Garufa

I went to Garufa last night (23rd October 2012) to celebrate my girlfriends birthday together with her Mum. To help give this review some context, my girlfriends mother is Spanish and has owned her own restaurants for decades in both Spain and London. Their family live for good food. We live locally and this was our second trip to Garufa in 7 months. On both visits I have been blown away by the steaks. They are cooked to perfection in my young (ish!) opinion. I have previously read older, but negative reviews, so felt obliged to tell you about our experience. We each had a starter. All around £6ish. All really well presented, but most importantly, tasted lovely. The tama del pollo was great. For mains we all had a different type of steak, well priced for the size. Again, this is the best part for me – it tastes amazing. The homemade chips are also really tasty. I’m not sure what they do to them, but the chips are the best I’ve had. The wine - the Malbec at £18 was the cheapest, but was extremely tasty. Complemented our steaks really well. Further to the above meal, my girlfriend is diabetic, so I called in advance and arranged for a home-made cake to be dropped off a day before. The staff were happy to hold on to this and bring it out after our mains. In addition (and one of the reasons I'm writing this review) they then brought us 3 glasses of complimentary dessert wine to enjoy with the homemade cake. They did not need to do that, especially as we weren’t paying for a dessert, but they did. A good touch. For 3 people enjoying the above over 2 hours, my bill came in just under £90. For the above quality of food, the surroundings, the willingness to help with the cake, and the complimentary dessert wine, I had to write this positive review. I encourage you to go and try it out. To make sure this is a balanced review, I need to be ‘a bit BBC’ and highlight one area for improvement. The only downside for a perhaps more 'traditional' customer is their phone manner. This could be improved a little. But this would not stop me going again and knowing I will have great quality food in a lovely restaurant. Top marks Garufa.

Our firs visit ( and last) we went for quick dinner - unprofessional service,overpriced. Don't go!!!They tried to cheat us with the bill

My first visit last Saturday and I have to say one of the best bits of cow I've had in a long while perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection (medium rare).Take a leaf out of my book and opt for the 400g Ribeye with those amazing chips. Enjoy. The deserts are nothing special, but I didnt go there for pudding

2nd time I have been here, the food is amazing, both times we have gone for the Garufa platter. Not sure what people are complaining about the food for as this is one of my fave restaurants along with The Hawksmoor and Red Hook for steak, great restaurant, great service. Although both times we have been early in the week so the restaurant has been quiet so we have had a lot of attention which is great. Ended up around £200 for 4 people inc. 2 excellent bottles of red wine.

I went here with my wife as we live around the corner and hadn't been in for ages (only been once before). We won't be going again, which is a real shame as what they are doing is simple to do, it just needs to be done well. The quality of the produce was poor and the food itself bland. My wife had a burger which was served to her black & blue (rare) in a standard processed burger bun. She asked for it to be cooked through a bit more more & it came back blacker, but still blue. The bun was now soggy too, they reluctantly took it back again and it came back (the same burger still) charred and grey this time! The service was unapologetic and we were made to feel that we were making a fuss. My steak was ok but bland, the one good thing was the chips. The annoying thing about this place is that it is as much, if not more than a gourmet burger or steak restaurant, but dull and thoughtless.

Was not the best i have had, but i has come to my attention more restaurant are opening on blackstock road, which is good. Globe which is just down hill, looking amazing and expensive, gona give that a try she how much they charge per head..

Last Friday went to Garufa for a dinner with my friend and his mum. Unfortunately, must say it was one of the most terrible dining experience I ever had. I never write a review but this time I just dont want other people to get disappointed and waste their money. My feedback: - awful waiters behaviour (just one example out of many: when I asked for a tissue to wipe from my table a spilled by HIM drink the weiter pointed by HIS FINGER on my napkin); - unreasonably high prices. Regarding the area (be fair Islington is not Mayfair ;)) and their prices on drinks (average £7 for cocktail) and mains you would be expecting at least a decent value and welcoming staff. Also waiter gave us menus and when we ve started ordering he announced: "Oh, sorry, thats our old menu. But I dont have a new one. I dont know where is it." - Im sorry WHAT?! on friday evening, half empty restaurant and you done have a proper menu?? and you want me to pay £25, not incl drinks and sides???! (but I idnt say it to him and saying now!) - Steak arrived not as we ordered... One "well done" came good and very tasty, another "well done" was like "medium" and my "medium" end up being "raw"... Obviously we asked them to fix it, however, by the time it arrived our friend finished his meal. For all that "amazing package" we payed about £130 on tree people which is £43 each. Next time i will add a couple of pounds to that and go to Gaucho ;) at least value is matching the price over there. Do I have to say that service charge was already in our bill? well it was.

...probably shouldn't bother going to a steak restaurant if you're going to order your steak well done, or 'burnt' as they say in the industry...

Although the food was mostly nice, three steaks had to be sent back as they were not well done enough. They came back out and were sent back in again. One persons was well done, the other two were not. The waiter then began to argue with us, claiming that the cut could not be cooked well done even though the same cut was in front of him well done!!! Very rude and argumentative manager. Avoid.

No longer a local to the area I'am not sure how long this place has been around but randomly wandering in Highbury Park with my partner we stumbled upon Garufa; what looks like a perfect addition to the street and an alternative to the collection of cafes and coffee shops for a more substantial lunch. Instantly inviting with its open windows, smart but relaxed interior and promising lunch menu of authentic Argentinian steaks, burgers and sandwiches, we wandered in, not before noticing Time Out's stamp of approval in the window. Looking for something light I was happy to see the breakfast menu is served up until 5pm and opted for a cottage cheese and chive omelette, whereas my partner, always with a hunger decided to try one of their burgers on the set lunch menu which included a beer for £9.80. Everthing looked promising and despite being the only two people in the place, it felt like somewhere to lounge, sit back and read the paper. Its exposed brick work, sepia photographs of Agentina and Argentinian rock playng in the background created a suitably chilled atmosphere. Despite the service being attentive, whilst waiting for the food I began to get increasingly irritated by the waiters desire to sing along to every song and pace around a little uncomfortably. When the food arrived I was happy with my choice, basic but well presented and substantial for a very reasonable £3.50. My partners on the other hand appeared as though it had been constructed with little thought or care. A dollop of mash, which appeared slightly over pureed, two leaves with a splash of balsamic, not worthy of a garnish and a meagre untoasted white bun with a small but tasty ( as I can confirm) burger. It may be a reaction to our increased expectations of what a burger can be. Restaurants and gourmet burger chains are competing to create the perfect combination of quality meat, seeded toasted buns and substantial and varied garnishes that the bar has now been raised so much higher that anything falling short is a huge disappointment. Fininshing our meal and with our table cleared I began to feel a little awkward with the waiter pacing up and down the restaurant. It seemed clear that we were likely to be the last people in for lunch and that he was ready to close up until the evening. Whilst not bad, it seems a shame that Garufa hasn't succeeded on what should be its stong points; quality Argentinian burgers and steaks and a cool hangout attracting locals in the area for a coffee or a late breakfast in the afternoon. Maybe today was an off day but as it left an unfortunately average impression I doubt we will ever return to find out.