El Mercado — Restaurant in Lima Metropolitan Area

El Mercado We arrived minutes after 12:30 when they opened, but they had no tables available, though the hostess did offer 2 seats at the bar. We gratefully accepted as the bar location offerred us the opportunity to watch the cooks, grill masters and the expediter in action. The hostess was helpful and friendly as was the waiter.

The first dish to arrive was the ceviche Mercado. We saw the cook add fresh lemon juice to a bowl, then a  cube of ice, then a dash of mustard, a dash of aoli, and more dashes. He stirred the dashed up lemon juice, removed the ice cube and then tasted his creation. Satisfied, he added the fish and stirred it into the dashed up juice with a new spoon, and set the bowl to be plated, which included the addition of corn, sweet potato and fried calamari.

Wow! The ceviche was mildly tart yet simultaneously rich, with the corn, sliced onions and fried calamari contributing additional tastes and textures. A delight on the palate.

Then came the Camarones  del Norte. These things were big! And with their claws they looked like longustines, not shrimp/prawns to me. They were split longutidinally and grilled. Half of them were mildly undercooked, still translucent. But I'd rather undercooked than tough overcooked anyday. The camarones were all severely underseasoned and inadequately salted, so we resorted to adding some of the dipping sauce they initially brought to the table with mixed vegetable chips. This reminded me of the fare served in university cafeterias.

Next came the Pulpo a la Parilla. The pulpo was reasonably well seasoned, not as well seasoned as what we recently had at Punto Azul, but OK. The pulpo was well cooked, but it was pasty and mushy on the outside and so severely tough and stringy towards the center that I had to vigorously saw at it with a knife. This may be an ingredients sourcing issue, perhaps compounded by excess pre-tenderizing. The thinner 1/2 of the tentacle, comprising 1/3 to 1/4 by weight was not pasty or tough. We did not devour this dish, we forced ourselves to finish it.

Finally, the grilled fish cheeks arrived. Even the Japanese restaurants in Fresno, CA, spice their tuna collars more highly, and Japanese cuisine is renowned for its restraint with spices. A few drops of soy sauce or some grains of salt would have worked wonders. The cheeks were overcooked, flushing out all the rich, tasty fats and oils, leaving just a pasty, unappetizing mess, a memory of its former glory. The whole point, the rich joy of fish collars and fish cheeks was completely missed and ruined. Oh, what could...

El Mercado is a standout for anyone serious about flavor. The ceviche alone is worth a visit—sharp with citrus, a kick of heat, and an umami depth that lingers just right. It’s the kind of dish where every element earns its place: the fish was impeccably fresh, the marinade punchy but balanced, and the spice level left a pleasant tingle without overpowering. A beautifully executed balance of sour, spicy, and savory.

Other dishes followed the same philosophy—refined but full of character. Nothing bland or overcomplicated. You get the feeling the kitchen cares about what they put on the plate.

The interior is Ibiza-chic: laid-back yet upscale, with warm lighting, textured finishes, and a coastal-luxury vibe that fits the food perfectly. It’s the kind of place you could linger in for hours over a bottle of wine—and speaking of which, the wine list is excellent. Smart selections, including some unexpected but well-matched options for seafood.

The only downside was the hostess, whose attitude was a bit cold and dismissive—not quite in line with the rest of the experience. Luckily, it was easy to overlook once the food and wine...

Es ist ein sehr gut besuchtes Lokal also ist man gut beraten zu reservieren! Der Pisco Sour ist ein Aperitif, das man unbedingt nehmen sollte! kaum ein anderer Drink spiegelt die peruanische Seele so gut wie dieses Getränk! Bei El Mercado ein "must"!!! Anschließend eine Auswahl aus drei verschiedenen Vorspeisen, darunter Tiradito apaltado. Hervorragend! Davor "Conchitas Reggiana" und danach Causa Limeña, ein typisches Gericht aus Lima - ein Gericht, das man unbedingt probieren muss! Als Hauptspeise wählte ich eine Corvina von Langostinos Silvestres und war - wie soll ich sagen - entzückt! Doch dann.... ja dann wählte ich als Nachspeise einen "Puente de los Suspiros". So etwas habe ich in meinen über 60 Jahren noch nicht gegessen! Es ist kaum zu beschreiben, welche Vielfalt eine Geschmacksexplosion auf der Zunge und im Gaumen ein Nachtisch, nein, ein Desert, nein, ein Gedicht auslösen kann!! Lieber Leser oder Leserin, tut euch den Gefallen und bestellt das als Abschluss eines hervorragendem Essen. Ihr werdet nicht enttäuscht!!! Es ist ein so köstliches Desert ein so gelungener Abschluss eines Essens!!

Langer Rede kurzer Sinn: ein Essen in El Mercado lohnt sich auf alle Fälle und auch wenn ihr eure Urlaubskasse strapazieren müsst - es ist es alle Mal wert!! Achtung es ist nur offen für den Mittagstisch!

Guys, this is a very popular place so make sure you place a reservation before you go! To begin with the "Pisco Sour" is a must! Make no mistake it tastes very smooth and for some a bit sweet, but there is in my mind no other drink that mirrors the Peruvian soul better than this one!!!

After that I had a selection of three appetizers. First "Conchitas Reggiana" which was extremely yummy, then "Tiradito apaltado" which is raw fish and scallops in lemon juice and ají, followed by "Causa Limeña" a typical dish of the Lima area. I recommend a choice of different appetizers. Thus you will always have a wider range of flavours that will all compete to become your favourite!

The main course was " Corvina & Langostinos Silvestres" which turned out to be the catch of the day and prawns. Fresh, tasty and succulent! I loved it! If you're a vegetarian.... you may consider making an exception and eat this.

But the best is still to come! I can't tell whether the name of the desert influenced my choice. And if it did - so be it! I asked for a "Puente de los Suspiros" which literally translated means bridge of the sighs. I thought: Go figure!

Boy! I haven't eaten something like it in my over 60 years! The explosion of flavours on my taste buds was incredible! It is unbelievable what sensations a desert, no, a delicacy, no, a poem of flavours can trigger! Dear reader, please, do yourself a favour! No matter what you eat, do not fail to ask for this culinary masterpiece! You really will not regret it! It's so full of a countless variety of flavours that you will probably take some time to process it and will end up still wondering whether your dreaming! It's the perfect climax of a perfect meal.

To make a long story short: a meal at El Mercado is more than just worth your while. If you're on a tight budget: to hell with it! You will not regret it! Just note that the place is open...