Americas

My friends and I left last evening due to all the above cons. I don't believe the bartenders smiled one time and acted like they were doing us a favor. Won't go again. Also, while the restaurant area appears to have air conditioning the bar area has limited. Apparently they didn't pay their bill on the first floor.

Pros: Nice decor / good location

Cons: Rude bartenders / poor service / extremely warm

Posted 08/15/09

I was in "Americas" this past Saturday evening with friends. Our waiter was "Douglas" who was extremely attentive to our table.
The food was excellent across the board starting with the appetizers that Doug suggested. The main course I chose was a Tuna which was prepared perfectly.
The desserts were amazing and the atmosphere was memorable.
Will certainly enjoy coming back.

Michael Brentari

Pros: Excellent service, superb food, gorgeous atmosphere

Posted 08/09/09

THIS IS THE BEST RESTURAUNT I HAVE EVER BEEN TO. I RECCOMEND THIE EMPANADAS TO EVERYONE, ALSO THE LOCATION IN THE WOODLANDS HAS A SPECIAL EVERY MONDAY NIGHT, HALF PRICED WINE BOTTLES WHICH ARE PRICED FAIRLY ANY WAYS. THE HOST TOOK US TO THE ELEVATOR AND THEN MET US DOWNSTAIRS BY THE TIME WE ARRIVED, THERE DIDNT SEEM AS IF THERE WAS A BAD TABLE TO BE SAT AT IN THE BUNCH AND WE WERE RIGHT. OUR TABLE WAS LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO THE INDOOR WATERFOUNTAIN/WALL/MURAL AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE OUTDOOR PATIO, PERFECT VIEW OF THE WATERWAY AND THE LOFTS ACROSS THE WAY. EVERYTIME MY BOYFRIEND OF I TOOK A SIP OF OUR WATER IT WAS REFILLED VERY PROMPTLY. THE SAUCES TOOK ON VERY UNIQUE COLORS AND FLAVORS, AMERICAS IN THE WOODLANDS HAS TAKEN MY DINING EXPERIENCES TO A COMPLETELY DIFFRENT LEVEL!!!! THE ATTIRE IS BUSINESS CASUAL AND VERY POSH BUT ARTISTIC AND MODERN AT THE SAME TIME, WITH A SOUTHEN AMERICA FLAIR. VERY IMPRESSED.

Pros: STAFF, AMBIENCE, WONDERFUL FLAVORS, IN THE WOODLANDS AWAY FROM THE CITY

Cons: TRY TO FIND A PARKING GARAGE INSTEAD OF PARKING ALONG SIDE THE BUILDING, IT WILL BE HARD TO GET OUT

Posted 02/14/09

Big caveat - I visited Americas back in 2007. But I just thought about Americas tonight and about what a great experience I had, and I really wanted to write a review. I had the best surf and turf at Americas. I remember the steak melted in my mouth, and the lobster tail was smooth... Plus the creme brule was amazing. Our waiter was fine. It's a shame that the biggest complaints people have is of their server - that really does make a difference and restaurants should train their staff to be friendly no matter how pricey the place is. But I recall that our server was very friendly. This is an excellent special occasion restaurant that did not disappoint.

Pros: Surf and Turf

Cons: None

Posted 01/09/09

I've been coming to America's since it opened and recommending it to others, but maybe no more. I went there with my wife and her brother for his birthday and the waiter almost ruined the night. He rushed us to decide what we wanted, returning repeatedly to ask if we were ready to order when we were all holding menus up in front of us. I ordered the Cordua special red wine and he wrinkeld his nose and said he did not like it - but when I asked what he liked in the same general price range he snatched the wine list from my hand and said I should just get it anyway. When our food was served I asked if we could get some more vegetables since there were three of us and the family style vegetable plate only had two broccoli florets, two fried potato nuggets, etc. and only about 1/4 cup of white rice. He never brought it. He never visited our table again except to bring the check so we poured our own wine and moved the dirty dished to the side. I hope the waiters at your new Woodlands location are trained and managed a lot better or people will only eat there once.

Pros: Interesting decor

Cons: Rude service, food seems to be downsized and cheaper ingrediants substituted

Posted 05/17/08

I tried out Americas after a friends recommendation. We made reservations for 7:30 and we were seated right away. The restaurant was so different inside, it was beautiful! Our service was excellent, everything was served just at the right time and we did not feel rushed at all. The food was fantastic and the tres leches and cheesecake was the best! I was very happy with everything and we had a great night

Posted 02/13/08

Still one of the best steaks, or churrascos, in town. We went on a Thursday night and were seated promptly. The steak was awesome as usual. My husband ordered the special with the lobster tail, while it was delicious, it was a bit on the small side. The salad, meat, veggies and tre leches were all great. Can't wait to go back.

Pros: great steaks, tres leches

Cons: cosntruction and parking

Posted 01/18/08

This has to be one of the most inspirational designs of any restaurant my wife and I haev ever been to. in total, we've eaten at Americas about a dozen times in the last 2 years and have taken many visitors to the restaurant with the same "wow" expression from all of them. Our most recent visit was in December 2007 when my mother in law visited from out of town.

Offsetting the magnificent decor is very average service. We have yet to be seated on time, despite always having a reservation adn always confirming the time in advance of our visit. On our most recent visit, we were left to wait in the bar for 45 minutes past our booking time - this was either incompetence or a very crass attempt at getting a higher bar tab!!! If it asn't already very late, we woudl have left for somewhere else. The hostess at the front desk was bordering on useless and very unhelpful - "what can I do" was the last response I had.

Saying that, when we were finally seated, the waiters were professional and the food was it's usual good quality and well presented (we had the churasco and Ahi tuna on the last visit, both of which were excellent). The wine list is very good but not spectacular adn our waiter helped us select a good South American red.

Overall, a great "experience" restaurant but not somewhere I'll rush back to - putting up with bad service when there are so many other options in Houston is not worth it.

Pros: Restaurant design is world class

Cons: Service is below average

Posted 12/29/07

We had a reservation on Saturday night at 9:00. While waiting at the bar for our table, it was a solid 10 minutes before the bartender even appeared. When we asked the extremely rude host about our table at 9:45, he informed us not only that the previous party had not yet departed, but also that we wouldn't be seated until our entire party was present.. when we had all been there since 9. After finally being seated at 10, the service was great, although I felt a bit rushed. The food left some to be desired, but I suppose you pay for the ambiance.

Posted 08/03/07

My husband and I visited on the recommendation of a friend and were very satisfied. The service staff was amazing - our waiter especially. He was friendly, attentive and made excellent suggestions on sauces (my husband didn't like the dipping sauce served, so he brought him an excellent alternative) and dessert (the bread pudding is to die for!). The atmosphere itself is worth the trip out - unique and beautiful. We'll definitely be back and have been recommending it to all of our friends.

Pros: Food, atmosphere, drinks, service

Cons: none!

Posted 07/18/07

I have NEVER had such a bad experience at Happy Hour! The food was in extremely small portions and was terrible, the drinks were not that good, and the waiter stopped by the table every 45-60 minutes at best. I would not recommend this place to anyone. They even served us a drink with an insect in it and the manager made us pay for it - and was extremely rude about us wanting them to take it off the bill. The waiters also got our order wrong every time and brought us drinks a few times that we did not order. Everything was screwed up on our bill as well. It was not incredibly busy, so there was no excuse for such terrible service. NEVER will I go here again!

Pros: None

Cons: Service, Management, Food, Drinks

Posted 06/27/07

I went to Americas for happy hour earlier this week. While the bar was not too crowded (it was a Monday), the downstairs slowly started to fill up with the local business crowd. They had a nice buffet-style spread of banana chips, some sort of chicken wings, and a fish dish. The martinis were good - not too strong. Be sure to check out the restaurant area upstairs. The glass-mosaic ceiling is something to take in.

Posted 05/23/07

I recently ate here. I found the plate presentations, and flavors a bit confusing. I had the pork with goat cheese stuffed artichoke. it had tons of butter with the crab meat on top and then another sauce served on the side in a small ramekin on the plate??? Both sauces were rich and didn't balance eachother out. It would have been fine with just one or the other. Then the artichoke just seemed out of place. The dish was boring to my palet after a few bites...flavors were one demenitonal just rich folowed by more richness It was a busy night and service was a little slow but not bad, I like to not be rushed so it was not bad. Nice wine by the glass selections ambience was nice for a date. I may try again but doubtfull.

Pros: Ambience, parking and service

Cons: Food left something to be desierd

Posted 12/18/06

the ambience is breathtaking, as if you're in the midst of something exotic ... the best way to explain the trendy decor is a cross between a rainforest and a volcano. a place with such attention to detail only hints at how expensive this place is. yes, the food is pricey ... really pricey ... but the quality of food is just as equally detailed as it's surroundings... and satisfying to the palette. great place for a dinner for 2 if you're willing to drop the cash. definitely a place to experience at least once.*

Pros: ambience, food

Cons: expensive!

Posted 11/20/06

In a word...Atmosphere. You will have a hard time concentrating on the dish in front of you because you will be taking in the design of the room.

Posted 11/04/06

Wow! Great place to take visitors from out of town. Everything I have tried has been outstanding and the waitstaff is extremely kind and helpful! Try anything and everything! Must try Tres Leches for dessert!

Pros: Everything Is Good

Cons: Expensive

Posted 10/24/06

Americas is where we always go to celebrate special occasions and it's still the best! Service is always top-notch and the food is always delicious. If there's a featured "off the menu" item that you've had in the past, they will gladly make it for you if you request it. They also have a great selection of wines at every price. This is where to go when you want a truly special evening.

Pros: Great service, great food

Posted 10/07/06

We went to America's with very high expectations after reading these reviews and looking at the menu online. First of all, the atmosphere is very out of the ordinary and fun while still keeping a very upscale look. We felt very comfortable (not stuffy or overly pretentious at all) and our server was perfectly attentive and didn't make us feel rushed. The mojito was excellent; the best I've yet to have in Houston. The complimentary plantain chips and what tasted like a cilantro pesto dip were difficult to stop eating! But I must say that the smoked crab fingers with polenta and the Chilean sea bass with spoon bread were both served with butter sauces that were far too rich for my palate. Enjoyable, but not my favorite dishes of the evening. The real winners were the potato crusted calamari and the churrasco steak. The calamari is the best I've had anywhere besides Canyon Cafe. The steak was the most tender steak that I have had in my entire life! Absolutely wonderful and I am usually not a steak eater at all. The rice and vegetables were nice, but definately seemed like an afterthough with so much care put into the main dishes. We ended dinner with cappuccino and tres leches. The tres leches (one of my favorite desserts to indulge in) is truly the best anywhere...pure heaven. The total for an early dinner that stuffed us for the rest of the day was $160 including a nice tip. Not bad for such an enjoyable anniversary dinner. We will definately be back (and back and back!), but with less of an appetite because it is expensive for our college student budgets! The happy hour at the bar downstairs looked quite fun as well. America's just won over 2 more lifetime customers!

Posted 06/20/06

My husband and I went to Americas for the second time last night. This time we were with a group of his co-workers. We were all VERY impressed with the excellent service from the valet to the bartender to the waiter. The food was impressive once again! My husband was overly impressed that with a full restaurant, the valet remembered our car and as we walked out of the door he had already left to go get it before he had said anything to the wonderful valet. Thank you for being a wonderful restaurant!

Posted 03/14/06

Well i took my wife to Americas for Valentine's. it was not our first visit there and it certainly will not be our last. Our bill was kind of pricey but worth it. Valley was free and teh ambience was relaxing. Our waiter was kinds and very prompt. They had a special menu for Valentine's which was $60 pp, and they even allowed us to change it up a bit with no problem. I will always recommend Americas.

Pros: Food, Ambience, Valley

Cons: Price

Posted 02/14/06

Excellent food! My Peruvian girlfriend approved of the food and she's a particular eater. I had a delicious fish entree and I was very impressed. My girlfriend's Pesco Sour was made with Peruvian pesco, so it was VERY strong. The waiter was very attentive, courtesy, and knowledgeable. Ambiance was beautiful and the seating was extravagant. This is one of the best restaurants I've been to in recent memory. We will be back when we visit Houston from San Antonio.

Pros: Service, Food, Ambiance

Posted 01/11/06

fun, excelent service, great churrasco, please go, they worked on having a reservation for 12 people at 8 pm on the 31st eventhough it was full excelent bar also

Pros: place, food, service

Posted 01/03/06

I recently went there for a friend's birthday and spent tons of money on a small but delicious meal that somehow hit the right spot. The food is great but expect small portions for a big price. My gripe is about our waitress in the bar section who felt more like flirting with her co-workers than serving us. The service was not the caliber you would expect from an expensive restaurant like that esp when it wasn't that busy. Unfortunately most of her tip was due to the pricey food, not because she actually deserved it. So avoid dining in the bar, go upstairs to the dining area instead.

Pros: great food, great ambience

Cons: bar dining

Posted 12/30/05

Weekend before christmas (busy time) we went there for the first time to celebrate 16th b-day. There were 4 teens and 3 adults. We ordered the sampler appetizer which was very good. Entrees we ordered were steak, chicken, shrimp/crab, and veg.platter - all were just excellent. Desserts were tres leches, sorbet, creme brule. The favorites were calamari and tres leches. Our waiter, Brent, was very attentive and helpful in menu selection and also splitting our entree for the teens. When a restaurnat can accomodate a good menu selection for teens and adults - they are definetly doing something right. Both service and food was just excellent!!!

Pros: ambiance, service

Posted 12/17/05

My husband and I went to Americas very skeptical after previously having bad South American food somewhere else. Just before we moved from Texas, our friends insisted that we go before we left and that we've been missing out. Well, they were right! I had the Churrasco's Butterlied Filet and my husband had the Pork Loin. Both meals were absolutely fantastic with such incredible flavoring. The plantain chips and dip served before the meal were great and the sides were the perfect complement to the dishes. You must check this place out before it's too late!

Pros: Food, Atmosphere

Posted 08/23/05

I had a reservation after the symphony at 10:30. Perfect service, I LOVE the decor...our waiter was excellent, taught us pronunciations (I had the Ahuacatl) and anticipated our every need. I figured they would be rushed because it was close to closing but they were perfectly attentive and didn't rush anything. Americas has a knack for making simple food taste extraordinary. I had the tres leches and it was fantastic; the Ahuacatl was a grilled chicken that tasted AMAZING. I too would recommend skipping appetizers for dessert; by the end of the meal we were perfectly full without them. There is a regular parking lot right underneath the restaurant with stairs up to it, so don't worry about valet parking.

Pros: food & DESSERT, atmosphere, service

Cons: have to walk through, crowded bar to get, to your table

Posted 07/08/05

California has is known for good restaurants? I'm sorry, but the food in Houston is far better with more variety than you'll find in California

Posted 06/30/05

After reading the rave reviews, I had to try Americas out on my own. The food isn't as expensive as other fine dining here in Houston, but then again, I didn't order any alcohol with our meal. The ambience was inviting, the atmosphere was comforting, and the food was divine. The amazonian theme was nicely integrated into the intimate dining setting, and our waiter made us feel very welcome. I had the Plantaine crusted Chicken, which was excellent and very filling. I then followed it with the Tres Leches that everyone recommends. At least once, you should try it! My girl friend had the chocolate cake with pineapple and loved it as well. I would skip appetizers if you want an entree and dessert just because their desserts are so rich. Perfect special occassion place!

Pros: Excellent Food, Excellent Service, A little pricey

Cons: Valet Only, Crowded, Smokey bar

Posted 06/08/05

My finace and I just moved to houston from California. California is known for having great restaurants. Unfortunatley, we could not find a restaurant that compared until we visited America's. The setting is very romantic. The service is magnificant. The food is the best! They have the best dessert menu we have in houston so far. The banana pudding and white chocalate Godiva cappuccino is awesome. I have never tasted a dessert so good. I can eat there everyday of the week.

Pros: Food, Service, Dessert

Posted 04/23/05

The Churrasco steaks were tender and tasty. The calamari appetizer was the best I have ever had, thenks to the very tasty dip. The mojitos were good as usual.
The only con I have is that it took 45 minutes to be seats for my reservation. It was New Year's Eve and very busy, but that was still not good. Management should have offered somehing, like a fress dessert or drink.

Posted 01/04/05

Ok, no doubt the price is high which can be breath taking, but seriously, for the area, the quality, the service, the food and the atmosphere, this place rocks. Wow, we had two meals and a dessert and all three get A+++. The waiter was terrific and always on the spot and the place is just incredible inside. It deserves to be in the spot that it is. The selection is great and very American.

Posted 02/20/04

America's is one of my favorite establishments. The ambiance is really nice, the service is great, the food is wonderful...what more can I ask for? I strongly recommend getting the "Chico"... if you like tenderloin. It is simply the best. For dessert, get the Tres Leches. At the end of the dinner, I was totally satisfied with every aspect of this restaurant. Rest assured, I will definitely return. Word of caution: bring lots of money!!!

Pros: location, ambiance, FOOD

Posted 02/16/04

The first thing I noticed was the cool interior of the place.. It must explain the sky high prices on the menu! Food was good and flavorful.. The off bone rack of lamb and chilean sea bass are very good here.

Posted 01/20/04

Great tasting food , beautiful decor, and excellent service. These are just a few thing Americas has to offer. Try it once and you will fall in love.

Posted 03/20/03

I have been eating at Americas for several years and I have to agree that their quality has gone down, while their prices have either stayed the same or in most cases gone up. The rice and vegetables that they serve with the meal are mecidocre at best compared to what they used to be. Also, we dined there on Saturday night and they were out of grapefruit juice, which I happen to like with my vodka. How can any bar be out of grapefruit juice, especially on a busy night like Saturday.

Posted 01/19/03

The food is fantastic. The churasco steaks will simply melt in your mouth. The first clue this is about to happen is when you receive a butter knife with the steak. The assortment of tapas is exceptional, and though somewhat costly when ordering the full size steaks, the feeling at the end of the meal is it was worth every penny. Also, the best apple martini's in town! I've been there several times, and it is our favorite "special occasion" restaurant.

Pros: Taste, Atmosphere, Service

Cons: Expensive

Posted 12/30/02

What Americas so fun is that it is unlike any traditional restaraunt. The bottom floor is a funky bar, usually stacked with beautiful women and boys. You will be taken upstairs to a large dining area that is well designed and architecturally interesting. The menu is so imaginative. Most of it South American fare. The service sometimes needs a kick in the ass, but usually is pretty good. It can get loud. Americas is a great place for a group of your friends. This is one of the best places in Houston. If you love ethnic food, you'll love Americas.

Pros: great menu, interesting design

Cons: sometimes gets loud

Posted 12/30/02

I think Americas is the best restaurant in Houston. The food is very flavorful and the ambiance is great

Posted 12/18/02

The food is very different and definitely worth the visit. The atmosphere is very trendy and the desserts are absolutely divine! Try the sorbets. They are very refreshing and flavorful.

Pros: trendy, great food, unique main dishes

Posted 12/02/02

great food, great decor, great enviornment, and friendly service. the price isn't bad either. the first time i went there was for senior homecoming 3 or 4 years ago. although we were a rather large group of high school students, they were very nice to us. i recommend making reservations, this place gets really busy. this is a place that is worth coming back to.

Posted 11/21/02

I've been dining regularly at America's for over eight years now and each time, it is a fantastic experience. And although one of the best martini bars in Houston makes America's a great place for happy hour, it is an even better place for dinner. I particularly recommend the calamari strips and empanadas for appetizers, the Churassco or Medallion steaks as entrees, and the tres leches for dessert. Service is usually friendly; reservations are generally easy to get; and it is a perfect place to take out-of-towners or large groups. In short, while America's is not the place for a quiet dinner, it can be a great place for a festive celebration.

Pros: Festive atmosphere, Great steaks, seafood, Even better desserts

Posted 11/18/02

Americas was by far a fantastic experience for my guests that came in from out of town! Our food and service was impeccable and the atmosphere was amazing..Truly a wonderful place to entertain.

Pros: pampering service, supurb dishes, unique atmosphere

Cons: pricey

Posted 11/13/02

My husband and I had a weekend to ourselves and chose Americas as our restaurant. We have never been quite so impressed with a restaurant. Food was beyond delicious; service was impeccable...can not say enough about this great restaurant! Not a place to bring the kids...yeah!

Pros: beautiful, romantic, delicious

Cons: none

Posted 10/29/02

Great place to take anyone that likes great food and great decor. Not only is it great for esting at it is great to just go and have drinks. I give if four stars.

Posted 10/23/02

Went there with my wife and my brother. We had a lot of fun. The decor is incredible and the atmosphere is light - NOT stuffy like other fine dining restaurants. The food was wonderful and the service was good.

Pros: Nice decor, lively atmosphere, great food

Cons: Expensive

Posted 09/09/02

I've been to Americas several times and always had an enjoyable evening. Each time the servers were professional and attentive and the food was wonderful. I don't cook, so I eat out virtually every meal. One thing I have learned is: you aren't married to your waitperson. If you have concerns about anything, call the manager over and demand either to be assigned another waiter or to be moved to another waiter's area. Do this early before your evening is ruined. Just be sure not to vent your frustration on the second waiter -- dealing with that is the manager's job. P.S.: I've NEVER had to do this at Americas!

Pros: Great food, Great service, Very interesting deco

Cons: Pricey

Posted 08/27/02

I've lived in Houston for almost 2 years now, and I've heard many great things about Americas. My husband and I went for the first time this past weekend, and the atmosphere is really fun. The service is excellent as well. The Amazon corn-crusted red snapper is fantastic, and the tres leches dessert is the best I've ever had in Houston. My husband had the beef tenderloin and basically stopped talking until he was finished. Yes, it is that good. Americas is not too expensive either, considering the portions you get. Great place to go for a nice evening out.

Pros: service, food, free parking garage

Posted 08/25/02

My husband and I went to America's to celebrate a belated Valentine's dinner. The food was incredible and the service superb. It is now at the top of our list for favorite South American cuisine.

Pros: food, service, ambience

Cons: location

Posted 08/18/02