There is an old Western television show I love called, "Gunsmoke." The other day, I watched an episode from 1956, and in it they were eating a nice, big, juicy steak at the restaurant Delmonico's, and it had me wanting a nice steak of my own. We asked around, and got word of a very good steak house in Merida called, "Le Rueda Parrilla Gaucha."

The restaurant is located in the Colonia Emiliano Zapato neighborhood of Merida. As you pull up to the restaurant, you will see that there is very little parking, but they do have a parking lot on the side road to the right. They have a take-out room to the left, but if you walk around to the right, you will enter the restaurant.

The place is rustic with a cattle rustling theme, and has a big hide of a cow hanging on the main wall. You will also notice that in the back there is a place for the kids to play, a very good idea.

The restaurant itself is very large and open, with dark brown colors all around you, like many good steak houses in the States. They have decorative wooden wine racks built into the walls, and being from the north of the US, I miss all the wood you find in many restaurants. The chairs are nice and comfortable, and the waiter is fast to arrive at your table.
 
The restaurant is owned and operated by Carlos Perez and his wife Ana Compos. They started off having parties for kids, and then sold the steaks for take-out only. Soon, they realized they needed to expand, closed the party area, and built the dinning room.
 
The place is very load and noisy, and like most restaurant here in Yucatan, they have two televisions showing music videos. This is not a place to come if you want to talk, or romance your loved one. This place is for steak; good steak, and that’s it. Talking is out; I could not hear a word my wife Cristy was saying to me. We had to use sign language!!
 
The prices are not cheap nor are they high; I feel that they are just right.
 
To start off, Cristy ordered a cold beer, and I had a Coke Light. Our drinks came out in seconds, along with our appetizer. The drinks were ice cold, which I love.
 
For our appetizer, we ordered chistorra asada ala parrilla for $55.00 MXP, a skinny sausage that is grilled, and served with hot corn and flour tortillas. This was delicious, moist and with that great charbroiled taste.
 
Le Rueda offers 3 sizes in the family meal packs: The "Family Package" for $330.00, the "Half Family" for $205.00, & Individual size for $120.00 MXP.

We ordered the "Half Family" dinner, called Churrasco, that is steak marinated with peppers, and rosemary oil. It includes small baby oven roasted potatoes, and a large grilled onion.
 
We ordered our steak medium-rare, and that’s how it came out. Not only did it come out cooked to perfection, but it was absolutely delicious, juicy and tender, with a fine charbroiled taste. The oven roasted baby potatoes were cooked just right with herbs and rosemary oil.
 


Le Rueda also offers many other kinds of steaks, including Kobe Beef Steaks. If you are very hungry you can try the Porter House Steak, which is 700 grams of meat for $295.00 MXP. That’s a lot of meat!

Le Rueda Parrilla Gaucha also has nice salads from $47.00 MXP to $55.00 MXP, as well as desserts, cheesecakes, ice cream, and chocolate mousse.
 
The waiter was knowledgeable, kind and fast, and your order comes out extremely fast, too.
 
This is not a place for a Vegetarian or a person that wants fish. There is none to be found here... just red meat.
 
Le Rueda Parrilla Gaucha earns negative points because they do not take credit or debit cards. You need to bring cash.
 
The bathrooms are clean and small, and yes they do have the toilet seats. Nothing worse than going to a restaurant and finding that there are no toilet seats on the toilets. And like a lot of Mexican bathrooms the stalls door almost touches your face, when it closes.

The bill for my wife and I, with drinks and tip, was $370.00 MXP, and we ate like a King and a Queen. In my opinion, it was one of the best steaks I have had since I arrived in Mexico, and I will definitely go back. Next time, we will try going on a weekday, as the weekends are too noisy for us on a weekday; the week-ends are too noisy for us.
 
You need to give Le Rueda Parrilla Gaucha a try, but go hungry. They would have received 4 Chef hats, but the fact that they do not accept credit or debit cards is unheard of, in a restaurant this size. And the place is way too noisy; if they lay down some carpet it will help with the noise.

I give Le Rueda Parrilla Gaucha 3 Chef Hats out of 4.



Calle 37 # 352-A x 28 y 30
Col Emiliano Zapato
Merida,
 
999-944-4584
 
Take Prolongacion de Montejo, and turn right at the restaurant that sells panuchos "Terrazita Del Norte." After you pass Telmex you will see the restaurant on your right side.
 
Tues to Sun
12:30 to 5:00pm
 
Tues to Sat
7:30pm to 12:00am

Buon Appetito!

NewYorkChef reviews local restaurants in and around Merida. A master chef from NY with a lifetime of experience, NewYorkChef's column appears at least weekly on Yolisto...and more if he gets hungry. You can read more about NewYorkChef on his blog, Yucatan Food Critic.

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