Mayta Restaurante — Restaurant in Lima Metropolitan Area

We visited Lima to try out the famous top 50 world restaurants: Maido, Kjolle, Mayta and Central from 8/11/2024-8/20/2024.

I made dinner reservations at Mayta for 4 people 6:30, received an email to reconfirm the reservation the day before. That same evening, another reconfirm email came and it was for 2 people at 7:00 pm. I wrote several emails with NO RESPONSE and tried calling 3 times only to roll in to voicemail- I am in a foreign country here. Luckily, my husband went to their website and contacted through WhatsApp and they confirmed the reservations- no apologies nothing. Upon arrival we were greeted and seated, we were the only ones at the restaurant until 7 pm, when another couple showed. It wasn’t like the restaurant was packed and they moved our reservation time and number of people. We came to the conclusion that the email was for the couple and sent wrong to my address. We were quickly seated and after explaining that I don’t eat beef, alpaca, guinea pigs , they pushed the wine / cocktail pairing. When we asked about wine by the glass. Their Sommelier said “ I would recommend a bottle instead “ we asked if we could a small taste before purchasing a bottle for 300 soles he said NO. I have never heard of this at a fine dining- where dinner is 989 soles or about $500 for two. The same thing for three men at the next table-

Our first three savory courses came fairly quickly. it was more local product - mostly potatoes or beans as a base. They were tasty. Then a fairly long wait for the next courses there after. Couldn’t make out what the person was describing since his English was terrible and it gave all of us a bad experience. I got tired of asking him several times what the item was. They would bring out three items but again his description and English was so poor I couldn’t tell what I was eating. Then we had a dish with a dried fish skeletal on the table. I thought it was a bit morbid and gross-they had it facing you with gritted teeth. The overall courses were savory then the main course came with beef chunk and some salad underneath - my husband said it was tender but since I don’t eat beef, I expected a protein substitute for the beef; the waiter explained the beef course and started to walk away- I said what about mine- when we travel around the world, we attempt to go to the top 50 restaurants in the world if there is one in the area we are visiting or go to Michelin restaurants and all of them explain the substitution up front before serving or check if I am ok with the substitution. They did not mention or ask about the substitution. After asking about my substitution he said , you have mushrooms under the salad. I expected a portobello mushroom; when I lifted the lettuce, there were diced pieces of mushroom about 20 small pieces. Hmmm so much for protein replacement- and it was a bit salty. The dessert was not a hit. So overall the last three courses- main, and two desserts were not my choice. Also, I prefer hot water with a slice of lemon or lime. I had to continually ask for water and lime was never replaced. These people have a lot to learn from restaurants like “Alma in Portugal”, now that is service. At Alma, all the staff were very in tune with your facial expressions as you eat each course and ask if every dish was to your liking if not they would ask what can they provide to make up for it. My water glass was always full and they never let it go cold.

Not really sure how Mayta made it this far…..

I would highly recommend Maido,, flavors were spot on. They picked 15 best dish from the last 15 years to serve - 15 year anniversary. They can also learn from Alma on service of refilling your water without being asked.

Kojolle - I will pass, they assumed that since I didn’t eat beef that I don’t eat pork either so they substituted that pork dish with something terribly sour.

Our last stop is Central tonight so I will see how last year’s #1 will perform.

Hoping this will help other...

Title: Disappointing Experience at Mayta - Not Worth the Hype

Review: I recently dined at Mayta in Lima, Peru, with high expectations given the city's reputation for exceptional culinary offerings. Unfortunately, my experience fell far below expectations, and I feel compelled to share my thoughts to inform others.

Positives: Firstly, it's worth noting that the ambiance at Mayta is quite pleasant. The restaurant boasts nice lighting and greenery, creating a welcoming environment. The tables and seating are comfortable, contributing to the overall aesthetic appeal. Additionally, the staff were courteous and knowledgeable, providing detailed explanations of each dish. The cocktails we tried were also a highlight of the evening.

Negatives: However, the positives end there. The main disappointment came from the food itself. Despite Lima's culinary fame, Mayta's offerings were underwhelming, with repetitive flavors that lacked the complexity and excitement I anticipated. The wine pairing, a crucial aspect of any fine dining experience, was particularly disappointing. Out of the selection, only three out of nine wines met our expectations, while the others were subpar. Moreover, the serving sizes felt more like a scant wine tasting rather than a full pairing, which was a letdown.

The timing of the service was another issue, with long waits between courses that disrupted the flow of our dining experience. This, combined with the lackluster food, made the evening feel drawn out and unenjoyable.

Cost vs. Value: The most striking aspect, however, was the cost-value discrepancy. We spent $680 USD for two people, which is a significant investment for an evening out. For this price, I expected a meal that would leave us delighted and satisfied. Instead, it felt like we had wasted our money on a mediocre experience. In a city like Lima, which boasts numerous high-quality restaurants, this level of dissatisfaction is particularly striking. Without even mentioning renowned places like Central, Kjolle, and Maido, I can confidently recommend Fiesta, Mercado, or Astrid and Gastón for a far superior experience.

Conclusion: While I always try to support local businesses and appreciate culinary artistry, I cannot recommend Mayta. If you are curious about it, temper your expectations. There are many other dining options in Lima that will likely provide a more fulfilling and enjoyable experience. In summary, Mayta, for us, was a regrettable choice – an expensive lesson in the importance of choosing wisely in a city known for its...

It makes me sad to write this review, because honestly I was really excited to come here and it was all going so well.

My wife and I came to this restaurant when visiting Lima, to celebrate her birthday. I made note of it in the reservation, but there was NO acknowledgement from the staff. I mean i'm not asking for a cake or anything free, but any happy positive words would be nice! Especially when spending $500+ USD on a dinner. Very disappointed in that aspect.

But MOST importantly, we ordered the Mayta Experience Tasting Menu, something that took 2.5 hours + to finally. One of the bigger courses was the ribs, where we each receive 2 pieces. However, when transferring the piece to my plate, the waitress Jasmine dropped the piece on the table. It was near the plate, but still on the table. Since we waited so long for this particular course, and we're two parents with a young daughter with a babysitter, I told her it's ok as the waitress started to panic. But she took the piece away and I was left with half the course. She came back and said the chef apologizes. Left confused, we continued with the courses. No mention if I was going to get a replacement, or anything to compensate for this mistake. When the bill came out, $500+, I asked what about the MAIN entree course that I only received a half portion. She then told me, "oh you said you didn't want to wait". Um. First of all, I said it wasn't a big deal to begin with. I even have a photo of the fallen piece literally a few millimeters from the plate. Second of all, we were not even told the option, "oh we can give you another piece, you'll just have to wait this long". It was just skipped. So I asked politely if anything can be done.

Someone else came and rudely put the bill down, said "look, I'm not charging you for drinks", and then asked for payment. Why am I being made out to be a bad person when YOU dropped my food? YOUR mistake is the reason this is happening, this isn't like something I did. I was then given short responses from every staff member, rude attitude and behavior, and negative body language. How disappointing. A mistake by YOU and you're giving us an attitude?

Horrible way to end my wife's birthday. And to think, I genuinely was LOVING my experience and the food. It was a great time. But because of YOUR mistake that YOU didn't want to fix, your POOR table manners and behavior, I will never come back to this establishment. Save your $$ and go to Maido, Central, Kjolle or any other fine peruvian...