Yes, Yes AND Yes! I was lucky enough to wonder into Cafe Cusco totally by accident. I was looking for a place to have lunch, that didn't offer only sandwiches, not to pricey and potentially offering a gluten free menu. We were in the middle of Springfield, Mo, it was the middle of the week and the middle of the day, so I wasn't too hopeful. But how fortunate for me! Before I get to the food, I recall driving by and thinking to myself that as soon as we park, I'm going to make sure I walk back and visit that place! The outside looks like a cafe straight out of the movies! The drapery decorating the door, flowed to the light breeze blowing on this warm August day, just made to feel like you had to enter. The view looking inside from the window was comfortable and inviting. Walking in, the overall ambiance and decor of the walls, tables, booths, and bar area made it difficult to choose where to sit. I knew I was just visiting the area and honestly walking in I wanted to sit and experience each section. But we had to choose one table so my husband and I choose a table near one of the big windows. So now on to the food! The menu was very simple, but pleasing. It offered a little of everything. Remember, it was the middle of the afternoon, so I wasn't seeking a heavy meal. There was a variety of appetizers and lunch offerings of Peruvian flavored, vegan and gluten free meals. I was excited and wanted a taste of everything. I apologies, I can't recall what we ate, because its taken me a few months to write this review but the experience is still very fresh in my mind, fond memories of a wonderful eating experience. I do remember that the food was tasteful, fresh and just plain delicious! Generally, my husband pays more attention to prices and he was happy to see that all this ambiance wasn't going to cost him an arm and leg. I don't fuss over the menu prices, only the check if the overall experience and food is bad. But this is not the case for Cafe Cusco. The customer service at Cafe Cusco was wonderful; again, it was quiet, around 2 to 3PM and a weekday. The waiter took time to address how the meals were prepared, ingredients, as I expressed some difficulty in deciding what to eat. I was excited and wanted to try everything. The waiter explained the overall history of the restaurant and how it came to be in this out of way place in the middle of Springfield Missouri. Don't worry, he wasn't too talkative, I inquired. If you are in the area, please make Café Cusco one of your places to eat. I most certainly will visit them again. I know it will be well worth it. read more

Never had Peruvian food before; liked it. The Pisco punch was excellent; want another one now! Tried the fried avocado on recommendation from review I read. It was not what I expected (I was thinking battered, deep fried--wrong!), but good. I would never have thought of cooking or heating avocado. I did not care for the crawfish bisque; again, my expectations interfered; I grew up on Cajun style and this was not it. I also ordered, the caprese salad with shrimp; really tasty. Had the cheesecake and coffee for dessert; wonderful. I would definitely love to go back and explore more. My take away opinion based on this experience is Peruvian is a bit exotic (new to me!) and yet appealing and this particular restaurant does a first rate job. read more

Food was fantastic and the service quick. The waitress was spot on in suggesting dishes - since we were first timers. Cafe Cusco was unique and cozy and will most certainly be back! read more

Amazing food and great service. Nice relaxing atmosphere any time of day

We stopped in Springfield on our way to Chicago from Phoenix. What a great surprise when we decided to try Cafe Cusco! The food was delicious! My husband got the Blackfish and I ordered the sirloin which we shared. I also ordered the sangria, one of the best I've had. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. We will definitely return! read more

NO ONE is doing it like these guys. The vibe is low key, cozy, personal, and inviting. But the menu...oh my. The menu is far and away the best and most inventive in town. Add in the fact that my wife and I are vegetarians and this place has the most quality options for us of any restaurant in the area, and it's easy to see why this is my favorite place in the Ozarks. read more

This place is AMAZING- my new favorite place to stop when traveling through Springfield. The food is fresh, flavorful and beautifully presented- I recommend the Puca Picante. There are some expensive dishes, but well worth it in my opinion, and the lunch menu has many great options that are very reasonably priced. Also, the decor is so fun and unique! I was very impressed with how clean it was as well, including the restrooms! Overall, very delicious food and a lovely atmosphere. read more

I love, love, love Cafe Cusco! Such attention goes into every dish and the flavor combinations are unbelievable! The black fish is now my favorite dish EVER! And the chocolate torte is absolutely to die for. Service is amazing....you just can not go wrong at Cafe Cusco! read more

great food, great service. Its a hidden gem here in Springfield. It is like you left Springfield and took a trip to peru. All I can say is wow. The rabbit is amazing as well as the local fed steak as well. There is nothing that I have eaten there that I do not like. read more

The food is breathe taking. The ceviche tacos are second to none. I would say that for the price it's the best food in town.

My wife grew up in Ecuador so I knew she could rate how authentic this place was. One thing people forget to understand is a restaurant can only be as authentic as the available ingredients in the area. With that in mind, my wife thought the place was very true to making common Andean foods for being in Springfield MO. I can't rate the authenticity of it, but the cotija cheese sticks are downright heavenly. I've also really enjoyed their crawfish soup and goat burger. I haven't ordered the rabbit, but friends at the table who did, said it was well worth the price of it. The fritas appetizer with 3 kinds of fries is good. I think though we would have preferred it more if it was just yucca. We are coming to the place for foods we cannot get elsewhere and we can get regular potato and sweet potato fries anywhere. Overall, the food is very good. It's more on the pricey side for the area, but it's great for lunch or special occasions. If cost is the issue for you, they often have a groupon offer available. read more

The rice with seafood (Arooz con Mariscos, i think) and fish sandwich (forgot menu name) along with their special house sauce (made with serrano chilis) are awesome. The many fresh flavors are brought out in each bite! You can taste the freshness. Also had the bisque soup but not that impressed as the other offerings. Cool decor, nice atmosphere and attention to detail. read more

I went to Cafe Cuzco to confirm what tons of friends have told me, that the food sucks. they all went there and left thinking that peruvian food is nasty and they would never tried again thanks to his horror of restaurant. I was there last friday, my food took so long the fries were nasty cover in oil and with something that they call huacaina sauce( it was not) i order fritas huancaina, the were only two pieces of yuca fries and the rest was sweet potatoes fries that come from a bag. Come on people if u are gonna sell peruvian food in a small town do it right. our main dishes were arroz con mariscos and one of their lunch special. needless to say it was a waste of $40. the rice was flavorless , it had no salt or lime, instead of lots of seafood like a peruvian arroz con mariscos is they put tons of red peppers that were overcook. the green chicken had more onions that chicken and again no flavor. i would not recommend this place to anyone. Peruvian food is amazing and this restaurant is not. Pleaser save your selfs from the disappointment and just get Nelly Baxter amazing empanadas, or other dishes. read more

Wow I can't even begin to say how incredible this place is! My husband and I stopped in here for the first time last night on date night. Our waiter was super nice and he was very knowledgeable about the items on the menu and had great recommendations. I had actually never had Peruvian food and the waiter gave us a bunch of options of traditional peruvian dishes he thought were outstanding and some other options that would be more familiar to American cuisine if you didn't want to jump right in to the full-fledged Peruvian stuff. My hubby and I both ordered the Lomo Saltado and it came out steaming hot and fresh. The first words out of my mouth after tasting were "Wow!!" Out of this world amazing. I highly recommend it! They also had a house made "hot sauce" that seemed more oil based. I don't typically like hot sauce and i ate a good amount of this stuff! It had a tolerable heat and just a bit of sweetness. I can't wait to go back. Writing this review is making me hungry. If you haven't checked it out, you're missing out!! read more

Cafe Cusco - Lomo Saltado. Highly Recommended!! - Peruvian Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

Found the place via Yelp as we passed through Springfield on business at lunchtime. The atmosphere was really comfortable and nice. The black bean and quinoa burger was outstanding. Great service. read more

I went to this fine establishment on a first official date. I'm not saying that's why I'm married to the guy now, but I'm not saying it's not, either. I was intimidated, but welcomed. I was impressed, but super impressed. We had the rabbit and the goat. I can't really talk with regular words about how good it was, so I'll switch over to the incredible service and the well-mixed drinks. And then I'll talk about how I almost cried a little, because there is nothing more important to me than delicious food and well-mixed drinks. We haven't been back, and I think it's mostly because I'm not ready. That's how great it was. But it still doesn't express the reality. Update: we went back for a second time on my birthday. Still amazing. And again, with my very particular vegan sister and my mother who never had a martini that she liked. THEY WERE BOTH BLOWN AWAY, a feat I once thought impossible. It was the first perfect martini my mom ever had, and she's 67. It was also the first gin and tonic I had that was actually delicious. I never thought I cared much for "floral notes" until then. SO AMAZING. All. The. Time. read more

I love this place. The atmosphere is very simple and almost bohemian. The food is amazing. The portions are huge. We go all the time!!

Love to eat here. The atmosphere is terrific and the service is always done well. We never order the same thing twice because we love to try something new every time we go. Definitely a great place for date night. read more

Stopped in when passing through Springfield. Went out of our way a little as the restaurant is off the beaten path, but it was well worth the extra couple miles. Found it on the internet before leaving home -- it sounded like a unique place, and it is! A beautiful old building and very tasteful interior decorations make it a pleasant place to relax and enjoy a good meal. The menu is full of one-of-a-kind dishes. The black bean burger was unlike any I have ever had -- SO good!! Service is exceptional; food is great. Highly recommend. read more

Cafe Cusco is one of my favorite places to eat in SGF! The goat burger is by far my favorite burger in town and you cannot go wrong with the Lomas Saltado...with beef or just with mushrooms. It is good either way. My husband has had the rabbit dish and Mother's Drunken Goat and we thought both dishes were great. If you are looking for a little adventure and a lot of delicious, this is your place! read more

I love the combinations of flavors and their chocolate cake is by far the best (and even gluten free). The booths are awesome and create a sense of privacy/intimacy. The customer service is good and friendly. read more

Great atmosphere, authentic cuisine. 5 stars! Great for a romantic dinner or a night with some friends. The yellow pepper sauce is the best.

This place is incredible. I had the steak and huevos and my husband had the mango chicken verde salad. We came during lunch and they seated us immediately. It's a cute little place with beautiful decorations that make you feel like you're in Peru. The staff are friendly and welcoming. The location is in a cute little street somewhat downtown and even though it's more city, there still is ample parking. I cannot get over the food. My steak was cooked to perfection with flavor that hit me in every bite. The eggs were fried and seasoned and I decided to eat it with their home hot sauce which we will be buying a bottle of. I'm not the biggest hot sauce fan but this sealed the deal. It's not too spicy but it does have a nice kick and flavor that keeps you coming back for more. The potatoes were drenched in a custom cheese sauce that I couldn't get enough of. Not only was every potato full of flavor, but it was crunch and soft in all the right places. The cheese sauce complimented it, it did not overtake it. I'm not a fan of salad but I tried my husbands and it still produced the same reaction. Everything was fresh and flavorful. This place will not disappoint you and we'll be making a trip to Springfield just to eat here again. read more

Really sorry to have to do this review. Context: we lived in Lima, Peru for three years. We have lots of experience eating the real thing. In the past, we have eaten at Cusco cafe at least five times. The first few times the food, while definitely adapted for SGF tastes, was well prepared. This time, the fish in the ceviche was small solid chunks of cooked fish. Nothing like the lime-marinated deliciousness served all over Peru. The anticuchos, literally marinated beef heart, usually served medium rare, was cooked to death and the chicken "anticuchos" was more like a shish-kabob. The wait staff was great. The place has a great feel. But the food? Nada que ver. read more

Love it! Travel from New York to here and the food is amazing. I would want to come back if I have a chance!

The environment is good. Good for groups or romantic dinner. Service is great - friendly and warm. Food is ok - not authentic enough. Flavors are on the bland side. I had ceviche, articucho and chupe de rio. They are all typical peruvian food, but none of them impressed me. It's not that they are bad but just not memorable. They are editable. To me anyways. Ceviche doesn't come with roasted peruvian popcorn. It's good that the acidity not too overwhelming but not enough flavors. May be more herbs and garlic. Articucho definitely not marinated enough. It's good grilled beef but it's not great articucho. The soup actually is the highlight of the meal. If you never had peruvian food before, then you should check out this place. It's decent. I may be a bit tough on criticizing the food because I had lived with Peruvians who came from Lima for more than 5 years and they cooked all the time. Moreover I live in a city that has more access to Latino food ingredients. Enjoy! It's a decent place. read more

We stopped here for lunch on our travels from Branson area to Kansas City. We were greeted by Claire, who we came to find out was one of the owners, (her son Joe being the other). There was a live musician, (as opposed to a dead one) playing soft guitar music and the place was packed for lunch. Claire led us to a booth adorned with carved wood on the backs and above which felt like a little room. Ryan waited on us and educated us about the menu and local beer selections. We ordered a jungle fruit and nut salad with added shrimp on top and the Chicken Ocopa. These are traditional Peruvian dishes as is the entire menu. The meals exceeded our expectations - rich with flavor and quality ingredients. This was truly a delightful find. I am not quick to give 5 stars but this is well deserving. read more

The venue design was colorful and unique. The drinks were one of a kind and mixed perfectly. The food was definitely different. We had the drunken goat and fryer rabbit. It wasn't very savory. I could just not like Peruvian food though. I highly suggest drinking a ginger caipirinha! read more

The BEST place to eat in Springfield. The food was incredible, from appetizer all the way through to dessert. The atmosphere is wonderful, we can't wait to go back! read more

Two strikes you are off my list of places to eat. Over priced and poor quality. Ordered a dish with Calamari and shrimp which they was out of Calamari said they would add more shrimp but didn't read more

Lots of vegetarian option, the portion sizes are decent and the decor and atmosphere is very nice. Great romantic place to take a special someone. I spent $12 on vegetarian spaghetti but did not include any side so the prices for some dishes are a bit much. read more

The ambiance is great and the servers extra nice. Food took a long time to come but was interesting and delish. I got the black olive trout, but tasted my brothers vegetarian burger and it was moist and wonderfully tasty. Will probably get the burger next time for myself. They have a good kids menu as well. read more

Very intimate atmosphere and amazing food. Beautiful building as well. Happy to find a place like this while on a business trip.

Well I went back again. Thought I would give it another shot. I was more disappointed than the first time. You just get the idea that the food is super pretentious and that they're trying too hard to make it good. Nothing tastes the way you would want it to. The steak was over seasoned and everything is extremely over seasoned, and I love seasoning , but they take it to the next level. If you want extremely overpriced pretentious food this is your place read more

Great food, great atmosphere and great service! Will be back soon! Had the Chilean trout and it was delicious.

We were seated on the patio outside and they forgot about us. At the time they were not busy. We left and went down the street to That Lebanese Place read more

I am a vegan and it is hard to find good opinions in Springfield but with cusco i have many opinions that are really good!!

The ambiance is one of the best. Feels like you are in a cathedral. There is good variety of tasty food. The menu was descriptive as the food was new to me. read more

My wife and I ate here yesterday after about 15 minutes the waitress took our order another 10 minutes the waitress finally brought are soup . Finally after 40 minutes we received our food the steak was dry the eggs were burnt and my wife threw hers away.. 47.00 dollars wasted . read more

Amazing food and great service! The Escabeche is the best thing I have ever eaten.