What can you say - it's a Brazilian meat place, where waiters with large swords or skewers full of a wide range of cuts walk around and serve you as much as you want. Funnily enough, I'm just realising I've seen exactly this type of "Brazilian type of meat restaurant" in three countries except for Brazil. Anyway... Your capacity for self-restraint is tested here - the salad bar is excellent and if you can resist saying YES! any time the waiter brings along a new type of meat you can have a very healthy and balanced meal here - I personally did not really succesfully contribute to a balanced diet with this night out, but I did enjoy it a lot, mainly due to the atmosphere and the group we were with.

This is a fun place to have dinner with a group and the variety of meats is good. The downside is that because it's popular it's also very noisy when restaurant is full.

When you go to a Brazilian restaurant like Pampas, you probably know what you're getting: meat. And Pampas delivered. We ordered the Rodizio, which is basically all the meat you can eat. It was pricey, but if you're going to splurge, this is the place to do it.

The best meats were the flank steak, parmesan-dusted filet, and the tri-tip. The flank steak was peppery and spicy and juicy... an unexpected surprise. The other meats were also good; the only one I didn't love was the lamb chops. Grilled pineapple was also delicious- a nice surprise.

Pampas also offered a buffet of side dishes with an excellent selection of cheeses. The salad bar was just OK, and the side dishes were good but not great. If you're not just here for the meat, you might be a little disappointed. The wine list was outstanding. I might stay away from the Pinot Noir - it was good, but overwhelmed by the spicy meats. A zin or a malbec would be a better choice.

The atmosphere was boisterous, but fun. We were near the door and could still hear each other if we talked a little bit loudly.

Atmosphere is good. Mixed drinks - and the bar area - is delighful, and sometimes there's a combo. They cater to larger groups and can do corporate events.

However, I just don't love Brazilian meats of this type. I've had them in brazil. I've had them in new york. It's still all just a lot of skewers of meat, depressingly the same. The salad service is quite good, but it's just a _LOT_ of food without any brilliance. Myself, I'd rather have a burger around the corner at Peninsula Creamery - although there's nothing terrible about this restaurant, given all the other gems within a few blocks, there's no reason to go here, unless you want to meet someone at the bar (and eat elsewhere).

Visited Pampas and thoroughly enjoyed it. The usual selections of meat plus I asked for, and got, chicken hearts. Excellent service, comprehensive wine list and an enjoyable venue for a meal.

I didn't even bother evaluating the buffet - for those wanting greens or other non-meat things. I was there for the meat...