Pampa Grill and Market

"We’re pretty sure Pampa Grill is the only place in Houston you can bring your own bottle of wine, eat a large platter of sizzled Argentinian meats, listen to a mustachioed man croon opera, watch a soccer match, and buy Argenentinian pantry staples all at the same time. It’s also delicious. The handmade empanadas have an epic cheese pull, the chimichurri is sharp and fresh, and you can get pounds of meat like thin picanha or Argentina blood sausage delivered to your table on a miniature grill for the bargain basement cost of $73. Plus, it’s a place you could take your parents one night and then your date for a wine-fueled night the next. It’s low-key but high-reward, especially on Friday nights." - chelsea thomas, gianni greene

"Corkage fee: $8 There aren’t many spots in town where you can order a miniature griddle of meat, listen to someone sing Andrea Bocelli, and watch soccer while enjoying a bottle of whatever you want to drink. But you can and should do that at Pampa Grill in Spring Branch. The casual Argentinian restaurant feels nostalgic, comfortable, and sometimes romantic thanks to the regular Friday night crooner belting out impressive renditions of Frank Sinatra songs or some inscrutable opera solo. So bring a bottle and settle in for a night of meat and merriment. We suggest something Argentinian, perhaps." - chelsea thomas

"Every Friday night at Pampa Grill & Market, a casual BYOB Argentinian restaurant in Spring Branch, a man with an incredible voice belts out opera and old crooner tunes for hours. People pack the dining room to watch, sing along, and perhaps shed a tear at the height of an Andrea Bocelli aria over a giant griddle of sizzling steak. Bring in a bottle of wine and split cheesy empanadas, picanha, and morcilla sausage while a mustachioed tenor lulls you into a state of bliss. " - chelsea thomas, gianni greene

"Pampa Grill And Market might be in only place in Houston you can bring your own bottle of wine, eat a large platter of sizzled Argentinian meats, listen to a mustachioed man croon opera, watch a soccer match, and buy Argenentinian pantry staples all at the same time. The casual Spring Branch spot serves excellent empanadas, grilled steaks, and other Argentinian staples that make any casual dinner or date night feel extra special. The vibe here combines the aesthetics and atmosphere of an Italian deli with the wood paneling of a barbecue joint and the service and familiarity of a neighborhood’s staple restaurant. A full shelf of pantry items like specialty flours and yerba maté greet you when you walk into Pampa Grill from the busy strip center parking lot. If it’s Friday night, a somewhat loud but incredible live performance of various opera and Rat pack crooner classics fills the main dining room tables with regular diners who often sing along. We imagine this is what being inside of a Nora Ephron movie feels like. photo credit: Liz Silva Once the food arrives, the romantic atmosphere deepens, because good food counts as romance. There are cheesy empanadas made with enough buttered pastry that each piece almost slips out of your hands, tender grilled short ribs and chewy, flavorful slabs of picanha, earthy sliced morcilla sausages, and a tableside condiment ramekin filled with housemade chimichurri that compliments everything. You can also try just about every meat by ordering the Argentina Grill for only $73. So if you need to restock your maté stash or want to get down on some delicious thin cuts of fat-capped steak, check out Pampa Grill. While this place makes just about any casual dinner feel special, especially if you BYOB, it’s just low-key enough to make a first or second date feel impressive but not too intense, mostly because the lights are always a bit too bright and none of the tables are candlelit. No one needs to overdose on that much ambience, just chimichurri. photo credit: Liz Silva photo credit: Liz Silva photo credit: Liz Silva photo credit: Liz Silva Food Rundown photo credit: Liz Silva Empanadas Each empanada here, whether stuffed with just cheese or scorching hot spiced ground beef, resembles a little golden pillow seasoned with butter and maybe more butter. Each bite also has just enough sweetness in the fried dough, and that makes us feel special. photo credit: Liz Silva Argentina Grill For the bargain basement price of $73, you can get a massive spread of meat: asado de tira (short ribs), vacio (flank steak), extraña (skirt steak), chorizo, morcilla blood sausages, and grilled chicken. Everything arrives grilled until tender and juicy. photo credit: Liz Silva Empanadas Dulces Having empanadas again for dessert not only nicely calls back to the empanada appetizers, but also happens to be a fantastic sweet and savory pairing of cheese and quince fruit. Split one over hot coffee." - Chelsea Thomas

"Pampa serves up traditional meaty Argentinian dishes, like the unmissable grilled Parrillada for you and a group of hungry friends. Milanesas, a common Argentinian breaded meat comes in many varieties here, with toppings like eggs, mozzarella, sun dried tomatoes and more. Featured at the front of the store are shelves of sundries from South America that you won’t find in the average grocery stores." - Christina Autry