Mérito

Merito was the clear stand out meal for us in Peru and it’s one of the most memorable meals I’ve ever had. Head chef Juan Luis Martinez is simply a genius with flavor and all his/ her dishes were incredibly creative, thoughtful and works of art! While everything we had was delicious the standout dishes for us were the apps and desserts, in particular, the - Yacon with whitefish - a delight for all the senses - Fish tartar - I had no idea a tartar could taste this good!! - Scallop ceviche - flavors were bright and refreshing - Flan - best flan I’ve had in my life (so good we had it again at Merito’s sister restaurant, Clon, a few days later) - Chocolate rock - decadent and delicious, one for the chocolate lovers! Would absolutely return if I’m ever in Lima again! And this meal inspired us to try both clon and demo cafe under the same restaurant family (both excellent as well). Easiest five stars ever and my favourite fine dining restaurant I’ve had to, to date.

Service: Top-notch service. Staff is extremely knowledgeable about all dishes and explains them very well. The reservation service was also excellent — we were able to add an extra person at the last minute without any issues. Ambience: The restaurant has a minimalist design and radiates a warm, natural elegance. The atmosphere is very pleasant and welcoming. Food and Drinks: The food is outstanding. Every dish is made using ingredients sourced from Peru, offering a beautiful journey through the richness of Peruvian cuisine. They also have a well-curated wine list that is fairly priced. Summary: Overall, a fantastic experience. If you’re in Lima, Mérito is a must-visit.

Did the tasting menu here and wasn't disappointed. My favorites were the scallops with the bright green sauce and the lamb dish sort of like a ravioli. I thought the 3 desserts were overkill, and I really wanted to try their famous flan (definitely order the flan) I hope they replace one of the desserts in the tasting menu with flan. Luckily we asked for it and they gave it to us for no charge. It's a small portion but it's enough becawue it's so rich. Fantastic place!

A lovely experience for dinner. The staff are very attentive and the food was like an art show! It also tasted delicious. In addition, the wine and cocktail menu was varied too! The food was inventive and we tried things we'd never tried before. Would thoroughly recommend.

Going to go against the grain here, but as a fine dining restaurant reviewer I’m afraid to say this wasn’t quite the experience we hoped for. First, the positives. The ambience and design details are beautiful. This is place brings a modern, minimal design aesthetic, gorgeous ceramics, very earthy with exposed brickwork and perfect, low lit lighting. The service is low key and attentive, and the menu looks creative and original - no tropes or obvious pairings. Visually, the food itself is art on a plate. Stunning colours, textures and presentation. Unfortunately, for us, the taste didn’t quite match the promise. The scallops, jalapeños and sanki were just a little too strange and sharp, the fish tartare with mature cheese was kind of sickly. The mains pulled it back: the lamb was lovely - melted in the mouth, and the bream catch the of day was also delicious, cooked simply and perfectly. But then for desert, the chocolate rock was just a little tasteless. We were expecting serious chocolate flavours, but were left just the grainy taste of the coating, desperate for some water to wash it down. On the water, we also found we weren’t offered as much as we needed. This place charges 9sol for a glass of water, which is strange for a fine dining place with big flavours at play. We had to keep asking for our glasses to be topped up as they were often empty…and then were surprised by the bill. We then ordered espresso coffees to end - as we always do - but found them so unusually strong we had to ask for some hot water to top up the cups. We were then brought luke warm water which made them undrinkable. Given we didn’t finish a few of the dishes, we were also surprised no one asked us if everything was ok. It seemed like once we had ordered, we were a little forgotten. So, for us, this place felt like style over substance at points. This can happen with modern fine dining - and it could be that our flavour palates just weren’t aligned with the chef’s vision. It’s a gorgeous looking spot with huge creative ambition, and many people really love it. But I’m sorry to say I’m not sure we could recommend it, particularly given how pricey it is compared to the amazing food Barranco has on offer.

Incredible service and new inventive flavors!! I’m writing this review a couple months after dining here, and the most memorable dish had scallops, mushrooms, and this bright green sauce with some kind of iridescent oil floating in it. It was briny and delicious and I think of that iridescent oil every time I see an oil slick at a gas station or in a parking lot (in the best way). The portions were quite generous and we left very satiated and happy. Everything was so intentional, down to the minimal lighting (every table had a stone centerpiece with a spotlight above the table so you could really take in the dishes.. perfect!!

Cannot recommend the tasting menu highly enough!! Every dish was a revelation and so beautifully presented. The sommelier was excellent and recommended perfect pairings for each series of dishes. Unmissable if you’re in Lima!

Had the most amazing experience here! I'm shocked this place doesn't have a Michelin star, I'm sure it will soon. Every dish was unique but also delicious and not just for show. Many vegetarian options so we got to try lots of different items.