Carnivores will be in heaven when Pampas opens its doors later this month in downtown Palo Alto at 529 Alma St. at Hamilton Ave. I know my hubby is sure to be one of the first in line. After all, those of you who have followed my food stories in the pages of my former employer, the Mercury News, know all too well his nickname: Meat Boy.
Picture 18 different meats on skewers, everything from lamb to duck to filet mignon. With churrasco-style dining, you eat and eat until you wave the red flag. There will be plenty of vegetarian options; and lighter eaters can opt to order a la carte, too. A side bar also will tempt with an array of salads, cheeses, and charcuterie.
The 8,300-square-foot tri-level space will feature mohair sofas and Acacia wood stools. The executive chef is John Karbowski, formerly sous chef at Mill Valley’s El Paseo. General manager is Saeed Amini, formerly at Kokkari in San Francisco, Evvia in Palo Alto, and Cetrella in Half Moon Bay.
Consulting sommelier is Mark Bright, formerly at Michael Mina in San Francisco and currently managing partner at Local Kitchen and Wine Merchant. And consulting pastry chef is a familiar name: Marisa Churchill, currently the pastry chef at Yoshi’s San Francisco and a former contestant on Bravo TV’s “Top Chef.”
Find more information at www.pampaspaloalto.com after the site goes live.