Américas-The Woodlands

They’re like fraternal twins, the two Américas. The original Américas on Post Oak Boulevard is a swirl of colors, boisterously decorated with a Dali-esque touch. The Américas in the Woodlands is the opposite, an elegant, spa-like projection of modern Japanese sensibility. The colors are much more muted, monotone grays and beiges. The lines here are much more linear and intentional. Although outwardly they look nothing like each other, at the core both restaurants showcase char-grilled steaks and lamb chops with green chimichurri sauce. Other items at the Woodlands location include quail taquitos and crab fingers with smoked corn, yucca polenta and chili-pepper lemon butter sauce. One thing the suburban outlet has that the Américas on Post Oak Boulevard doesn’t is a sexy, Latin lounge that is tailor-made for after-hours cocktails and live Latin music and dancing.

 Owner-chef Michael Cordúa is credited by many of his peers as being one of the restaurant pioneers who introduced South American cuisine to mainstream Americans.