Wayra — Restaurant in Ocala

I’ve dined at this location at least 2-3 dozen times. I remember showing up hoping to eat at what was Sabores Latinos and disappointed that place was gone, but I was quickly won over. This place is great and it has gotten significantly better over time. At first, there were missed or incorrect orders but I haven’t had that happen in a long time. Orders used to take a much longer time. They still take longer than other places but it is reasonable for what you get. It’s not fast food. It’s a fantastic dining experience where everything is made to order. The chef is a real pro. Everything is top notch as far as quality and freshness. Plating is beautiful. It’s has been fun to watch this place evolve and grow. The addition of pizza was an amazing surprise. I did not think a Peruvian restaurant would/could serve great pizza but was proven wrong. The pizzas are top tier. I had never tried fried pizza before but it was awesome. The Americana is still the king(new York style pepperoni pizza with a perfect crust). One always has to judge a Peruvian restaurant by its papa a la huancaina. This place did not disappoint with that beautiful sauce. The fried rice(chaufa) is always cooked and seasoned beautifully. The lomo saltado is the best I’ve tried including NYC and Orlando locations. I enjoyed the ceviche the one time I had it. The calamari and jalea mixta are to die for (definitely the only way I’ve gotten my kids to eat fish). Too bad the pescado chicharrón is gone. The tallarín verde is great. I really wish they did the green rice and chicken (maybe one day). I hope the pescado alo macho makes a comeback. Ají de gallina and escabeche are probably my favorites off the current menu. The soups are hearty and well seasoned. The alfajores weren’t my favorite but that’s likely because they’re different than what I’m used to(these are more chewy whereas I’m use to the flaky kind). The chocolate cake was dense and chocolaty without being too sweet. The tres leches was less like the typical yellow cake and more of a pound cake or scone but stellar. The fried ice cream was AWESOME. I’m use to the Japanese style. This was more like an ice cream beignet and so much better. I had the tiramisu today and enjoyed it. The wine selection is impressive for the small location. It’s a weird reference but I feel like this is the Led Zeppelin of restaurants. The songs remain the same but don’t always sound exactly the same. I’m a fan of those surprises and it shows the passion of the chef. Not everything on the menu is always available, but I suspect it’s to maintain the highest standard of freshness that I’ve come to expect. Nicole is an amazing server and very attentive. The music and ambience is soothing and welcoming. This place deserves a lot more...

This place is a hidden gem. We were looking for a quiet and unique intimate, chef owned restaurant, to celebrate my birthday. All boxes and more were checked. It’s not a large place, which to us is perfect. It has 9 tables inside and two outside. Two of the tables were setup for larger parties. Service was very lovely. The staff was attentive but not in your face. You walk away feeling you were welcomed into their home. Now the food… OH GOODNESS, I am lost for words. The flavors were beyond words. We started out with “Pupo Al Olivia” it’s a Tiradito sashimi octopus with an amazing olive botijo sauce. Quite the dish to start our evening. My husband had the “Tallarin Saltado Seafood” dish. It was a Peruvian stir fried noodles with a selection of seasonal vegetables, ginger, garlic, tomatoes. There were shrimp, mussels, scallops, calamari… the flavors were amazingly fresh and delicious. I had the “Gulf Shrimp Scampi”…AMAZING flavors. Not at all your typical shrimp scampi. It was creamy, not oily and the flavors were amazing. For dessert I highly recommend their in house made, tiramisu. It was the best I have ever had. We are so delighted we have found such a special place. I can assure you this placed will not disappoint. If you’re looking for dining experience unlike any, you really need to go try this gem of a restaurant. Thanks and appreciation to my husband, Chef and all the staff for making my birthday so special. I look forward to our next visit. I want try the...

I recently stayed at the Holiday Inn Suites and Conference Center last week and decided to try the restaurant on the 6th floor, Taverna Berrocal. Unfortunately, my experience with the service left a lot to be desired. I stood at the hostess stand for over seven minutes without being acknowledged. During that time, I observed the bartender make himself a drink, take a sip, and begin cleaning glasses—without once noticing me until I spoke up. Once seated, there were only two other occupied tables in the restaurant, yet the service remained extremely slow. While the food itself was excellent, the overall dining experience was disappointing. The music volume fluctuated noticeably, and a man—presumably from the kitchen—kept coming out to adjust it, turning it up each time. Even more frustrating, all four of our entrées were brought to the table at different times, with the first dish served nearly finished before the last arrived.

To be honest, I’ve had better service at a fast food restaurant. It's a shame because the food deserves better support from the...