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Categories: Latin American, Live/Raw Food, Performing Arts
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill"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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I have known about this place for years now. It's a very fun place to have a party with your friends. The food is very good. Last time I went, I ordered the vegan dish and it was very good.
I have never seen the Flamenco show but have heard that it is very good. I have see the house band many times with the famous charangero and it is always a good time.
Good food and very nice music!
I've been sitting on this review for 2 months now, so the specifics are a bit hazy. I remember the food being good, but apparently not good enough to remember 2 months later.
The only thing I am sure about, is how amazing the Flamenco performance here was.
The performance is not included in the meal, as many other reviewers warn, and it is loud.
My advice?
Shut up and enjoy the show.
Been meaning to try this place for a while. The hostess was incredibly friendly and went out of the way to make sure everything was great. more salsa? More cashew sauce? How is everything?
The food itself was rather bland. I rarely salt my food, and had too for the chicken.
The ambiance was cool and I bet the music would have been good too, but I wasnt interested in spending $10 on top of the meal for music.
I bet this place would be fun with a group of friends..
I went here for a wedding rehersal dinner and had the entire front area. The food was so good! Appetizers were yummy and the salmon was delish!
I expecially LOVED the live band that includes the owener, her son and husband. Great music.
They also have a theatre upstairs or in the back somewhere, so I defn wana go back and check that out some day. Only thing...parking sucks around there!!
The live music was a plus at this small venue, however, the poor cuisine doesn't make up for it entirely. This restaurant serves an odd mix of vegan/raw food & Bolivian food. My friends ordered the Bolivian fare which wasn't too bad (i.e. empanadas), but my vegan dish was odd tasty & the kale chips were unpalatable. The food was pretty pricey as well.
Seriously loved both the food and the entertainment, but watch out for hidden costs when there is live music/dancing... they don't charge a door cover, but everything, and I mean everything, you order has an extra $10 tacked onto it. For three small plates and three drinks, our bill was an unexpected $140. $20 for a small salad was really criminal. Much more fair to charge the usual prices for the food and a cover for the music.
Booked online for 7pm, we had asked for upstairs seating (we didn't want it to be loud) but turns out they had some theater show going on so couldn't seat us there. We decided to stay downstairs even though it was right in front of the stage.
Mostly it was acoustics style music, but then the real thing kicked off at about 8.30, it was quite fun though very loud and we couldn't hear each other talk.
The food was good not great but better than ok. We had the sample tapas plate which was yummy, though most of the items were deep fried :( We also ordered a tamale which was very different a mexican tamale but tasted nice. This tamale was quite squishy and had a soft fluid texture. The saltenas were crispy on the outside and soft and delicious on the inside.
Finally the Sangrias were fantastic!
I just couldn't resist trying a restaurant with a name like "Pena Pachamama".
So, when a friend said that he was doing vocals for a band on Sunday night, I had to jump at the chance to experience the food and music.
The ambiance at Pena Pachamama is cozy and very upbeat. You feel the cool vibe as soon as you walk into the door.
A few of us went here for dinner to watch Kerry Wing perform vocals with Zanzibar.
The music definitely receives 5 stars and not because I know the the guy doing vocals, cowbell, and guitar, but because the band made everyone in the cozy restaurant want to either sway to the cool beats or get up and dance.
Pena Pachamama has live music from Wednesday to Sunday. The music we got to enjoy was a combination of Afro-funk and Latin. Very cool...
The food receives 3 stars - It's all organic and has some interesting flavors, but leans towards bland, in my opinion.
Silpancho ($21) - Traditional Bolivian Dish, flattened grass-fed beef, pico de gallo, huevo frito, and rice. Too bland for my liking.
Chicharron De Pollo ($19) - Marinated chicken breast, papas fritas, rice, and organic salad. This dish was not as bland as the Silpancho.
Picante De Pollo ($19) - Braised chicken, picante, potatoes, and rice. This probably was the best because it had a bit of a kick.
The food was just OK. I was a bit disappointed. Maybe I am just used to Latin food that kicks my taste buds with spicy deliciousness and being muy caliente!
However, the Liter of Sangria ($24) that was shared amongst 4 people was completely delicious. 5 stars for the Sangria!
The service was not very attentive even though our whole table order entrees. 2 stars for the service!
OVERALL: I love the Live Music and Sangria. There is a cover charge of $10-12 for the live music regardless if you are only there for dinner. Try the Bolivian cuisine, if only once. But, definitely go for the music and drinks.
This place is amazing!! I've been wanting to go there for along time and finally got the chance last night. The music is great they play anything from Cuban music to Flamenco performances! THe food is very very tasty too! The sangria is really good too!!
All around great cultural experience all around not just food but musically!!
Good and unique food (Bolivian). Weak sangria. Friendly, but less-than-great service. Cheap-decor makes for average ambiance. What made the evening so enjoyable (and earned the restaurant three stars instead of two) was the live music (Fri night). The band was amazing and added a wonderful energy to the evening with the entertainment. Be forewarned that to enjoy the live music, you will need to pay for a sort-of prix fixe menu.
Given the NB location, parking is tough on a weekend evening. We paid an exorbitant parking fee at the garage across the street.
My family is from Bolivia and when i went to this restaurant I was excited to try the empanadas/salteñas which you dont find everywhere around here, and it wasnt that great, my moms are better haha :)
but its fun because of the amazing shows they have
3 1/2
I loved, loved the music . You have to keep in mind that this is a show, a performance; it is not just some background music, so the fee is totally acceptable. The band played fantastic latin music. This is coming from a Puerto Rican that lived in Miami 7 years.
The food: that's another story. If I go back, I think I am going to go with the raw. It is interesting the dichotomy between the styles they have: raw and Bolivian. I am not a Bolivian food expert, so I don't know how traditional this is, but the meat was served in a fashion, that as my husband said, was tortured beyond recognition. The meat was obviously pounded and then formed into a very unnatural circular, even shape.
The service was what is expected from a place were waiters can't hear you. We went with friends, and 2 out of 4 dishes were wrong. Same with the drinks. Make sure that they understood what you asked for.
When I first discovered Pena Pachamama about 7 years ago I felt like I had found a wonderful late night Bohemian home in North Beach. One of the organizations I am a member of has monthly meetings here. Everything about Pema Pachmama has deteriorated considerably over the past 2-3 few years. They position themselves as live, raw South American, yet they served cooked dishes with beef. Not sure where to even begin explaining that. I hope the beef is not raw!
What you are guaranteed at Pena Pachamama is
very dim lighting (so you cant' see what's on your plate or the floor), I suppose), very poor, uncaring, unfriendly service, a filthy , stinky bathroom, uncomfortable, crowded seating, and very overpriced, limited menu. The wine list is a joke with the options of ordering 1 or 2 "varietals" by the glass- the rest is by the bottle- none of which is worth mentioning here unless you are fan of Sutter Home, White Zinfandel. The staff does not appear happy at all, and I have not seen the owners around in months.
What is good about this venue are the musicians they attract especially Wed. nights with Freddie Clarke (additional $10.00 cover). Unfortunately, the venue's sound system is also very poor with regular, loud screeching sounds. For your dining experience, stay away- good for music and dance, as long as there are not more than 20 or 25 people trying to move to the groove.
I checked out a band that plays there regularly on Wednesday nights - Freedy plays the spanish guitar and other types of music. It was fantastic and one of the best meals I've had in SF.
Vegan Andean Corn Tamale - I could eat just this and be happy!
Plantains - of course
There was also some sort of raw coconut pie that was exceptional! It was a very mild not overwhelming coconut taste and really really light and creamy.
I don't drink but the ladies I dined with gave two thumbs up on the drinks as well. Not a cheap night but the service is EXCELLENT and the food and music made for a wonderful evening. A great date spot - cozy and relaxing.
My family frequents this lovely little piece of Bolivia located in SF. The food is as authentic as it comes - we should know because we're Bolivian! The Llauja is delish, as well as all the dishes. This place is available for private parties which is what we usually end up doing - closing the place down for private events. We always order a myriad of things off the menu & they never disappoint us - the service is execellent, the performance superb, couldn't ask for more. The owners put on a heart felt & magical performance - they truly are musicians who can cook. A family favorite & a piece of cultural bliss in SF. Besos a Quentin & Eddy.
Wednesday night, Freddy's band. Excellent musicians.
The violin grabs you by the throat, the Arabic singing melts you heart, the tempo makes you want to move, the bass is powerful and the guitar is exquisite. It may sound conflicted, but the music was so skillful and smooth. (Like a latin lover, haha.)
The crowd wasn't too big and by the end of the show, the owner had everybody up and dancing.
The music was more personal because the crowd was so intimate. The musicians joked with the crowd as well as each other. Freddy hits on all women; his sleaziness is a riot. It was a night filled with laughter and great music, what more could one ask for?
I'll be back to see what the belly dancing night is like on one of these Sundays.
The reason I don't give five stars is because, for the price, the meal could have been better. The chicken was overcooked, but the mojito, on the other hand, was really tasty.
I went to this place with my family a while ago. The food is great and on some nights they have live entertainment too. The plantains are one of my favorite dishes and the service is almost as if family were serving you. Make it a point to stop by this place is you're in the area or seeing a show around the block.Thumbs up!
A uniquely wonderful food and dancing experience. Where Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio got married. And Clark Gable and some other old broad had romantic rendezvous.
Pena Pachamama serves Bolivian food. With a heavy influence of raw and veggie. There is meat on the menu. Salmon, chicken and I think I spied some beef. The dishes are medium sized, and very filling. Due to a combination of fresh ingredients and rich sauces. Try out the raw pizza or tortillas stuffed with avocado and other goodies. Came with a tasty salad with one of the best dressings had in some time.
Now on to the dancing. On certain nights of the week there is live dancing and music. From the calendar, it spans from latin to middle eastern. On the night we were here, it was a mix of so-so middle school hip-hop dance talent show to belly dancing. Interesting to say the least.
Pena's location in North Beach makes it easily accessible and is a hidden treasure amongst all the trattorias and bars. Be prepared to have some gyrating hips and substantial bellies thrust your way.
Oh dear.
The food was very rich and the atmosphere is much more quaint and intimate than what I imagined (based on their website).
The performance was pretty fun; especially when the dancer, who was fantastic, pulled up diners to join her! But just a tip--if you hear screeching coming from the mic...TURN IT DOWN!!!
The wait staff however, was less than attentive or accommodating which I did not appreciate since I was spending around $120.
There were moments when my stomach was in knots because I was so upset with feeling ignored while other tables were being attended and given priority; this dinner was a celebration and we had made reservations!
Since we arrived on time and the restaurant was pretty empty, we asked for particular seats (nice view of the stage.) About three tables made up the center but we were told we could not sit in any of them because we only had two people in our party.
Instead we were shoved in a corner where a statue was encroaching on my seat/elbow/table space. 20 minutes later, another couple was seated in the center seats which we had asked for. I asked the waitress why that happened and she said there were two other people coming in their party. The two other people never came. And mysteriously, two other couples were seated in the other center seats we had asked for and they only had two people in their parties. I guess their other guests were no-shows as well.
After our first course, we waited 30 minutes for our second course and drinks. This would otherwise be fine, but no one checked in, or asked if we would like drinks or told us the kitchen was backed up (even though there were only 4 other tables.)
Main course came out and it was super rich, which I suppose comes with the territory of eating live/raw food but I could only eat half of the plate.
After waiting 20 min. for our dessert (just 3 course meal), I indicated to our waitress that we had to be somewhere and unfortunately needed to get going shortly. So instead of bringing out our dessert immediately, they just skipped it and just gave us our check!! I paid and we waited 15 minutes after they processed our card, thinking they would come out with our dessert, but we didn't see our waitress again, and since we had to catch a taxi, we just left.
This restaurant had great potential but I won't be returning or recommending it to anyone which is very unfortunate because a Latin American healthy restaurant is just up my alley and I would have loved to treat my parents and out of town guests to a place like this.
Next time, I'll risk being monotonous and go to Millennium where I know I'll get great service and great, healthy food for the same price.
Love Pena Pacha Mama!!! - a unique restaurant - owners are also artists/musicians. So much love in the food and business. A rare kind of place, magic happens here, you're lucky to be a part of it.
Yelp - move the 2007 outdated 1star review to the rubbish
Silpancho! So good!
WOW .... I'm still sweating from all the dancing! I just got home and I HAD TO SHARE THIS WITH ALL OF YOU!
I ended up going there because Gabriel, the owner's son invited me. I decided to make it a group event and 14 of my friends ended up going!
All of us had an AMAZING TIME!
For starters we had cuban music by Eddy Navia, Fito Reinoso, Gabriel Navia, and others. The entire group played amazing. At one point the music was soooo good, I couldn't stay seated ... so I grabed my friend and started dancing. 45 minutes into it, everyone was feeling the music and instead of eating their dinner, my friends and I got the entire restaurant on their feet!!
The food was very good. I'm no food expert but I love to eat good food, and I had a hard time deciding between eating or dancing ... it was all too good!!!!
Throughout the whole night we were drinking sangria ... very good as well!
After dinner and music, we had an informal show of FOGO NA ROUPA, a batucada group that wanted to practice for a show they're doing on Sunday ....
ANOTHER HOUR OF DANCING!!!
The place has its history too! You're going to have to go to check it out ... I'll just say it used to be Speak Easy ....
ONE MORE THING::::::::
I started to read the reviews and they have made a major change ... THEY DON'T CHARGE for the music anymore.
They have THREE OPTIONS:
- $20 for 1 tapa and show
- $40 for 1 main entree + 1 drink (beer/wine/sangria) and show (I had the Pacha Pollo ..... delicious!)
- Menu prices but no show and you sit upstairs .... which is where Speak Easy was done!
So don't read the reviews about: "They charged me for the show ..." --- they have listened to you and have changed their price structure!
Love this little place!! The decor of the restaurant is fabulous. From the unique castle-looking front door, to the foyer-nook area, to the stage setup, this cute little restaurant gets 5 stars for its atmosphere.
In addition, the food and drinks were good, and service was fabulous! I came here with friends visiting from NYC, and the owner (I think she's the owner) was so friendly and chatting with my friends about her past experience in NY. We ordered the tapas sampler and the vegetarian and beef empanadas. We also had a pomegranate martini and liter of sangria. The drinks were delicious!
Unfortunately, the night we came there was no live music. But usually Wed-Sun, there's a live band playing various Cuban/Latin music. I will definitely be back to check that out!
Wonderful little restaurant that I'm so glad I stumbled upon. The decor is cozy and intimate, not a huge place but they have a little bar in the back. The raw food was a surprise and a delight, I highly recommend getting one of the samplers so you can try a bit of everything. Truly original dishes, delicious and just amazing! I had a raw chocolate taco salad which blew my mind; hope it makes it to the regular menu.
The live dancing was fabulous, very talented musicians and dancers, and in such an intimate setting it was quite the experience. The owner was very friendly and had lots of suggestions for us. Can't wait to go back!
I came here last night with a date. We were walking past, having been stared down out of Rogue during their trivia challenge contest, and I saw a sign that said "Flamenco show-Tonight!"
I went nucking futs, for you see, I studied Flamenco in SPAIN, and have yet to get back into it. (Here's 3 thousand dollars...now start flushing!)
We go inside and the atmosphere was quaint enough, there was a part of the floor open for the flamenco dancers (YAY) and we were seated within about 5 minutes upon arrival. We sat next to a group of drunk women with an age identity crisis and black amex card's for therapy sake (dior, gucci, fendi--oh my!), and proceeded to be without service for the next 15 minutes.
When our waitress came over, we ordered a mojito and sierra nevada, and also a vegan corn tamale, plantains with a black bean reduction, and a bolivian beef empanada (I'm on the ANTM diet, remember?). Plus, we weren't THAT hungry. (Like hell.)
It took a while to get the food--it wasn't *exemplary*, like I hoped it would be, but it was still really, really good. I'm starting to get into the whole "ooo veganism cult, lets try this out" thing, so to have a raw-food vegan option was awesome! (although, I wasn't too keen on the whole "raw-living" food--the only way it's allowed to be living on my plate is if its mooing and I'm jabbing my fork through its skull. Just kidding! kinda.)
The show was good--I'm a tad biased because I grew up watching Christina Hoyos and Antonio Gades, so watching anything else is mind-numbing to me, but I still enjoyed it thoroughly because I love Flamenco in all its attributes, not just the greatest of them. I kept kicking myself for not bringing my shoes out that night...
However--there was a performance charge? 10 bucks. Oh well. Worth it. The mojito, however...not so much. It tasted like water. Literally. No carbonation, the mint was 4 years old, no sugar (let alone lime), and absolutely no alcohol. At the end of the night, I asked the waitress to taste it, and she said "Oh my goodness. Yeah, this is terrible! I'm taking it off the bill for you".
And THAT is what earned them their 4 stars. A culmination of all those things. The last bit was a cake topper.
Then, we went over to Columbus Cafe where I proceeded to get heavily buzzed. Tah-Dah!
5 stars for the Tango music and dance.
2.5 stars for the food.
Appetizer sampler: some stuff is god, some is just fine. Ironically, the thing I like the most among 6-7 items, is the fried banana and tiny salad.
The salmon entree: pretty well cooked salmon that melts in your mouth, not at all dry or tough. Mashed sweet potato and spinach are nice, but nothing special at all.
The chicken entree: just like we thought about the chicken on the appetizer sampler plate, DRY! without much taste.
The food was kinda disappointing, but I like their organic/vegan selection which shows that they care. BUT, the performance was very very impressive. I used to take tango lessons, and these guys are great. The musicians, the bandoneon and bass, just 2 of them made GREAT tango music.
Very nice ambiance, intimate, small, and exotic. Parking is expensive if you park in the garage across the street, though good service. Find street parking in the neighborhood.
OK, I love this place! BUT only for one reason.... Wobbly World plays every other Wednesday night. They play the most beautiful world music I have ever heard. Freddie Clark, entertains the crowd wonderfully.... and I guarantee you will be up and dancing before you know it.
The downside to this place.... THE FOOD IS TERRIBLE! I definitely recommend having dinner somewhere else before going to listen to the music.
My bf knows the owners, since they are the frequent at Cafe Gratitude. The menu reflect the healthy vegan selection, but there are also Beef and Chicken dishes which I think is a dramatic contrast. We went in on a Thursday evening, didn't know there was flamenco performance. I ordered the traditional beef dish and we had a pitcher of sangria. Sangria can use more fruit, in my opinion. Beef dish is good.
The performers are really awesome, but I saw a review about the $10 charge. I knew which group that is and I agree that the entertainment fee is a bit on the higher end, but what the heck! I'm only in SF once a while so paying $20 to add the fun, it's totally worth it! I will come back for sure, maybe with my girlfriends next time.
The food here is so Good!!! If it were in the east bay I would be there once a week. If you go get the salmon. On Sundays they have live arabic music and dancers it can be a bit crowded but it is still a nice dinner.
I hve not been on the other nights but they have a ton of ethnic shows.....
It is a gem....
I'm giving Pena Pachamama 5 stars for being willing to open up their space to visiting chefs for vegan brunches on Sundays. The brunches are being done by visiting chefs who do all the shopping and prep work on their own. I'd guess there are some kinks to be worked out while they figure out which chefs they like and which ones they do not. However, I think it's great that a non-vegetarian restaurant is willing to do something off the beaten path.
I went to the Mexican themed raw vegan brunch the day after cinco de mayo. Visiting chef Sam Lippman did a great job with the food. The three of us shared a number of small plates and each had our own dessert. Grand total with tip came out to $15 per person.
I have not yet dined off of Pena Pachamama's regular menu, however I checked it out while I was there for brunch. It looks like they have a number of vegan entrees on the menu...I plan on coming back on a regular night (probably with a meat eating friend) to check it out. And I will definitely be back to support the vegan brunch.
Pena Pachamama is an interesting place. Defintely has a nice atmosphere, with low light (no light the night I went, due to 'earth hour'), and nice decor. Band was very good, and entertaining, playing a mix of latin music, and dancing shows
Had nice bar small bar in the back for to get the drinks started before dinner. Sangria was alright, nothing to write home about, tasted like slightly sweeter red wine, no pieces of fruit in it)
First time having bolvian food, it was a good experience. Everything smelled wonderful, and tasted good as well. The yuca fries were very tastey as well as the silpancho. So why only 3 stars (well it's more like 3 1/2) ...
Pricey. The silpancho was $18, and for what you get, it was little steep. And also there is cover for the show $13 I think. I would expect for dinner patrons, the show would be complimentary. And it kind of is a show atmosphere, making it hard to talk during performances.
So if you going here for the whole bolivian experience show, dance band, food, 4 stars. But if you just want to taste the food, come before the show to avoid the cover charge, other wise 3 stars.
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I think what ruins this place the most is the high expectations. It sounded really cool and nice from the website, and the experience was just a big letdown. Afterwards I felt like I used to after bad online dating experiences.
It started off on a bad foot as we ended up getting seated next to a table full of screaming children. Ok, not the restaurant's fault, but it made me tense and they certainly didn't help matters by giving the little brats maracas to bang around.
The waiter was completely unknowledgeable about the menu. When we asked him to describe the beers on menu he said that they all tasted like Heineken. Is that supposed to be a selling point? He also told my husband that the vegetarian saltenas were vegan. We think they were, but the big slab of cheese that came on his side salad was definitely not.
The sangria was terrible. Amongst the worst I've ever had. I ordered the raw lasagna (I normally love raw foods which is why my expectations were so high). It was decent, but the tiny portion made Weight Watchers meals look generous. Speaking of frozen foods, it was reported to me that the saltenas were reminiscent of Hot Pockets.
Anyway, at least the waiter warned us before we ordered that if we stayed past a certain point we'd have to pay for the music. So a few minutes before 9, we high-tailed it out of there. Anyway our group left feeling a little hungry still, and glad there were plenty of places nearby to get better drinks. But at least I sort of get to say I've tried Bolivian food now.
This place is definitely a favorite.
I first heard about Pena PachaMama when my friend from grad school married a young woman of Bolivian decent and we were looking for something that had food authentic to what her relatives make.
Sure enough, this place fits the bill.
Now every time my buddy and his wife visit SF, we head to Pena PachaMama for a visit. And EVERYTIME, the food and the evening is great. Dinner here can truly be an entertaining event. (I once ate here with a troupe of 20 Bolivian dancers that were in town for a parade. Needless to say when the song and dance started it turned into a happy mad house).
I really have no complaints about this place. The owners and staff are always friendly. Sometimes service may be a little slow, but if that happens, it usually means the place is packed.
And I love the food. The Saltenas are awesome. And I've ordered a couple other plates, but lately, I've really preferred the Silpancho dinner. Man is this stuff good.
This is a unique restaurant as they usually have live music (WARNING: there's a door fee if you stick around for the live music). This is one of the cool, unique restaurants SF has to offer. Its definitely worth checking out, if not making it a seasonal regular.
The staff was friendly, but the food was not wonderful. They allowed us to saunter in to watch the band without paying the $10 music enjoyment (?) fee.
There were 4 of us and we easily filled up on one order of the tapas sampler and an addt'l order of saltenas. The sampler included:
- Salteas: (filled pastry) filling but not spicy or flavorful enough
- Chicharron de Pollo: (chicken) the 2nd best dish after the salad
- Papas y Yuca la Huancaina: (potato)
- Bolivian meatballs: husband's favorite
- Organic Dinner Salad: this was my favorite, satisfied with the dressing and the cheese that accompanied it
We also shared a bottle of Cab which left me with a sour face. The ambiance was great so I would try this place again and maybe order one of the large plates. The atmosphere and the staff really make this place.
Pena Pachamama is a perfect restaurant for a celebration. Colorful paper flags and streamers hang from the ceiling. The lights are low, candles flicker on the tables. The ever-changing nightly music adds to the festive feel.
The food is organic and good but not the focus. It is about the whole charming, romantic experience.
The cover charge for the show is waived if ordering the three-course special - $29.95 during the week and $34.95 on week-ends. Dinner and an excellent show makes this a great bargain.
As to the food, for good Bolivian food, go to El Charro in South San Francisco. Pena Pachamama pales in comparison.
As mentioned, the salsa is great and the bread disappointing.
The Bolivian beer, Pacea is a crisp lager with a little smokiness to it.
They make the Bay Area's only the saltena, an empanada-type of Bolivian snack. stuffed with tasty, tender chunks of beef, a raisin, a piece of green olive and some pieces of potato. It was fine but not much better than a hot pocket.
The silpancho is a thin piece of tender, barely breaded beef that was the shape and size of a dinner plate. It didn't have too much flavor.
It had a scoop of tasty rice with an over-cooked egg on top. The point of this dish is to have the egg yolk break into and combine with the rice.
There was a skimpy concasse with not enough chopped peppers, onions and tomatoes. There were also four thin, round slices of fried potato. It was an OK dish, but that's all.
Skip the Kantuta for dessert which was a stale tough, sugar and cinnamon tostada shell was filled with average vanilla ice cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce.
Despite some average food, I really enjoyed Pena Pachamama and will go back for special occasions, try some of the other dishes while the music and ambiance.
For the second time I ventured out to North Beach to go to the Lobster Shack for a late dinner, excited about bringing my own wine, only to find that it closes early (you think I would remember).
Upon realizing I was again in this dilemma, I got to talking to an old North Beach Local who suggested I try Pena Pachamama. He described the taste as one of the best things to ever hit his palette. Needless to say, I had high expectations.
I would say that when they do have live music, it may be a bit pricey. I think it was either $12 for the show plus food or a rather hefty set menu price. We were told bringing our own wine was fine, only to find a $12 per bottle corkage fee (which is more than we paid for the wine). The appetizers were really good, but the only entree (suggested by mentioned man above) which was delicious was the Silpancho. I would actually probably go back just for that dish.
The music was good and created a good ambiance, but it felt inappropriate to talk during each song, which for a group is not ideal. We danced and shook our little groove things, but the waitresses did as well leading to a long dinner with below par service.
Bottom line: Come here to hear good music only or to get a sampling of the Silpancho.
I gave it two stars because we didn't get sick after we ate here. We tried the full (large) appetizer plate figuring it would give us a good idea of what else they can do and if things sucked we wouldn't be in the hole for an ungodly sum. The chicken thing had the consistency of jerky, the empanadas seemed like they were pre-baked then microwaved or toasted in the oven before serving. The potatoes were ok, but nothing that really stood out.
Like the others have written, the plantains were yummy and the sangria was decidedly uninspired. We won't be going back anytime soon.
I had quite a unique dinner at Pena Pachamama on Saturday night. The story:
- got a reservation for the 4 of us (parents & bro) at about 6 pm for a 7:30 dinner on OpenTable
- arrived and walked into an independent film that was being filmed at the restaurant while we ate
- shared a 1/2 liter of sangria with my brother (pretty good though completely missing any chunks of fruit)
- enjoyed the bread with spicy salsa
- shared appetizer platter with my brother; I think the plantains were the best!
- ordered 3 different chicken dishes for the table which were pretty good but nothing phenomenal
- read on the menu that there was a $10 entertainment fee when then band started so we left quickly when we finished and the band started playing ;) (good music but not worth $40 for the 4 of us!)
- I had requested on OpenTable that they please sing happy b-day to my dad... they literally pulled us back into the restaurant as we were walking out and the entire restaurant gawked while the band played & sang happy birthday for my dad and we enjoyed a big piece of chocolate cake with a candle in it
- that cake was good and the funny experience was even better!
- pretty good service & pretty reasonable prices too in a cute little restaurant
I'm a little biased because I know one of the bands who play here (the Georges Lammam Ensemble and they are fantastic btw) but I've been here twice and there is something about Pachamama you just have to love. Probably because there is something very loving about Pachamama. The friendly nature of the staff, the all-are-one vibe, the love of live music and global culture, the sustainable food... it all comes together to create a very special little place.
The wines by the glass are easy drinking and good. Food here is simple but good and I particularly like the Saltenas (a tasty, mildly spiced beef-filled pastry). I also think the 3-course Pachamama Special for $34.95 (weekends) is pretty good considering it includes the cover charge for the band. it includes tapas, entree and dessert. Not bad at all.
The food is delicious --we had the vegetarian sampler platter, salmon, and beef... plus Bolivian beer and homemade sangria. The food, including the meat, is local and organic. There's also vegan food on the menu.
The prices are rather high, especially for the music shows, but it's a lot of fun.
Eddy and Quentin Navia, are wonderful, warm, and welcoming. Accomplished musicians, they have created in Pena Pachamama a warm oasis of music, spirit, and companionship. In addition to sometimes joining in on the musical performances, Eddy runs the bar and Quentin cooks.
We enjoyed the flamenco music and dancing on Thursday, and jazz on Monday...we hope to enjoy more, from New World Band Latin/Flamenco/Mediterranean/Contemporary on Wednesdays, to Cuban on Fridays, to Carnaval on Saturdays, to Middle Eastern dancing on Sundays. They also have weekend brunches.
$1 Oysters at Happy Hour
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