Parada — Restaurant in Pleasant Hill

I would like to share a very unfortunate incident we experienced at this establishment last Sunday. The restaurant was busy, as usual, with not many empty seats available. We opted to sit at the only table available inside, because it was a very cool evening. Our table was right by the patio door and unfortunately the waiters kept the door open, so we sat in a constant draft. Not very comfortable. I opted for the wonderful chicken noodle soup to keep warm. Parada’s dishes are most flavorful and we absolutely love all the food. To our surprise, the hostess seated a gentlemen at the small table directly next to us, someone that was clearly unstable and homeless. As a matter of fact he was having an avid conversation with someone invisible and kept moving/jerking his hands and arms rapidly around himself. He also kept wrapping a big blanket around his body and kept moving his hair piece from his head to and from the table. The tables are extremely close to each other at this restaurant and there was no escape for us. But the worst was, he was not even wearing any shoes.

Our peaceful dinner was completely ruined. We asked for the manager, but the server couldn't understand us and brought us a menu instead.....?? We finally decided to just leave. After hastily paying our bill, we informed the hostess the reason for our premature departure and informed her that he was not even wearing any shoes. She told us that she did not see it and she didn't know what to do and there was no manager on site. I am honestly speechless that something like this happened and nothing was done by staff. I would maybe expect this at a local fast food place with cheap food. But certainly not from an upscale and pricy restaurant, such as this one. Employees not noticing? Employees not knowing what to do? No manager on site? I have emailed the restaurant to inform the manager of this situation and am hoping that something like this will not happen again for the sake of other patrons. Unfortunately I have not heard back which simply proves, this restaurant does not care. It is needless to say that after this encounter, we simply can no longer patronize...

First of all, let’s talk COVID-19 safety precautions. Of course all the waiters wore a mask. I would have like to see sanitizer bottles on each table but that was not the case.There were about 10 tables outside. You can see from the pictures that they were close to being 6 feet apart. They did have heaters interspersed. I did like plastic shields that were put up between the diners and the sidewalk. This decreased the exposure to those passing by on the sidewalk as well as a barrier to potential protesters that have been known to get into diners’ faces. Instead of providing menus which are a potential for contamination, you would scan your phone on a Q code that was on the table. This of course would bring up the menu. We both split an appetizer of Cebiche Pescado. Don’t forget to order a side of the Yucca chips to accompany the ceviche. The ceviche was white fish cut into cubes with a light marinade of lime with roasted kernels of corn and regular kernels of corn. The size of the serving is definitely good for sharing. I had the Pescado a lo macho. A very light paprika sauce seafood stew with grilled fish placed on top served with rice. This was very good and very filling. The fish fillet was very tender and flaky but and just a bit of crispiness on the outside to add texture to the stew. My husband had Mary’s rotisserie chicken - 1/2 of chicken served with french fries and salad. You can also get a whole chicken.Let’s just say that this is one of their signature dishes and was THE reason why hubby wanted to come to this restaurant. (this is his third time ordering this!). This restaurant is definitely a keeper! I posted the menu also for you to review with. prices. Sorry the pages are not in order. We also had two beers and a meal came to just under $100. Oh! And the service...

A solid take on Peruvian food.

The Good: Good cocktail selection with some interesting and unique options like the margarita flights, which we enjoyed. (Some of the margs were sweet, so avoid the flight if you're not into sweet drinks.) Our server was attentive from start to finish, even as things got busy. The food overall was solid. There were a couple dishes we would have done without in hindsight, but nothing we had was bad or great in my opinion. (Lomo Saltado was good and the seafood dish that reminded me of a cioppino was decent as well. The lamb and lentils dish and some of the empanadas were a miss for us.) Covered outdoor seating to go along with indoor seating.

The Not So Good: The restaurant setup is modern and has potential, but it felt a bit cramped indoors and the music was so loud that it was difficult to have a conversation at our table of 3 without raising our voice substantially. There were only two single stall bathrooms (1 men and 1 women). Not the end of the world, but make sure you have decent bladder control if your going during a busy period, because you may be waiting in line.

Overall, I'd encourage others to give it a try. Dining out is a subjective experience and nothing about my experience would prevent me from recommending this place. In all honesty, it would not be my first choice recommendation for a Peruvian meal out, but it is a solid option.

Food: 4/5 Drinks: 4.5/5 Service: 4.5/5 Price: 3.5/5 Ambiance:...