Sal y Pimienta Kitchen — Restaurant in Houston

When we first drove up we saw TVs outside which made us think it was a sports bar and that isn't the type of dining we wanted but we walked inside anyway and the restaurant is actual beautiful. A full bar on the right which is actually in its own space with the TVs and the outside patio is where the other TV was. We were greeted and Welcoming by Jeremy the Manager who was super pleasant!

We were brought to our table and looked around its a nice restaurant with tons of Wine choices from the main regions the food is inspired from, Uruguay, South America. Rose on the table since it was Valentine's weekend and we went on a Sunday. Roses all over the restaurant also. The waiter, Edgar, greeted us and since we had no idea about the type of food being served, he is very very knowledgable in ALL the items on the menu and there are many. We did the 4 course Prix Fix Menu which came with a choice of 2 salads, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and 2 desserts.

Let me say the Salads were Fantastic and the usual boring salad you get with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and cheese. These salads are Elevated in flavor and presentation. The Mango Salad is fresh shaved mango fruit with a mix of greens and a mango habanero dressing this isn't spicy at all. The other salad we ordered is the Spinach Con Baby Arugula without almonds and its had great layers of flavor and the best salad I have ever had and I've been to 5 star restaurants.

We actually started with the Salads first for some reason instead of the appetizers cause we forgot to order them. Glad we did cause I would rather have had the salads first.

Next for the appetizers we order the Lamb Lollipops and Empanadas. The lamb was not an american meat its a South American Grilled lamb lollichop served with balsamic reduction, chimichurri and a yuca arepa medium rare. They were super tender and melt in your mouth. We added a little of their homemade chimichurri and that put it over the top. The additional Appetizer we had was the Wagyu & Black Truffle Carpaccio and it was a HUGE HIT!!! I could eat that everyday with a few glasses of wine. Rich fresh taste with the thin slices of marinated Texas Wagyu served with baby arugula, parmigiano shavings and finished with black truffle shaves and oil.

Next for entrees we both ordered the Asado De Vacio 10 oz Akaushi flank steak served with chimichurri and carnival potatoes. I was first hesitant in a Skirt Steak cause they are usually tough and lots of fat line and its hard to chew. Well not this one, talk about the Most Tender Skirt Steak in Houston it didn't even need a knife to cut. The steak was definitely cooked medium rare on one but I will have to say the other was just a bit over but that didn't do anything to the tenderness. They both did need some salt and pepper including the potatoes but I think they want you to enjoy the real unique Akaushi flavor of the beer and you can season as needed. I little chimichurri on top was a boost in flavor. The Akaushi is unique in which its a Texas Wagyu style beef not Japanese Wagyu but no less in flavor.

We had so much food, and a few old fashioned whiskey drinks and other cocktails we were there until close and they didn't kick us out until we were done eating. Well we couldn't eat anymore so wrapped up the rest including the 2 desserts to go. The Desserts we will be trying this event after our dinner visit last night. At every restaurant I go to I have to send something back and over about 5 years at least I have only never sent back any dishes at 2 restaurants and this is 2 of 2 of those restaurants.

Overall Sal y Pimienta Kitchen is an Excellent 5 Star Restaurant for the uniqueness in food, exceptional staff (Edgar & Jerry) and ALL the food was Hot and Fresh. Next time we will get the Amazing Carpaccio and Akaushi again and try the wines from the various regions.

So if anyone has not been to Sal y Pimienta Kitchen you are missing out. Go on a date or bring a few friends and even have a group party of just a night out and you won't forget it. THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE...

The worst experience I’ve ever had in the restaurant industry. We had a reservation for 10 once we arrived the “Manager” had no proper etiquete. First thing he did was check my whole family out from top to bottom and then decided where to sit us. He looked at us like we were cheap and weren’t going to tip then assigned a table for us acting like we he was doing us a favor. This isn’t the worst part! The service was okay but once we were ready to pay! A server who never ever touch our table! Came back to drop my check “ I had already paid” and had the audacity to pocket $40 dollars and pretend to have no knowledge about it! Mind you our tab was over $350 Once I confronted him he had no choice but to fix the issue! However having work in this industry for a long time my family and I realized that from begging till the end the staff discriminated us and treated us poor. Overcharged our tip because they through we weren’t going to tip and sent out another waiter to drop off our check. I’ve never had such a poor treatment in this establishment we have eaten here many times. You robbing us for tip money and giving us a horrible service because of how we looked or because you through we werent going to tip was a horrible experience for us.

The food was cold because the “ manager” didn’t know how to do his job! All he does is act like he is so important but can’t even control the amount of food coming out which made the quality of the food bad and cold.

I never complain because I understand how busy and demanding the food industry can be but this time it was horrible all around. And it all happens because we were discriminated and I sure hope you have cameras and can go investigate the whole time issue! Trying to steal $40 because you thought we weren’t going to tip you was the worst experience ever.

To finish this review I just want you to know that I had brought family from another country and bragged about this place well guess what y’all made me look like a total fool.

Will never ever come back again to be treated to poorly from the same management. Stealing money because you thing we will not tip says it all about your staff.

Will never ever ever come back again. How can you have such a poor representation and arrogant person as your front of the house manager? He couldn’t even take care of the...

If i could give 0 STARS i would. let me start by saying I'm NOT from the Houston area. I planned a trip to Houston and checked Groupon for a good deal on food. I seen this place and the pictures of the food looked delicious so I bought it. I drove 15 minutes from my hotel when I arrived to get to them and me and my family were super excited to try the food. Upon walking by the waiters in the Cafe not once was i greeted. I go in and there's probably like 2 tables with ppl at em. the host has a disgusted look on his face. I explain to him that I have a Groupon to redeem and he immediately shuts me down and says THOSE ARE ONLY FOR MON -FRI and Sunday but NOT TODAY. Knowing me I ALWAYS read the fine print to make sure it includes the date I want to go so I'm like OH REALLY he's like YES ITS FOR EVERYDAY BUT TODAY (SATURDAY)so I'm like well how do I redeem it anyways bc I know it's for curbside or takeout (while I'm telling him this I'm purposely looking up the coupon I bought ) He's like YEA ITS NOT FOR DINE IN mind you I wasn't expecting to I wanted it to go anyways. So I finally find the coupon and it literally says VALID 7 DAYS A WEEK. I show him that and he looks kinda pissed and goes and shoes someone and comes back. He then PROUDLY says well it has to be to go. I again state I wanted it to go anyways. So he's like OK you can order. again I'm not from here and OBVIOUSLY never been here and not ONE TIME did he offer to help me, offer any suggestions or anything. He was Very dismissive. When I finally attempted to order even though I had no idea what I was getting, I couldn't find one of the things I wanted to order and this man had NO PATIENCE for me and immediately says DO YOU NEED MORE TIME. Like ugh I had my kids with me so I didn't want to go off in front of them but I felt totally disrespected. Anywho once we do get our food (it was ready WAY too fast so I knew it would be a problem) this is what we got. i wouldnt feed this to a DOG! This ONE plate was 24 dollars by the way. They obviously don't want my business and I definitely won't give it to them again. Now I see why they were on Groupon not worth the money or drive AT ALL! I'm disgusted with this place whoever is management here needs to teach his employees discrimination...