Inca Social — Restaurant in Merrifield

I have been searching for a Peruvian restaurant matching the flavor experience of La Llama Restaurant in Chicago since the untimely death of owner Angel Asturrizaga in the late 1980’s, who, with his wife and chef, Nelly, served an amazing Peruvian fine dining experience beginning at their first location in Evanston circa 1974 followed by their Ashland Ave. location in Chicago until Angel passed. On Tuesday last week to my delighted surprise my brain registered WoW at the first sip of Inca Social’s Pisco Sour, identical to AA’s at LL. The key is, as verified in conversation with IS manager, Carla, 1 to 1 ratio of Pisco to lime juice bar mix along with making lime juice and simple syrup bar mix from scratch. The only difference is AA micro planed a dash of fresh nutmeg on top of egg white meringue in the glass while IS stencils the image of a llama on top of their meringue using bitters. Taste of the liquids is identical though I favor micro planed nutmeg over bitters on top. You are sensing the nose of nutmeg as I mention it here. Right? IS dry shakes Pisco/lime juice/egg whites, adds a bit of ice and shakes again cooling the sour cocktail. Using a Hawthorne Strainer the bartender strains the cocktail into the glass, dollops meringue on top and finishes with stenciled bitters llama image. IS’s, meringue is creamy texture and is flavorful. IS’s Pisco Sour drink is outstanding. I also want to be clear here in my comparison that LL was a fine dining restaurant - white table cloths, reservations only for 2 evening seatings, not open for lunch and the owner spent significant time at each table as guests were seated describing the food they were about to enjoy and talked to guests about Peruvian culture and history. IS in my opinion is in the category of ethnic, prime casual dining.

I ordered IS’s Fish Ceviche finding it sensational. The long list of ingredients (white fish, leche de tigre, chopped peppers, chopped onions, concha, corn, slice of sweet potato, aji and topped with salsa criolla) combine for a complex smile inducing flavor jamboree. WoW!

I also had chicken and beef empanadas that were well crafted and good. Flan for desert was delicious and black coffee robust. I only ate half of the ceviche and empanadas boxing half that I took home. Portions are generous, all ingredients were fresh, cooking was skillful and presentation was appetizing.

There were only a handful of customers dining including myself at 4:30 PM on my first visit last Tuesday and a small video crew apparently making and ad. Service was attentive and efficient and hospitality by the staff was warm and genuine. The interior furnishing added warmth to the Bauhaus architectural coldness of concrete walls and floor, exposed metal ceiling - ductwork - pipes. The ceiling appears to my eye more than 30 feet high and there are many high up windows. Table tops are heavy earth tone wood, chairs are bright red. Half of the chairs are metal and the rest fabric covered. Along with hanging light fixtures and colorful plants (I am guessing plants are plastic) the interior is sufficiently warmed.

I returned the next night, Wednesday, which was a stormy day and I was the only customer, enjoying Pisco Sour, Arroz De Maricoss, sweet potato fries, Tres Leche Cake and black coffee. All were terrific, ingredients fresh and skillfully prepared. I would like to see Papas Rellena added to the menu.

I cannot speak to IS social distancing policies because I was there at the beginning of dinner service on both days. So few people there that distancing was automatic and not an issue. I dine out frequently and my strategy these days is to dine early for dinner reducing the possibility of congestion and lunch is strictly carryout and also early for me. Lastly, IS baños are unisex, clean and tiled in...

Inca Social is a vibrant jewel in the crown of Peruvian cuisine, serving up a feast for the senses with a side of fun. From the moment you step through the door, the excellent service and casual vibe make you feel right at home, as if you've been invited to a family feast in the heart of Lima.

Starting off with the Causa Sampler, we embarked on a culinary expedition across the Peruvian landscape. Each causa was a masterpiece of flavor: from the chicken salad causa, cloaked in Inca and avocado lime sauces, to the shrimp causa, crowned with a golf-Inca sauce duo, and not forgetting the earthy delight of the beet and corn causa. It was like a United Nations summit of flavors, where every delegate was dressed to impress.

The Beef Empanadas were perfection, a harmonious blend of ground beef, carrot, peas, and raisins, all snug within a crispy pastry shell, served with a Peruvian pico de gallo and the irresistible Inca sauce. Each bite was a journey through the heart of Peruvian comfort food, with flavors bold enough to start a culinary revolution.

Tequeños, those delightful mozzarella-filled wonders, wrapped in a wonton embrace and flash-fried to perfection, served with a creamy avocado sauce, were a testament to Peru's flair for fusion, melting hearts (and cheese) with every bite.

The Pulpo Anticuchero was an absolute showstopper, with tender grilled octopus resting atop a throne of lime and aji amarillo infused mashed potato, flanked by fried sweet potatoes and chimichurri. It was a dish so divine, Poseidon himself would trade the seas for a seat at Inca Social.

The Ceviche Carretillero was a crisp, refreshing ode to the classic fish ceviche, elevated with crispy calamari, proving that Inca Social knows how to play the zesty symphony of Peruvian ceviche like a virtuoso.

Lomo a la Huancaina brought the sizzle with stir-fry steak, red onions, and tomato wedges, all lavished in a signature oyster and soy sauce, served over a risotto that sang with creamy huancaína sauce and parmesan cheese--a symphony of flavors that danced on our palate.

For dessert, the Lucuma Flan and Inca Suspiro were like the dulcet tones of a love song, with the lucuma's subtle sweetness harmonizing with the dulce de leche and port meringue, creating a finale so perfect, it deserved a standing ovation. The Lucuma Ice Cream was the cherry on top, a creamy dream that whispered sweet nothings of Peru.

Washing it all down with a Passion Chilcano and Sangria, we toasted to a meal that was nothing short of legendary. Inca Social is not just a restaurant; it's a vibrant celebration of all things Peruvian, a place where every dish is a journey and every sip...

07/31/24 update Still amazing got the same thing as before but today the ginger and wasabi were much more fresher compared to before so 6 stars today. Thanks to Eric the manager and Sofia for making me the Piscorita, which is basically a word I just made up for a Margarita with Pisco, or a Pisco sour without egg like Eric called it. Thanks also to Maria and Eric both compatriots of mine. Love the food here and the nice staff regardless of the time I come their personalities and positive attitude is really appreciated.

————-

Very nice restaurant in a nice part of town with indoor and outdoor sitting. I’m a bit bias because I’m very familiar with Peruvian food, and I think the Chalaca oysters and the Costa Verde maki were pretty awesome so 5 stars for food and taste. The wasabi and ginger were not that fresh so -1 star.

Restaurant staff were pretty amazing and friendly starting with first place Maria, the lady that took care of my order with a smile, and a friendly caring attitude. Giancarlo good attitude and making sure Peru is part of Inca Social, also nice Damar and Jorge, all very nice folks and great service.

Damar made a good custom house margarita, I wanted Pisco sour but only had range (driving) for one drink, and Pisco sours are usually small, so went with the larger Tequila option. But you should try Pisco which is originally from Peru regardless of what others say. Named after the Peruvian town of Pisco near the Nazca lines, initial Pisco name records go back to the early 1700s, even though the drink originated way before that in the 1500s.

I gave a 6 star for service, cleanliness, staff attitude and friendliness. So the resulting review comes up to 5 stars @6% tip per star, comes up to 30% tip.

Thank you all for the great food, service and the friendly attitude 👍.

PS: I’m not sure about the “Inca Balls” under “Dishes you would recommend” Who picked that name and how big are they? Peruvian balls tend to be large based on my experience, so unless you’re really hungry you might want to avoid.

Also sorry for the people that went right after Covid and thought food was tasteless, next time you should wait until fully recovered before stuffing...