Picca Pollo A La Brasa — Restaurant in Maryland

This week was my first time visiting this place. I just went there to treat myself to Salchipapas (I haven't had one since I was in High School in Peru). Food wise, they didn't disappoint. The Salchipapas, although an easy thing to make, was delicious. The potatoes and hot dogs tasted just the way they tasted in Peru 20 years ago. The atmosphere felt great with Juan Luis Guerra music playing in the background at just the right volume for you to enjoy it and still be able to have a conversation. The place feels nice and cozy with plenty of tables from 2 to 4 and bigger groups to sit together. The employees were great as well, with each one doing their job, and trying their best. The first person in line welcoming you and helping you find a seat was polite, graceful, and accommodating. The manager, whose name I forgot to ask, was on task (unlike most other managers). He jumped from the register, to serving, to preparing, etc., confident, attentive and welcoming to the customer. I could see that he is a hard working man and you can tell the place runs good because they have good people running the business, or at least I hope that is the case. Really, everyone there was on task. One thing that surprised me was to receive my order in a Sardis bag. When I asked why, I was told that they belonged to the same owner or something like that. And that makes sense because Sardis is another great place to get for from.

What I would like to see is to have the option to tip when paying with card. Out of all places to eat, Picca and Sardis (specially Sardis because cause I go there more often due to the proximity) are places were I actually voluntarily want to tip because you get great customer service and/or quick, fresh, and delicious food.

I wil definitely be coming back here the next...

It seems they have 3 options: dine in (inside and outside seating), take out from a limited buffet or maybe cafeteria style line, and take out from full menu. I ordered from the full menu and ordered chicken skewers with cilantro rice, but my server did not understand me and ordered me the chicken with bone in and corn and pea rice. I also ordered the Causas. The chicken was delicious, fell off the bone, nice flavoring, and large portion. The rice was flavored nicely with thick, slightly chewy corn and peas. Also had nice flavoring. I was given 3 sauces and these were tasty and added additional flavor to the chicken. I liked the green sauce the best. The Causas are whipped potatoes and were, um, interesting. They were cold. The chicken was like a chicken salad mixture. I thought the potatoes were going to be stuffed with the chicken and served warm. It was good, just not what I expected and not sure I would order it again. The servers seemed nice and interactive with their tables. My server forgot a sauce and actually ran out in the parking lot to make sure I got it. Very impressive. They were attentive to me as I stood waiting on my order. I would recommend calling in your order ahead of time. It's loud, busy, and cramped in the waiting area. They have a nice selection of sodas and flavored drinks. I gave 4 stars simply due to price. Those 2 items came to $25, no drink. Although portion sizes were generous, that's too expensive for one meal and one starter, imo. The food and service deserve 5 stars. I wouldn't mind returning, but eating in next time and enjoying the meal...

I have been coming to Pica since you opened. I make it a point to come eat your food everytime I come back to Germantown and I generally have a pleasant experience.

I ordered a ceviche, papa rellena, and anticucho to go today which did not meet what I know Pica food should be.

The anticucho meat tasted old, like liver. It was cooked well, with a little pink and seasoned well. But the meat itself tasted off.

The ceviche was also poorly packaged and even though it was held upright the entire ride home all of the time juice spilled in the bag. The fish also seemed to be of poor quality. It was tough and chewy.

The papa rellena was good.

The man who took my order informed me that none of the dishes come with aji anymore. I've ordered all these things many times before and have always received aji. The man tried to tell me that since COVID none of the dishes come with aji when I have ordered takeout many times since COVID and received multiple containers of aji regardless of what I ordered. To the point that I always let them know I don't need the green one.

I understand that cost and various other things can change but my receipt shows that he put "no sauce" on all of my items when I have never seen that before. My parents were also at Pica just last week and always get the same thing and receive multiple containers of aji.

I love having good authentic Peruvian food nearby but this is not the quality of food and service that I have come to appreciate from Pica over the many years I have...