QUITU | Identidad Culinaria

This was a beautiful experience! We were greeted at the door and assisted with parking. We were walked directly through the kitchen and greeted by everyone we walked past. I can’t even begin to explain how invited and personal this dining experience was. For that reason alone this topped my list as the best dining and tasting menu I have tried. We did the 6 course for $55pp but I have no idea how they count because I counted 10 (11 pictured because they gave us an additional desert treat for my birthday). Hands down an exceptional experience and the food is amazing. The flavors are exquisite. Each dish has a history. The chef delivered some dishes himself and said goodnight to us on our way out (again leaving through the kitchen). You feel like family here. 10/10 would recommend.

I happened upon this place after visiting Guayasamin’s house museum, via google map search. The kind beverage manager led me into the dining room and introduced the restaurant to me. The place feels like a house not unlike the Guayasamin house museum and indeed there is a connection. But the real magic was the food. Sitting at the chef’s table I have watched the team whipping up dishes both traditional and innovative. I wasn’t that hungry was planning just having a coffee and snacks but I ended up with a 6-course tasting menu and wished I could come back for dinner some day. The service was impeccable and very warm. I highly recommend this place.

Came here to enjoy my last meal in Ecuador. Their crew made this gringo feel right at home. I went with the 6 course tasting menu. They incorporate their ingredients from all of the varied ecosystems across Ecuador. Staff was good to be around. Had a nice time here. Salud

I booked Quitu on a whim — it turned out to be a real gem. It had an 8- and a 5-course tasting menu; I opted for the latter. The restaurant has recently moved to a new venue inside a beautiful classical building but inside, it’s an unassuming, almost industrial space with an urban bar area, a dark, almost bunker-like dining room and a chef table next to the kitchen. I planted myself there. I was the only customer. Seven people looked after me. The food, the knowledge, the creativity and commitment to local ingredients was off the charts! I had some ingredients I have never heard of; most remarkably, neapia, which is a paste, native to the Amazon region, made from yucca, chilli and ants(!), cooked for 80 hours, fermented for 3 days. Then it is used to flavour broths, for example. Here they made a mushroom broth using the paste to complement grilled grouper and shiitake mushrooms. Every dish was so interesting, beautifully presented and delicious. I had two small glasses of wine, picked by a sommelier trained in Bermondsey. The “Tempranillo” was divine. A real highlight of Quito.

Quitu felt like home. The entire staff treated me like family, and the environment was intimate yet fun. Really exceptional food, great people, and special experience. The 4 course tasting menu and wine pairing plus an additional cocktail to start were plenty!

I had a wonderful experience eating here by myself at the bar. Everyone was so friendly and attentive. The courses were delicious and fresh. Wonderful atmosphere. I’d highly recommend coming here to anyone in Quito!

While visiting Quito, we had a lovely experience at QUITU. We ordered the tasting menu with wine pairing and my husband and I also had pre-dinner cocktails. The cocktails were inventive and used local ingredients and culinary history. They also tasted great (important). Each item on the menu was prepared perfectly and taught us something about Ecuadorian culinary history. Wine pairings were unexpected, gave us a chance to try wines we will not be able to get here in the US, and complimented each course. I was genuinely impressed with everything. Finally, the service was wonderful and we felt welcome. Everything held up to the best restaurants in Chicago, New York, and London.

We went to Quitu looking for a fine dining experience and local cuisine as we are new in Ecuador. We left very satisfied after 12 courses through which we had the opportunity to taste dishes from the different regions of Ecuador, all masterfully executed. The wine pairing was equally excellent, offering wines both from Europe and South America, including some very good Ecuadorean wines and artisanal chicha, all perfectly matched with each course. The staff were very friendly and helpful. They offered us insight into every course, its origin and concept. We very much enjoyed each delicious course from the Llapingacho appetisers and the seafood starters to their own version of a pork Fritada and the slow braised, twice cooked lamb. Even the vegetarian mushroom and artichoke course was packed full of flavour, made with a paste of fermented cassava and chiles made in the Amazon forest, a flavour bomb I did not know of but will now be using in my cooking at home. We had an entirely delightful and pleasantly surprising experience at Quitu and will certainly be going back for more as their wonderfully innovative menu changes with the seasons