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Fina Estampa - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Latin American Latin American [Edit]
1100 Van Ness AveSan Francisco, CA 94109
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
(415) 440-6343
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
104 reviews for Fina Estampa
Review Highlights
"I highly recommend the anticuchos and the Arroz con Pollo."
(in 9 reviews)
"Their lomo saltado is yummy and so are the alfajores."
(in 14 reviews)
"The bistec a lo pobre was the most delicious thing EVER."
(in 5 reviews)
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104 reviews in English
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Review from John G.
Juneau, AK
12/27/2011
This restaurant has reopened on Bush St, just west of Polk. The food is excellent, the portions generous, the ambiance simple but very pleasant, the staff friendly and efficient, and the prices reasonable. My girlfriend had an excellent arroz con pollo, and i had an excellent Peruvian picante de mariscos with lots of seafood, followed by a delicious flan. We will be back!
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Review from Luis C.
10/12/2010
The last branch of this old Peruvian restaurant recently CLOSED. The original first location was on Mission street (near 20th st.) which closed a long time ago. Food quality had declined over the years too, it was better in the past - before they added Mexican food to the menu. The location has great potential for a dinner before/after a movie at the AMC. But somehow they couldn't attract the crowds like other nearby places: Mel's or Tommy's Joynt.
I think it had the best name for a Peruvian restaurant in the city (besides being also the name of a new tequila brand, and a popular choice for restaurants in other cities too).
The restaurant was named for a famous old Peruvian song, that means "fine pedigree". Here's a brief segment of that beautiful song (Pasion Vega, Spanish singer): http://www.youtube.com...
FE, Rincon Peruano, Alejandro's (closed), and a few years later Mi Lindo Peru, were the first Peruvian restaurants in SF. Alejandro's was a favorite of my father because he was a friend of the owner, so we often had dinner there when I was a kid. Long before popular places like Fresca, Limon, Mochica, or newcomer La Mar existed.Listed in: CLOSED, out of business,…
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Review from Lauren C.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 8/14/2008
Fina Estampa just gave me mild food poisoning and it's still my favorite restaurant. That's how good it is.
I brought my uncle here tonight for their wonderful bistec a lo pobre. It was fantastic, as always. But when I got home I had some mild lower GI issues. You know what I mean, don't make me say it. I'm sure it was Fina because that was the first thing I ate all day (bistec a lo pobre deserves the biggest appetite you can bring to the table). This isn't the first time it's happened. A few months ago my father got sick after eating the paella (which was the only dish I've ever not liked). I had blamed the crepes we had earlier that day. Sorry Crepes A Go Go!
I looked up their health score and they have an 84 with no major violations. I eat there quite often and there have only been the two incidents. So please, don't let my experience deter you from trying Fina Estampa. Just make sure you'll have access to a comfy bathroom after dinner!Listed in: Practical Dining in SF
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/30/2008
Fina is my favorite restaurant in the city, but I'm worried. The last time I went they didn't put… Read more »
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Review from Michelle S.
Brookline, MA
Updated - 11/9/2009
I am happy to say that this place is still one of my favorites. One of my BFFs is in town from New York this week and I promised to feed her what CA does way better than NY, Mexican food. However, she was staying at Clift Hotel in TenderNob area and by the time I picked her up, she was chewing on her own arm starving. I was really worried that she wasn't going to survive a BART ride to the Mission. Near her hotel was the best plan. So....I recommended that we go here because she could get something to feed her fix.
She did, in fact, have Mexican food and she loved it. I once again got my big platter of pealla that will feed me for three more days. We both shared a pitcher of their sangria that is probably more sacred than Holy Water and Lourde's healing fountain. And, best of all, because we went on a quiet Sunday afternoon, they had no problem letting us sit wherever we wanted for over three hours so that we could catch up.
There's a reason that this place has been around for decades and I love it more every time I go.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/23/2009
The last time I went for hot Peruvian in the city was back when I was home for the summer on an… Read more »
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Review from Ed U.
8/11/2006
When I went to Peru a few years ago and saw that they served fried guinea pig on a stick, I didn't think it was a cuisine that would stay with me....literally. No more...as I think Peruvian food can be awesome under the right guidance.
This is definitely not one of the new, trendier Peruvian restaurants in town. In fact, you'd probably miss it as you walk on Van Ness if you weren't looking for it even though it is on a fairly prominent corner near the AMC multiplex and across from that pervasive bane of commercial mediocrity, Mel's Drive-In. As you open the heavy wooden door, you think you entered Zorro's hacienda house, and you expect to be greeted by Salma Hayek in an off-the-shoulder peasant dress. Fat chance. It's a cavernous place on the dark side. They have tables on two floors, but I always get seated in the same place --- against the far window near the bar where there are a row of little circular tables against an upright, naugahyde banquette.
The menu is pretty extensive, and I have to tell you that among my several visits there, I can't recall a bad dish in the bunch. It's not the cheapest place, but prices seem reasonable to me given the quantity of food you get. It all starts with the thick slices of baguette, which are unexceptional in themselves, but they come with a variety pack of four toppings, various salsas and a corn kernel topping. It's very addictive, but try not to over do it.
Among the many appetizers, how can you not try the ceviche? Any culture that embraces raw fish as much as my ancestral home is fine by me as long as it's fresh. The $9.95 Ceviche Mixto is definitely fresh --- a mix of white fish, prawns, squid and onion slathered in an equally fresh lemon juice. A definite tongue tickler. I also like the Palta Rellena ($7.95), which is a fresh avocado stuffed with chicken or shrimp, though if you feel real hungry, there is the carb-heavy Causa Rellena (also $7.95), which are chicken-stuffed mashed potatoes with some creamy white sauce that will likely clog your arteries. Of course it's tasty as all get out.
So many entrees, so little time. My favorite is the Saltado De Mariscos ($12.95), a robust platter of all sorts of seafood sauteed with onions and tomatoes. It comes with fries. For land-lovers, the house specialty, Pollo a La "Fina Estampa" ($11.95), was perfectly cooked when I tried it. It's a broiled chicken marinated in fresh mint sauce. But if you want to go all out, try the Paella Valenciana ($14.95), a huge platter of saffron-infused rice mixed with sauteed shellfish, chicken and sausage. The belt buckle will have to come off at this point, if not the first button on your pants. It wouldn't be a pretty sight, but weigh your options carefully...your stomach full of great Peruvian food or a short-lived self-respect for restraining yourself from gorging. You can decide.
I think $2.50 is rather absurd for a paltry glass of Diet Coke, so I'm fine with water, thank you very much. But hey, I just read off the restaurant website that if you mention the site, you can get 10% off a pitcher of margaritas, sangria or the Peruvian national drink, pisco sour. And oh yes, the service is fine and attentive.
FOOD - 4.5 stars...the seafood gets major snaps up
AMBIANCE - 4 stars...Zorro's hacienda house...here comes Salma
SERVICE - 4.5 stars
OVERALL - 4.5 stars...Machu Picchu. Amazon Basin. Fina Estampa...ok, not quite but closeListed in: In Memoriam...I Need a Kleenex
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Review from Lisa T.
San Francisco, CA
7/2/2007
I love Peruvian food. LOVE IT.
In, fact, I have a bit of an obsession with Peru, and ALL things Peruvian.
For about 7 years now, I've had this grand idea of a month-long Peruvian adventure... During which I'd scale the Andes and ascend, awe-struck, into Machu Pichu and Vilcacamba... I'd traverse the cloud forests and emerge on the dry, barren plains to uncover secret treasure troves of Chachapoya mummies, still clothed in brilliant, perfectly-preserved parrot feathers... I'd drift, invisible, through Cusco and ogle the scores of magnificent baroque cathedrals, dripping with silver mined by the Incans for their brutal Spanish and Jesuit vanquishers... I'd get drunk for nights on end on frothy pisco sours and pass out with the windows open and the sounds of the Lima streets racing below my window...
Ahh... Yep. That's the kind of fantasy I have, repeatedly. I've said it before, and I'll say it again:
Super. Nerd. Supernerd.
I came close once, to actually doing it. A dear friend was interning as a clerk for a judge in Argentina, and we were going to "do South America" together. But then they had to go have that freakin' coup in Argentina and ruin his life for a few months... Blah.
These days, I'm beginning to think seriously about it again. And with the revving-up of my Peruvian dreams (aided by the fact that my company just scored audio tour contracts for Machu Pichu and Cusco's cathedral consortium -- CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT ONE?!), I have also revved-up my consumption of Peruvian food.
So when I was RIGHT BY Fina Estampa on Sunday, there was no way I couldn't go in and eat. Um, a LOT.
And honestly, there's no way I'm going to give any Peruvian restaurant less than four stars unless they seriously screw up. I LOVE IT, 'kay?
But no joke, it's good. It's not Fresca, which I think is the best Peruvian to be found in SF. They only have one ceviche dish, offered as an appetizer. Very simple (whitefish, squid, shrimp), but very tasty. Not too strong, and the fish was very fresh...
But their entrees are endless. I'd like to come back and try a million different things on there (with a good deal of special ordering involved, of course). The one I did try was pretty fabulous.
The trio of garlic spread/corn salsa/some other spicy concoction they bring to every table with the bread is a real bonus, too...
No pisco, though. Fresca remains the only spot I know of in our city for that treat...
Which is a good thing. I don't need to go passing out more often than I already do...Listed in: The OTHER Sushi...
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Review from Wes M.
San Francisco, CA
10/8/2008
Staring off against the well-known Mel's and Tommy's Joynt is this easily overlooked Peruvian place that I seriously doubt has attracted many random passersby over the years.
As Ed U deftly points out, those massive front doors are quite imposing, but the 2-story interior is far from a Mexican palace--merely overly large, awkwardly laid out, and a bit drafty. And what's with those chairs? They look like they belong in a hospital waiting area. So not exactly the architectural gem hidden on Van Ness I was hoping for--just another oddity ala the unused stairway in the lobby of the AMC.
But anyway, eccentricities can always be forgiven in the light of good food and low prices, right? Well, they certainly got the food part down; a pitcher of pisco sours is a prerequisite here, and after hearing so much about lomo saltado, I was finally able to try the beef-free alternative, pescado saltado. It's worth it just to see how french fries can be used *in* a dish (the answer: make a "stir-dry", where you toss meat, veggies and carbs in lots of spice but minimal sauce--makes for first-rate comfort food). As for prices, however...while I know that even family-run Peruvian joints are never cheap, I still felt that the $15 average entree here just wasn't justified given the backwater setting. -
Review from Amy A.
San Francisco, CA
2/7/2008
I have been driving by Fina Estampa for years and have always had it in the back of my head to try it out. I finally ate dinner there last night. Let this be a lesson in procrastination. I was clearly at least twenty years too late.
HELLO 80'S HOTSPOT --even down to the earth tones and disco ball. Fina Estampa can seriously seat a massive crowd but we were the lone diners in a sea of empty low-back brown seats. Even my margarita came with green salt on the rims! And for gods sake, those giant idol-head things hanging from the ceiling are reminiscent of an Indiana Jones flick! Creepy!
The food was so-so although my favorite was the little medley of sauces they serve with the bread. It was a nice break from chips and salsa. I had the Pollo Estampa and Steve had some sort of carne asada variant.
While we were finishing up, a beat cop came in to gossip with the bar tender about a homeless guy that pulled a knife on a cop and got shot in the middle of Van Ness. Ambiance at it's finest, my friends.Listed in: Amy's Bitchiest
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Review from Jaclyn L.
San Francisco, CA
5/24/2005
haven't tried the one on Mission. but the one on Van Ness is terrific!! Although it seems to be completely off the radar. I've driven by it hundreds of times and never thought to go in. and apparently no one else has because it's usually empty.
Get the prawns! I think it's called the Estampa Prawns or something. It's an appetizer and a dinner item. The first time I had them, my jaw froze. it was that good. i had never had anything like them before. my mouth was in shock. lots of garlic and incredibly favorful. but now that i've built it up so much, it'll never be the same for you. -
Review from Nana N.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 2/9/2009
People, please listen to me and eat here. Really.
Though I aways end up ordering one of the two same things, which I love dearly (i.e., lomo saltado/ saltado de pollo), I'd like to add a few things on the list of "You MUST try this or else you are SO missing out."
- Pisco sour: I LOVE the pisco sour here. It tastes better than most margaritas. It has a hint of honey-like sweetness and cognac like aroma. A must-try.
- Arroz con pollo: this dish comes w/ 1/2 chicken in it; this serves me as one big full meal; my female friend w/ average-size appetite said this dish usually serves her as two to three meals.
- Paella: comes with very generous amount of various shellfish. The portion is also generous. I stole a few pieces of shellfish and a few bites of the rice off of my friend's plate. Though this may not impress people as "authentic Spanish paella," it has good flavor and consistency. A fantastic deal for less than $17.
- Whatever steak the guy at the table next to us was eating: I don't know what it was; I didn't get to steal a bite off of his plate since he was a complete stranger, but DAING it smelled and looked so GOOD!!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/3/2008
I am addicted to the lomo saltado here (or at Mi Lindo) and the green sauce that comes with it.… Read more »
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Review from Mike V.
Daly City, CA
10/28/2006
I AM REVIEWING ONLY THE NIGHTLIFE...
So I have a young friend who is turning 20 and needs a venue for her bday party...so I hook her up with a promoter whose party was at this particular place...
Here are the reasons for the 3 Stars:
- Very young and pretty hormone filled crowd...however, they were under control, no fights, no real problems...
- Music was pretty cool, but, the DJ has some issues with matching his levels and his scratching was a bit off...
- Space was good too, lots of places to sit along the wall with a main dance floor and upstairs area to dance as well...
If I was of their age, I wouldn't mind coming here somewhat often...
But I'm not their age, so don't expect to see me here anytime soon...lol -
Review from Leanne K.
San Francisco, CA
3/28/2010 3 photos
Came here for a friend's birthday party yesterday. I've been here once before 3 years ago for another birthday.
This place is a great place for groups. A lot of seating, very spacious. They use the second floor as a club most of the time after the restaurant is closed.
They gave us bread with a garlic spread, chili sauce, butter, and garbanzo beans with corn to use. I almost got full off the bread. Really liked the garlic spread. Wasn't too sure how to incorporate the garbanzo beans with corn, but i did by just putting it on top. It's also good when you start by putting butter on the bread, then the garlic. My friend taught us that.
I got the LOMO SALTADO ($14.95). Sauteed beef strips with french fries, onions, tomatoes and rice. the first time i had it 3 years ago, it was way too salty. I was not a fan. I got it again yesterday and it was good. just enough flavoring, beef was juicy. Good combination with the fries, tomatoes, and onions.
My friend loves it, but to me it's not stand out amazing.
The wait staff was very nice. Refilled our bread, let us wait a long time for a friend who had not come. It wasn't busy, but I'm sure they wouldn't have rushed us out of there if it was busy.
They have a pretty stocked bar for the people who want to drink. The first time I came, there were a lot of people and the atmosphere is pretty lively, so don't mind having some fun with your friends.
I would come here again, but it would not the first place to come to mind. More so if someone else really wanted to go there. -
Review from Chie J.
San Francisco, CA
12/3/2007
I like Fina Estampa... I want to love Fina Estampa...
Because;
1. They are owned by Japanese Peruvian owner Mr. Shinzato. He is very nice. His daughter works there sometimes and she is also nice. Japanese guy who lives in his apartment also works as a waiter and he is nice.
2. They have very nice sauces for bread (bread is not so nice... but...)
A. Chimichurri sauce (my favorite)- fresh parsley, garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper-this one doesn't include cilantro nor oregano, which I like better without them. Very simple.
B. Roasted red chili (not spicy) sauce
C. Peruvian corn and cilantro salsa
3. Their Ceviche is good. I like the cold boiled sweet potatoes on the side. It has very simple taste, so I put Chimichurri sauce on top. (every thing taste better with their Chimichurri sauce! For the ceviche alone, I like Limon in the mission better. Oh, and they didn't have sweet potatoes on the side last night... very disappointed...)
4. Their steak dishes are good for a restaurant with this price point.
5. "Interesting" location, atmosphere, decor and customer mix.
6. THEY HAVE A FULL BAR
There were a few things I REALLY didn't like. For example, their Paella tastes like American Rice-A- Roni style: definitely not authentic. Mussels are over cooked and mushy, Sangria is too sweet (I think it used to be better)
So, why do I go back to Fina Estampa? For Chimichurri and Mr. Shinzato. -
Review from TL C.
Philadelphia, PA
8/17/2007
I'm debating 4 or 5 stars? 4.5 stars? 4.75 stars? Ok I'm feeling generous and although this is not really a true 5 stars place the extra star is because I always leave here feeling happy.
That may very well mean nothing more than that they serve a mean Picso sour and that if you sit at the bar they sometimes slip you a little taste of something or other.
Of course it may also mean that the owner always seems to be around and is always smiling and telling little jokes (the owner likes Dr. Phil and so does the Honey, which means I can drink my Picso sours undisturbed.)
It may also mean that I love the food they serve here- caveat: I've only ever ordered the tapas but they are good and filling between the Honey and I we rarely order more the 2,in a splurge 3 tapas. My favorites (at the moment and subject to change) are garlic prawns and anticuchos (little kababs of beef heart - sounds gross but actually quite tasty), I also like the ceviche and the papas rellenos. -
Review from Kathy D.
Emeryville, CA
4/18/2009
I LOVE this place! I work up the street from Fina Estampa and this is my favorite place to go when we celebrate birthdays during lunch. Kitty corner to Tommy's Joynt, it's very easy to miss if you aren't really looking for it, but it is definitely not a hole-in-the-wall once you are inside.
I could pig-out on just their bread and spreads that they give you as soon as you sit down. Their chips and salsa are also very tasty. I almost always order the Calamari =) It is by far the BEST battered squid! Calamari is my appetizer of choice at any restaurant that has it on the menu, but at Fina Estampa, the portion is SO HUGE that I get it for my entree. It's always fresh and I usually end up taking some of it home because it's so much food and I love having a second taste of it with my dinner at home.
The owner Gustavo and his entire family, staff included, are always so nice and friendly. I highly recommend this awesome restaurant! -
Review from Tommy P.
San Francisco, CA
1/11/2008
Peruvian food!! Mmmm mmmm. I love it, can't get enough. Fresca is in my top three restaurants in the city for sure. So when I found out that there was a joint around the corner from me that has peruvian food on the cheap I was sold.
I had the anticuchos (cow heart, don't knock it until you try it, it's delicious) and the paella. The anticuchos was awesome, the paella not so much.
The service was good and the place is huge, kinda sucked to see it empty but so it goes.
Bottom line is that while this place is no Fresca (so good) it'll hit the spot when you get the craving and it's cost effective. -
Review from Trevar M.
San Francisco, CA
7/18/2010
The worst dinning experience I've ever had in San Francisco, and the food was incredibly underwhelming. Waited for around an hour to get our ceviche appetizer, which was really, really bland. Also, they used white onions instead of red in the ceviche, which I found odd.
The waitress/bartender was so inattentive. I'm a good tipper, and I had a hard time bringing myself to give her 10% of the bill. She even told us that we got the last fish in the restaurant. To me this means: "You got the bottom of the barrel."
This place is a total joke. Overpriced, under-seasoned food. Depressingly dated, drab interior. And some of the worst service I've had in SF. If you want some good Peruvian, hit-up Mochica, Piqueo's or even Fresca.
Stay away! -
Review from Caroline C.
Berkeley, CA
3/2/2009
My fiance and I have been coming here for the last 3 years and I can't remember one time when the food wasn't fantastic!
First and foremost, the bread and dipping sauces that they bring out to every table is worth coming here alone. If I could buy the sauces separately to enjoy at home I would. Secondly, the dinner portions are very generous. I always order the paella and can usually just finish half of my dish (depending on how much bread and dip I've gobbled up beforehand). Thirdly, the sangria is delicious!
The food is authentic and very comforting, and the service is always nice. Would definitely recommend this restaurant! -
Review from Brad L.
4/28/2008 1 photo
I made my way over to Fina Estampa last night, in a bid to try something new and to nurse the ever-worsening sunburn I'd scored in Dolores Park earlier in the day.
Like other reviewers have said, the space is enormous. I thought the cavernous dining room would be off-putting, but it didn't end up being an issue. The three other parties dining there all cleared out while I was eating, leaving me, the two servers and about 4,000 square feet of space. Luckily, dining alone seems to be my thing lately and this was quintessential in that regard.
I ordered the Bistec a lo Pobre because I wanted beef and because it sounded like the most prototypically Peruvian dish on the menu. Bistec a lo Pobre is a broiled steak, served over crispy bread, with sauteed onions, tomatoes, a fried banana and a fried egg. My plate also came with rice and a lightly fried chunk of root vegetable, which I believe was yuca.
Everything was delicious. The steak was tender and perfectly medium-rare, just like I ordered, and the onions, tomatoes, banana and egg, made it a completely new combination of flavors for me. I loved it!
The service was attentive, friendly and super speedy. The guys were particularly happy at how much I enjoyed the meal. I guess they didn't expect a sunburned white boy to be so down with Peruvian food.
As long as you go in with the proper expectations about how empty it can feel in there, you'll have an excellent experience. Highly recommended. -
Review from Valerie A.
San Francisco, CA
10/11/2008
I hadn't been to Fina Estampa for a long time. The food was ok but I remember it being better, and I was a little disappointed. I ordered the Churrasco, but I found myself coveting my neighbors Mar y Tierra (surf and turf). Oh and the rice wasn't very good- you can easily pick up on the Uncle Ben's taste!
If it wasn't for all the caffeine in the Inka Cola and the good company I would've been even more disappointed. -
Review from Emily L.
San Francisco, CA
3/27/2010
A Great place for a birthday party! The portions are very generous and the owner is really nice.
Too bad they don't serve Hard Alcohol, only wine and beer.
overrall, had a fun experience and would recommend it for large groups for celebrations.
Easy parking after 6PM.
Good Luck! -
Review from Katie Anne N.
San Francisco, CA
2/13/2007
Dead at times, this place is beautifully decorated on the inside, very hole in the wall look on the outside.
Try the ceviche and Sangria. Probably the only two things good on the menu. -
Review from Dan B.
Concord, CA
7/29/2008
My quest to find the Bay Area's best Peruvian food has ended. It is Fina Estampa. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because the decor / atmosphere needs a little TLC. But the food--- forgetaboutit. Great anticuchos, great causa, and very good Lomo. And, they make LEGIT pisco sours! Hard to find ANY place that even has a bottle of pisco, let alone one that makes the drink just like it tastes in Lima, Peru. The chicha morrada is very good also if you don't drink alcohol.
This place also serves Mexican dishes, as well as other "tapas" type stuff, but I go strictly for the Peruvian food. I can't wait to go back! -
Review from jill j.
Mill Valley, CA
8/16/2007
I really want to give Fina Estampa a better review. I do. Really. But it just didn't quite live up to expectations.
We were going to a show at GAMH, so we ate early. That was, perhaps, our first mistake, as the cavernous room echoed when we walked in. (With some live music and a crowd of people, I could imagine this place ROCKIN' like a Peruvian Hofbrauhaus!)
Service was friendly and charming and accomodating.
Food was mixed. I had been craving beef heart from my visit to another Peruvian restaurant a few days earlier. It was tough and disappointing. It was rubbed in aji (South American pepper sauce) which added some nice flavor, but I found it was enhanced by some of the creamy sauce from the potatoes. The grilled spicy potatoes were the clear winner, with the cold cream-sauce-covered potatoes coming off as bland and reminiscent of yesterday's potato salad. The egg/potato frittata was ok but *needed* the sauces to kick it up. Grilled chicken was good. We didn't have any seafood. Sangria was very sweet (too much sugar?) with just the right amount of small diced fruit pieces.
Very reasonable prices. We had food left on the table and got out for about $25/person, including sangria.
I'd go back and try Fina Estampa again but probably only for some event (music, crowds) when it could create the festive atmosphere I know it is capable of.
P.S. 10% discount coupon on their website. I printed it out and forgot to use it. :( -
Review from Eric A.
Burlingame, CA
10/16/2008
Ok, I've never eaten here before, but the night club scene that happens here isn't thhaaat great.
18+ club in a restaurant (obviously the tables and chairs in the corner are visible) isn't the most creative idea in the world, but at least make it a fun night out.
Expensive drinks, same people over and over, and the club itself has the layout of an ill mannered hall.
Small dance floor, bad acoustics, and weird placement of the bar.
I have a gripe against this place most likely because I've been here darn near 30 different times, and still have yet to been awed. -
Review from Mabel Y.
San Francisco, CA
8/12/2007
I was born and (partially) raised in Lima, and this is my favorite Peruvian place in the city. Everything I've had has been great, and the service is always pleasant. Gustavo (owner) and his daughter are the sweetest people ever.
Definitely prefer it over Mi Lindo Peru--not as greasy, and better ambiance. -
Review from livingwell B.
Oakland, CA
2/16/2009
Yes, I have experienced much better.
We headed up to the city to enjoy a good dinner and some passionate sounds at GAMH. This place was close the venue and seemed to have some pretty okay reviews.
My take on the place -- meh. I'm definitely not heading back intentionally. I had the Paella. I asked the server how long it would take, he said 10-12minutes. That was definitely a caution flag for me since good paella takes much longer. Then again, folks I've had paella that was made in a little old Cuban ladies kitchen, so my scale is a bit off.
Anyho -- I got my dish back and was unimpressed. The rice was sticky and covered in a pale red sauce. I ate only 1/3 of the platter after I was stuffed with bloated rice.
My date was disappointed in his deep fried sea food dish which came with a pasty pink sauce.
The service was meh -- additional large table occupied much of the servers time.
It was freezing in there, so I'm not sure such a large space can be heated properly but it would be incredibly helpful to ease the clients suffering a bit.
The beer and company was the saving grace for me.
I know that there are much better places up in the city. I'll keep my eye out. -
Review from Anthony B.
Los Angeles, CA
2/13/2010
Pro: you get a lot of food
Cons: have had WAY better Peruvian, WAY better Spanish and the prices have gone WAY UP. Almost $20 for a bowl of soup??? Nah. And now Mexican food too??
Bottom line: WAY overpriced and just okay. -
Review from Cristian G.
San Francisco, CA
7/16/2010
We decided to give this restaurant a chance despite the fact that it served Mexican, Peruvian, and Spanish food together. I found that odd considering each culture has such a huge array of dishes, but glad we gave the restaurant a chance 'cause the food was absolutely DELICIOUS. Big servings, very gracious portions of meat (for the meat dishes), and very good service. It's too bad the restaurant doesn't get more traffic because it should.
I would eat here again in a heartbeat. Don't let the inside or outside humble decor fool you---the food is incredible. Very tasty. I had the Tallarin Saltado de Pollo and I can't say enough how delicious the food was. The bf had Saltado de Vegetales...and it was just as good. -
Review from DANIEL T.
San Francisco, CA
1/26/2008
Where else can you get a MOUND (12" diameter 3"-4" at the mountain top) of Paella with lotsa seafood in it for $15?
I ordered the ARROZ CON MARISCOS A LO MACHO which was a MOUND of yummie green rice (cilantro) with lotsa seafood for $14. If I can't finish a plate of food, it can feed 3. -
Review from Craig I.
San Francisco, CA
10/12/2006 1 Check-in Here
Lomo Saltado! That's all I ever order every time I go there.
Strips of steak...good! onions...good!, tomatoes...good!, french fries (yes french fries!)...good!, rice.....good! It's the absolute best.
Remember...Lomo Saltado! Say it with me now...LO-MO SAL-TA-DO!
*****UPDATE: CLOSING THIS SUNDAY 7/31/2010***** -
Review from Tess C.
Daly City, CA
5/26/2007
Is it safe to say I crave it all the time? I am hook on this place.
one of my favorite place -
Review from Val K.
Berkeley, CA
4/7/2008
BF and I heard it was really good...but, well, there was something lacking. The bread was stale. The drinks were WAY overpriced ($4 corona?) and my $6 margarita was small and absolutely terrible! The sour mix was ucky-funky and so all you got was a lot of pucker. The sangria, however, was quite good.
We had two appetizers (shrimp salad and fried calamari) which were both really good. The calamari wasn't overly breaded and came with a good dipping sauce. I had the seafood paella; it was nothing special. There were lots of little critters in there, but it was just too bland BF had a chicken dish; it was very moist but the seasonings were pretty blah.
Overall, we paid a lot and expected a lot more. Next time we'll just go to Limon. -
Review from Vanessa W.
Los Altos, CA
1/15/2007
A large group of us dined there the other night. The decor gives this place a strange vibe. Upon arrival, only 4/8 people in our group was there. Naturally, they passed out only 4 menus. I was the 5th person in our group to arrive and I asked for a menu. It took about 3 attempts to get more menus for the rest of our group. That was quite frustating. Service for the rest of the night was good though, they recommended some very good dishes and were attentive to other requests.
Pisco Sour - it was ok
Bread with multiple dipping thingeys - that was good and my fav dipping sauce was the one with garlic
Nachos - blah
Ceviche - huge portion, pretty good
Paella - Huge and really good
They give you massive amounts of food, but the decor is quite dingy. The restaurant was nice enough to give the birthday girl some flan. I guess I will go there again only if i'm dying for some Peruvian cuisine. -
Review from Yvonne Y.
12/2/2007
I really love the Peruvian small plates they serve there. Never ventured off to the Mexican dishes.
Anticuchos (beef heart) is very juicy and tasty.
Tortilla a la Espanola - it's hard to mess this one up
Their fried calamari (calamares fritos) appetizer is the size of an entree size. Paella was cooked well without being too tough or mushy. Ceviche wasn't too memorable. Very acidic and not much seafood taste to it.
Sangria was alright. Definitely not come here for any romantic ambiance. It's just one big restaurant/bar and most people come here right after work or before the movies. I've seen quite a few Hispanic quincineras/birthday parties here. I like the condiments that come with the bread, especially the orange/brown spicy one. -
Review from Moua L.
2/17/2009
You know how sometimes when you can't figure out a new restaurant to try, so you go where you know. This is one of those places. My husband introduced me to this place back when we were dating, and we often bring friends here who has not tried any Peruvian food. We've been coming here for 6 years when we can afford to eat out once in a while.
The same waiters have been working there for as long as I've been coming here and give great service. They can recommend you something on their menu if you cannot decide, like me sometimes. There are usually 99.99% accurate on suggesting something I like.
They serve 4 different side toppings with your bread to start. When they see you finished your first batch of bread, they will refill your basket. I usually order one of my favorite dishes- Ceviche. My husband often gets the Lamb or Beef with fried Banana & egg on top. Fina Estampa serves large dishes. So if you can't eat too much, try sharing a plate, or you can take home leftovers.
For drinks, I always get their Sangria, which comes with minced fruits. But just this Valentines day, we chatted with the bartender there and asked what was this other purple drink he was mixing. He told us it was "Chicha"- a Corn Drink is considered for most the national Peruvian soft drink.
Apparently, this is one of the rare places that carry this drink in the Bay Area we know. It's was delicious! If you want to try this drink, I suggest coming here. I doubt you will find it anywhere else in the Bay Area, if you do let me know. -
Review from Liz E.
7/13/2009
This was overall a really great experience for our 4-person party. (Feel free to read Lisa K's review in conjunction with mine, fyi.) Key observations from my side of the table:
-The pisco sour was very tasty, but definitely weak compared to what I was used to getting in Chile (be it Chilean or Peruvian style). I have to wonder if it was because we got a pitcher as opposed to individual drinks. Willing to go back and experiment.
-It was very quiet on a Saturday between 7pm and 10pm. I think there were probably an average of 4 to 5 tables in use while we were there. This made conversation easier, but it concerned me a bit.
-The bistec a lo pobre was the most delicious thing EVER. Accustomed to the Chilean version of dishes "a lo pobre," I was surprised to read on the menu that this version came with a plantain/banana and toasted bread instead of fried potatoes. When the heaping plate arrived, I thought that there was no way that I could even eat half of it. Then, I took a bite. And another. And another. Before I knew it, the only thing left on the plate was a small portion of the previously heaping pile of rice. Granted, I felt like I wouldn't need to eat for days afterward, but it was SO worth it.
-Pollo a la fina estampa (which the hubby ordered) was underwhelming after all of the perceived hype. It was good pan-roasted chicken, but it really wasn't exciting. The sides also contributed very little. Alas, not everything can be bistec a lo pobre.
-The alfajores are a bit overpriced, but they definitely deliver. These are the Peruvian style, meaning that they are half-dollar sized and consist of a dollop of manjar blanco (like dulce de leche) sandwiched between two buttery, powdered sugar-coated cookies. Very sweet, don't need more than one. Would go great with coffee (though I can't speak to their coffee this time around -- too full of bistec).
Would I go back? Absolutely! I'm still salivating, after all. Plus, I'm looking forward to assessing the other two cultural sections of the menu. -
Review from Suan W.
Silicon Valley
11/16/2007
I don't know how accurate my impression of the place is, since I came with a huge group of people and it took the staff quite a while to accommodate all of us. While the waiters were very nice and welcomed my informal Mexican-slang filled Spanish, a woman employee was less than courteous with her arrogant demeanor. She unapologetically snapped at us for being in her way when we were quietly standing around waiting for the tables to be set up, and conveniently confiscated people's menus before the waiter came by to take our orders. I ended up ordering the Lomo Saltado, but due to the size of our party, our entrees arrived at separate times. By the time my food came, it was only lukewarm and the beef was very tough. However, I do understand the difficulty of seamlessly serving a group as large as ours so my experience may be somewhat of an outlier.
Important note: the upstairs bathroom was flooded with water and the one downstairs is unisex, so it would be a good idea to relieve yourself before coming here. -
Review from Nicole S.
Portland, OR
11/24/2008
Five stars for the margaritas!!! You should watch them pour, ay yi yi! First dark tequila, white tequila, fresh lime, a little mixer and more tequila, blended to perfection.
I would definatly reccomend going therer when they are not busy, otherwise you will wait and wait for anything. The food is fairly decent, the Spanish tapas are the best, and of course the Peruvian (nothing compared to Mi Lindo, but theLomo Saltado is great) and then the Mexican is ehhh...
The owner is actually brothers of the owner of Mi Lindo and all the cooks came from the old Peruvian place on Clement (was it Alejandro's?) so all things are a fusion of greatness. -
Review from Brian H.
Oakland, CA
10/27/2005
Fina Estampa must be a money-laundering front company because I have never seen more than 3-4 people eating here at any one time yet it has been, miraculously, able to stay open for years...
Who cares, as long as the DEA doesn't ruin my dinner, because the food is great. Perfect for a big group because you can show up with anywhere from two to 100 people and be seated immediately. Definitely one of the better choices for a pre-AMC1000 dinner.
