09/20/09

Flavorful, great service, and fun!

by tracy88

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!

• Pros: great food and service!
• Cons: somewhat pricey, very busy

05/18/09

Great place, fun ambiance and lots of great ceviches

by rakeshtondon

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!

• Pros: Best Cevice in America
• Cons: Somewhat pricy

01/19/09

The Best San Francisco's Has to Offer

by thedamsel

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!

• Pros: Value, Food, Ambiance, Vibe, Parking (valet), Service
• Cons: Arroz con Pollo

01/08/09

Best Peruvian I have tasted!!!

by Jnlly

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!

• Pros: Food is to die for, ambience is fun, serice great
• Cons: Cabs can be scarce if you stay too late at the bar

12/15/08

For once a celebrity Chef delivers!

by JFBeck

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.

• Pros: Delicious food
• Cons: Pricey

12/11/08

Service is a turn off

by epicuriousinsf

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.

12/09/08

I love Gaston the chef who placed the menu, but I think you got it wrong on this one! Sorry bro!

by Carlitos77

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!!!!!!

• Pros: Good Pisco sour, great bar, awesome staff
• Cons: Terrible ceviche, terrible seco de cordero, place is too big.

12/05/08

One Of The Best

by dondata

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

• Pros: Food Is Amazing
• Cons: Dont have any

11/04/08

AMAZING CEVICHES!!!! AND DELICIOUS PISCO-SOUR'S!!!!

by marya7

This is my new favorite restaurants in the City!! They have the most delicious Ceviches I have ever tasted!! Also, their fried rice is FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!! I crave it all the time!! Make sure you try the Pisco sour. It's like Peru's version of a Margarita and it's so tasty!!

• Pros: LOVE EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10/26/08

Pisco + Surprises

by meiacomida

No expert on Comida Peruano, but having been there once I can identify some authentic dishes. You want papas (potatoes) they got papas, served as appetizers like mini sushi towers with sauces and seafoods. You want Maize, they add it poached, steamed, stewed to many of their dishes.

I don't eat seafood, but chose this restaurant to impress a group who eats a lot. Seafood blew them away, not as the best but more as a different take on some fave dishes. Great lamb, great veggie dishes. Priced high overall, but a spacious renovated pier warehouse with fun views, soon to be outdoor dining. A good crowd/downtown office pleaser.

If you like Pisco...best menu in town. If you don't know what is be brave and experiment. Luckily no Cuy (domesticated guinea pig) or Alpaca on the menu but, lots of authentic dishes and sauces in unusual combinations that were well cooked.

Bottom line, pricey, experimental but, also tasty and great for a large group.

• Pros: Innovative Menu- great seafood with choices for others too
• Cons: so-so wine list, new-working out kinks, chilly! on a hot evening no less