"Franco’s Latin Table in West Portal doesn’t stand out from the other Peruvian restaurants in the city, but it’s still a great option if you’re in the area and looking for solid plates of ceviche, causas, and generously portioned mains. Most dishes could use some tweaking, but you’ll still likely finish off whatever’s on your plate, and, in the case of the easily shareable mains, gladly ask for a box to take home leftovers. On the main drag of West Portal Ave. half a block from the Muni, Franco’s is a convenient lunch or dinner pitstop, but for weekend dinners, you may run into a wait. For a guaranteed seat, swing by for lunch. Ask for the table near the window that offers the only natural light inside the dark all-wood dining room. Food Rundown photo credit: Patrick Wong Tiradito Salmon There’s a lot to love about this dish. The fish is firm, the aji amarillo will cause a few beads of sweat to instantly appear on your brow, and passion fruit juice adds a slight sweetness. However, this is all overshadowed by too much salt. Throwing a piece of salmon on one of the house tortilla chips helps evens things out, though. photo credit: Patrick Wong Pulpo Ala Parilla While the entire dish is just spicy enough and charred to a satisfying crisp, you should save the non-tentacle bites for your least favorite person at the table. They’re tough and chewy, while the octo-arms are tender. Don’t forget about the slices of potatoes that have soaked up all the juices at the bottom of the plate. photo credit: Patrick Wong Adobo De Chancho A fantastic dish with just one flaw: inconsistent cooking. Some parts of the slow-braised pork are moist and fall apart just from a slight breeze coming through the door. Others are dry and gristly, requiring a slick of the refried beans to go down. photo credit: Patrick Wong Causa Sampler A must-order. Soft mounds of yellow potatoes are each topped with ahi tuna, chicken, or beets and garnished with cherry tomatoes and hardboiled eggs. The tuna and chicken are creamy and savory while the beet is sweet and refreshing. Yuca Frita Lightly crisp with a fluffy interior. We just wish the accompanying aji verde wasn’t so bland." - Patrick Wong
