Rafael — Restaurant in Lima Metropolitan Area

This review is for dinner service on the evening of June 8. I debated writing this as I do not enjoy writing negative reviews. However if this happened to me, I wonder if it happened before, and so I’m writing in hopes it does not happen again.

I booked my dinner reservation for the evening of June 8 a few weeks in advance (when I was still in NYC). On June 8, the restaurant whatsapped me that I would be seated “near the bar.” While I wasn’t sure what this meant, it was fine by me – if tables were needed for larger parties, I totally understand.

That evening, I walked over to the restaurant a little before opening and others were waiting outside, who shared that they did not have reservations but were hoping to eat at the bar. Upon opening, all of those people filled up the bar stools. I, with a reservation, was seated in a small, dark table behind those people [sitting on higher up bar stools – just imagine how awkward that is], but was indeed “next to the bar.” Then, after ten minutes or so, I overheard one of the employees approach a couple seated at the bar (who did not have a reservation) to offer them a table, as they “had room” in the dining room.

When the couple declined, I walked up to the front and asked why I wouldn’t be offered a table if they had room? The employees tried to tell me that I made a reservation at the bar, but I clarified that I did not (nor would I). Fortunately, I was promptly moved to a table in the [largely empty] dining room. At that point I felt very uncomfortable. The last thing I wanted was to come off like I was too good for the bar area. I QUICKLY ate the rest of my food to get out of there as fast as possible.

During this time, however, I took note of people who were seated within the dining room (which was still empty when I left, but was starting to fill up). This is when I noticed another solo diner seated at a table in the dining room, so I had to ask myself: what differentiated him from me? Prior to my arrival, all the restaurant would have known about me was my name. From my name you can tell that I am female, and that I am Asian. This other solo diner was not female nor Asian - in fact, it was likely he probably had a name more similar to the couple seated at the bar (i.e., the ones without reservations that were offered a dining room table before me).

The possibility that this was the reason I had been treated differently (even before arriving at the restaurant) made me extremely sad. Indeed, my dinner at Rafael was the only time that I felt unwelcome in Peru, and was the only negative experience of my overall trip. It was actually a shame because the food [that I quickly shoveled into my mouth] was, indeed, very excellent. The staff, for the most part, were extremely attentive as well.

At the end of my meal, I spoke to Jorge (who actually tried to make things better, which was very nice) who explained that when they get reservations, they fill up the dining room first, so later reservations will get seated at the bar. This makes sense, but I made my reservation weeks in advance. When I took out my phone and showed him the date I made the reservation (22 May), Jorge’s expression was one of bewilderment, which was followed by a sincere apology. Jorge’s genuinely empathetic reaction was why I almost did not write this review.

However, as I wrote above, I hope this does not happen to anyone else, least of all to solo women who are traveling a far way from their home. I hope the restaurant understands that my money is worth the same as any other person’s, regardless of what my name might be. And if I hadn’t said anything that night, nothing would have been rectified at all.

Fortunately, the next night I ate at Maido, where I was treated extremely well even though I got a seat off the waiting list(!), and returned back to the Peru that I’d been enjoying prior to Rafael. I still would recommend Rafael because the food was so good, but I hope that what happened to me on June 8, 2023 does not happen to...

What a disappointment. We were recommended this restaurant by someone we met during our holiday and thought it would be the perfect place to enjoy our final evening. The welcome was pleasant — we were able to make a reservation the day before in person, and the hostess was very polite and welcoming. The cocktail beforehand was nice, and the place itself is beautifully decorated with a warm, atmospheric vibe.

Despite informing them in advance that one person in our group is vegetarian — and receiving confirmation — there was no actual choice of vegetarian dishes, except for one with gorgonzola. I love cheese, but I don’t enjoy strong blue cheese like that. There were no vegetarian tapas, starters, or main courses. When I asked about the options, the server walked away, and I was then approached by someone else who incorrectly stated that I was vegan, which I’m not. He said one dish could be ordered without shrimp. For a starter, we could have the tomato salad — without the anchovy dressing.

When I ordered the dish without shrimp, it turned out that the sauce still contained fish and couldn’t be substituted. So that wasn’t an option either. A salad without dressing didn’t seem particularly worthwhile. I ended up with some raw beetroot as a starter and no main course at all.

On top of that, the service was unprofessional and unfriendly, showing no willingness to give us a pleasant evening. I’ve never encountered a chef who refuses to make the slightest adjustment for vegetarians. In a restaurant ranked among the Best Top 50, you'd expect the staff to be accommodating. Asking about allergies and dietary preferences in advance turned out to be a total farce. Placing pistachios on the table when someone in the group has a nut allergy is completely unacceptable.

At checkout, we were overcharged by 70 soles — on top of the tip we had already given — which we accidentally paid by card. The staff took the money with an ungrateful expression. What an absolutely bitter aftertaste from a place we had high hopes for.

In short: don’t go here if you’re looking for quality vegetarian food with friendly, engaged service. No smiles, and hospitality is clearly not a priority. Rafael is overpriced, inflexible, and...

During our recent stay in Miraflores, we went to Rafael not once, but twice! We were recommended to try Rafael Restaurante and we easily found the small but beautiful restaurant on a quiet neighborhood block. We are more of sit at the bar than at a table type people (having since learned that's not always respectful in Peruvian culture), but the hostess sat us at the bar with a smile and an English and Spanish menu. The restaurant was lively, steadily busy and so uniquely decorated. We were instantly greeted by enthusiastic bartenders, and when we had trouble communicating with one (our Spanish is still a work-in-progress), Alejandra, another bartender, came to our rescue with a big smile. Ale made us feel comfortable and right at home, even with our broken Spanish and new experience with Peruvian cuisine. She had great energy and was very informative on the menu and bar items. She asked us our likes and preferences and recommended some amazing dishes and drinks. It was awesome to watch her work behind the bar, as she juggled other customers and the swing bar, all while paying us quality attention. I have a severe shellfish allergy, and although this was a seafood restaurant, Ale made sure that I found something delicious and safe to enjoy. We even tried things we normally might not have, like the Angus Sweet Bread and Suckling Pig (too good!!). I loved the corn tapas and homemade pasta with duck, and my boyfriend devoured the fresh ceviche and scallops. We had such a great experience sitting with Alejandra that we decided to return the next night. The ambiance and vibe of the restaurant was more lively on a weekend night, but we still received the same devoted attention from the staff. Alejandra even spoke directly to the chef to make sure we were able to try more Peruvian dishes..it was amazing and we felt very special!! Even after eating, we stayed and continued to enjoy specialty beverages at Alejandra's bar- she made our dining experience truly unforgettable. Muchas gracias, Ale and Rafael Restaurante! We...