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Pampas
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Thu 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10:30 pm
Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
1003 reviews for Pampas
Review Highlights
"Oh, and make sure you don't overlook the side bar."
(in 215 reviews)
"My favorite was the bacon wrapped turkey."
(in 52 reviews)
"I love their chicken hearts and fillet mignon."
(in 91 reviews)
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1003 reviews in English
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Review from H K.
San Francisco, CA
2/8/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Last Saturday was the first time I ever experienced a Brazilian steakhouse restaurant. I came for an early celebration of my companion's birthday. She's been here before for a birthday dinner previously with another one of her friends, that's why she knew about this place and told me, and therefore we agreed on coming here. This was also the first restaurant I ever made reservation thru the Yelp system.
It was definitely meat galore. I definitely needed my cholesterol pill that day with all those meat choices, 14 of them. It was $44 per person for the meat buffet plus trips to the side bar (with salads, cheeses, etc.). For the light eater, it's $27 for the side bar only, which for me seemed unworthy of that price. As for the meat itself, there were 14 choices listed on the menu. They were all delicious (or at least the ones I had, since I passed on the lamb choices). My companion, she's very petite and generally a light eater, yet she ate a lot of meat too, almost as much as me.
Despite my companion's reservation about my drinking, I ordered the Pampas Ale which is a house brew. It was a very good beer. I made her order something because we needed a toast, so she got a non-alcoholic drink.
There's a live band here, which could be considered a minus if you want a quiet dinner. When we arrived at the restaurant announcing our reservation, we were taken to a table on the main floor (there were three dining levels total) very close to the band. My companion asked me to request for a table further away since we saw one available, and the hostess obliged.
We're definitely fans of coming here again for the occasional celebrations that call for fine dining and such. -
Review from Willson Z.
San Francisco, CA
2/7/2012
First time trying a Brazilian steakhouse and I loved it! The atmosphere is really peaceful and calm. You don't feel like people are constantly staring at you *_____* (like some places...). I also liked the industrial/modern design of the restaurant. What I didn't like was the main door. We've tried opening the main door but failed to notice the (Please use other door) note for a second. Haha
I ordered the Rodizio and side bar.
Rodizio: First time trying something like this but a very cool concept. I forgot what meat I ate but everything I had was good; nothing was bland or overly salty. The steak is cooked rare (too red for me) but what the hell, YOLO! The selection felt endless!
The side bar itself was DELICIOUS! I think I'm a bit guilty for somewhat over stuffing myself at the side bar but I've tried my best to sample a little bit of everything. My favorite was the sauteed mushrooms, deep fried stuff mushroom, grilled onion (went well w/ the meat) and the salmon (mmmmMm).
The starters they served was good.. especially that cheese bread! From that moment, I knew this place would be good and it proved itself worthy.
We've also ordered the coconut flan. The egg didn't take over the flan and the consistency wasn't too fragile which was great.
Men - Highly recommend if you like steak.
Women - Highly recommend if you want your BF to take you somewhere expensive.
Overall: Win-win situation. -
Review from Jamie C.
2/7/2012 2 Check-ins Here
First time I came here, it was for a special yelp scotch tasting event, so I never had the chance to try the food.
With that said...
Pampas, so good it's unreal. Rodizio is what y'all need to come here for. I think this is the most i've ever eaten in one sitting.
Between the 2 of us, we tried:
Filet Mignon
Chicken Hearts
Chicken Drumettes
Top Sirloin
Bacon wrapped turkey
Chorizo Sausage
Pork Sausage
Lamb loin Chop (best thing in the rodizio)
Leg of lamb
Tri-tip
Roasted pineapple (2nd best after all of that meat to sweeten up your mouth)
Skirt steak
Full salad bar, huge variety too. Service was awesome. Top it off with some wine and Jameson & ginger ale, and you got yourselves a fantastic night.
I'll definitely come here again, and I recommend it to anyone who likes trying all types of meat, especially Brazilian style. You'll definitely like it if you come hungry. Worth the steep cost because, you're worth it. -
Review from Danae M.
San Jose, CA
2/2/2012
Vegetarians need not apply! This place is definitely a fav to add to the list. Four of us had dinner here last week and had a good meal with good service. It's a bit pricey but enjoy the experience and order the rodizio service. Well worth the $50 but just come hungry! Some meats were good but no wow-factor, others were fantastic. The nice thing is with the rodizio style, you can try a little of all and get more of your favs.
Added bonus for a nice live band that evening! -
Review from Matt V.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/29/2012
Pretty good!
I did the all you can eat meats, and it was just too much! I came out stuffed! Each meat individually is good, but not great, but I suppose that's the price of taking quantity over quality.
It's a nice restaurant, too. Dimly-lit and romantic.
Nothing much to complain about here! -
Review from Grace L.
South San Francisco, CA
1/31/2012
Definitely make a reservation for this place. And it's definitely for special occasions, because it is PRICEY but soooo GOOD. I think it's almost $50 for the rodizio (buffet style). They have a side buffet bar, more like salads, cheese/crackers, etc... Nothing fabulous there. You come here for the rodizio.
The rodizio is where the servers come around with giant swords/skewers of meat and they come to your table and plop whatever piece or section you want onto your plate. I've never had so much meat but it all tasted sooo good. Most of it is beef of some sort, but there are some porkchops, chicken, gizzards, etc... All of it just so deliciously good! It's also an experience everyone has to try at least once.
I like the fact that it's a buffet that you don't need to get up for (except for the "salad" bar), but then again it would be nice to have to get up and walk to get food so you can "walk it off", haha. Mhmmm MEAT. -
Review from Bailey M.
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
I would have never found this place if a friend had not brought me here for drinks. It is not on the normal high-traffic part of university avenue, so you might never find it serendipitously.
We sat at the bar and had a great time flirting with our bartender Dillon. He made us excellent drinks-- I had a mango Caipirinha which was fruity, sweet, and very alcoholic.
The atmosphere of Pampas is high-end, with lots of hard wood and fine art on the walls. They even brought in a live jazz band later in the evening. Nevertheless, it doesn't feel pretentious, which I think is due to the fact that all of the staff are warm and inviting.
I will definitely be back for happy hour where their delicious cocktails are only $5. -
Review from Vy M.
San Jose, CA
1/30/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I hear so many good things about this place so I was super excited to check out this place. The service was great but the food was just alright. I don't think it was worth the price that I paid. The only meat that I really liked was their skirt steak. Everything else was just okay. The chicken heart was very interesting. It had good flavoring, then weird texture, then super salt rush at the end that you don't expect.
I know it's not the same but I would rather spend the same amount of money at house of prime rib in sf. -
Review from Michael R.
Mountain View, CA
2/6/2012
I went for a corporate dinner. The food was excellent. The meats kept coming. The salad bar was fresh and varied. I have a couple of glasses of red wine. My only complaint is that I felt guilty for eat so much meat. I won't go here often, as I prefer to eat veggies. But it satisfied by meat fix for the year.
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Review from May B.
Los Altos, CA
2/6/2012
Come very hungry! But it's worth your money if you like trying different cuts of meats. I have been here twice and have enjoyed it both time. Don't laugh, but I really liked their salad bar :) It was well stocked and had good selection of higher quality salad selection items. Make reservations so you don't need to wait. There is a parking garage next door to make it convenient for diners. I would come again... especially if I am hungry and can eat ALOT! ;)
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Review from Kelly M.
Mountain View, CA
1/23/2012
We came here on a rainy Friday evening. The Happy Hour with 3 piece jazz band was too tempting to resist. We waited about 10-15 min. for a spot at the bar and it was well worth it. We knew we wanted to take full advantage of 1/2 off prices from 5-7pm - Oh and we did just that! I love the dark woods, brick walls and dark leather accents. The layout is brilliant. Spacious yet cozy and inviting.
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Happy Hour run down:
Feta and olives - the feta cubes are stacked so thoughtfully and a very generous portion of mixed olives. Great presentation.
Fried yucca with house made chipotle ketchup. This was my 1st yucca experience and I loved them. Crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside.
Drum roll....the **Pièce de résistance** - RUM GUAVA GLAZED PORK RIBS. SOOO meaty and juicy. I may or may not have blacked out while eating these babies - they're THAT good! I seriously will compare all future ribs to these.
They have complimentary bites for Happy Hour too! Two Fried Polentas, Two Fried Bananas and Two Puff cheese ball thingys. All of them were delicious! Did I mention they were COMPLIMENTARY?!
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For the red wine lovers out there I highly recommend the Malbec. For just $5 a glass (HH) you can't beat that. It stands out even from some of their "top" reds.
The food and 4 glasses of wine (between 2 people of course - I'm not *THAT* much of a lush) our total bill was $35. Now THAT is amazing and reason enough to come back.
Our bartender Pablo was awesome btw! Cheers! -
Review from Lizzie H.
Los Gatos, CA
2/6/2012
Great food. Good for parties but very loud so not a good setting to have quiet conversation with folks. Drinks are pricey but who cares when food is this tasty
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Review from R K.
Newington, NH
2/6/2012 Seated via OpenTable
It wasn't bad but, at $45 or so for the rodizio, better options exist. One would expect better meats at this price or, at this quality, better pricing of $25-$30. Went with two others, including one from Brazil. They both agreed.
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Review from Tom S.
1/20/2012
Carnivores rejoice!
Talk about a special night. An unlimited supply of Brazilian-prepared meat served on skewers and an endless bar of side dishes? Get out of here.
What a great place to come with a large group of people and be social. The service was fantastic, as we were constantly treated to skewer upon skewer of delicious meat all night. The only disappointment in the bunch was the chicken skewers, but you can't go wrong with any of the beef. I couldn't get enough of the pork sausage, turkey breast wrapped in bacon, and pineapple, too. The sides are good but are pretty overshadowed by the awesome selection of meat.
I have to add that I loved the fantastically unique decor and layout, including the mini upper floor and the mini basement.
Absolutely great food, although for the price, you may just want to come here on business. -
Review from George L.
Saratoga, CA
1/17/2012
I just had dinner here and it was fantastic. Like many others I went with the rodizio.
The meats were plentiful, the service was fairly attentive and it was pretty tasty too. It seemed like tonight there were almost 2 different preparations of every type of meat: herb filet mignon and a parmesan covered filet. 2 lamb preparations and 2 chicken preparations. There's also the pineapple which is pretty delightful as well. For the provided appetizer they gave out fried polenta as well as fried banana, which was great. The side bar was pretty good as well. While it may not be worth the a la carte price, as an accompaniment to the meats, it worked quite well and had a pretty good variety of items.
The service was very good. the meat carvers were attentive as was my server. While this may be a bit of a classy/trendy place I really never felt out of place here, which is definitely a plus. As a person who dines alone often, that's fairly important and notable to me. With regards to the price, while it's not cheap, I definitely feel that you do get pretty good value for your money.
I would definitely return here in the future
4.5/5 -
Review from Addi M.
1/17/2012
I'd never had Brazilian before (although the thought of being served food from a sword sounded so cool), but my boyfriend brought me here for a romantic date and I fell in love with it!
First, hats off to the bartender, who was witty with conversation and made a MEAN mojito. All of the staff throughout the meal was very courteous and, after a quick explanation of the green-card-red-card system, it was a night of cheese bread, filet mignon, great wine and awesome atmosphere. I was diggin' the bossa nova, the food, and when dessert came, I barely had room but couldn't resist!
If you start feeling way too full (as is common when you eat that much red meat), definitely take some time to enjoy the pineapple. Like orange slices when eating Korean barbque, there's some sort of weird science behind it, and a little bit of pineapple can help with that "OMG I'M GONNA DIE" feeling. Then, you have room for the CHOCOLATE TORTE!! I've never had a dessert that had so many flavors layered in (order it and you'll know what I mean). All in all, I can't wait for the next time I visit Pampas again! -
Review from Tiffany C.
Palo Alto, CA
1/11/2012
Just as a disclaimer, I only had an appetizer and a beer here, so this is not a full review, but I will do my best to review my limited experience.
I actually came here on a Yelp date (woohoo) with a fellow Yelper. Right on Alma in downtown Palo Alto, it is a very chic place, nice spacious bar in the front with comfy chairs by the window as well, and it looks like ample seating in the restaurant area. I was greeted by a friendly hostess who told me to feel free to look around the restaurant.
When I sat at the bar, I was greeted by a friendly bartender who helped me right away. I ordered beer, and then we ordered the lamb meatball appetizer. This was absolutely delicious. Two flat screen tv's were also at the bar, and people in the back part of the restaurant cheered occasionally, watching some sports game (I have no idea what), so I could see this being a nice place to go and watch the game (although not the rowdy type of watching).
Anyhoo, the bartender was very attentive to our needs, always asking if we wanted a refill when he saw empty glasses, good atmosphere, clean, and decently priced. We got three beers and the appetizers and the bill came to like $30. I would definitely be willing to come back here and actually sit down at a table and try a meal. -
Review from Anneck L.
Cupertino, CA
1/12/2012
Great if you're eating paleo or Atkins -- bring on the beef! And you can even garnish it with a token leaf of lettuce or a slice of grilled zucchini from the side bar.
Watch out if you are wearing heels -- floor hellishly slippery on the night we went. I almost lost it, the woman next to us barely escaped a spectacular wipeout in her 5" platforms -- and that was before we had cocktails.
On the Friday night we were here, the bar was wildly inconsistent. I had a too-sweet caipirinha; fabulous hubby ordered one too 'cause he liked it, and his was pucker-up-sour. Wine list was good.
Meat quality: very good to excellent (we tried everything except the chicken hearts)
Sides: very good but not memorable beyond their breadth and diversity
Dessert: mediocre; we had acai/blueberry crumble, soggy, gloppy, bland
Service: excellent -
Review from Rachel H.
Berkeley, CA
1/14/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Hmm... Maybe it was an off night, or the fact that there was a bridal party of about 50 people that came in around the same time as us, but with how much we paid, I was not impressed with Pampas.
The fact that we were ignored for a good 10 minutes after being seated should have tipped me off that we were not in for the best service ever. It also took quite a while to get our drinks that we ordered. Again, it may have been because of the large party, but I really felt as though service should have been better.
For those of you who have never been to a place like Pampas, the dining experience consists of the waitstaff bringing various meats around for you to sample, as well as a side bar downstairs. My favorite part of the meal was actually the side bar, as well as the fried bananas they brought before the meal. Now if they had a waiter bringing around those little guys, I'd be sold! The side bar had salad fixings, vegetables, and cheeses, many of which really complimented the meats. As for the meats themselves, I found many of them to be pretty dry. My favorites were the spicy chicken and the lamb, but I didn't particular care for many of the beef options. Definitely try the grilled pineapple though, as it is pretty darn tasty. Though I found myself trying a bit of everything, I have to say I was a bit disappointed. -
Review from Kiran S.
Palo Alto, CA
2/8/2012
I am so pleased, that I recovered my Yelp password just so I could write a review. On a random day, my husband called me and said he wanted to go to a Brazilian Steakhouse. Needless to say, there weren't any reservations available. We showed up anyway, hoping that there would be a cancellation. The hostess was extraordinarily nice, and the happy hour was a wonderful place to spend some time while waiting for a table. As I was about to order another drink and an appetizer, the hostess told the waitress to let us know that we were getting a table and maybe I didn't want the appetizer after all? That was soooo nice! Especially knowing that we were about to eat a massive amount of food, the appetizer would have been overkill. Now on to the food. The side bar was EXCELLENT! So many great options. The meat was tender, and the the service was excellent. They waiter and the carvers were all very courteous and prompt. Our waiter came by a couple times to make sure that if we wanted something specific he could have the carver come by. I was so extremely happy at the end of this meal. I truely love a great restaurant experience, and that is what I got here.
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Review from Brian W.
Nashville, TN
1/8/2012
Amazing! For those that don't know, this is a Brazilian style steakhouse, which means you can pay one price (about $45) for all you can eat meat and side bar (salads, veggies, potatoes, etc.). The waiters bring around giant skewers of various meats and cut off pieces for you. There are several different kinds of steak, lamb, chicken, turkey, and even roasted pineapple (which was amazing!!!).
I've been to Brazilian steakhouses where everything is overcooked, and this is not one of those. Everything was cooked perfectly. All five of us in the party thoroughly enjoyed the experience! -
Review from Dan R.
San Francisco, CA
1/23/2012
The food is fabulous! The staff is exceptionally capable and ultra courteous. The ambiance of this eatery is sophisticated without being over-the-top swanky. Pampas' focus is Brazilian cuisine. They also serve up a wonderful steak dinner (that begins with the most heavenly breads) - if that is more to your liking.
The side bar alone is amazing; it could easily be your whole meal, which some prefer as a standalone. The Rodizio and side bar combination is an adventure in dining any foodie might adore. I would gladly recommend this restaurant to anybody seeking an extraordinary dining experience. -
Review from Conny L.
Palo Alto, CA
1/21/2012
Visited Pampas yesterday for the first time, and loved it!
We had the Rodizio with Sidebar (which is a MUST we were told, and now concur to), not cheap with 44 USD per person, but worth the money for sure.
We counted, and indeed tried all of the thirteen offered meats, and many of the sidebar dishes.
I was surprised that in a restaurant known for his meat, the chicken was the absolute best. Don't get me wrong, all lamb, pork and beef was delicious, but the chicken legs (with lemon and smoked peppers, the other one with garlic and chili) were outstanding, only topped by the PERFECT chicken hearts (so don't chicken out trying them, heart is the best meat, tender and yummy).
The sidebar is great, Pampas has everything from fresh salads to side dishes like coconut sweet potato mash to roasted peppers, and the best sautéed mushrooms I ever had!
For desserts (hardly fitting), we tried the Coconut Flan and Blueberry-Acai Crisp, I wasn't too much into the Flan, but the Crisp (it's like a crumble with loooots of blueberries) was mindblowingly good.
Come hungry, and make sure to at least try a small piece of everything, it's really worth it. -
Review from Georgi N.
Mountain View, CA
2/2/2012
It's OK.
The salad bar is great - lots of different cheeses and fresh vegetables.
The meat is just meh. Nothing interesting or creative -
Review from edward k.
1/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love brazilian bbq. I've only had it once in SoCal but after that one time, I've been dying to go back.
My family and I came here on Xmas Eve which is a nice time to come as everyone has the holiday spirit. We all opted for the AYCE of course even though there were dishes on their regular menu that seemed very appetizing. Along with the AYCE you get to check out the salad bar which is OK in my opinion. A wide array of salads and dishes but nothing really that appetizing. The one thing I loved were the slices of prosciutto. I seriously wanted to take the whole plate back and make a sandwich or something.
The meats came in a pretty timely manner and we never really had to wait super long or get a ton of repeats before a certain meats comes out. I particularly liked the lamb chops (a tad gamier than usual), filet migon, and the chicken hearts.
The design of this place is REALLY nice. We were sat in the lower area that was pretty nice -
Review from Kat G.
Union City, CA
All kinds of meat, all day, everyday! Famous for their Rodizio style ($44/person) where meat carvers come to your table to offer you whatever type of meat they have on hand (steak, chicken, pork, and lamb).
The Mr ordered the Rodizio while I ordered the prawns and empanadas for myself. This is a good idea for those who want a tasting of the meat but can't necessarily eat all of what's offered to you. Everything was pretty tasty, but our personal favorites were the following:
- turkey wrapped in bacon
- pork loin in adobo seasoning
- steak in parmesan
- steak in garlic marinade
With the Rodizio comes the side bar where you can choose from different kinds of cheeses, olives, salami, prosciutto, etc. The prawns were delicious as well as the empanadas (chorizo and manchego) that we ordered.
We'll be back if we're ever in the mood for never-ending protein! -
Review from Susanna W.
Palo Alto, CA
Updated - 12/20/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I really should update my review for Pampas' HAPPY HOUR, since I rave about it so much to my friends.
Completely deserving of a 5 star rating, Pampas' HH is the bar against which all other DTPA (and beyond) HHs are compared to. The HH menu boasts a wide variety of cocktails ($5 and packs a powerful punch!), beers ($3), wine (I think $5?), and food (50% off, mostly in the $3-7 range).
Everyone I've introduced to Pampas' HH LOVES it and can't get enough. Definite WIN.Listed in: Happy Hour Watering Holes
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/8/2010 ROTD 11/19/2010
This review is for the HAPPY HOUR only.
What a fab deal. Pampas has HH M-F 5-7pm. Their specialty… Read more »
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Review from Elena M.
Fremont, CA
1/29/2012
Amazing!!! I made a reservation for a large party two weeks before we came in for my boyfriends birthday. I was upset because a lot of people rsvp'd but didn't show or where really late. The restaurant was really nice about the situation and waiting for our party. The food was delicious. I ordered the Rodizio which is the all you can eat meat and side bar. They have numerous types of meat that were all very good. I don't eat rare meat but they satisfied me by giving me the portions that were well done. The side bar had more selections than I was able to handle but everything I tried was very good especially the banana dressing. I loved it.
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Review from Harry T.
12/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
I died and went to meat heaven! Meat on meat on meat and a little grilled pineapple in the mix :)
Food - 4 stars
The meat was cooked perfectly in the first few rounds they came by. Juicy, tender, perfection. Towards the end of the night the meat was a little overcooked and dry but I was already stuffed by then so it didn't bother me too much. The grilled pineapple is so bomb! I love pineapple! I want to live in a giant pineapple under the sea and change my name to Spongebob!
The side dishes and salad bar I didn't really attack because I wanted to save room for the meat but everything seemed pretty fresh.
The service bumped this place up to 5 stars for me. Right as we sat down and got situated the skewers were coming by non-stop. One after another and before I knew it, my plate had a whole dead animal on it.
For a Friday night, it didn't seemed too packed. We made reservations but they were able to seat us early. The bar was full but the dining area still had seats open so waiting doesn't seem to be a problem. -
Review from Andy M.
San Francisco, CA
12/27/2011
Great atmosphere and ambiance for a corporate party or an occasional event.
+Service: Attentive but not overly annoying.
+Setting: white table cloths, nice silverware
+Food: Meat selection (Rodizio and side bar unlimited $44) is good but quality of some cuts was pretty average. Salad bar was OK, but not worth $27 per person.
+Desert: great! Try their Chocolate torte with Brazil nut toffee ($9).
+Drinks are decent and fairly quick.
+Good wine selection.
+Good bar.
Minus stars for:
-Plates change was pretty slow
-Utensils were taken but not replaced
-So-called fillet mignon was not tender and rather chewy
-Were told of more than actual meat selection (received 10 out of 14).
-Per each round of beef there were 3-4 solicitations of chicken legs
-Location is good for commuters but car parking is scarce on a Fri eve.
-Overpriced salad bar (comparing to similarly tiered Espetus)
Would still recommend this place, but beware of the Cons above. -
Review from Kimberly C.
San Ramon, CA
12/16/2011
-1* for steep price for the side bar. Other menu items like sandwiches, salads, etc range from $8-15. Service is prompt and courteous. I've only come for lunch so the meat buffet is not available. I opted for the side bar which was perfect for lunch. At $17, it is quite steep. I'd say I'd pay $15 tops for it especially since there is NO meat at this side bar although there are a few hot food items which was nice. Quite healthy too and I had two plates. The bar had around 25 items and were all well prepared.
Some items:
peanut noodles- i didn't like but my bf did
tabbouleh
variety of cheeses- and not just american type of cheeses
rice and the black beans were yum
3 types of lettuce/salad mixes + toppings (toppings weren't that exciting. not much variety)
3 types of dressings
roasted eggplant and tomato
roast bell peppers
asparagus
broccolini
israeli couscous w shredded coconut, etc- i really enjoyed this. slightly sweet and creamy.
coconut mashed sweet potatoes
spiced carrots
Once I scavenge some change (more like $40 lol), I'll come for dinner for the meat. I will update.. -
Review from Al K.
Santa Clara, CA
12/31/2011
This restaurant is simply for meat lovers. Well, they do have a decent salad bar but why would you come here if you only want salad? You can simply go to a Fresh Choice for salad instead.
Came here with a group of co-workers for lunch and was expecting a Brazilian cut and serve in front of you type lunch. But they told us that was only for dinner. No problem. We proceeded to order the family style variety meat plates.
We started off with the salad bar. There was not much to write home about. The selection was mediocre and I felt Fresh Choice had more veggie choices.
The meat plates we ordered included filet mignon, NY steak, lamb rack, grilled shrimp and pork chop. Pork chop and shrimp were marinated and grilled to perfection. They were juicy and tasty. Filet mignon and NY steak were both overcooked and dry. Lamb rack was OK. Portion size is huge. Each person had at least 3-4 pieces of decent sized leftover meat to take home.
I have to minus 1 star for putting lamb rack with the rest of the meat on the same serving plate. Some of my co-workers did not like the smell of lamb and they had to endure lamb's favor mixing with other meat, which was a big turn-off for them.
Overall, service was good and quick. Salad bar was below average (but we came here mainly for meat so no big deal). Quality of meat was good but disappointed that filet mignon and NY steak were way overcooked. Great atmosphere and location (downtown Palo Alto) but parking can't be hard to find. Price is no doubt expensive and I would only come back if someone (ie: my company) pays the tab. -
Review from Leanne P.
12/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ohhhhhhh meat sweatsssssssss.
Hahaha how to describe my Pampas experience... G and I came here with the fam for my dad's birthday. I had friends warn me of the meat sweats, so I knew to come here starving (I didn't eat lunch and I ate breakfast really early) and we came in the early evening (so that we wouldn't have to go to bed with super full bellies). But I don't think ANYTHING can prepare you for the meat-fest that is Pampas.
We got here right when they opened and I was super impressed with the venue. It looks so pretty but very chill as well. Their is a large bar in the front and then a three-level restaurant. We were seated right near the door, so we had perfect access to everything. There is a huge side bar with salads, appetizers, cheeses, meats, etc. I could get full just from that stuff. We all decided to go with the Rodizio menu (which is the all you can eat sidebar PLUS meat).
The meat:
There were quite a few types of meat. My personal favorites were the top sirloin and the filet mignon with parmesan cheese. They also had different chickens, lamb, pork sirloin, and sausage. I was pleasantly surprised with the grilled pineapple which was AMAZING. I think I ended up getting 3 or 4 refills of the pineapple. It acted as a great intermezzo between meats.
A lot of people suggested this, and I totally second it: get only 1 or 2 meats at a time. I know its tempting to say yes to everything as they walk by (especially for us, there were only a few people when we got there so it seemed like the meat guys were at our table every minute or two) but you really need to savor the meat. And the meat was meant to be enjoyed right away. If you let it sit on your plate for too long, it toughens up and the flavors become less amazing. We ended up having to flip our Pampas button to red for a bit, so that we could catch up. I highly recommend using that button A LOT. So get like 2 pieces of meat, flip it, and then flip it back once you've finished.
Another suggestion: grab a variety of items from the side bar that will go well with the meat. Don't go crazy though! Like I said, its way too easy to get full over there and not have room for all of the meat.
Last suggestion: give all of the meats a try. I know I was hesitant to try the chicken because it looked spicy, but it was really yummy. And the lamb--my parents hate lamb. They were hands down not planning on getting it, but after I forced them to, they really loved it.
Take your time and enjoy your meat sweats :) -
Review from Briana F.
San Mateo, CA
1/25/2012
Excellent place for happy hour. From 5-7pm they have an awesome selection of creative cocktails(think caipirinhas) for $5 and half off all their apps. A friend and I shared the olives and feta. We were pleasantly surprised that they were nice size hunks of cheese and a decent amount of olives. We also, shared the guava glazed ribs, DELICIOUS and well worth the $5. Our total bill for 2 at happy hour was $20!! Can't beat that with a stick. Awesome!
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Review from Kristine Y.
Palo Alto, CA
Updated - 12/17/2011
Just went here for a work party this last week. The food was okay. The private dining room was really nice. It was located downstairs and was very quiet which was nice with such a large group.
The salad bar was nice and some of the meats were decent too, it just did not have that yum factor. If you're looking for a good Brazilian place try out Espetus Churrascaria.
I just can't sing any praises here...1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/1/2011
We went here for happy hour once to get a feel for the food. Unfortunately we weren't impressed.… Read more »
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Review from Rosanna T.
San Jose, CA
12/19/2011
OMG..best salad bar ever!!!!! I went here on the third date but I did not order the all you can eat meat on the stick:( I guess I didn't want to come off as a fatass.. Came back a year later, you bet I ordered the all you can eat :p I loved the cheese breads!! They are so warm and it melts in your mouth...okay exergerrating..
The salad bar: It is not a traditional salad bar. There are so many items to choose from! I liked the sauteed mushrooms and the cheese selection.
The meats: Some of the meats were dry but most were yummy!!! I liked the lamb.
I will definitely come back again! -
Review from Katja J.
Palo Alto, CA
1/11/2012
I went here for dinner with my hubby because he looooves meat. I'm not a big meat fan. He had the Rodizio - of course and it was perfect. He loved it and was so full afterwards. I just had the fish of the day which was Mahi Mahi and it was really good. The Side Bar is "just" ok. Lots of veggies, mashed potatoes, cheese plate. If you're a meatlover GO THERE:) If not, you still can find something a la carte and then the side bar is only $12 extra (instead of alone $27). The service was very good and super friendly. They had a liveband that evening which was really cool. I liked the atmosphere!
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Review from Lauren P.
Sunnyvale, CA
2/3/2012
My husband and I just ate here for dinner. If you have ever been to an authentic churrascaria (in Brazil perhaps) then this will seriously disappoint you. The meat is just not nearly as good as it can be (some of it is just plain bad) and the salad bar is extremely meek compared to others. For a first time churrascaria visitor, the novelty of the rodizio will be exciting and fun.
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Review from Yum E.
Came by for dinner a second time other night at the peak dinner hour and this place was packed! Glad I made reservations a week ahead!
Meal started off with complimentary appetizers which consisted of a cheesy bread, fried banana and something else.
We opted for the Rodizio @ $44 a head which included unlimited salad bar. Best things from the salad bar include the smoked salmon, carpaciio, grilled eggplant, asparagus, and fresh mozzarella.
From the Rodizio, the best meats were the filet mignon and the bacon wrapped turkey, which were both extremely flavorful and juicy when hot. Some of the inferior goods that should be passed on include the sausages, chicken thighs, and pork loin.
I did notice that they tend to circulate the "cheap" meats twice as often as the "premium" meats like the leg of lamb, lamb loin etc.
Service was very friendly by our waiter
The odd thing about this restaurant is that all of their food taste really good straight out of the kitchen. After my food was sitting out on my plate for a few minutes, the food immediately becomes very hard and dry...
Tip:Their hardwood floor is very slippery for the ladies in their high-heels, esp on a rainy day...1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/16/2010
Came by for a team dinner and was amazed at the quality and service of this upscale restaurant!
The… Read more »
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Review from Kevin T.
11/28/2011 Seated via OpenTable
4.5 stars
Make sure to wear your fancy stretchy pants for this one.
Ordered the Rodizio and side bar for two - in short, this gives you unlimited quantities of the side bar and a wide range of selected meats. The side bar itself can keep you busy the whole night but control yourself dammit!...soon enough spit-roasted meats will be coming at you from every direction. Intrigued? Thought so.
Top sirloin, leg of lamb and chop, pork loin, tenderloin with parmesan, tri-tip, chicken, linguica, turkey wrapped in bacon, skirt steak, chicken hearts....I'm sure there were more I had but I can't remember. I came in thinking I'd be able to hang but I was down for the count way sooner than I expected. I mean I tried everything at least once; my favorites were the skirt steak, lamb chop, and the filet with parm mmmmmm so good.
The side bar has everything you need to compliment the meats and more; everything from grilled veggies to smoked salmon, need I say more? Well probably, but honestly I blacked out due to meat sweats. Not really, but you get my point.
I ordered a bottle of red that our waiter recommended, don't know the same since I'm not a connoisseur or anything. But we finished the bottle and it complimented everything very well. Definitely a good experience, and I felt bad for turning away some meats towards the end but I had no choice...I bitched out SMH.
Food coma never tasted so good.
