John J.
Yelp
Coming off a cruise where we dined on cuisine from some of the best chefs in the world (Anne Burrell, Robert Irvine, Maneet Chauhan, etc.), my wife and I stopped in here passing through Boca Raton along A1A. Based on outward appearances... a store front in a strip mall... we weren't expecting much. Surprise, however, doesn't begin to describe our experience.
Not being familiar with Peruvian cuisine, we took a bit of time with the menu. Seafood isn't something I would generally associate with Peru, but there were plenty of those options available, as well as more traditional South American items. Ultimately, we settled on sharing a trio of plates. First up: Salmon Tostones. A cross between two familiar items - salmon toast, but served on smashed, friend plantains that were a perfect mesh of crisp and hearty. This plate alone was a meal unto itself. But, undaunted, we dove into item #2: what can only be described as the best pair of Empanadas we've ever had (and we ate Aaron Sanchez's empanadas on the foodie cruise). Full of perfectly spiced, meaty filling. Simply to die for. I'd fly back to Miami and dodge your horrible traffic just for another round of these. And finally, I had to try something authentic and original Peru, so I saked the server for a recommendation. And she didn't disappoint. Tallerines Verdes, a mix of beef simmered in spicy chiles (think Chili Colorado, but with much more depth of falvor), potatoes in a hollandaise-like yellow sauce (subtle and creamy), and a thick spaghetti-like pasta in a pesto-like green sauce. The combination was unfamiliar, but delicious. I had to eat the whole thing - no leftovers for me, thank you very much! We'd have loved to try one of their desserts, but frankly we were gorged on such amazing cuisine. We wouldn't have known where to put it.
Top all this off with friendly service, a family-table like atmosphere, and this little gem hidden amongst the palms is worth the time and the drive. We may never be back again, but if we lived nearby, we would be regulars.