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Categories: Latin American, Seafood [Edit]
Neighborhood: Embarcadero"Hah, I'm such a Gringo.... I wrote this review for the wrong restaurant! On the invite of a recommendation of a friend, a bunch of us took…" read more »
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This was a pure Yelp find. Back in a late June visit to SF, wandered over to Belden Place on a Sunday eve for a meal at one of the many restaurants there, but alas, all were closed. Whipped out Yelp, found La Mar Cebicheria Peruana nearby, called, spoke to manager, and within minutes, despite the place being packed, wifey and I were seated outside on a comfortable couch facing the bay. The sun was setting, the weather lovely...Score!!!
The service was impeccable, and because we weren't familiar with Peruvian cuisine, asked and received great recs from our server. We loved the cebechi sampler, as well as the chips/salsas, and for main course dove into the cau cau and the arroz norteno. Wowzer! Everything was unbelievably fresh, tasty, and simply amazing. Excelente!
Our boss treated the department to a Peruvian cuisine lunch at la mar (it's spelled without caps, a la e. e. cummings) and it was excellent. Since there were about a dozen of us the organizer had selected the menu in advance and it was served family style--very stylish family style. The presentation was beautiful. There were even special little menus printed just for us. Since we were being treated to the meal there were no prices on the menu, so my price range choice here is based on a glance at the online lunch menu. (It'd probably be more than that with drinks.)
Since its name includes Cebicheria the cebiche appetizer was excellent, as one would expect. So were the Ensalada Nikei and Anticuchos de Pollo. The entrees--Chorillana and Lomo Saltado--were delicious. I believe the sangria was the best I've ever had, less sweet than I'm accustomed to drinking and very nice.
The "dessert duo" was a "chef's choice of dessert specials" which don't seem to be on the online menu, but were so good I was ecstatic.
The service--not always easy with a large group--was quiet, attentive and very nice.
We were seated in an outdoor area looking out on the Alcatraz and Hornblower cruise docks. Since it's a rainy, grey, chilly day the area was enclosed and heated nicely, but I imagine it'd be a lovely place for a spring or summer day lunch, too.
Not my favorite and i was prepared to fall in love. First, I had to get over the hostess who obviously had somewhere better to be. I am not a grudge holder, so she was easy to shake off.
We had a great waiter (or so we thought), attentive and offered food suggestions according to our preferences. The food itself was good but not worth the high prices and I never mind paying for amazing.
Another draw back is sitting inside, which had no view of anything. The restaurant sits on the water and yet all views were blocked.
It was really when our credit card bill came that it became annoying. We had a bill for a little over $190 (for two) and tipped 20%. The charge on the statement was for $10 over our tip. We called, they apologized, sent us a form, we filled it out, faxed it back and waited. Two weeks later hubby was walking in the area and decided to stop in. The form was sitting on the managers desk, she said that she had not gotten around to it.
Great customer service......sarcastic tone....
I have been looking forward to this restaurant ever since I cam back from Barcelona. It's not a Spanish restaurant but I wanted to find that ambiance I felt when I was dining in Barcelona. I found it at La Mar!
La Mar is AMAZING.
The food was really good -- the bursts of flavors, the colors and presentation -- seriously plates of artwork.
I LOVE the wine list. I had a two-glass wine flight (you pick a red and a white) but they ran out of the white we wanted. The sommelier/server did a really great job in suggesting a replacement white wine.
Great place to sit and relax for a long afternoon, to take out-of-towners, or to go for business lunches/dinners.
Must orders: cebiche, empanadas.
I wanted to like this place, but as it turned out, our love wasn't meant to be.
La Mer is a swank little spot down on the revitalized waterfront. They spent a lot of cabbage rescuing that part of town from the edge of oblivion after the sky caved in during Loma Prieta. And by sky, I mean the Embarcadero Freeway.
Don't get me wrong, this place has a certain allure, not least of all in its proximity to the San Francisco Bay, which ironically had been very nearly amputated from the city by years of overdevelopment and then decay. But the Bay is making a comeback along the Embarcadero and everybody seems to welcome it like an old friend. And La Mer is most assuredly taking advantage of its location, bedecked as it is in the clear and bright colors of Peru and offering a great patio by the water.
We went for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. The hostess was helpful and made sure we got seated before the kitchen closed. Unfortunately, the good service ended there. Two waiters couldn't quite figure out which one was taking care of us, and as a result we kept getting the "has so-and-so taken your order yet" routine. Which didn't stop them from going 10-15 minutes apiece without coming to our table. Our drinks took another 10 minutes to arrive - and by drinks I mean a glass of wine (which was about 50% too small for an $8 Malbec) and a beer. When I ordered a second beer, the waiter responded by moving my empty beer glass to the edge of the table, but not removing it, and then forgetting to bring me a new one.
I was a waiter for many years, so I always give them the benefit of the doubt. But when I'm paying $80 for a light afternoon lunch, I don't want to stare at my empty beer glass for 10 minutes before finally flagging down my waiter and reminding him to bring me another one.
I won't even go into the absolute fiasco that was created when we asked to move to a table closer to the heat lamps. FUBAR.
The food (right, after 45 minutes I'd nearly forgotten that this was, in fact, a place where one can obtain food) was good but not great. We started with the cebiche chifa, which is an asian spin on the classic, including some ginger, cilantro, pickled carrots, daikon, habaneros, wonton strips. The quality of the mahi-mahi was subpar, with the end result something akin to sashimi at an o.k. sushi joint.
My girlfriend ordered tenderloin empanadas, which consisted of two small dumplings. Mind you, this was the $12 entre size. Absolutely unremarkable, except for the fact that the dough to ingredient ratio was about 15-1. I ordered a special arroz negro, which came with octopus, calamari, mussels, and shrimp. Translation: for my $18 I got a bowl of overcooked rice, two mussels, and a smattering (and I do mean smattering) of tiny octopus parts, maybe a half-dozen baby shrimp, and two calamari rings.
If you want good Peruvian food, there are much better options in the city for about 1/4 the price. If you want a good view of the Bay while you eat, there are plenty of options these days. There's really no reason to go to Le Mar. Seriously, even if you're a tourist, there are better options about 200 feet away.
A Peruvian restaurant which is trying really hard to appeal to the chic, S.F. nouveau riche.
Being a relatively positive individual, it's rare that I lament going to a restaurant with good company, but that's what happened here.
I came here in a group of about 10 friends and we were seated at our reserved table (indoors) without fuss. We all parked on the street. If you have a late reservation, street parking is doable.
Decore:
the interior decorator failed at emulating an underwater experience. The high ceiling, hard furniture, concrete floor, and close glass entryways made for terrible acoustics.
Service:
The waiter was slow enough to have anemia.
The Food:
For starters we ordered cebiche chifa and cebiche clásico.
Both had sinewy fish. This might be due to use of poor quality cuts of mahi mahi. The chifa one has delicate flavor and included ingredients like ginger, pickled carrots and daikon, habaneros, wonton strips and cilantro. The clasico contained the same low-grade mahi mahi and calamari, octopus and habaneros, cilantro, red onion, and corn.
Tenderloin empanadas: 3 dumplings on my appetizer-sized plate. I was reminded of dim sum, at 3x the price. The flavor and texture of the meat inside each of these bite-size morsels resembled simple stew meat. The sauce around the meat was basically standard beef stew also. The fried, layered dough wrap was the highlight. Light, crunchy, and layered well. But seriously, something out of chinese dim sum would have been as good.
The Fish empanada had better flavor. There was a sweetness in it from the added corn. That means there really was very little fish used in these.
The calamari risotto was slightly, not extremely bland, but enough to take note.
The only thing excellent on the menu did not come out of the sea and therefore defies the name of the restaurant. It was a Lomo steak w/ french fries and a bowl of rice, but the price of this simple, lunch sized entree was nearly $30.
The wines were expensive, we ordered 2 bottles and there were a few single glasses dispersed about the table as well. The carmenere was commendable in flavor and, as expected, had less tannin than a Cab.
This restaurant reminds me why locals should avoid touristy areas. The lofty price tag for this lesson was $70/person and I was starving when I got home.
La Mar is in the perfect spot: just next to the ferry building it picks up locals and tourists alike. It has size, a great view, if you happen to be seated facing the right direction, and an undeniable corporate feel. Service was modestly attentive but the meal was poorly paced. A salad that was to come with my first course arrived between my first and last courses. I suspect a problem in the kitchen.
Being of an age where family is not a distraction and generally dining alone, I have the time and inclination to research a place before I go. To me the search said go with the smaller rather than the larger plates.
So, to begin, I get the sampler of causas, which is comprised of four distinct varieties of seafood or veggies above whipped potatoes. I enjoyed this plate a great deal as there were contrasts of crab or tuna with more or less assertively spiced sauces.
Salad nikei was a not especially interesting blend of mixed greens with less green papaya and jicama than I would have preferred. OK but just a step above salad mixes you can get in the supermarket.
Finally, a tasting of their empanadas. What makes these nice is that despite being fried they are not heavy. I found that the beef and vegetarian (mainly sweet corn) empanadas stood up best to the fried casing whereas the chicken and seafood were overpowered. Also, this plate was poorly presented: four empandas, side by side, over a few scraps of greens. Some pickled vegetables or a small salad with vinaigrette would have provided some contrast to the empanadas.
One surprise was that two attractive, spanish-speaking lovelies seated next to me attracted more attention from the male staff than I. Okay, they were very pretty and seemed very sweet so one can give the staff a bye on this one.
Some seriously delicious Peruvian food and excellent service at this place. We had the cebiche tasting, anticuchos de corazón (grilled beef heart skewers), lomo saltado and arroz norteño (seafood rice)--all were very tasty. The dipping sauces for the cebiche were really good. We finished everything. I've never had beef heart before, but a friend highly recommended it, and it was really yummy.
Pisco sour - interesting, a bit strong but that's fine as one's all you need
Chips with 3 salsas - awesome, and dangerously easy to fill up on especially after the pisco-sour-induced "drunken munchies"
Ceviche chipotle - very good seafood but overwhelmed by spice
Sea bass sashimi - very good seafood again with an excellent sauce
Octopus skewers - delicious, very flavorful
Empanadas - still craving these
Bunuelos - still craving these as well, delicious
Environment - very chic decor and fun, lively atmosphere
Service - terrific, very friendly server
Price - a little expensive but worth it for all of the above
Overall, it adds up to 5 stars, easily. One of the best and most unique meals I've had in SF.
Que fabuloso restaurante!
I was blown away here. Not only was the style of the restaurant really chic, but it was a HUGE location. My Dad was the first to comment that it didn't seem like we were in any type of economic rut. It was a Tuesday night and this restaurant had EASILY 70 diners inside. There's an outdoor patio, a Cebiche bar, a waiting area (for people who aren't yet seated) and of course roomy tables scattered around the restaurant with happy diners.
It's not a quiet place because of it's size, but more importantly, the service and food were amazing. Giant potato chips and banana chips were served as appetizers to tease our pallets. We also had great pisco sours, Manhattans, and Peruvian sodas. A must-order would be one of the cebiche dishes which are fresh and tasty. We enjoyed the food so much that we actually ordered dessert. (Usually in our family we skip dessert and eat something cheaper at home.) The bunuelos were warm and fresh and the overall experience was one of the better dining experiences I've had in a while.
I'll speak for my parents too.. they loved it!
I read an article a while back stating that ceviche is the new sushi. That's something I could rally behind.
The ceviche here was wonderful, especially the tuna (nikei). I would eat that all day long.
The other apps we had, including the chicken and steak skewers and the empanadas were tasty too.
Only three stars though because none of the entrees were great. The best, by far, was actually the vegetarian risotto. That was kind of a shocker. I had the pepper crusted tuna and it was just ok. The pepper didn't really compliment the tuna.
Oh and the red sangria was great but I wasn't impressed with any of the other cocktails either.
So yeah, 3 stars. But if you skip the entrees and get a ton of ceviches, a couple additional apps and glass after glass of sangria then it's totally 4 stars.
Plus there's one waiter who is the hottest thing I've ever seen. EVER.
Decided on this place to have Dad's bday dinner because of an article I recently read in Time about Peruvian food being amazing. Good choice!!
I made a reservation a couple of weeks ago through OpenTable so that was taken care of. They don't seat you until your whole party has arrived though. While you're waiting you can take a tour of the two contrasting bathrooms in the lobby area! One is a "Marked Historic Landmark" while the other is a very modernly decorated one. Just to, yknow, pass the time.
The decor is really nice and on a clear day the view is spectacular. I love the shade of blue they use, it's unique and beautiful.
Our waiter was pretty helpful and very nice. He was also incredibly handsome.
I had my first Pisco Sour and it was quite strong but delicious! Definitely recommended.
We ordered the Cebice Tasting (4 Ceviches), Empanada Sampler (beef, seafood, corn, chicken), Una (cashew croquettes with crab and shrimp and chicken.. served on bok choy), and the antichuco de corazon (beef hearts). My brother ordered the steak entree.
The chips ARE good but the majority are potato chips which kinda sucks because the plantain ones and the sweet potato ones are so much better!
Okay. So first comes this plate with what appears to be some meat salad atop 4 yellow and purple pieces of play dough. Our server went to explain each of the toppings and we kind of just went at it. For some reason we thought this was the ceviche. After all, there were 4 things... but it was so small! Later we found out, it was not. They had given us the causas tasting instead. (traditional Peruvian whipped potato with ají amarillo and seafood or vegetarian toppings) Our waiter came by to tell us as we were digging at it, and our server later asked us why we didn't say anything. WHOOPSIES!! lol they gave it to us on the house but I do feel really bad about eating something that we didn't even order.
Then the ceviche came for real. And it looked like what you would think it should look like. My favorite was the Mixto. The hailbut one (Clasico) was way too fishy/chunky for me. I enjoyed the Ahi Tuna one (nikei) as well as the Chifa (mahi mahi). Mmm so fresh and so yum yum!
I'd never had beef hearts so I was a bit apprehensive, but it came with this amazingly spicy sauce that I had to try. It's kinda more chewy than beef from other parts of the cow... but it has a very distinct flavor and texture. I liked it a lot! It was also served with huge corn kernels that were chewy and just interesting, as well as a couple of pieces of fried potato.
The una was cool. Wetter than I imagined it would be. By that point I was too buzzed/full to truly enjoy it, but my dad liked it a lot. It looks like those crab croquettes you get at dimsum restaurants that are actually stuffed with shrimp meat. Do you know what I'm talking about? Yeaaa those!
Brother liked his beef entree a lot. It was served with fries and a bowl of corn-infused rice. I had a chunk of steak and it was divine. Even the tomato was amazing.
What a great dinner! Wish I had had room for dessert.
Meh. I had been twice to the La Mar in Lima, Peru and in comparison .... this one's rather disappointing. I had high expectations after my amazing meals in Lima.
My waiter also messed up my order and only responded with "Oh I'm sorry". I still didn't get what I wanted though ...
The ceviche that they did serve me was good but not mind-blowing. My arroz dish was also not that flavorful, rather dry.
The only saving grace? The tender and flavorful anticucho.
A few months ago when I pulled in to Sam's in Tiburon on a boat I felt like a total douche.
When I pulled into La Mar, however, I just felt like a baller!
My love and I came here for a belated birthday/early anniversary dinner on Friday night.
Our reservation was around 9:30, but we got there around 9:15 so that we could enjoy a cocktail before dinner.
The boy had a Santa Marina -- which is something sweet and girly. While I opted for a Bloody. Little did I know that it came with octopus in it. Little chunks of octopus floating in a drink is neat. I think.
However, it was a little spicy and chewy, and halfway through I put it down and did not pick it back up because I was breathing peppery, octopus flavored fire.
We were seated promptly and ordered just as quick. Two types of cebiches, seared ahi and chicken empanadas to share.
A basket of fried amazingness (plantains, potatoes and sweet potatoes) are served as a complimentary app with three dipping sauces. The spicy one, a liquefied gazpacho salsa of sorts, was amazing. The other two needed a hefty dose of salt.
Boy ordered a second cocktail which took forever and two days to arrive. We had already hungry caterpillared our way through the two cebiches when it was placed on the table.
While not the most amazing food I've ever had, everything we ordered was really nice and fresh. The space alone is worth visiting. It's industrial without feeling cold and sexy without feeling cheap.
I picked up the bill, cause that's how I roll.
When I have birthday money. From my parents. Yes. My parents still give me birthday money. Uh huh. I realize that I'm almost 30.
When I don't have birthday money you can find me at Kiki. Or more likely, Taco Bell. They do pretty nice Peruvian.
The service was appallingly ungracious, incompetent, and, in particular, the General Manager addressed my discretely communicated concerns in a perfunctory and meaningless manner.
First, we were greeted a haughty, unwelcoming, disdainful, young woman at reception who conveyed the impression she was providing a favor by seating us as we did not have a reservation. Her demeanor was so offensive my guest and I considered leaving (and, in retrospect, we should have done so).
The napkin in which my silverware was wrapped was unclean, showing clear stains of lipstick from prior use. The dessert plate I was provided was severely stained with gray smudges. When I asked the young woman server for another plate, she launched into a lengthy explanation that the gray smudges were under the glaze on the plate. She even went so far as to take the plate, rub it with her fingers to prove her point and replaced it before me. I insisted the plate be exchanged.
As we left the restaurant, my guest asked a young man behind the bar near the restaurant entrance where the restroom was located. The young man responded with a cold, blank look and without verbal response simply shrugged his shoulders.
Before I left the restaurant, I called these deficiencies to the attention of Mr. Generalao who, while courteous in listening, merely gave me his business card asking that I call ahead in the future to advise him I would be patronizing the restaurant. He made no effort to determine at what table we had been seated or who were the other staff about whom I expressed concerns. A return visit is, of course, HIGHLY unlikely!
The pisco sours, the ceviche clasico, the lamb shank, the fritters. The fritters. The fritters.
Beautiful, expensive; the hostesses were a tad brusque; the waiters were nice though overwhelmed… Read more »
Great for happy hour!!!
Excellent pisco sour. The cebiche are sooo good.
If I could give them more stars I would. My friends and I were having a party here, and some details fell through the cracks and we ended up showing up late. Not only did the restaurant stay open late for us, but when out reservations somehow went missing (which was maybe their fault) they made room for us right away. They made us a ton of food for our group. Thanks La Mar for saving our day!
Man, I ate so much at this place!!! I really like the environment. I went here on a Sunday… Read more »
Sorely disappointed.
I was super excited to eat at La Mar after reading an article in Gourmet Magazine, and the SF gate. We had reservations at 8:15, and were promply seated at a tiny table placed incredibly close to other tiny tables. If you're claustrophobic this is not the place for you. It felt like we were eating at the Cheesecake Factory, sitting elbow to elbow, hip to hip. Dinner conversations were reduced to shouting, and any attempt to try and tune out neighboring conversations was impossible.
Ambiance aside, I was still ready to taste some eye-opening ceviche, and splurp down a few shots of leche de tigre. We ordered the ceviche tasting, leche de tigre tasting, and a empanada de aji de gallina.
To keep it short, the best part of the meal was the sorbet.
Ceviche's are supposed to be light and refreshing, what we got was creamy and heavy. It wasn't what we expected. The empanada was bland, and the accompanying sauce was not an aji I've ever tried before. It was thick and creamy, and tasted of butter. 4 out of 5 leche de tigre shots were creamy and thick. The ceviche mixto was the best. Sour, spicy, light, and refreshing.
I knew the dinner bill would be expensive, but when I pay good money for food, I expect good food in return. Next time I'm craving Peruvian ceviche, I'll stop by Limon and Fresca instead.
Boo-Yah bitches!
I actually only discovered this place a few months ago, and had been wanting to dine here due to the incredible decor and views. Hostesses and servers were excellent. Nice wine selection focused primarily on South American and Spanish varietals. Had an excellent Pedro Jimenez white. I knew the Ceviche Tasting was on the 7x7 mag's top 100 food experiences, and was not let down. Succulent fish, well garnished, with incredible sauces. So good. Only complaint: there was not nearly enough for even two people, especially not for the price.
The chips and dipping sauces they bring out are also a nice appetizer, especially the plantain chips.
I also tried the Anticucho de Mahi Mahi (my favorite fish), and was very pleased. They even accomodated a request to blacken the fish. Only complaint, once again, is that the portion was too small.
We sat outside on the patio, and admired the incredible views. The crowd was mainly suits from the FiDi, with a few couples strewn in for good measure. ;) Heaters are provided for a portion of the outdoor seating area.
All in all, this is a great place to come with a large group, business associates, or on a date. Wonderful views, great tasting food, and good service. Only slight issue is value: would have liked to have seen either larger portion sizes or slightly reduced prices.
However, I'll definitely be back and look forward to sampling some other dishes and wines.
Cheers!
Food: 4
Value: 3
Service: 4.5
Ambiance: 4.5
Someone in my office suggested we bring our out of town coworkers to La Mar Cebicheria Peruana & major props to her!
Arrived a bit early so enjoyed their Happy Hour Sangria & Whiskey Sours. Very small glasses = $5
The Sangria was tasty but between the mass amounts of fruit & ice in the glass, there was hardly any drinky....boo
Entering the restaurant itself, there are cool blues & whites giving off the essence of soothing & relaxation. Our waiter must have had this essence too b/c we hardly saw him but still did not detract too much from a wonderful time
Snacked on their Plantain, Potato & Papaya Chips & man would I like to swim in those dipping sauces or what?! I liked the spicy & sweet ones the best.....mint is a showstopper for me
Coworkers both got the lomo saltado which was a steak dish w/ french fries & rice.....plates were cleaned
I got the risotto de calabaza which was a veggie squash risotto. It was delish!
Saving room for dessert, we got:
* Tiramisu - the tiniest dessert I think I've ever seen. Maybe 2x1 square w/ a tablespoon of ice cream. It was tasty but SMALL
* suspiro limeño - a Dulce de Leche dessert w/ meringue. This was bigger & also tasty - light & creamy
* picarones - this was the definite winner! 4 pumpkin & sweet potato donuts (fritters) with this gooey honey dipping sauce. Yummiliscious & HUGE
Final verdict? We'd definitely come back
Ugh, this place is not nearly as good as I had hoped. The food was taken down several notches on the flavor scale - maybe to cater to a bland american palate?
I was super disappointed with the aji amarillo sauces and the causas.
The ceviche was great and so was the lomo salado but I left with my (high) expectations dashed.
-------------------
Before eating there:
Imagine my true happiness when, while dining at my favorite restaurant in Santiago de Chile, I find they have a branch in San Francisco!!
I could barely contain myself, so i ordered another pisco sour and dug into my ceviche.
Peruvian food is my new favorite and La Mar does an excellent job, no matter what country you're in.
had the whipped potato topped with crabmeat, lomo saltado (beef tenderloin), crema volteada for dessert. The potato had good flavor to it but was very heavy. The beef was overall good and tasty but nothing peruvian about it. The dessert was the best of the three. The chocolate creme was dense and heavy in flavor but made perfect contrast with the foam and there was a hint of spice in the dessert which made it so unique. The food was overpriced and the restaurant was very loud. Not a good spot to take a date and I really can't find anything peruvian about this place.
We went this place for dinner and It was an amazing meal but not for drink.
I know that SF is expensive, but is this the most overpriced drink in the city??
On Labor Day, we came here for an afternoon...snack. We went to the bar to order some cebiche and drinks.
Granted, I know that bar service sucks substantially less than the restaurant side, so I do cut them a little slack...but...well, read on.
It took a while for our waitress to drop off menus and we had to wait a long time for her to come back. By then, we flagged her down in order for her to take our orders.
We ordered the cebiche tasting (Mixto, Chifa, Nikei and Clásico) and a cocktail for each of us (4).
We ended up getting our cebiche well before our cocktails, which is NOT supposed to happen. All four cebiches were...bland, sorry to say. The cocktails were all good, though, so that was nice, but...we were there for the cebiche and...nope...did not hit the spot.
We all hung out for a bit just to talk and enjoy the company, but we all started to realize that our waitress had...disappeared. We continued to wait to see until she would reappear, but after almost two hours of waiting for her, we had to flag someone else down. Mind you, we could have walked straight out of that place and nobody would have noticed! Our waitress did not come to check up on us, nor did we see her anywhere after our food was dropped off. What kind of service is that? At least pass us along to someone else.
Instead of walking out, we ended up getting our check and leave $0 for tip. Yes, sounds harsh, but you had to be there. Bad service, mediocre cebiche, and...BAD SERVICE. Sorry La Mar...not coming back.
Excellent happy hour! Just show up before the masses at 5, grab a seat at the bar and indulge in super fresh, flavorful, thoughtfully prepared ceviches and assorted root chips with three dipping sauces. Wash it down with a tangy and refreshing $5 pisco punch and you're good to go.
The patio seating at La Mar has got to be one of the best locations in San Francisco. It is beautiful, soothing, and like Mehdi says, "Makes you want to vacation in the Caribbean."
I love that there is so much meaning behind each Peruvian dish. One of the only restaurants where everything is actually good, because everything is sooooo fresh. The Anticuchos de pulpo, Grilled Octopus skewers are my favorite!
The best CEVICHE ever!!! what a way to cook seafood, man!! so tasty and healthy at the same time, Sushi cannot top this, for real!
I can't say no more, just try it and you will see...
I am starting to become a Peruvian food maniac that I am actually planning to travel to Peru sometime just to eat lol (and of course know that beautiful ancient citadel of the Incas) peace out!
ps: that juice Chicha Morada is also the bomb!!
Good food, good looking people, and good drinks.
We arrived at 5PM to have a cocktail and I have to say, their drinks are INSANELY good. Man, that chicha tu ma (pisco quebranta, triple sec, passion fruit and chicha morada) was one of the best drinks I have had in the city. And you know me, I can drink. I think $10 was a steal.
The interior is awesome too. Spacious, beautiful colors, and not over the top which makes it classy.
Love the chips and dipping sauces. Colorful, flavorful, and just darn good.
For food, we ordered the cerbiche sampler ($28) which were:
(1) cebiche chifa - Mahi Mahi with peanuts, scallions, ginger, pickled carrots and daikon, habanero pepper, wonton strips and cilantro in sesame leche de tigree
(2) cebiche clásico - Halibut and red onions in habanero pepper leche de tigre with Peruvian corn and yam
(3) cebiche mixto - Mahi Mahi, calamari, octopus and habanero pepper in ají amarillo leche de tigre with cilantro, red onion, corn and yam
(4) cebiche nikei - Ahi Tuna, red onion, Japanese cucumber, in tamarind leche de tigre with avocado
All four cebiches were EXCELLENT.
We also had the empanadas de choclo which was stuffed with corn choclo, butter, and aji amarillo. That was tasty too.
Wow, I love this place. You bet I will return!
It is a pricey spot, but it is a GOOD spot! It has been a while since I've had good ceviche and since my other favorite Peruvian spot (see earlier review) changed for the worse after some good reviews, I have been on the hunt. I had the Cebiche Mixto: excellent flavors and great texture for the fish. Alongside, I had the best pisco sour I have ever had.
I am anxious to return to try more dishes, but it will be a while and i'll tell you why. While the cebiches seem adequately priced for the product/quality/quantity, it seems the platos de fondo are overly priced... particulary for the meat dishes such as the quintessential Peruvian dish Lomo Soltado. It has no business being almost $30 unless it is big enough for two and I'm sure it is not.
People who have read my previous reviews know that I respect only restaurants who can fairly price their menus based on quality and quantity. I would take slightly less swanky decorations for honest food. Like I said, the cebiches are well worth it, but La Mar has priced out some would-be regulars. One day, perhaps I'll be back to try a plato de fondo.
Great place! Not crowded, great happy hour drinks and food from 4-6, really good service, and price was relatively decent. I hung out for 4 hours after work once and after 7-8 different drinks, about 4-5 different appetizers, my friend and split a $80 bill. Not so bad.
The Sangrias are delicious and potent. I was kinda tipsy after 2, totally buzzed after 3, and -- after a drink break, water and food -- back to tipsy after 4. The place isn't crowded and loud, so it's really easy to come here, grab a table or a place a the bar with friends, and enjoy good conversation.
I'd for sure come back!
We went here for our anniversary dinner, after canceling our (much more expensive and fusty) original reservations at French Laundry. Because of that, I was really praying that La Mar would be an interesting and worthwhile substitute.
The cebiche tasting was delicious, and some of the tenderest fish I've ever had (except the halibut, that was a little chewy). Same goes for the potato tastings, those were awesome! Who would've thought that mashed potatoes with fish on top could be so incredible? The tuna one was tops.
We also had the octopus skewer. Again, just super flavorful, tender and delish. I've never had octopus like this before, It was kind of smoky, bbq-y, yummy.
Pisco sours were great, I switched to caiprihanas for dinner, but they were a tad lime-y for me.
Service was excellent. The only hitch was that the bar was behind, and our last round of drinks took forever--we were done eating by the time they arrived. Eh, so it's dessert. So what?
Actually, this place is perfect for happy-hour after a long day at the job. All you need is a pisco sour to erase your workday doldrums.
Overall (Bar/Dinner): Very good place for Peruvian seafood cuisine. Service and decor are good. Food is great for the most part, though some items are worth passing over.
Decor:
Bar was quiet, even as many big events were going on. Perhaps this was do to inclement weather. Restaurant takes full advantage of an ideal location. The place is well designed, with an open feel to the kitchen area.
Service:
Good. Very accomodative, as we were 30 minutes late to a 6pm reservation.
Food:
Great size for 6 people to share most plates. Overall fairly good menu considering we asked waitress to bring chef's/restaurant's best items. Generous portions to the cebiche. Primary reason for only four stars is that the main courses left room for improvement. The grilled octopus was relatively bland and forgettable.
Decor:
Great scene, though perhaps a bit loud. Good location, and large space. Bar can get packed…
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One of the great benefits of living in San Francisco is the fabulous restaurants with their art deco decor, the impressive wine lists, the artsy light fixtures. This is also one of San Francisco's down fall.
La Mar had a spectacular atmosphere, and is a beautiful setting for a romantic evening or a special event. The service was prompt and attentive, and the food was tasty and enjoyable. But paying $27 for Loma Saltado was a hard pill to swallow, especially since you can go down to the market in the Mission and get it for about $10. It's Loma Saltado, it's steak with french fries. It's not a decadent dish.
We are fortunate to live in a city with extravagant restaurants, but my rule is if you can go down to the Mission and get it at a locals spot for a third of the price, and it tastes probably, even better, skip the white cloth napkins.
Hosted a corp dinner here (approx 20 people). They had a nice separate place for us which provided some privacy which was good. They even printed the menu we chose for our team along with the company logo - extra nice touch. Was a bit surprised that they were not as attentive in keeping out wine glasses filled all the time - this was a corp event and budget wasn't a main issue. We should not have had to keep reminding them to fill our wine glasses.
All in all, a good and successful evening.
Yummy food - though I did prefer the appetizers to the main dishes. Cocktails were lovely.
It was a…
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Peruvian food isn't really my thing, but La Mar blew my socks off.
Not only was the food incredibly tasty, but the cocktails were INSANELY delicious and the ambiance was relaxing and not too loud...even with a crowded restaurant. I took some co-workers and executives, and everyone unanimously praised La Mar for its food and service.
A superb culinary experience.
La Mar lived up to all the hype. It has an airy and tropical feel to it. The ambiance is just perfect. I personally love restaurants that have big open spaces. The blue chairs and menus are so eye catching and looked exceptionally well with the white base. The staff was great. There were knowledgeable and our waters were always filled.
Now about the great food..
sweet potato, plaintain and potato chips were delicious with the 3 dipping sauces
Ceviche mix platter - my favorite was the classic peruvian ceviche with mahi-mahi; it was so light and refreshing but i was thankful for this sampler to try the different flavors which were all very good
Ensalada Nikei - light and refreshing; i really enjoyed the little crisps in this salad
Causas - super good purple potato with mahi-mahi, avocado and onions
Empanadas sampler - beef, chicken, seafood and my favorite was the corn because of the sweetness
I loved everything that we ordered, the ambiance and the staff. There isn't one bad thing I can say about La Mar. I'm definitely coming back here and introducing this restaurant to other friends who would also appreciate it.
The service is much much better from my first visit. Our server Michelle was really sweet and knowledgeable. Her knowledge of Peruvian customs and cuisines even impressed my mother and aunt.
On this recent trip I had found that the menu had changed. The lunch menu is not as large as the dinner menu so for a party of 5 we were able to try several dishes. Needless to say the four picky Peruvians at the table were more than happy and approved with great fervor.
If you're not in the mood for dropping serious coin then definitely stop in for lunch. On those rare warm and sunny days I definitely recommend requesting a table outside. And don't forget to order a south american white wine to cool you off, if you're in search of a good value.
On a disappointing note, the arroz con leche has been discontinued. Wtf. What's a peruvian to do?!
Authentic Peruvian cuisine and Peruvian California Fusion. Creative and delicious ceviche. Big menu… Read more »
Loved it! Had dinner there tonight with a friend. She's eaten here several times, but it was my first time. I had the Cebiche Mixto (YUMMY!) and for my entree, I had the Lomo Saltado. Enjoyed saying it as much as eating it. The steak was cooked to perfection. My friend had the Arroz Norteno. I was stuffed (we both were) that there was no room for dessert and the dessert menu looked delish! My Cholopolitan was yummy and so was my friend's Santa Maria cocktail. The different chips (plantains, sweet potatoes, etc.) was a great starter with the different dipping sauces (hot to mild). We were stuffed. Was a great dinner and wonderful ambiance. Will definitely go back for girls' night out again to try the other cebiches and entrees...and hopefully dessert too =).
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