Embarcadero 41 Ceviche & Rolls — Restaurant in Florida

Extremely Disappointing Experience — Poor policy communication and lack of accountability!!!

I rarely write reviews, but today’s experience at Embarcadero 41 Ceviche & Rolls was so frustrating that I feel obligated to warn others. While our server, Brunela, was pleasant and did her best, the overall handling of the situation was a glaring example of poor training and missing accountability.

What happened: My party—celebrating a birthday—dined in for lunch. We chose this restaurant because we’ve enjoyed the food here on prior visits. One of the lunch specials on the menu clearly states that it is not available for takeout or delivery and is dine-in only. We also checked the restaurant’s website and confirmed the same policy before arriving. After finishing our meals, we attempted to take the leftovers home. We were told by Brunela that leftovers could not be taken because of the policy stated on the menu. I explained that the policy we saw was about not having the item for takeout or delivery, not about confiscating leftovers from a dine-in guest who has already paid for their food. Once a guest has paid, the food is no longer the restaurant’s property; it belongs to the customer in the form of leftovers. Brunela claimed she was “following policy” and told me to speak with a manager. I was like ok now at least I can understand what policy could possibly prohibit a customer from taking home leftovers they’ve paid for. The manager never came to our table, even after we asked twice. When the bill arrived, Brunela said the manager was not in. Why offer the option to speak to a manager that is not in the restaurant. This felt like avoidant accountability and left us with a sense that the restaurant has no willingness to escalate or clarify policies when customers push back.

Why this matters: Clear and consistent policies are essential, but so is clear communication. The discrepancy between what the menu says and how it was enforced created confusion and frustration. If there is a policy that forbids taking leftovers, it should be stated transparently (and consistently) across all channels, including in-restaurant signage. If there is no such policy, it should not be used as a blanket reason to refuse leftovers after a dine-in meal.

Impact on our experience: The birthday celebration was overshadowed by a policy dispute rather than being about a special occasion. So much so that we forgot all about dessert or singing happy birthday to the birthday girl. We felt dismissed when management did not come to the table to explain or resolve the issue. Brunela’s insistence on a policy that doesn’t align with what we understood from the menu and website left us questioning the restaurant’s commitment to guest satisfaction.

What could have been improved Training: Staff should have a clear understanding of what is allowed with leftovers and how to handle questions about policies without creating confusion or false excuses.

Communication: If there is a policy about leftovers, it should be clearly communicated at the point of sale and in the dining area, not only in small print on a menu that might be missed. Management availability: When a customer asks to speak with a manager, a supervisor should be present promptly to provide clarity or a resolution. Ghosting a request is unacceptable. Consistency: Ensure that policies are applied consistently to all guests and that any exceptions or clarifications are narrated politely and logically.

Recommendation: If you’re considering dining here, confirm current takeout policies in advance, and if possible, request a manager early if you anticipate any potential issues about leftovers or special accommodations. It would also benefit the restaurant to audit its training materials and internal policies to prevent similar misunderstandings in the future.

I hope the restaurant takes this feedback seriously and addresses the communication and training gaps. As a paying guest, you deserve clarity, accountability, and respect, especially when celebrating a special occasion.

We...

I am not one to write reviews but I feel like this really need it to be known.

For about 2-3 weeks now we have had a reservation set up at E41 for my mom’s 60th birthday. 11 guest total. I decided to call about a week ago asking if it would be ok for me to bring some decorations to the restaurant like flowers etc to make the dinner special. They informed me that it was ok and if I wanted to bring my own cake there would be a $25 cake fee charge. Which I understood.

Since I got the ok from the person on the phone I came up with a plan for it and purchased everything this past week. But as an extra sense of security I sent an email to ask again and my sister called in today to add 3 more people and also make sure it was still ok to bring the decor. Each time, it was ok and they said we could come in 15 mins before our reservation to do so. No email response.

Today we arrive at 4:50 for our 5pm reservation of now 14 people and I tell the hostess ok can I come decorate the table and a man comes over and says “No”. At this point I thought it was a joke. But I proceed to inform him that I had spoken to several people that mentioned this was ok. His response was “who did you speak with because I am the owner and I say no” ( in a VERY aggressive and condescending tone) of course I was completely taken back because this is NO WAY to treat a customer that is coming to your establishment. After a bit back and forth he agrees to only let me put the flowers on the table. Which is fine but I was so angry and upset at the way I was treated at the door. He eventually wanted to smooth things out and apologize for his behavior but unfortunately it was too late for me. There was absolutely no excuse for his behavior. If him and his staff do not communicate that should not be my concern. Like I mentioned to him, I respect your establishment and that’s why I took several measures to make sure this was ok. I would have not spent all that time and effort to bring things without making sure.

The food came out, honestly I have tried better Peruvian restaurants and it is definitely a cuisine we love. The ceviche Boca was not bad but the Lomo saltado was bland. And I promise this is my true feelings about it regardless of my experience because I decided to stay and keep my party there and make the best of it but many of us were disappointed with the food and they didn’t know about my previous interaction.

Not at one moment after this the owner come to check in on our table to make sure we were in fact having a good experience after what he had done to me at the beginning.

Needless to say, I will not be returning. Hope he changes his attitude though.

Updated to respond their response below*

Exactly because I understand a restaurants integrity and design is the precise reason why I called multiple times to make sure your restaurant allowed this. If the multiple people we spoke to would have said that I would have obviously not brought anything in. He was talking about how people have left balloons fly to the ceiling… I didn’t have balloons. I had a curated sophisticated tablescape design to compliment the ocasion and the space.

I DID in fact tell the waiter I did not like my meal ( Lomo Saltado) and I ended up ordering Additionally the Ceviche. It was not replaced instead he game me a to go box and I paid for both dishes. Ask your waiter.

Honestly this reply makes me feel even worse about...

I always like coming here to the Embarcadero 41-Boca Raton whenever my father and I feel like eating Peruvian cuisine. The food is nearly always to die for. I love their Peruvian Fusion cuisine dishes. These people do not know when to stop taking Peruvian cuisine to whole new levels. For instance, today we shared their newly added CAUSA NIKKEI CROCANTE as an appetizer. We had their CEVICHE BOCA for main course, which we shared, of course. For dessert we had the CROCANTE PONDERACIÓN. Desserts could be a little pricey but of course, you want to share them with someone else. I cannot eat a full dessert by myself.

When it comes to the service the restaurant nearly always sends you their best. Ivan was our server today. He is a completely attentive guy whose service style goes above and beyond. His charisma makes you not miss other servers who were as good and social as he is. Mariana is also another good staff member but I have only seen her bussing tables, not serving them. She is sweet and quiet.

The atmosphere is very jovial and modern. It makes you feel welcomed as you walk in. The lighting of the restaurant is moderately lightened on the evenings, which makes me feel comfortable. There is also outdoor seating for those who enjoy the outside like I do. You can choose whether you want to seat inside or outside. We almost end up seating outside because the inside was almost full but Fernando, the owner, fitted us in an inside table. He is an AMAZING host, by the way.

Embarcadero 41 Boca has not only made it to be almost the only Peruvian restaurant in Boca Raton, its owner and staff also make their best effort to keep it the best. The best in numerous aspects. Its Peruvian fusion cuisine never stops delighting the tastebuds of Peruvians and non-Peruvians who love Peruvian cuisine. Their good food additionally comes accompanied by an above and beyond service its staff provides in a cozy environment. This environment translates into a welcoming and warm atmosphere where you are going to feel delighted whether you choose the inside or the outside. So the next time you come to Boca Raton and feel like eating Peruvian cuisine, please come to Embarcadero...