Sal y Pimienta was a wonderful place to brunch with my husband to celebrate our anniversary. The…read morefood was incredibly flavorful, fresh, and delightful. Their service was highly attentive and very friendly. The ambiance was cozy, chic, and they had a few private dining areas for larger groups. We will be back!

I came for Houston Restaurant Week. We made a reservation…read morethrough their website for 9:15pm on a Friday. We arrived at 9:00pm and the person who greets you at the restaurant was extremely rude. "Oh you have a reservation?" "Well I know you don't have a reservation, I have nothing here and we close at 10." To which I proceeded to take out my confirmation, but also said hey if you can't seat us it's not a problem we can go. He said no no and proceeded to take us to a table. Maybe we were late? I'm not sure. The website offered reservations even later, and others walked in after us. Who knows... Besides that, the food was ok. The appetizer empanadas and calamari were ok. Nothing to want to have again, I've had better. The lamb ossobuco with polenta was tasty and a big portion. My husband's beef brochettes weren't cooked to his liking. The rice that came with it was delicious. Good wine pairing for both entrees. Figs and mascarpone dessert was not to my liking. The mascarpone was heavy on the lemon. It took over the whole palate. Chocolate ganache cake was good. Was the quality worth the price? Not for me.

The old phrase "don't judge a book by its cover " fits Saldivia's…read more From the outside, it looks like a little mom n pop place. But from the inside.... I picked up a customer of mine and he said let's go to a small South American place just down the street. From the outside, didn't look like much. From the inside, much bigger and certainly a South American flair. World Cup is going on so all the TVs had that on. Tons of wines sitting out , mostly Malbecs, my fav. Just a great vibe. But on to the main course. We both had the steak picanha. Med Rare. On my. Good Lord. This was awesome. I generally don't eat steaks out as they are overpriced and not cooked to my liking. The chef did an awesome job. Med Rare - spot on. Perfecto. I've been to Argentina many times in business and eaten many great steaks, this can be included in that. I know, I know...people swear by Pappa's Steak or Taste of Texas, but this small, unassuming place tops them all. And a fantastic SA wine list. Please give them a try. Will not be disappointed.

Came here for lunch and got their Monday lunch menu special. While waiting for my soup, I was…read moreserved half of a warm baguette. Yummy! The lunch menu came with a choice of either soup or salad, which I got the lentil soup. The soup was thick and hearty. It was very good. My steak was cooked perfectly and well-seasoned. The sides were well-seasoned too. The size of the steak, to me, was sufficient and considered big for a lunch menu. I had a triple chocolate tres leches after my steak. It was the perfect ending. I received warm and excellent service throughout my lunch. The restaurant is big and suitable for all party sizes. There is plenty of free parking in front of the restaurant, so that is a plus point.

Ask for Jesus who is going to give you the best service, I love the food!!! I totally recommend...read more

Must come every time I'm in Houston!! Full bar, mojito, cosmo, café Colombiano, limonada de coco to…read morequench your thirst. Arepas, empanadas, tostones if you're feeling snacky! Chuleta, soup, bandeja de paisa, bisteque if you're hungry! So. Many. Good. Choices. If you're down to try more, there's so much on the menu you might want to explore! Service is always welcoming and friendly & don't forget to stop by the bakery on the way out for delicious deserts & plaintain chips are a MUST get fresh and delish! Enjoy!

I have learned that the places that look a little suspicious from the outside often end up being…read morethe biggest surprises when it comes to food. This place is definitely not located in a fancy area, and I have to admit, I had second thoughts the moment I pulled into the crowded and chaotic parking lot. Located in the heart of Latino Town in Spring Branch, the atmosphere immediately reminded me of back home (Venezuela). The vibe is different, authentic, and familiar in the best way. I trusted the process because this spot had been on my list for a while, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance. Once you make it through the parking adventure and walk inside, you are pleasantly surprised by a small, quaint, clean, and charming restaurant. The aroma coming from the kitchen was enough to convince me I had made the right choice. We were seated right away during a busy lunch hour. The staff works together as a team, and the service was efficient and attentive. But, of course, the star of the show was the food. I had a steak cooked to perfection with sweet plantains, and it was absolutely delicious. They offer an extensive menu featuring flavors from Argentina to Venezuela, with plenty of options to choose from. Everything came out fresh, flavorful, and in a timely manner. If you are in the Spring Branch area and craving grilled, savory, authentic food, this is definitely a place to check out. I will absolutely be coming back. A true hidden gem!

And we're off! Today we kicked off our "A to Z International Dining Adventure"! We're planning to…read moreeat our way around the world, choosing a different country for each letter of the alphabet at restaurants around town. Houston has an amazing international dining scene and we won't have any problem finding food to match all 26 countries. Today we started with "A is for Argentina" at Pampa Grill & Market in Houston on Hammerly. We were thrilled to start our journey with newlyweds our son and daughter‑in‑law. We all shared freshly baked bread with chimichura sauce and marinated vegetables salsa criolla, delicious empanadas of all sorts, the Argentina Grill parrillada platter, and flan and Nutella crepes for dessert. Pampa Grill & Market is a beloved family-owned neighborhood gem run by Argentine owners. Definitely a fabulous experience all around. Pampa serves wine, but they also allow BYOB, so we brought a delicious 2022 Decero Remelinos Malbec and John and Katherine brought a lovely white blend, also from Argentina. Weare going to have so much fun taking this food journey together! "B" takes us to Brazil in the next couple weeks. Stay tuned!

Used to live in the neighborhood so decided to come back and celebrate my upcoming birthday with…read morefamily. I missed the guava and cheese pastelitos which were still as good as I remembered. The shredded beef with plantain and arepa were a great breakfast. So much food. Well worth it. The feel hasn't changed over the last so many years. It is a simple decor. Nothing over the top but foods just right. Honestly I wish it was closer to where I live now to go back more often. The Venezuelan coffee had the perfect level of sweetness. Only downfall was a bit of a hiccup with the food but it worked out in the end.

I love this restaurant! I love the pabellón criollo, both the plate or the pabellón criollo…read moreempanada. The arepa is delicious as well. They also have guava cheese pastelitos and tequeños! They even have chicha, a fermented red corn beer that I have yet to try. I would recommend any of these, with a cup of Venezuelan coffee. Service is fantastic. They take care of you, and will speak Spanish to you - which I appreciate. Ambiance is super fun and colorful. Got to love Venezuela.

Growing up in Houston, I would always see Marini's whenever my family and I drove by the old…read morelocation. As I got older, I would pass by it myself and always wanted to stop in...but life kept being life and I just never seemed to have the free time. I was finally able to stop by yesterday! I absolutely loved how the decor starts from the outside...it immediately draws you into the experience. The inside is vibrant, full of life and just feels welcoming. I was warmly greeted as I walked in. I headed toward the register and on my left I saw something that immediately caught my eye: Alfajores. Now, Alfajores are these wonderful sandwich cookies that are especially popular in Argentina and Uruguay. They're unique because they're traditionally made with cornstarch rather than just flour, giving them that wonderfully tender texture. They're filled with dulce de leche and often coated in shredded coconut. Some are even perfumed with lemon zest, depending on the region. I knew immediately that I'd be getting some. I ordered the Gaucho and the Chicken Diablo. The service was cordial and sweet: big smiles and a genuinely warm demeanor. The young lady told me my order would be ready shortly. She gave me an exact number of minutes, but I honestly forgot how many she said! I then turned around and, lo and behold, it all clicked. It was called "Marini's" because of the owners. To my surprise, there was a painting of a face I recognized. Years ago, my family and I attended a church called Centro Familiar Cristiano. Marcelo Marini! He has the kind of face you don't forget--very recognizable and distinctive. I thought it was lovely to discover that he was one of the owners. I only wish I had known years ago that this was his family's business. I absolutely loved how the restaurant is decorated. The writing that guests have left on the walls gives the place so much heart and personality. I've never been to Argentina, but Marini's gives me the impression of being a little getaway...a small glimpse of what it might feel like to experience Argentine culture. The young lady who took my order brought everything out with another smile. The Gaucho was fabulous. It was well seasoned and I loved the added detail of the olives. The chicken was shredded, tender and well seasoned too. The crust was crispy without being greasy. I also really enjoyed the chimichurri and the red sauce, which had a pleasant little kick of heat. And the Alfajores were spot on: tender cookies, rich dulce de leche filling and that coating of coconut that gives them such a wonderful finishing touch. I really enjoyed my visit to Marini's. Next time, I need to eat inside so I can fully enjoy the atmosphere while I eat-maybe with a glass of Malbec.

This place has been on my radar for a long time and finally stopped today. That was best decision I…read moremade all day. The place was tucked off in plaza I had to get up in there and was so pleasantly surprised. So cozy and cute. They have a great selection of empanadas and all the ones I had were sooooooo good. The spinach was a little juicier than I anticipated but everything was made so fresh. The Tia Maria and eggplant were my favorites and the sauces were a great addition in flavor. The dessert empanada sweet potatoes was top tier. The filling was just sweet enough, definitely want to taste the others, especially since they make their own fruit fillings. I can see how they've been around for so long. New customer alert !

I don't ever do this but I just feel that I have to speak my mind over my experience. I went in to…read morethis place thinking it was going to be great. The place was super packed with locals so I knew it was going to be delicious. I was so wrong. I don't know but what I ordered looked like they threw in a pot and called it a day and then the waitress that sat me down for over half an hour never checked on me didn't apologize about the time or why the food came out that way and I could tell she knew I was right bc she apologized. I finally had to ask her what was going on. Her answer was the kitchen was packed while other people were being served around me that were seated after me. I don't know if it was because I didn't look Salvadorian or she forgot to put in my order but I will NEVER GO BACK. I had to leave pay for what I had consumed because I got tired of waiting for my food and leave.

I have been eating here as long as they have been open. Their desayuno completo is delicious with…read moregreat tasting refried beans and the tortillas fritas with queso on top are so so good. The coffee is always hot and has a great flavor! The portions are always generous! I have eaten the carne asada, arroz con pollo, ceviche, pollo encebollado, Pan con pollo, Cameron frito, pupusas just to name a few and they never disappoint. The owners are kind and service has always been good. The decor and ambiance inside is nice there is a fish tank and TV with music videos or soccer and they always have decorations from El Salvador or for the time of year like at Christmas.

Celebrating a birthday mid afternoon at the Memorial City location visible from I-10. There were 2…read moreother tables celebrating birthdays too. Free parking in limited spaces in front and more in parking garage. Both elevator and escalator takes you to 2nd floor, hostess immediately ushered us to our seats. Pedro L, our waiter, knowledgeable and great customer service. Delicious spinach and mushroom empanadas 4/4 , pasta 4/4 , chicken 4/4 , trio entrees 4/4 items, mouthwatering tequila bread pudding 10/10, tres leches 2/4, and chocolate cake/mousse/ganache 2/4.

We went for Houston restaurant weeks and it was really good!…read more It's a good spot, nice inside, they have a circle bar seating, full bar. Staff were friendly and kind. The shrimp appetizer was really good, both sauces were tasty that came with it! Steak was so flavorful with the char, I had to order medium since I'm pregnant and it came out medium rare (which is how I usually like it) but there was a couple pieces I could try that were more cooked and my husband just ate the rest because he liked it so much! The complementary sides with rice and plantains and everything was so good! And the desserts were amazing.... I definitely want to return for brunch! The parking is kinda tough. The garage is your best bet but we had to go up like 5 levels to get a spot so plan ahead!

I love the food here it definitely gives off a hole in the wall vibe with the fried rice,…read more The plantains are cooked so great. The workers are also very friendly .

The owner is super nice, caring, and helpful upon ordering. Las Brasas currently has quite a few…read moregood deals. Specifically the lunch deal that contains 1/4 piece of a chicken and 2 sides with rice. The crispy potatoes are amazing, all for $9 with a drink as well! There are lots of space to dine in and well decorated representing the culture and an image of what the restaurant has to offer!

Excellent service and food! I had a coupon and decided to use it. The location has a simple…read moreinterior, but very welcoming. The bathroom was clean. They had 2 hand sanitizer bottles out, but no soap. It is a small issue, but an easy fix. I ordered the Small Bandeja Paisa. It turned out to be a very popular item, because I saw 3 other people order it after I arrived. It is a great, simple meal, with quality ingredients. The only thing I regret is not telling them how to prepare the egg. My egg came out well done, but I prefer over-easy. I especially enjoyed the unexpected complimentary appetizer of a cup of stewed lentils. I will be back! :-)

nos dejaron encantados!!…read more the food was amazing - came here after being told another restaurant had an hour and a half wait. staff and service were perfect. ended up ordering lots of sides because they were DELICIOUS. the amazing prices were just the cherry on top to a great time!