La Mar Cebicheria Peruana

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jmoser25

Joined 5 years ago

Wine List Review. La Mar Wine List Review

La Mar is a hip, happening restaurant that serves Peruvian food in a stunningly beautiful setting that puts you in the mood to eat, drink and be merry. The knock on this place is that it is loud and that service can be shaky, but kick back, relax, pop some corks and have a great time. If money is not an issue, then start out with the 2008 Luca, Altos de Mendoza, Chardonnay for $63 ($33 at Wine com) and follow it up with the 2007 Mi Terruno, Mayacaba, Mendoza, Malbec for $95 ($50 Release Price) or the 2006 Finca Villacreces, Ribera Del Duero, Tempranillo for $97 ($40 at Wine com).

As with all of our reviews, you will see the price at the restaurant followed by the mark-up over retail (2010 Etude Pinot Gris | $43 | 1.7x | This translates into a retail price of $25).

VINOSERVANT’S TOP WINE VALUES AT LA MAR

Sparkling Wines

7 selections that range in price from $39 to $99

Juve Y Camps, Brut Rose of Pinot Noir, Penedes, Non Vintage | $39 | 2.2x

2006 Iron Horse, Ocean Reserve, Brut Blanc de Blancs | $79 | 2.0x | TOP PICK

2003 Roederer Estate, l’Ermitage, Anderson Valley, Brut | $99 | 2.5x

White Wines

60 selections that range in price from $29 to $145

2010 Etude, Pinot Gris | $43 | 1.7x | TOP PICK

2009 Marilyn Remark, Loma Pacific, Monterey, Rousanne | $47 | 1.8x | TOP PICK

2009 Tatomer, Vanderberg, Santa Barbara, Riesling | $55 | 2.2x

2010 Do Ferreiro, Albarino, Rias Baixas | $57 | 2.3x

2010 Valentin Bianchi, Mendoza, Sauvignon Blanc | $32 | 2.5x

2009 Kinston, Cariblanco, Casablanca, Sauvignon Blanc | $37 | 1.9x

2009 Grieve Family, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc | $59 | 1.5x | TOP PICK

2010 Lewis, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc | $68 | 2.1x

2009 St. Clement, Napa Valley, Chardonnay | $38 | 2.0x

2010 Luli, Santa Lucia Highlands, Chardonnay | $42 | 2.2x

2009 Mcintyre Vineyards, Santa Lucia Highlands, Chardonnay | $46 | 1.9x | TOP PICK

2008 Luca, Altos de Mendoza, Chardonnay | $63 | 1.9x | TOP PICK

Red Wines

83 selections that range in price from $40 to $255

2009 Chandon, Carneros, Pinot Meunier | $44 | 1.5x | TOP PICK

2009 Groundwork, Santa Barbara, Grenache | $48 | 2.4x

2008 Freeman Winery Russian River Valley Pinot Noir | $62 | 1.6x | TOP PICK

2007 Scherrer Winery Russian River Valley Pinot Noir | $85 | 2.4x

2007 Brogan Cellar, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir | $99 | 2.2x

2009 Kistler, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir | $110 | 1.0x | TOP PICK

2006 Casa Lapostolle, Cuvee Alexandre, Colchagua, Merlot | $49 | 2.0x | TOP PICK

2007 Whitehall Lane, Napa Valley, Merlot | $55 | 2.2x

2008 Stags Leap, Napa Valley, Merlot | $58 | 2.1x

2008 Shafer, Napa Valley, Merlot | $84 | 1.9x

2007 Susana Balbo Brioso, Mendoza, Cabernet | $85 | 2.2x

2007 Cayu, Mendoza, Malbec | $92 | 1.8x | TOP PICK

2007 Mi Terruno, Mayacaba, Mendoza, Malbec | $95 | 1.9x | TOP PICK

2007 Franciscan, Magnificent, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon | $98 | 2.5x

2008 Pride Mountain, Napa & Sonoma, Cabernet Sauvignon | $125 | 1.7x

2008 Termes, Toro, Tempranillo | $49 | 2.2x

2006 Finca Villacreces, Ribera Del Duero, Tempranillo | $97 | 2.4x

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ChelleintheBay

Joined 3 years ago

Quickie Happy Hour Menu Made My Mouth Water. I am only reviewing the happy hour dish I had. Cant wait to the restaurant. I had the cebiche clásico: mahi mahi that had yam, habanero & hominy in the limed out dish paired with the pisco punch. It was a masterpiece!

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tracy88

Joined 6 years ago

Flavorful, great service, and fun!. We are true foodies and live in Los Angeles but stopped in San Francisco on our way to Mendocino. La Mar was recommended to us by a Peruvian friend. It was Friday night and we could not get a seat at a table, so we opted for the bar. The server was one of the best we have ever had..charming, funny, and on top of everything. We were greeted with a complimentary basket of delicious fried "chips" with three different sauces. We shared an appetizer, a first course, and a main entree (a seafood paella style dish) and everything was delicious. It was reasonably priced since we shared everything and definitely filling enough. An excellent experience!

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rakeshtondon

Joined 7 years ago

Great place, fun ambiance and lots of great ceviches. For those on a budget need not visit, but if you're looking for a fun night out with some cash to spend on excellent, fresh seafood accompanied by great Pisco cocktails, this may be the place to go. I'd say that I'm not a ceviche fan but I am now since they make the best ceviches in America - their Nikko is my all time favorite but all in all, all the dishes are delicious and fresh. The grilled octopus might just be the single most memorable thing I've eaten in a while and it's soft, flavorful and really really fresh. In my opinion, this is a must-try and for all you foodies that have already not tried this place, please go NOW!

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thedamsel

Joined 9 years ago

The Best San Francisco's Has to Offer. Ohhhhh, my husband and I have been there twice in the past two weeks. For my husband to go back to a restaurant more than once is enough said (he owns three himself). The ceviche's are awesome, and you have to order the Pappas Rellenas (kind of like an oranccine but made with potato and stuffed with meat). The Ceviche sampler is a good way to go, it gives you four different ones to try. I would pass on the Arroz con Pollo, it was not what I ate growing up and it had a charcoal-y taste I did not love. But everything else was fantastic. Plus the vibe of the place is fabulous! We had a grape granita with Pisco (a Pervian brandy) foam...unbelievable! Plus the greatness is the price....very reasonable even with booze!

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Jnlly

Joined 4 years ago

Best Peruvian I have tasted!!!. Being that I have had the pleasure of travelling to Peru and then trying a few Peruvian restaurants in San Francisco and on the Pennisula, La Mar was by far the best I have tasted. I ate at La Mar 4 times in the first month they were open! I have never had something that I didnt like (and beleive me, we have ordered many items off the menu to try). The Lomo Saltado is the most tender meat I have tasted (I order Lomo at almost every Peruvian restaurant I visit...It is the most "American" dish that I can think of that almost anyone would love...(who doesnt love steak on top of fries and rice). The ceviche is to die for, calamari excellent, pisco sours are D-licious...Oh my gosh, I tell everyone I meet about this restaurant. The portions are the perfect size and the atmosphere is fun and hip! I just read a great article in this month's Bon Appetite about the Chef. If you want delicious food and a great night out, La Mar is the #1 pick!

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JFBeck

Joined 5 years ago

For once a celebrity Chef delivers!. Moved to San Francisco from Miami this year and had witnessed an "upgrade" over the traditional Peruvian fare. Seems to be that there is a new generation of chefs adding some European (French) in the way seafood and Asian (Chinese {Canton} & Japanese) influenced staples are prepared and enhanced.

In Miami "La Cofradia" with chef JP Desmaison delivers consistently delicious ceviches, risottos, Tacu Tacus, etc. and all with a new twist. Should try if ever in Miami (Coral Gables).

La Mar is the successful cevicheria concept of Gaston Acurio, himself a true culinary institution in his country. Fresh seafood offered in the ceviche and tiradito sections truly to die for, yellow potato causas, rices paella style or chinese style and to boot the delicious chorillana snapper. Let's not forget the filet mignon stripped lomo saltado! A must are the picarones, a pumpkin based fritter dipped un molasses syrup, a truly special dessert.

If you like fresh seafood and you want to know what's all the fuss with Peruvian food nowadays, go to La Mar.

Doesn't Recommend

epicuriousinsf

Joined 5 years ago

Service is a turn off. Wandered into La Mar on a Saturday afternoon; the hostess was quite curt. Sat a the ceviche bar, ordered a few glasses of albarino and some ceviches: leche de tigre and the mixto. The Mixto was very fresh and light, however it was truly minuscule. The leche de tigre was a bit on the creamy side, not something I'd order again. The fried plantains were delicious and served with a few different sauces. The service was lacking on all fronts, the wine came after the ceviche was served, I think our server forgot about us. The bus boy was bit over zealous in keeping the counter wiped down. The prices seemed high compared to the portions. The biggest turn off was the service especially the hostess. Given the poor service, high price and tiny portion sizes...this is one of the few places I will not give another try...there are too many good restaurants in the city to try versus going back to this one.

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Carlitos77

Joined 5 years ago

I love Gaston the chef who placed the menu, but I think you got it wrong on this one! Sorry bro!. We just moved from LA to the Bay, we love ceviche and so far we are struggling finding a good ceviche. I thought I would find it here, but I was wrong. Not enough juice, the pieces are way too big and where is my choclo, lettuce, sweet potato, where? huh, huh? where? and $20, please bro! The seco de cordero, was dry, the chuleta looked like it was cooked the day before, no flavor, nothing.

The good thing about this place is the staff, they are awesome and they did not charge me for the ceviche, Thank you! The Pisco Sour is unvelieable, you MUST order it. You will love it.

I am still on the hunt for the best Peruvian ceviche in the Bay. Please help!!!!!!

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dondata

Joined 5 years ago

One Of The Best. This is one of my favorite spots in SF. If you're by the pier and hunger hits you stop by here. You will not regret it