Cicciolina — Restaurant in Distrito de Cusco

Visited in August 2024. Perú. Cusco.

Ciciollina is nestled in a beautiful historic building that exudes charm and elegance. The restaurant is relatively small, and we were seated on the second floor. The high ceilings and crisp white tablecloths create a welcoming atmosphere that encourages enjoyable moments in this delightful venue. The decor beautifully transports you to an authentic realm of Peruvian history.

Food: Our focus was primarily on the tapas selection, allowing us to sample a variety of intriguing flavours. Each order consists of three pieces, each just a single bite. All the appetizers were beautifully presented and bursting with flavour. We particularly enjoyed the grilled octopus tapas; the octopus was incredibly tender, almost subtly smokey, served atop a thin, crispy cracker – a vibrant and robust taste.

Another standout was the beet cannelloni filled with alpaca tartare, which offered a rich meaty flavour complemented by the crunchy beet tube, creating an excellent combination of textures and tastes. The gyoza and scallop also impressed us, with a hint of Asian flavours and techniques evident in the dishes.

We opted for the mushroom cream soup; however, it fell short compared to the previous tapas, as its flavour was slightly bland and overshadowed by the tiradito made with Amazonian fish, where the sauce evoked the vibrant notes of tom yum. For dessert, I was particularly fond of the almond pie with apples, while the chocolate mousse seemed rather simplistic in texture, lacking a contrasting crunch. The mousse was quite dense.

Service: The service was excellent, with waitstaff fluent in English who were happy to assist with our selections. We felt like valued guests throughout the meal. Dishes were prepared fairly quickly, even at full capacity.

Conclusion: Ciciollina is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants in Cusco, and reservations are highly recommended. I appreciated the format of small tapas, allowing diners to experience various flavours and sample a wider array of dishes. I would recommend visiting this restaurant, whether for a casual lunch or a...

We just had one of the best evenings we’ve had in Peru (and this is saying a lot, since it’s been a great trip so far.) I don’t often take time to leave reviews, (because it’s work and we’re all busy) but this definitely warranted it.

I’ll start by saying the place is great and the food is amazing. But great food is very easy to find in Peru. It’s a foodie’s paradise. What made this evening Michelin star worthy, was the service. From the moment we were welcomed and sat by Frank, they paid attention to every detail.

Our server was Claudio. Claudio was the difference maker. We asked a lot of questions, because his answers were fascinating and insightful, so we wanted to know more. He knew his menu well, knew exactly what to suggest, wrapped it in pleasant conversation. Even had recommendations for other must-do culinary experiences while we’re here.

All in all, Claudio (and the rest of the team) made me a fan of Cicciolina. (Granted, serving amazing food and drinks made that task an easy one.) Some friends who visited recently told us this restaurant is a must do in Cusco. I have to say I wholeheartedly agree.

Try the tapas, they have a surprise assortment option. 5-star. The oxtail was perfect. Nice cocktails. Visit if you can. (Make reservations.)

PS. You have to try the bread with that sauce (or even just the sauce if you don’t do bread.)...

The reviews looked very good. So my wife and I decided to splurge the night before we left for home. We had eaten at many small family owned restaurants around Peru and had great food experiences without getting sick, so it was ironic we got sick at a supposedly better restaurant in the city of Cusco. It also wasn't cheap at 170.00 Soles.

Here's our experience: After eating at Cicciolina, my wife and I had explosive severe diarrhea early the next morning. The next day we couldn't spend our last day sightseeing and shopping. We started our Azithromycin and electrolytes treatment. It was a tough trip home to Boston. :(

This is what we had for dinner: Scallops, shrimp and squid dish. A grilled chicken and pasta dish. Pisco sour. Bread. The fruit, cream crispy pastry dessert with Basil ice cream. Cappuccino.

I emailed the restaurant to let them know and cited the meals we had, so they could check the various foods involved.

We never received a response. Btw, I really hate to "diss" an establishment in a review, but when I get sick, I have to overlook the nice atmosphere and good waiter service.

Stick to the small restaurants, Jack's Cafe is just up the street and I think it's better value for the money. Good wholesome (and safe) food there.

Michael

p.s. this meal was also on our 35th wedding...