The Red Llama — Restaurant in Lone Tree

I hate that my experience sucked. I went with a friend to dinner here during our business trip, excited to try Peruvian food. I have IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease), and with that, it is my responsibility to be cautious of what I eat. To preface, this place is super cute, the atmosphere is amazing, food is very authentic. My friend's meal was amazing, he enjoyed a traditional Peruvian dish, flan and a pisco sour. The circumstances for my dinner, however, were just perfectly awful. The waitress was young, knowledgeable, and, fun, we liked her. She recommended the plain ceviche, so I ordered it. I was expecting some onions but when presented to me the meal had a fistful amount of sliced red onions. I picked out every onion because I can't eat them in that quantity without bodily consequence. She didn't know this but I didn't fuss over it, this was my choice and I was looking forward to the refreshing, brightly flavored dish. Finally getting to dig in, I noticed my mouth was burning. Partly because of the expected, highly acidic ceviche base (citrus juice), but also from the picante peppers in it that I didn't order and can't eat. I was nauseous, and immediately started feeling unwell. After explaining my situation, the waitress offered to get me a different meal. I declined because honestly I couldn't think straight, I wasn't sure if what I ate was going to come back up or not. I asked for some rice to help settle my stomach and she put the order in, saying she'll comp it. The plate of rice arrives at the table and it's topped with spicy diced peppers.... she comped the $4 rice, which was nice, but honestly it wasn't going to hold me over and didn't feel like enough. Feeling sick, I went to the restroom. Upon my return to the table, my buddy had already paid for our meal. She charged us for the ceviche (the meal that I couldn't eat) and never gave us our receipts, which we need for the report to our company. In regards to the meal, I approached her and requested sweet potato fries as compensation for the ceviche, expressing that I felt robbed of a dinner and, to put frankly, poisoned. I explained the sweet potato fries would help soothe my stomach, she was understanding and put the order in. After receiving the sweet potato fries, we were about to leave and she stopped us. Told me that she comped the rice but we still needed to pay for the fries, as if she had completely forgotten our conversation prior. I was at my limit, there was no patience left… To make a point, I understand mistakes happen. There is no reason to point fingers at anyone directly for this outcome, we all could've done something differently to avoid it. The chef, the waitress, the food runner, or even the manager. That said, it doesn't negate the fact that I will be in pain due to the food they served me, suffering because of their negligence, and that their so greedy they couldn't even comp me an order of sweet potato fries at $13 after paying in full for the $30 ceviche I couldn't even stomach... I don't want my experience to deter anyone from being a customer of The Red Llama. I just want my story to be known by the staff and management so they know my frustration, my anger, and my hope that this never...

Visited this Peruvian restaurant on a recommendation with a group of five. Upon arrival, we noticed the reddish theme throughout the decor, which gave the place a warm and inviting atmosphere. However, despite expecting some traditional Peruvian elements, there were no llamas in sight—not a dealbreaker, but something we found amusing.

Parking was available, which made the visit more convenient, especially for a group. Once inside, we were seated promptly and handed a QR code to access the menu online. The menu offered a good selection of dishes, making it a bit tough to choose, but it was nice to see a variety of options available. At first glance, the prices seemed a bit high for Peruvian food, but once the dishes arrived, it all made sense. The portions were incredibly generous—definitely enough to share between two people. If dining as a couple, I’d recommend splitting an appetizer, a main dish, and a dessert to get a well-rounded experience without overordering.

During our visit, the kitchen appeared to be a little behind, as we experienced a noticeable wait for our food. However, what stood out was the exceptional service. The manager/owner personally came out to apologize for the delay, comped one of our plates, and even sent over dessert as a gesture of goodwill. That level of customer care left a great impression and made me want to return.

As for the food itself, it was a mix of highs and minor misses. The Lomo Saltado had a nice flavor, but it was slightly on the salty side, and the beef was a bit chewy. The fried rice dish had great seasoning, but the rice itself seemed undercooked, making it a little too firm. On the other hand, the Tallerin Saltado was absolutely delicious—flavorful, well-cooked, and worth the wait. After the initial delay, it seemed like the kitchen found its rhythm, and everything started coming out more smoothly.

The restaurant had a mellow vibe, and the staff was attentive throughout the meal, checking in regularly and making sure we were satisfied. Overall, it was a solid dining experience with a few minor setbacks that were handled well by the management. I’d definitely return, especially to try the anticucho next time. If you’re in the mood for Peruvian food with large portions and good service, it’s worth stopping by...

I want to start this off with, we knew it was the grand opening and things could take a minute, and to be honest, we would have waited 8 hours if we had to. If you’re new to Colorado, then let me explain. Red Llama is the one food tent that always has a line at the Peruvian festival. They’re always busy, always packed.

When my partner and I heard about them opening up a location nearby, we knew we had to do what it takes to be some of the first people there, and man it didn’t disappoint.

Considering the number of Peruvian folks living here, it still shocks me how there are not more options, so you can imagine I was beyond excited to hear they were opening doors soon.

My partner and I had:

1 Lomo Saltado 1 Ceviche Papa a la Huancaina Causa de Tuna

The food was great, but what really took it to the sweet inner child bliss was the Causa. The closest thing to back home visiting grandma en Lima.

That flavor is unmatched and I could see myself reordering every time I’m there.

Presentation was on point, a more elevated way of plating traditional dishes without compromising their authentic flavors.

Customer service was great. I know that there were system issues, and it was their first official day, but honestly, they tried their best, and they were all really kind. With it being the grand opening, there were also performers, so it made the wait worthwhile. (Hope they do that often actually)

I saw someone leave a review saying they paid over 50 to 100 per person; either they’re bitter or … they’re bitter (which to anyone reading, you should be able to report it to Google for false information, but I could be tripping). We didn’t spend that much. Yes, a bit more on the higher end of prices, but 1. Inflation, and 2. It’s not different than the prices at a main chain restaurant.

The official ranges are from 20-30 dollars in entrees. Drinks and appetizers are lower than that. (We did order extra so it went over but we chose to do that.)

Excited to eventually try breakfast there. Considering I’m from Peru and spent a lot of my time growing up after moving to US in Miami (Latino central), this spot is the closest thing to those flavors I’ve been craving for a while without me having to do it after a...