I wanted my first blog to be about a restaurant that offers more than just good food. I wanted to spread the word about an idea and concept, more than just a talented chef. I couldn't choose a better restaurant than La Mar Cevicheria.
If you are from Peru living in New York you should be very proud of what La MAR offers, the idea and concept behind every dish. If you are not too familiar with Peruvian cuisine I recommend this restaurant to you. Peru as many other countries in South America has a great variety of legumes, potatoes, seafood, etc which are celebrated in La Mar Cevicheria's dishes. Peruvian cuisine is very indigenous, and for a long time lacked a good presentation but has always been rich in flavors.
La Mar is keeping the indigenous heritage of Peruvian food, redefining it into fine dinning and delivering it to the world. The vision of it's owner and celebrity Chef Gaston Acurio is inspiring, his ambition is definitely translated into his restaurant.
La Mar has many locations but my review will be based on the New York Location. La Mar restaurant is located at 11 Madison Ave, New York, N.Y. in front of Madison square Park.
The decoration is very elegant and trendy, here you will not find any Peruvian artifacts but beautiful high ceilings, shades of blue, and a very spacious bar making thousands of Pisco sours a day. Something I did not like about the decor was the grass centerpieces throughout the restaurant. I found them very boring and bland. They showed no excitement and clashed with the music, colors and atmosphere which is very classy, after-work crowd.
Service is very impersonal seeming more like a business-like deal. Since Peruvian upscale cuisine is an uprising trend I would like to hear recommendations and paring suggestions. Servers seemed relaxed which is good but not friendly at all. The hospitality of the restaurant is something that needs a little more attention. Food does take a little time to reach the table but it is definitely worth the wait.
Food in La Mar is succulent, experimental and meticulous. I definitely recommend ordering the ceviche tasting. You will try the Elegance, Popular and Nikei. Elegance ceviche comes with "Leche de Tigre", a Peruvian seafood marinade which gives a delicious texture, flavor and color to the ceviche. The Popular is served with a green leche de tigre and garnished with crispy calamari, how can you beat crispy seafood on top of your ceviche, YUM! And last you'll have Nikei Ceviche which consists of Asian cucumber and ripe avocado in a tamarind leche de tigre giving it an Asian twist, after all Peru is very Asian-influenced.
My second course consisted of causas which are Peruvian whipped potatoes bite size appetizers (when I say bite size I mean for my big mouth). I never had this before but I was so happy I ordered it! It comes with a delicious presentation, lots of flavors going on but when it reaches your mouth it melts in a symphony of flavors. The causa I will recommend is the Oliva, you will find delicious octopus, piquillo peppers and avocados.
For my third course I enjoyed their famous Jalea and Octopus. Jalea was very interesting crispy fish belly, calamar, yucca, plantains and Peruvian corn. This dish is a must try. Their Octopus is incredible; smoked, juicy, garlicky... just writing about it makes me want to come back and order seven of them and stuff my face, literally.
La Mar is a restaurant you must visit. Delicious food and great atmosphere. My only criticism about service is based on the expectations this restaurant deserves. La Mar is a vision that will open the door to new tastes celebrating the Peruvian gastronomy.
Go and get some bites!
Thanks juicy biters. Leave your comments.
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