LA ROYAL

"La Royal is the restaurant equivalent of cashmere loungewear. The space, with its low lighting, exposed brick, cozy two-tops, and handsome copper bar serves Peruvian comfort food dressed in party clothes. Think tender gratineed scallops in their halfshells, bracing ceviche spooned into cut-glass stemware, and branzino steamed in a banana leaf heaped with sweet onions, peppers, and herbs. The restaurant feels a bit like a grown-up version of the supper club the owners, Maria Rondeau and chef Juan Ma Calderon, ran out of their home before opening their first brick-and-mortor, Celeste, in 2018. Stew, stir-fries, and ceviches are the backbone of the menu, along with Chifa cuisine, a mashup of Chinese and Peruvian flavors, including the classic Lomo Saltado, an umami-bomb of steak, tomatoes, onions, and soy sauce. If you’re looking for a special dinner that never veers into stuffy, La Royale is just the place." - Catherine Smart

"We generally try to avoid having the same restaurant group make multiple appearances on the Eater 38, but in the case of La Royal, from the same folks behind the award-winning Peruvian stunner Celeste, it’s really just that good. JuanMa Calderón and Maria Rondeau didn’t miss a beat at La Royal, which cultivates their signature transportive, fun-night-out energy in a larger space. The tart, punchy ceviches sing here, as do regional plates that nod to different aspects of Peruvian culture and food, including Peruvian Chinese, or Chifa, plates like stir-fried noodles with seafood or vegetables. On the drinks side, the pisco martini has won fans from all over, and the classic pisco sour hits the spot every time." - Eater Staff

"La Royal is a Peruvian restaurant located at 221 Concord Ave. in Cambridge’s Observatory Hill neighborhood. It is the sibling to the acclaimed Celeste in Somerville and is operated by co-owners Maria Rondeau and JuanMa Calderón. La Royal offers a varied and ambitious menu inspired by regional cuisines of Peru, featuring dishes like arroz con pato from Chiclayo and chupe de langostinos from Arequipa. The restaurant, which occupies an early-1900s building, plans to expand its offerings to include lunch service and a small shop selling goods from artisans in Peru and Guatemala." - Rachel Leah Blumenthal

"La Royal, a new Peruvian restaurant from the team behind Celeste, offers a variety of regional specialties from across Peru." - Rachel Leah Blumenthal

"I’m particularly enthusiastic about La Royal, the Celeste sequel in Cambridge’s Huron Village." - Rachel Leah Blumenthal