Once known as the only Peruvian restaurant worth visiting in London, Ceviche now has a few competitors grappling at its feet. The restaurant reservation list is impossible to haggle your way onto at short notice with bookings taken months in advance.
A group of four of us took our precious table in the noisy Soho restaurant on an August evening. The service was friendly and enthusiastic, and we let our waiter’s advice sway our order choices.
A small bowl of cancha (crunchy Peruvian corn) arrived to accompany our South American cocktails. Simple and classic Pisco all round, the passionfruit sour was voted the preferred drink.
We tried a few of the stylish Ceviche dishes:
Ceviche de Alcachofa (artichoke and sweet potato ceviche with red onion in Amarillo tiger’s milk)
Don Ceviche (fresh seabass ceviche in Amarillo chilli tiger’s milk, limo chilli, sweet potato and red onions)
Not a keen fish eater I barely tried the most popular seabass ceviche, but my companions gave it rave reviews. The ceviche is served raw in a puddle of intensely citrusy marinade which I found overpowered any other flavour.
Ensalada de Quinoa (white quinoa, tomatoes, avocado, butter beans and coriander with lime and limo chilli vinaigrette) is a fresh and healthy salad to munch on, adding some contrasting crunch with the meat dishes.
Pollo Rico (marinated chicken in Amarillo chilli, with a celery and red and yellow beetroot garnish) are lovely chicken skewers, dressed in a tasty spicy marinade and served with vegetables.
Lomo Saltado (Beef fillet, sliced, flame cooked with red onions, tomatoes, and proper chips) was perhaps our favourite. Divine, tender meat with a subtle but sublime sauce that was perfect for chip dipping.
A conservative meal for four (we left still a bit hungry sans desserts) cost nearly £120, including one cocktail each but no other drinks. The website is bright, cheerful and informative (with a visually attractive interactive menu provided via Pinterest) so if you want to peruse the Peruvian fare before parting with your hard-earned dinero it is easy to do so here.
More information here: www.cevicheuk.com