Lima - Restaurant Fitzrovia — Restaurant in London

I just came here with my partner for dinner and we both took the tasting menu with drink pairing. In general, we expected much more. The biggest thing to note is that the price for overall value did not meet expectations in our eyes. The food was interesting, but many of the flavor profiles did not feel balanced and were im some cases difficult to consume (far to acidic with only the taste of lemon juice, meat cuts that were too chewy to even bite through, a desert that had the consistency of power). For example, the hand-dived scallops came uncooked and served with a sauce that was so sour both my husband and I could barely enjoy it. The tuna tartare was very mild, and served with a something that tasted like your basic spicy mayo like what you have at an average sushi restaurant. Of the five courses on the menu, I would say that only one (crab and octopus) was was worth writing home about. All others feel short of anything consistent with gourmet. The service staff was friendly, but many didn’t even know what they were delivering especially when it came to describing the wine (more than 5 different waitstaff to our table in a single evening, which made the experience feel very impersonal).

We enjoyed the opening signature Peruvian cocktail, but from there each wine was from a European vineyard. With the amazing selection of wines coming from South American, we definitely would have expected the tasting menu to have been accompanied by selections that were at least continental.

The biggest disappointment happened when when my main came - the cut of meat was so tough, my knife and teeth couldn’t even get through it. I asked for a steak knife and they said they didn’t even have any in the whole restaurant. They bought me the same dish as a replacement (which was kind) but still the same issue (the cut my husband got was much better and he was able to enjoy his).

In terms of the atmosphere, it was nicely decorated but very very loudly and difficult to have a conversation. Had more of the environment of a trendy hip bistro then a high-end restaurant. Also , the ac was blowing the whole time. Also, the menus were very worn and damaged (stains, crumpled edges, ect). It just didn’t communicate the value they are trying to sell you in any way….

For two just taking the tasting menu with no extras, we spent £300. Based on our experience in other restaurants, our expectations would have been met for such a price. In this case, it’s far overpriced for...

I don’t know if we just came at a bad time, but this place was absolutely woeful.

First of all, they have crammed far too many tables in to the small space upstairs. I do not enjoy sitting closer to a stranger on the adjacent table than I am to my partner across the table and being right inside other people’s conversations, particularly for over 2.5 hrs the meal took (thanks to us cutting it short and begging for the bill). I thought Michelin stars needed good food and good ambience, this has neither.

Second of all, on Saturday lunch there is only a set menu and this was not stated on the website – at least not on the mobile site. Most of the courses were of the standard of a Peruvian Las Iguanas or similar. The ceviche was nice but small with about four pieces of fish. The hake was good but everything else was poor – colourful but plain tasting (chicken was like my local Morleys), nowhere near what you would hope to get in a Michelin starred restaurant. I also didn’t realise that broccoli and lettuce were traditional sides in Peru...

Worst of all was the service and wait throughout the meal – woeful. There are not many tables in this small place and everyone’s eating the same dishes, but the kitchen and staff evidently can’t cope. It was about 30 minutes before they even brought some uninspiring cold dips and bread after we were seated, and about 30 mins wait between snacks and main course. The waitresses not once came to the table to ask if we wanted anything, you always had to flag them down, which often took ages. It even took ages to receive drinks orders and the wine we asked for ahead of the main course never showed up, yet found its way onto the bill. Glasses and plates left lying around even when new ones arrived, tables not cleared next to us. The waitresses seemed disinterested at best and could barely tell you what was in each dish. Another 20 mins to desert and about the same between bill and card reader while the staff stand around out front folding napkins. Virgilio Martinez joined the table next to us for a few minutes and was completely oblivious to the fact service had been so poor and the waitress seemed surprised when we asked to remove the service charge from the bill, equally oblivious.

Overall, very very...

The Sunday Long Lunch menu is one of the best experiences London has to offer. I really mean that. Lemme elaborate (I'm still tipsy from the free flowing Pisco punch that accompanies the menu): First: for a menu coveted by a Michelin star, it is amazing value. Of course, London has a tradition of great value lunches at high-end places, from Club Gascon in Farringdon to Heston's Dinner in Hyde park, but this beats them all! Value is unheard of for London. Second: It's lovely lovely food. We're quite big fans of Peruvian cuisine and this is the best establishment of the nations modern style. Starters - Ceviche is balanced and flavorsome (don't expect the in-your-face tastes of traditional street-food ceviche). Causa is tasty, I was never such a fan now I am. Mains - you get it all on one large board - pork, lamb and chicken. ALL amazing! I was surprised how chicken stood up to other meats. Sides are more traditional Peruvian with a twist. Btw, it is a LOT OF FOOD! Desert - surprisingly lovely although understated. Alfajores with dulce de leche is out of this world. Purple corn jelly, tasted nice but I am never convinced of it (but understand why it's there, it's really a Peru staple and should be represented). This all is accompanied by choice of free flowing prosecco or pisco punch. Pisco punch packs a real punch, I was drunk by the end of the meal. Again I have to repeat the value here: this is 4 cocktails for a tenner... It would make any Londoner suspicious, but trust me it's amazing. Third: Staff is lovely! Attentive, but we were given all the space and time to enjoy. Maître d'hôtel is an absolute pro. Don't know his name but, thank you very much for serving us seconds !! (yes we had seconds) Lastly, for London to host first star for a Peruvian joint in Europe, and for this value, is quite exquisite. That's why I said it's one of the great things Loondon has to offer. This was supposed to be a one-off experience, now it'll be...