With my wife
knowing I love meat and buffets, she picked the perfect spot to celebrate Father's Day. I celebrated my 40th birthday at Pampas and
it was also one of the first five restaurants I ever reviewed. Yet, it had been
nearly six years since I’d eaten there.
Pampas did
not disappoint! This restaurant features Brazilian barbecue (except at certain
times, such as lunch on weekdays), where you place a button green side facing
upwards to indicate you want skewers of meat delivered to your table. Finally,
there will come a point where you just can’t take any more, so you flip the
button to the red, which means you’re crying “Uncle!” and the bill will arrive
at your table.
Though the
skewered meats are what set this restaurant apart from other, their salad bar
is almost as important. The vegetables, so delicious, crisp and fresh are beautifully displayed. The granola, slightly sweet, is made in-house. What
really grabbed me, though, was the coconut couscous, which served cold with
raisins, was almost like a dessert pudding. In fact, I made it my dessert along
with the yogurt and berries, which were constantly refreshed.
The list of
meats can be seen in the menu below, but what stood out was the filet mignon
and the tenderloin. The pork and the chicken were tender, but the beef—so juicy
and flavorful—was irresistible. Making a great steak taste even better was the
sauce delivered to the table featuring Tamron and chipotle. Sure, it was a
little spicy, but it made a terrific combination with the beef and lamb.
The service
was exceptional. Virtually everyone stopping by our table, the waiter included,
wore a smile and was patient with the kids.
Pampas
529 Alma St.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
www.pampaspaloalto.com
(650) 327-1323
