PAPA LLAMA
Peruvian restaurant · Lake Terrace ·
Michelin-recognized Peruvian spot with live-fire cooking
Michelin-recognized Peruvian spot with live-fire cooking
"Most of Orlando’s tasting menu restaurants skew Japanese, but Papa Llama is an outstanding Peruvian option with a pared-down menu that mimics a sharable feast at your best friend’s house. It’s a great choice if the concept of sitting through 16 courses makes you anxious. Papa Llama’s family-style menu consists of three courses (including dessert), costs $150 per person, and you’ll leave full thanks to generous portions. The meal typically starts with a seasonal salad and a rolling hill of juicy shrimp burnished with a smoky anticucho seasoning blend. The main course revolves around lomo saltado, and dessert will probably be picarones with a fruit compote. Dishes remain pretty consistent, but the ingredients are seasonal and mostly local, so expect small tweaks throughout the year. The dining room is as narrow and relaxed as a familiar living room (with a few well-placed disco balls). Chances are, the only employees working will be the husband and wife who run the place." - Ryan Pfeffer
"Kevin and Maria Ruiz garnered a rep for serving some of the finest Peruvian fare in the city with their pop-up dinners, so no surprise that their inviting brick-and-mortar operation in Curry Ford West has solidified it. The bright, modern space has been a draw for its list of natural wines and a $150 prix-fixe menu that showcases the tapestry of “New Peruvian” cuisine, featuring dishes such as wild-caught Florida snapper with charred banana leaf and rocoto leche de tigre, or bone-in short rib al carbon with a lomo reduction. For those averse to natural wines, there’s always Inca Kola. Note: the restaurant only opens on Fridays and Saturdays." - Faiyaz Kara
"Don't be fooled by its modest surrounds, as the interior is modern and cool. Leather chairs are especially inviting, and tables offer a view of the gleaming kitchen. Husband-and-wife duo Kevin and Maria Ruiz prepare modern Peruvian cuisine full of bright ingredients with a bit of polish, and the family-style menu is an approachable (and affordable) way to sample their sincere cooking. Nigiri kicks off the meal with a smart nod to the Peruvian tradition of Japanese fusion, delivering dialed-in flavors with confidence. Bok choy is elevated with bold, contrasting textures, while chicken thigh roulade with aji amarillo aioli is simply spectacular. For dessert, sweet potato donuts over a blueberry compote seal the deal. The natural wine program is impressive." - Michelin Inspector
"Kevin and Maria Ruiz garnered a rep for serving some of the finest Peruvian fare in the city with their pop-up dinners, so no surprise their inviting brick-and-mortar operation in Curry Ford West has solidified it. The bright, modern space has been a draw for its list of natural wines and a prix-fixe menu playing up the tapestry of “New Peruvian” cuisine with such dishes as wild-caught Florida snapper with charred banana leaf and rocoto leche de tigre, or bone-in short rib al carbon with a lomo reduction. For those averse to natural wines, there’s always Inca Kola." - Faiyaz Kara
"Don't be fooled by its modest surrounds, as the interior is modern and cool. Leather chairs are especially inviting, and tables offer a view of the gleaming kitchen.The natural wine program is impressive. Husband-and-wife duo Kevin and Maria Ruiz prepare modern Peruvian cuisine full of bright ingredients with a bit of polish, and the multicourse tasting menu is an approachable (and affordable) way to sample their sincere cooking. Nigiri kicks off the meal with a smart nod to the Peruvian tradition of Japanese fusion, delivering dialed-in flavors with confidence. Bok choy is elevated with bold, contrasting textures, while chicken thigh roulade with aji amarillo aioli is simply spectacular. For dessert, sweet potato donuts over a blueberry compote seal the deal." - MICHELIN Guide