entertaining Tips
How To Plan For Business Entertaining Success
By Whitney Twede, El Gaucho Bellevue Event Director In both our personal lives and the realm of business, the cultivation of strong relationships is paramount to long-term success. Business entertaining, [...]
Elevating Table Settings for Memorable Events
By Caitlynd Davison, Aerlume Event Director In event planning, the details matter, especially when it comes to table settings. Whether arranging tables for a reception or a boardroom meeting, the [...]
Choosing the Right Set Up for Your Event
By Kristina Thorne, Event Director at AQUA by El Gaucho and El Gaucho Seattle The simplest details can truly make or break the success of an event. Making a lasting [...]
How to Craft a Memorable Menu for Your Special Occasion
By Kate Carr, El Gaucho Vancouver and Witness Tree Lounge Event Director Planning an event involves a multitude of factors, from decor and ambiance to that all-important wow factor. Amidst [...]
Creating Meaningful Events with the Power of Ambiance
By Angie Lowrance, El Gaucho Portland Event Coordinator It may seem as though the most important factors of an event are the larger overarching elements such as location or entertainment, [...]
The Experts Guide to Planning an Impressive Corporate Holiday Party on a Budget
By Merica Ocsan, El Gaucho Tacoma Event Director We get it - it’s summer, and while vacations are in full swing, kids are not in school, the sun is out, [...]
The WOW Factor: The secret ingredient to a successful event
By Sivi Mennen, Fire & Vine™ Sales Strategy Director Creating a WOW factor will elevate your guests’ experience, evoke emotion, and leave a lasting impression. From small, personalized touches to [...]
Stories & Recipes
Oysters on the Half Shell
Oysters on the Half Shell By Executive Chef Joseph Kiser-Lowrance, AQUA by El Gaucho There's something elemental about a raw oyster. No heat, no transformation, just the sea on a [...]
Celebrating 25 Years of AQUA Memories on the Waterfront
Celebrating 25 Years of AQUA Memories on the Waterfront For a quarter of a century, AQUA by El Gaucho has been Seattle’s iconic destination on the waterfront—a place where [...]
El Gaucho Wicked Shrimp
El Gaucho Wicked Shrimp 1 fl. oz clarified butter 5 U-15 prawns 1 tsp garlic, minced 1 tbsp Wicked Spice El Gaucho Seasoning to taste 1 fl. oz dry white wine 1 fl. oz beer ½ tbsp Worcestershire 2 fl. oz lobster veloute 1 tbsp butter, [...]
Taylor Shellfish
Taylor Shellfish What does it take to produce the fattest, juiciest bivalves around? We asked the best in the business, Taylor Shellfish, who has been farming oysters for five generations, [...]
