PAPA LLAMA
Peruvian restaurant · Lake Terrace ·
Modern Peruvian cuisine with natural wines and tasting menus
Modern Peruvian cuisine with natural wines and tasting menus
"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
