Special Review #1 - Peruvian Restaurants in London

Hi everyone,

Ceviche! As a Peruvian, I was very excited at 18 when I heard that a Peruvian restaurant opened in Soho. Before 2012, Peruvian restaurants were humble and located south of the river Thames. The flagship Peruvian restaurant of the time, Tito's located in London Bridge, is terribly underwhelming and does not even make my list. However, there has been an explosion of Peruvian restaurants in recent years and now there are many located in central areas. In this special post I have decided to review the restaurants and give my verdict. It must be noted that I have not been to all the Peruvian restaurants in London as they are ever increasing. But I can give my opinion on those that I tried; after-all not every Peruvian restaurant is as prestigious or famous compared to Lima. 

Sabor Peruano: Located in Elephant and Castle, this humble restaurant looks very working class and its portions reflect that. If ordering the daily menu, it is very economical and you get given a large quantity of carbohydrates. While its humble nature may be charming to some, the food is not special. I personally feel that the restaurant feels too naked and in need of some serious refurbishment. Nevertheless, I can see why some would enjoy this restaurant as it stays true to Peruvian working class cuisine in terms of portion sizes.

Rating: 1.5/5

Andina: One of the many Martin Morales Peruvian restaurants that have opened in London, this edition was meant to focus more on the indigenous foods. However, I feel that it is too similar to its sister restaurants as it follows the same set up. The tapas style cuisine is charming for people that have not tried Peruvian food, but for those that have this may be underwhelming. The food itself is not as exciting as other chains and the atmosphere is not as vibrant. I would recommend going to other Martin Morales restaurants.

Rating: 2/5

Señor Ceviche: Located in the famous Carnaby Street, this cevicheria is a fusion because it is certainly not a traditional Peruvian restaurant. They have tried to cater towards the wide European audience and have lost any essence from Peru. Their chilly cocktail were awfully balanced and their ceviche mediocre. Their Peruvian inspired dishes tasted far more Japanese than Peruvian. It had a nice atmosphere but I would steer clear of this establishment.

Rating: 2/5

Ceviche Old Street: The sister restaurant of the famous Ceviche Soho. It has a near identical menu to its sister but is a lot more spacious. Located in Old Street, it makes an easy journey for those that work in the city. The decor is nice and it is quite a lively restaurant. However, the food is somewhat underwhelming and I feel that its competition is better. In reality, I feel that the enjoyable atmosphere saves this restaurant but there needs to be improvements in their food.

Rating: 2.5/5

Mommi: Located in Clapham, this fun restaurant offers something different to its competition. The Japanese fusion with Peru is very clear and the atmosphere is quite high end despite being located south of the river. The menu is quite hard to read but there are a few interesting dishes. The food itself is of a good quality but it lacks something that would elevate it to the next level. However, if you happen to be around the area, it is a good option.

Rating: 2.5/5

Ceviche Soho: This is the popular Peruvian restaurant I recall. It is the restaurant that revolutionised Peruvian cuisine in London with its tapas style plates. The flavours are average and the presentation  is acceptable but not special. However, the atmosphere in this restaurant is quite enjoyable despite clearly being catered to professionals. Despite the food not being groundbreaking, this is the restaurant that started the Peruvian craze and is therefore important in this list. 

Rating: 2.5/5

Chicama: This restaurant located in South Kensington has a beach atmosphere with fish available in different dishes. I appreciate that they attempted to be creative with the ceviche and create new dishes. However, it was underwhelming although some dishes were cooked very well, just not the main ceviche. Nevertheless, it is worth checking out if you are around the King's Road and have a few pounds lying around. 

Rating: 3/5

Coya Mayfair: This high end restaurant in Mayfair is very much catered to wealthier customers. With a menu consisting of truffles, it is hard not to roll your eyes. Once you are there the atmosphere is very pleasant with people chatting away and not ultra sophisticated fine dining. The plates are presented beautifully and the flavours are very interesting. It is true that you need to have some extra cash, with that money you can go to the best restaurants. However, it does not disappoint but more improvements can be made to elevate this into a top restaurant. 

Rating: 3.5/5

Lima: They say that if you encounter a good restaurant then you will return many times. Since 2012 I have been to Lima 5 times despite living in different countries for large parts of this period. The only Michelin Starred Peruvian restaurant in London, Lima offers a very high calibre of food. This restaurant is quite relaxed despite being fine dining. Questionable service can occur at times, however the food makes up for it. There is a review on this blog and it's worth a read. I would say that this restaurant is safely the best Peruvian food in London.

Update: Lima has lost it's Michelin star for 2019. I feel that the service has let the restaurant down and the new tapas style menu is a money-grab/let-down. Now it will have to regroup and push to regain its star.

Rating: 4/5