Café Cusco

We had dinner at Café Cusco and decided to try Peruvian food even though it wasn’t really on our list. The café itself has a really nice vibe and cozy ambiance. We ordered the sweet potato dish and Lomo Saltado. The sweet potato dish looked more like glass noodles and was very soft/soggy, not really our thing. The Lomo Saltado was good but nothing wow, still the safer choice if you go. No food poisoning, but my boyfriend did need a few bathroom trips after. Because of that, we’re giving it 2 stars.

We drive about 45 min to enjoy the delicious food at Cusco. Love the blackfish and the trout with their tasty mashed potatoes.The cheesecake is phenomenal and it's hard to know if you should start with it or finish with it. Excellent! service. We celebrated our 26th anniversary there recently.

Delicious!!! I got the Amazon Fried Rice and it was so packed with flavor. The fried plantains were so perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside as well. So many different dishes to try that I hadn't heard before in any other restaurant. I will be back for another culinary experience and the cozy upscale vibes with great prices. Also, they have an entire separate menu for vegans, so there really are great options for any palate!

This beautiful cozy restaurant features American and Peruvian dishes. I had the Amazon Rice with chard, pork, rice, peas, onions, and topped with fried plantain. Flavorful without heavy spice. Hot sauce was on the table. Fish, chicken, pasta, salads, wraps, and more. Full bar, eclectic wine list with South American wines. The carved wood and stained glass booths elevated the atmosphere and suited the copper tile ceiling.

Fantastic place. Delicious food and very friendly staff. Highly recommended, great to go with family or on a date. Outside patio available

The world is a wonderful place. That you can find delicious tiradito de atun and Peruvian ceviche and seafood escabeche in Springfield MO is just a gift from life to all of us. Thank you. What a treat. And that pisco sour!

Stopped here while looking for a band family dinner on the way to our hotel. We always look for places that offer vegan options as well and we were not disappointed with Café Cusco! We were able to call and make a reservation for 5 with no problem. They staff was very kind and welcoming when we arrived and the food was AMAZING. I was happy to stop somewhere that had a really nice take on traditional Peruvian cuisine to show my bandmates a little piece of my heritage as the daughter of a Peruvian born parent!

A must stop ! Located in a beautiful historical downtown area . They offer 2 separate menus here , one regular and one entirely vegan . Robust flavor , portions weren’t outta control . Prices were on the higher end but well worth it.

Ate at happy hour.Food and drinks were amazing! Our waiter was very knowledgeable and helpful.We tried food we have never had before and loved it. Sat outside on a beautiful day but inside decor was impressive

What great ambience (think cozy, warm, slightly dimmed lighting, and the sound of sizzling platters, with the aromatic spices which are somehow both comforting and stimulating)! The food was very good; I tried the rabbit (sweet, bit chewier than chicken, and darker meat). It was interesting! We also ordered sweet potato noodles with peas and spinach and added shrimp; that was delicious. Overall, pleased. The service (provided by both Caden and Leigh) was stellar. I'll be back when in Springfield.

Awesome find. Seriously good food and most items are naturally gluten free. In fact the non- gluten free items are marked NGF. Love it! Great patio - we took our dog. Inside is dark but inviting. Finally the service was outstanding. Shout out to Trevor for making great recommendations making us feel welcome.

A must stop ! Located in a beautiful historical downtown area . They offer 2 separate menus here , one regular and one entirely vegan . Robust flavor , portions weren't outta control . Prices were on the higher end but well worth it.

It was SO nice finally eating a hot meal in Missouri after spending an entire week in Branson with no gluten-free options as someone with celiac disease. Almost the entire menu is gluten-free and they have a dedicated fryer. Thank GOD. My husband and I ordered: - Fried Guacamole / Palta Fritas. $9.99 (Appetizer) - Lomo Saltado. $18.99 (Main) - Amazon Fried Rice. $15.99 (Main) - Lúcuma Cheesecake. $10 (Dessert) - Bottle of hot sauce to take home. $10 While the fried rice was a tad oversalted and I didn't like the Cheerio crust on the cheesecake, the food was so good and the salsa... Omg. I could have taken a case home of that stuff. It is hot but complex and flavorful. The salsa alone is worth another visit. They have a menu with foods you might not see anywhere else in town such as deep fried rabbit with basil lime aioli, BBQ jackfruit with Peruvian panca peppers or blackened cobia on a bed of ahi amarillo mashed potatoes. The restaurant is in an old building from the 1800's with tables, booths and even a dining room upstairs. The bathrooms are individual rooms with a sink and changing table, so they are unisex. Service was great. Overall, I would definitely return. Visited December 2024

Dogs are welcomed here which is really awesome. We had good service even though clearly there was one server covering inside and out. Was surprisingly attentive. The trout salad was phenomenal and check out the size of that fish!! I had the salsa verde salad and regretted it. The verde salsa was like a gross smoothie and smothered the entire salad. Really just ate the chicken. Mango was slimy and overly ripe but ‍ maybe that's how Peruvian people like them. Really liked this place though just a bad choice on my part.

Love this restaurant! I had ordered takeout before and loved the food, so decided to eat inside. I loved that they had an entire vegan menu with several options. The decor was so cute, and the service was great. I can't wait to return and try another menu option.

This place is absolutely amazing. The food was fenomenal, the service was outstanding and the place looks super charming. Def recommend this place. I had the ceviche and I couldn't stop eating it because was too good. Then I ordered the blacked fish and was just perfectly cooked. The Pisco sour was delicious. Cannot wait to come back and taste some of the other dishes. I'll Give them 10

Food was great, service even better and great location! Caught lunch on way to airport and it did not disappoint.

Maybe a hidden gem in Springfield. We had never had Peruvian food before, but we are sold now. Perfect service by Rheanna! She made the evening fun and had great recommendations. Great ambiance, although a little small. We enjoyed the private booths. My wife loved the Margarita Cubano! We began with the Tequenos. A Peruvian take on fried cheese sticks. These were delicious and the marina like sauce was very good. We loved both entrees. My wife had the Checken Para Rayos and thought pretty good, although very rich cream sauce, but we felt like the Chicken Saltado was the better of the two with a unique and delicious flavor. It was also the lighter of the two. We had to try dessert and Rheanna recommended the cheesecake. I loved the Lucuma Cheesecake and definitely recommend it. Very different, but delicious.

So super tasty, with great service despite us being a group of 10. The restaurant vibe and ambiance is very beautiful--with stained glass, fun lighting fixtures, and intimate booth setups. Can be a good fit for all crowd types! The house made hot sauce at the table was so good. I regret not remembering to buy a bottle on our way out.

Our food was absolutely amazing. We got the Chicken Saltado and the Chicken Para Rayos and they were both so delicious. We also loved the ambiance here, the interior is decorated so beautifully and really gets you excited for good food! The intoxicating smell of the food when you walk in is also a bonus! We also got two cocktails that were perfectly crafted. Despite all of this we had some pretty bad service. We waited for over 20 minutes before our waiter showed up to the table in a slow restaurant. When he arrived, he did not apologize and instead bluntly asked what we wanted. Throughout our dining he did not check in with us at all and was not personable. We were disappointed at the level of service compared to the amazing restaurant we were sat in, but we will definitely return to try again as it was probably just a bad day.

Our first visit to Cafe Cusco was back in the Fall of '13, several weeks after they first opened, enjoying it as a novelty. My wife has since been to Peru and, matter of fact, had her first Pisco Sour in the restaurant's namesake city, Cusco. She did not, however, have the roasted Guinea Pig which seems to be a Peruvian staple! Thankfully, we didn't see it on the menu or I may have been forced to sample it. We had two hours to kill tonight, were hungry enough to eat but not enough for a bounty so we decided to hit C-Street for a lighter, more unique meal. We got to CC before it started filling up & promptly seated in a sizeable booth near the kitchen. It was nice to watch them work, though a beautiful evening & setting to dine outside. Our waiter, Ryan, brought us two waters & menus when he first arrived at our table. He was pretty laid-back but highly attentive though not to the point of encroaching on our privacy - yet we never wanted for anything. Now, that's my kind of service! We told Ryan we were eating light, starting with two Pisco Sours, then the Jalea Mixta appetizer of calamari, shrimp, Wahoo & plantains to split, with a cup of their Chupe de Rio spicy crawfish stew for me. We also split the Colorado Chicken Skewers entree, served over aji amarillo mashed potatoes with agave chipotle sauce & pico de gallo atop all. Everything was very good: The drinks were well-prepared & tasty; the seafood appetizer was delicately fried to perfection; the Chupa was more soup than stew but delicious; and the skewers couldn't have been any more tender. The sauce had 'creeper heat' that snuck up & bit you but 2 refills of water plus half of my wife's tamed it. Ryan said that the heat was a matter of the day & peppers...I got the hotter day apparently but I could not stop eating it, it was that good on the pleasingly slightly-chunky, mashed potatoes! The tab was around $70 including Ryan's 18% tip. We had a delightful evening at CC which took no more than an hour, with plenty of time to make our next engagement at 8pm. There's no question that CC is still a novelty, serving unique, satisfying Peruvian cuisine in an eclectic ambiance with great service. It would be a great place to share with friends after you sample it first.

Bad. $76 for chicken &rice that was no better than hamburger helper and fish that seemed like it was microwaved. Not to mention the staff was talking loud and cleaning furiously an hour before end of service.

The jack fruit nachos are so yummy- words just can't describe how good they are. The verde chicken salad has just the right amount of heat- so refreshing! The waitress was delightful-such amazing service & recommendations!

Another Springfield establishment worth your patronage. The atmosphere is casual and another great date night location. The service is prompt and attentive and knowledgeable. We started our meal with their Yucca Fries; fried and seasoned yucca root served with three delicious dipping sauces basil lime aioli, yellow pepper mayo and gulf sauce. Great starter app but save room for dessert. $10.99 with the price. For my main I ordered Chicken Saltado; tender juicy chicken sautéed with onion, tomato in aji amarillo, garlic and white wine. Tossed over rice then topped with cilantro and served with a side of garlic rice. This dish was OMG delish. The chicken was incredibly tender and flavorful. Def recommend this dish. $15.99 it was priced right IMO. Finally for dessert when I see a one of a kind opportunity it's a sure bet I'll say yes please. Mazzamora Morada is a must try. I would dine at Cafe Cusco again just to order this amazing dessert. Served warm, not overly sweet but the favor is OMG HEAVENLY. $4.99, Is pay double that for this sweet treat. I will most definitely return to Cafe Cusco next time I visit Springfield.

Soooo good ahhhh!!!!! Love this restaurant. The food, service, ambiance, live music by Jazzon... it's hard to top a restaurant that cares this much and has this great of dishes.

Great find in Springfield, Historic C Street area. Everything was great starting with the Pisco Sour drink (unique, not too sweet), followed by seafood mixta and sashimi tuna. Next we had the pork and the blackfish and both were tasty. Finally had the chocolate torta. All great recommendations from our attentive server, Christina. Highly recommend this place if you are in the area.

Really, really great food. Menus are well marked for gluten free options and staff is super knowledgeable. We had chicken mojo, chicken verde, and the askinose chocolate torte. Everyone was happy. Don't miss the chocolate torte. One of the best gluten free desserts I've had. FYI... they have a lunch menu that is significantly less expensive than their dinner menu, and portions are great sizes.

Their service was really good. Staff is super friendly and the food was absolutely delicious. It was an upscale place for sure. Definitely coming back

Pros: - Beautiful ambiance - Fast service. - Delicious!! (Seriously, you can't go wrong.) But the Colorado Skewers ($15) were my *absolute* favorite. The sauce, chicken, pico de gallo, and mashed potatoes went together sooo well. If you're not sure what to get, this is the one. The Jalea Mixta (fried calamari and shrimp) was a great appetizer, and even the side salad was tasty. The Olive Trout was good, but I don't remember eating many olives when I went to Peru. The Chicken Para Rayos was delicious too. The only cons are the (dubious) authenticity, and it was $75 for 3 of us + one appetizer, with no drinks or dessert. But they were kind enough to honor Yelp's 5% check-in discount.

Came here with my girlfriend after a long day, looking for something new to try. Cusco Cafe definitely delivered on the unique menu - we spotted Fryer Rabbit and Sweet Potato Noodles! Fryer Rabbit: Interesting choice, but fell a bit short. The rabbit itself was tough and heavily lime-flavored.While it had decent taste, I've had much better rabbit in the past. (Next time, I'll try the Lomo Saltado!) Sweet Potato Noodles with Shrimp: My girlfriend really liked this dish! The noodles themselves were surprisingly subtle on the sweet potato flavor, and the overall taste was excellent. Tres Leches: A bit of a miss. Way too much cinnamon on top completely overpowered the other flavors. We had to scrape some off to enjoy the actual cake, which was good underneath. Despite the mixed experience with the food, I have to give a shoutout to the ambiance and staff. The restaurant has a great atmosphere, and the service was friendly and attentive. This bumped them up to a 4-star experience overall. Would I come here again? Yes. It's definitely worth a try.

Love the aesthetic of the place. So cute! Food was delicious. We ordered the Aji De Gallina and the chicken ocopa both on the lunch menu. We also got the caramel cheesecake. Had cinnamon in it. So so good.

Food was delicious, service was great, but portions on the Chicken Kabob meal were a little disappointing compared to the noodle dishes.

First time in Springfield. Uber driver recommended Cafe Cusco. Food was excellent, fabulous flavors, the hot sauce - well we about finished a bottle. Great quantity and exceptional service. A definite return maybe before we leave.

Good food, good service, great ambiance...absolutely love this beautiful old 1890s era building

Trevor was an awesome host. Try the vegan mushroom sandwich and spicy pasta. 10/10. Amazing atmosphere too. Worth checking out

All I can say is, wow! This place exceeded my expectations. Beautiful historic building very tastefully renovated. The food was amazing. Full of flavor! There was only one waitress there and she was so helpful and quick. If I ever come through the area again I will be coming here again!!

Passing thru on way from Dallas to St Louis and Cafe Cusco was within walking distance of the Airbnb. Having recently learned of Pisco and making my own Pisco sours at home, I wanted to see how theirs compare as well as combine them with some good Peruvian food. While the surrounding areas look a bit "suspect", this few block stretch seems to be creating a nice enclave. "The oldest tavern in Springfield" was a block away from the cafe which we checked out prior to dinner. The waitress described their food as "Peruvian fusion" and the website says "Peruvian inspired" which I assume means "modified so more folks from Springfield will like it". Not knowing authentic Peruvian food, I can't make that comparison; all I know is everything I had was really good and the atmosphere was fantastic. Service and suggestions from Jaqui were great! Loved the cinnamon on the Pisco sour. Adding that to my home recipe! Also learned from Jaqui that I've been pronouncing "Pisco" incorrectly! ;) Highly recommend.

Food & service were outstanding. Ambiance is moody vintage cafe. Flavorful, colorful and aromatic dishes. They do have gluten free options as well. We visit every time we are in the area.

Let me start off with saying WOW! This is paradise for all vegetarians and vegans!! I came here for a late lunch on a Saturday afternoon, the place wasn't busy a first, but people slowly started occupying tables. There was a street festival across the street and I assume it's generally busier. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating, I chose to sit inside due to the wind. The inside has a bar that makes absolutely amazing cocktails! Their menu is lengthy and they have a completely separate menu for vegans and vegetarians! So many great options to choose from! I started off by ordering a freshly made cocktail, pineapple hacienda and yucca mojo. The yucca mojo was a serving of fried seasoned yucca root tossed in mojo citrus pepper sauce. Absolutely delicious!My main course was their jackfruit escabeche that came with jackfruit sautéed in zesty escabeche sauce with Roma tomatoes, peppers, onion, capers, portobello, Kalamata olives and cilantro with a side of garlic rice. It deserves a review of its own for how well flavors blended together and the smell was mouth watering! Not only was it a perfectly made dish but it also tasted absolutely wonderful! Both dishes were very generous, definitely a great place if, like me, you like to eat a lot! Their service was fast and the staff friendly. Off the street parking is available. Overall an absolutely fantastic experience and I will definitely be coming back to try more items off their menu next time I'm in Springfield.

I have heard great things about Cafe Cusco and it has been on my list for awhile. Today I finally was able to dine here! The food did not disappoint at all from appetizers to the truly delicious drink. I'm ready to go back for more. We shared most of the food the main plate we shared was the arroz con pollo which was the only one we couldn't wait to eat. We were to hungry to wait for a photo but so worth trying!!! Service was good and the ambiance is another level on the inside. It's a small spot but the building is unique with a cute patio on the side of the building. The highlight is their tables inside such a unique experience in the booths. A must try! The food is very fairly priced & can't wait to try more yummy food!!

Such a comfy feel here! Love the booth that we sat in. The food is very good, we ordered something that our waitress recommended. It is a bit pricey for what we got I think but overall a good experience.

Cafe Cusco is such a gem! The food and drinks were phenomenal! The seafood escabeche was wonderfully flavored. Also had the sangria morada and mazamorra morada and both were delicious. The wait staff was attentive and the ambience was pleasant. All in all a great place for dinner. Can't wait to go back next time I'm in town!

4.5* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4* Service: 5* 09/12/2022 Came here while on a business trip as it was a favorite of one of our hosts - and boy was I impressed. On two subsequent trips, we returned to the same location for at least one of our meals. I've been to Peru on a mission trip with my Mom and son and have grown to really love their food. I've started each of my meals here with a Pisco Sour (see picture) - they are always tasty and Cafe Cusco does a great job making them. While I've had their Ceviche on previous visits, I don't have a picture of it - but do highly recommend it. Lastly, for my meal on two of the trips, I've enjoyed their Spicy Pork Tacos (see pictures). I just absolutely love them - so much food, so juicy and oh so flavorful! This time they were infused with beets to make the shells red and on a previous visit, they were blue resulting from the use of blue corn. We came here first on the recommendation of a local host who recommends this place as his favorite...and it quickly became my favorite also! You absolutely have to try this place - all of the dishes I've tasted are full of flavor and delicious! If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.

Very nice for a lunch on a warm day. The spices were incredibly well balanced. Chicha Morada was especially refreshing.

The fries and the torta de askinoske (flourless chocolate cake) .. a gluten free person's dream. We went here after much recommendations it was an interesting spot but i thought it was a little too dark so I don't have great food pics. The service was ok but the fries were really the highlight for me. The menu was interesting and had lots of options for gf people. My pad was ok a bit too sweet for me but I said I will try it again sometime to see if it was fluke. My partner had the duck and enjoy it more than my dish ( i couldn't try his). I shall return

This is our second time at Cafe Cusco. The food was really good again. I love the quinoa salad and the Aji De Gallina was amazing. The white aïoli served with the wings is a treat! Colorado skewers and pork tacos did not disappoint. Service both times was great also!

The smells walking into the establishment were amazing and mouthwatering! We waited several minutes to be seated then several more minutes before our waitress came to take our order. She was super sweet and was also our bartender so it seems they were terribly understaffed! Husband and I both ordered rabbit and it was so dry and salty along with potatoes that were over seasoned. The El Captain drink was really good tho!

I heard a lot about this place...and looked forward to going. Underwhelming is how I would describe. If someone wanted to go here, I'd go again. However, it's (not) a place I'm going to choose, to go to again. See that bottle of sauce: it's a different kind of taste...not sure what's in it. But it was decent and (I did) like it. The fried rice: It had a definite sweet note to it. It didn't have a crispy texture at all. But, it was good enough to order. I'd much rather however, have a Chinese or Thai fried rice dish. The pork and black beans. The black beans, were fixed really good and a good taste. The pork, tasted ok....maybe even good. However, it was cut so thin...they cooked to give it grill scald. So, it was well dried out, being so thin. The last dish with the seafood and vegetables. That dish was way sour in flavor. My wife eats sour stuff....that dish made her mouth pucker! Tue old building and interior.... Certainly liked it...and it's great to see the old places survive and be re-purposed. A cozy place with those enclosed booths. Conclusion: There's better places to choose from in Springfield.

Food was amazing! Great location and cute place. Will definitely be back next time I'm in the area.

Excellent healthy food options and fun atmosphere. We especially appreciate all the gluten-free options!

One of our favorite restaurants anywhere. Interesting and varied menu and love their hot sauce so much we buy it by the case.

This was a wonderful restaurant and the atmosphere is very calm and relaxing. The food was delicious, this is a great go to spot for a special occasion or anything. The service was outstanding!

This was my second time eating at Cafe Cusco. This time we brought friends and absolutely everything was soooo delicious! Bailey was our server, and she was excellent. They were busy at 7 pm on a Saturday night but we had reservations and we sat immediately. We each ordered a different drink and let me tell you all of them were delicious! If you haven't had a Pisco Sour this is the place to try one! We ordered the Taquenos to start and they were perfect - so much better than a mozzarella stick! We each ordered different entrees so we could taste more of the menu and let me tell you I'm not aorry we did. The flavors in every dish were spot on! Go and enjoy!!

I was looking for something soup and seafood and glad I found this place on Yelp. Only 8 minutes drive from my hotel. Thanks to my waitress suggestion, I didn't over order. I wanted the soup and an entree but she told me it was a huge portion so I got the Jalea Mixta for appetizer and the Chupe Grande. The Jalea Mixta is an assortment of fried squid, shrimp and white fish. It comes with two different dipping sauces. The Chupe Grande comes with a side of rice and crackers. The Chupe Grande is a spicy seafood bisque with shrimp, crawfish, calamari, peas and topped with a sunny side up and queso fresco. A perfect meal for this cold weather! I even have leftovers!

The food and decor were wonderful! We ordered the chicharron plate and black bean burger. Both were delicious and served promptly. The highlight however was the chocolate cake for dessert. The only downside was the waitress wasn't as attentive as we would like. Overall though, it was a great visit and we'll definitely come back.

Neither my sister nor myself had ever had Peruvian food. Well that changed in Springfield! This restaurant is located in a beautiful old building. The building certainly adds to the charm, but the food is so good! The food is the star. I ordered the Blackfish, my sister ordered Chicken Para Rayos. Both were really good in presentation and flavor, but the chicken was the superior dish. We had leftover chicken and shrimp the next day.. I think it was better the next day.. yum! We ordered the chocolate dessert, which was special, especially with whipped cream. A memorable meal, for sure.

Ahh-mazing!!! This place is a gem! I am wishing i had more meals or stomach to enjoy more of their menu. I knew I'd be happy because true South American cuisine always has fresh ingredients and full flavors. I spoke to the waitress and she worked with the kitchen to have smaller versions of their mushroom saltado and sweet potato noodle stir fry. Both are absolutely incredible. I am looking forward to the next time I'm in Springfield just so I can come here again.