Fusion Ceviche — Restaurant in Dubai

A Fiesta of Flavors: Celebrating Peruvian Traditions at Fusion Ceviche

Step into a world of warmth, heritage, and mouthwatering Peruvian delights at Fusion Ceviche in JLT. Owned by the amiable and self-taught Chef Penelope Diaz, this charming little restaurant celebrates its 1st year anniversary in style, offering a rich tapestry of dishes that showcase the best of Peruvian cuisine.

Our experience was nothing short of a fiesta. Amid the cozy 10 sq m space (maybe less), we were greeted with smiles and laughter. The warmth of the homie vibe resonated with foodies from all corners of the world, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and celebration. “Todos estamos unidos como uno…con comida.” Chef Penelope treated us like family and amigos, engaging us in delightful conversations about her Peruvian heritage and culinary passions.

Classic Ceviche: A Timeless Treasure

The culinary journey began with the Classic Ceviche, a testament to the art of simplicity and freshness. The delicate fish, marinated in a tangy citrus blend, was a refreshing explosion of flavors. Each bite was enhanced by the vibrant harmony of onions, cilantro, and a hint of chili. Chef Penelope's passion for traditional Peruvian ceviche shone through, elevating this classic dish to a whole new level.

Like whispers lost in the sands of time, the ancient origins of ceviche elude us, with no written recipes to trace back its earliest inception. Believed to have emerged some 3,000 years ago near Huanchaco, a coastal town in Peru, this delectable tradition likely began when fishermen savored the fruits of the ocean right at its edge. Maricel Presilla, a renowned chef and food historian, delved into the culinary treasures of Latin America for her celebrated book, “Gran Cocina Latina: The Food of Latin America”, earning her a prestigious James Beard Foundation Award.

Salmon Ceviche in Tangy Mango Sauce: A Tropical Symphony

The celebration continued with a delightful twist on the classic ceviche. Chef Penelope's ingenuity shone brightly with the Salmon Ceviche in tangy mango puree. The fresh salmon, bathed in a luscious mango-infused marinade, delighted the palate with the perfect balance of sweet and tangy notes. Fresh mangoes added a touch of tropical flair, showcasing the chef's ability to fuse tradition with innovation.

Grilled Octopus: A Tender Delight

The Grilled Octopus stole my heart with its exquisite tenderness and smoky flavor. Cooked to perfection, the octopus retained a delightful springiness, complemented by a captivating char from the grill. Served with a touch of Peruvian salsa, this dish evoked memories of the coastal breeze and the bounties of the sea. It was a delightful homage to the ocean's treasures.

Slow-Cooked Lamb Chops: A Gastronomic Revelation

The dish was the pièce de résistance of the evening. The succulent meat, cooked to tender perfection, revealed a symphony of robust flavors that sang on the tongue. Chef Penelope's respect for Peruvian traditions and her impeccable cooking skills were evident in every mouthwatering bite. Each morsel celebrated the rich heritage of Peru and left us in awe of her culinary prowess. Next round, I'll master the art of extracting the pure lamb chop essence (a.k.a. the bone marrow)!

Dining at Fusion Ceviche was not just a culinary experience; it was an immersion into the heart and soul of Peru. Chef Penelope's love for her craft and her dedication to preserving Peruvian traditions shone in every dish. Surrounded by friendly staff and fellow foodies, we reveled in the homie vibe that made us feel right at home. If you're looking for a gastronomic adventure filled with rich flavors, fresh ingredients, and a vibrant Peruvian vibe, let Chef Penelope welcome you into her culinary family with open arms.

¡Buen provecho!

P.S. Little did I know that this culinary adventure would pale in comparison to the thrill of getting to know this enigmatic human being who had just invited me into thy world of flavors and...

Sunday. 12.58 pm waiting outside until the restaurant opens. 1.00pm sharp we, a party of 4 went inside, not sure when but 4 people were already seated at the bar. We took a table, one beside a another very close to us where 4 people sat as well. Literally we were side to side, while more people arrived start feeling very cramped.

We decided our cold dishes pretty fast. 1.10pm we requested: salmon ceviche (aed90), carretillero ceviche (aed95), octopus ceviche (100aed) and crabmeat causa (80aed). It was not a good start to hear from the waiter that octopus and crabmeat were not available. Fine. We order instead clasico ceviche (aed85) and shrimp causa (aed75). Asked for a sparkling water as well.

Water took a while to come. They served us some chulpi cancha. And around 15 mins the first ceviche comes (clasico) and we were nissing cutlery in the table (spoons and forks missing for 2). The ceviche was good. We eat spicy food and we were fine with the level of spicyness but I would recommend the service to warn the people in case their spicy tolerance is not too high.

15 mins later the next ceviche (salmon) comes. It was ok. Here we decid3d to order chicha morada and an Inca Kola. They said they didn't have inca kola (if not available for long time wouldn't be better to take it out of the menu?). The chicha was ok - small glass though and filled with chopped apple...

At the pace the food was coming, which seem slow (and the place was not full yet), we decided to order the mains. We asked for a Arroz con pato (aed120) and a lomo saltado with risotto (aed120). They said the arroz con pato was not available (it was upsetting already to hear that for the third time). We order instead a pulpo anticuchero (aed100) and seco norteño (aed130).

Third ceviche comes 15 mins later (carretillero) and despite the leche de tigre flavor was ok, the "crispy calamari" was far from being crispy and calamari seemed more cuttlefish.

As we didn't see light of our causa coming we started asking around. It was hard to get ahold of a waiter until a different one comes and told us there was NO causa at all available today. 45 mins after ordering and no one was kind enough to told us that and rectify to have the chance to order something else. Upsetting once again.

Few minutes after the chef comes to the table and asked us was happening and explained the disappointment of unavailable dishes and the misinformation about the causa. Apologized and ask us 5 more minutes for the mains.

Octopus came and it was ok. Lomo saltado came after and was just average. It was exceeded in vinager, and the called out a 'Japanese wagyu beef' was very far from being tenderloin of that quality (was chewy and full of cartilage).

Seco norteño came and it was ok.

By this time the restaurant was full, smelly (ventilation is not enough) and loud.

Things were not going well overall, evenmore for the slow and poor service (waiters did not speak proper english either). We wanted to order dessert as several and interesting options were showcased in the menu. Although the experienced evidenced we had to ask what was available and when asked indeed only 1 of 6 desserts were available. We decided to just ask for the bill and leave.

I can not say anything outstanding about the experience. Prices are on the high end for the type of venue they are. I would prefer to go and eat the same ceviches in Coya (Four Seasons) or Playa (West Beach in Palm Jumeirah) in a nice set up, with great service, drinking a pisco sour, much more spaceful and with great views.

On top of that, the unavailability of dishes was simply the worst part when the service of the day was just starting.

Would I come back. NO. Would I recommend it. NO As a peruvian who knows how to cook peruvian food and resource peruvian ingredients in UAE I would 2000% cook tastier...

I was convinced to go due to the several good reviews this place is collecting. The ceviche was really nice, although I must say it has been the only positive thing in my experience there. Once asked for the table and sit, cutlery was half missing, maybe the rush but still not very complicated to prepare. A bottle of water took more than 15min to arrive even under double request. We ordered three ceviches but the first arrived after a while and also each of the second and third after 15-20 mins parted. As above it was really nice, but it doesn’t take all this time to be served, I don’t know what to say. About the other stuff ordered, overall they were flavorful but the Japanese wagyu beef mentioned in the menu was not at all Japanese wagyu beef so I don’t know what we payed, then when a fried calamari is served it shouldn’t let it drown in the soup/sauce or similar, otherwise the crunchiness disappear and all the fry part can peeled off (very unappealing), and finally we had a risotto but again it was served with the sauce of the meat and here again, despite the sauce was really nice once you get the texture of the risotto you can not let it drown in sauce or similar otherwise it became terrible. Price point of view, there is a big gap among quality/location. Even though the food can be nice (ceviche), it can not be charged as other places which has palm view or sea view or other similar with a totally different atmosphere and ambient, since this place is very cozy yes but small and with no view, with smell coming from the kitchen. Another big negative point is that even though the menu is not big, almost half of it was not available and we were the first customers of the day. I can’t find any reason for that. After 50 min we had placed our order the waiter informed us that that order was not available, again no excuse for that since something else could have been chosen. When asked for dessert, among the six of them only one was available plus one which was not even mentioned in the menu. Honestly I don’t know what the menu was for since it was pretty useless. On the menu point of view, I would say it doesn’t take a lot printing some adhesive with the code to scan instead of having the waiter needing to let it scan from his phone. When the supposed owner came to the table due to all the above problems (supposed because she didn’t even introduce herself), she heard of the issues, apologies but did nothing to try to make it up for them. Honestly the ceviche does not make it up for the bad service, attitude, high price and location. In dubai there are so many other place serving same and higher...