A century-old bank building in Old Town Temecula has a new tenant, and it's serving skirt steak instead of savings accounts. Gaucho Grill, the Argentine steakhouse chain known for cooking meat over open-flame, wood-fired parrilla grills, opened its newest location at 28645 Old Town Front Street in Old Town Temecula on September 21.
The building itself carries decades of local history. Constructed in 1914 as the First National Bank of Temecula, the structure later became a restaurant in 1978 when it was converted into the Bank of Mexican Food, according to Press Enterprise. Its most recent occupant before Gaucho Grill, The Bank Plates & Pours, closed in 2023, the same report notes.
From Vault to Dining Room
Gaucho Grill traces its roots to Southern California in 1986, and the chain's original Brentwood location was acquired by Adrian Amosa in 2008, according to Valley News. The Temecula outpost marks the brand's fifth Southern California location, joining existing restaurants in Downey, Pasadena, West Covina and Buena Park, per the same Press Enterprise report.
Inside, the Temecula restaurant leans into the building's past. The space includes a private dining room called the Vault, a nod to the structure's banking origins, and the menu reflects Gaucho Grill's broader Argentine-steakhouse format of steaks, seafood, cocktails and wines, per Valley News. Dishes on offer across the brand include lomo a la cacerola a caballo and a tomahawk brunch option, the same report states.
Bank Robbery History Remains Murky
The building's bank era included a dramatic chapter: a 1930 robbery that stands as Riverside County's first bank heist, according to Valley News. Village News dates the robbery to August 14, 1930, identifies the ranch hand who entered the bank as Miguel Diaz, and reports that $1,200 was stolen. The First National Bank itself closed in 1941, according to Valley News.
Hours, Happy Hour and Weekend Brunch
Gaucho Grill Temecula is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., per Valley News. Weekend brunch runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and features dishes including avocado toast, a gaucho wrap, chicken and waffles, and steak and eggs, the outlet reports. The restaurant's own site lists weekday lunch service from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to Gaucho Grill.
Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the bar and patio areas, with handcrafted cocktails at $9, draft beers at $5, and empanadas at $4.50, according to Valley News. Filet mignon sliders and lamb and chorizo meatballs run $8 during that window, while a grilled skirt steak or filet mignon plate with potatoes is priced at $16, the outlet reports. Live music begins at noon on Sundays, and the restaurant also offers catering and event services for weddings, corporate gatherings, birthdays and private celebrations, per Valley News. Those looking to reach the restaurant directly can call 951.904.7770.
