Had to come here when visiting Boston because I brought my friend . . . Celeste!!! We were not disappointed. Cute little place with outdoor seating and friendly service. Had a ceviche and the yucca fritter for appetizers - so yummy. For entrees had the scallops and another shrimp dish, also very delicious. A great little restaurant with delicious food. Highly recommend. read more

Celeste - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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This is a really cute, but tiny restaurant. They offer outside seating which is always a plus. They give you complimentary roasted corn - it was so dry, I had to drink an entire cup of water to wash one kernel down. Besides that, everything else was delicious! We got the mixed seafood ceviche, it came with lots of shrimp, squid, and cod. For the entrees we got tacu tacu a lo macho - this was our favorite, you need to order this! The flavor of the sauce was so rich a creamy, almost like a tomato soup. I was dipping my other entree in here, that's how good it was. The other entree was scallops con pasta a la huancaina. The sauce was very wine-y, almost too much. The pasta and scallops were cooked perfectly, but just wasn't a fan of the sauce. Overall, it's cute date place with flavorful food. read more

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Very generous with the blue cod in the tasty, tangy ceviche. It was 3-5x more fish than I was expecting / have had at other places. I also liked the accompaniments of the XL hominy-looking kernels, crunchy corn pieces, and sweet potato. I also got the beautifully presented shrimp pupusa w/ XL camarone / shrimp on top. The pickled cabbage was nice too. Not 5 stars because the tomato salsa, pickled cabbage, and shrimp pupusa didn't quite seem to go together, though each element on its own was good. Also the seating feels cramped, even when I walked in. The open kitchen is cool. read more

Celeste - Shrimp pupusa & Ceviche de Blue Cod* - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Perhaps not the place to dine on a 90 degree July night. The inside is small with the door open for airflow. We sat outside at a dark table. Not even a candle for ambiance. The menu was disappointingly small, filed with heavy stews and meats. Not right for a humid Boston night. We ate a blue cod ceviches and the Peruvian Chinese stir fry with fish, and a scallop squid ink pasta. Perhaps winners in the fall, but I couldn't see past the dark outside with no lighting. read more

One of the few higher-end options for South American cuisines in Boston with well-executed dishes and memorable flavors served in a casual, comfortable space. Starter highlights include bright, flavorful ceviches and causas (Peruvian potato terrines), which are my personal favorites on the menu. Entree offerings include a good range of meats, seafood and vegetarian options. The stir-fried beef and lamb stew were both tasty - tender, well-seasoned and with a little spice. The steamed fish was good though with less forward and memorable flavors. They have a strong cocktail list, emphasizing topical and fruity flavors but with all the classics, in addition to beer and wine. Price is on the higher end. Overall a unique and enjoyable restaurant experience within the broader Boston dining scene that I have returned to several times over the years and would recommend to any foodie. read more

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TLDR: Small place with authentic food and good ambiance. Service is top notch, attentive, but not too attentive if you know what I mean. I counted 16 seats with a focus of mostly two seaters and maybe 5 bar seats overlooking the cook station. I think this makes it especially cozy and easy to get service when needed. The food overall was very well done. Clearly Peruvian in nature. The menu has a good selection but not overwhelming. I had the sirloin and sea bass ceviche, both well executed. Would return with pleasure. read more

Had an excellent dinner here with a friend. Reservations are helpful given the intimate seating space. Service was efficient and friendly, the food and drinks were absolutely delicious, and we enjoyed watching the chefs work their magic in the kitchen. Will definitely be back again soon!! read more

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Loved this place, they whole place was a vibe and the food is delicious. Loved the pisco sour and the chicha morada. So fun watching the chefs while sitting up at the bar. Really enjoyed the scallops con pasta a la huancaina. The sauce was truly plate licking worthy. The scallops were nice and big. read more

Swung by for dinner a few nights ago and we loved it! Atmosphere was cozy and lively with fun lanterns overhead and bench seating along one side wall. Food and drinks were gorgeously presented and quite tasty. It was my dining companion's first time trying Peruvian food and it is safe to say they were a big fan of the black mint stew. They are still talking about how good it was several days later. I got the Lomo Saltado which is my usual favorite for Peruvian food and loved how tender the sirloin came out. A few other dishes on the menu which I haven't seen before but would be interested in trying next time like the aji chicken. We didn't have room for dessert but they sounded delicious from the menu. Service was prompt and we were seated right on time for our reservation. read more

Celeste - Complementary roasted corn - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Small restaurant, definitely need reservations. Our reservation was for 515 on a Friday evening right around when it opened and it was very chill. My fiance and I started with a Peruvian beer and the chicha morada, their corn drink that's made in house. I didn't know what to expect from it but it reminded me of a non-carbonated blueberry drink with some cinnamon in it, was very pleasantly surprised. She got the veggie causa (avocado and tomato) and I got the shrimp causa, absolutely delicious. Soft, fluffy mashed potato layers sandwiching a generous portion of diced shrimp with a trio of sauces on top (not sure what they were but they were nice and creamy) with some hard boiled egg on the side. Her main was the locro (potato stew with lots of veggies) and she loved it. Mine was the tacu tacu (seafood risotto). I thought the serving size of the risotto (more of a pilaf than a traditional Italian risotto in my opinion) would be a little bigger for the price ($30) but the amount of seafood (two shrimps, many mussels, and a large amount of squid) made up for it. The seafood was perfectly cooked but I think the star of the show was the moat of sauce surrounding the risotto. It was delicious, creamy, a little tomato-y and you could taste the mussel liquor incorporated into it. I wasn't able to finish it all and am looking forward to spicing up some of my leftovers at home with that sauce. Will definitely be coming back in the future! The service was great, the food came in a timely manner and the server was very attentive. Not a great place for parties of 5+ but other than that, awesome restaurant! read more

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The food here is wonderful. We sat at the bar the other night and had a very nice dinner. The Celeste team was very helpful in walking us through the menu as we were not familiar with traditional Peruvian cuisine. They recommended several dishes and we loved them all. A great experience and highly recommend! Extremely clean kitchen and a fantastic staff!! read more

A lot of great civiche dishes. Highly recommend trying this Peruvian restaurant at least once. Make reservation in advanced! read more

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I love Celeste & I have been back many times to bring various friends. The food is absolutely delicious, especially the causas & ceviches. The drinks are so well-crafted & tasty - LOVE the Pisco sour. The service is so friendly & attentive. Atmosphere is fun, chic & modern. There is limited seating so not great for big groups & its best to get a reservation. Has become one of my favorites in the Boston area!! read more

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This location is convenient and cute, but that's roughly where the pros end. I would strongly recommend getting reservations as it's a popular spot that is absolutely tiny. We had reservations and were seated quickly, but it was a struggle to both get an order in, and then be served. At one point we got up to check if they were indeed still working on our order. We also got up when we needed utensils or more water--they simply would not notice our attempts to flag down a waiter. I don't mind lack of service generally, but it really does not fit this ambiance or price point, or indeed the layout of the restaurant. I ordered the camaron al ajillo and it was served in very odd dishes. A baking tray for shrimp? An earthen pot for steamed white rice? It took up up a cumbersome amount of space and made the gravy hard to scoop up. The food was good, but neither measured up to the price point nor all my previous excellent experiences with Peruvian food. The quest for good local Peruvian continues. read more

Celeste - Camarones al ajillo - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Tiny restaurant but great friendly service and delicious food. Starting from fresh ceviche to classic Lomo Saltado, food was delicious.

SO GOOD Such a great restaurant within walking distance from bow market. It's so lively inside and you're greeted with the kitchen. Started with the pisco martini which was amazing and for the lomo saltado as an entree...delicious. I could eat that everyday if I could. Didn't get dessert but was given shots with the bill. The service was great and everyone was so welcoming. Recommend making a reservation because the restaurant is on the small side, but they do have outdoor seating. Can't wait to go again and try different foods on the menu. read more

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Celeste looks unassuming from the outside, but the interior is really cute with their lanterns and signature blue lighting. The food is good, especially if you're a fan of seafood. Definitely try their mixed seafood ceviche - it's refreshing, slightly spicy, and full of lime flavor. The Scallop Squid Ink pasta and Suspiro Limeño were both decent but nothing to really rave about. The servers also accidentally gave us the wrong dish and didn't say anything about it. They ended up taking the old dish and bringing out the correct entree in a few minutes. They gave us free tequila shots (I'm guessing because of the mixup) which was nice of them. read more

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This review is primarily due to service. I'd been before and had excellent food and service. However this time, I'd booked outside and had to wait over 30 minutes before giving up and going to another restaurant. The guy handling reservations, didn't give us any time frame for when our table would be ready and could t have cared less. Poor service and would not recommend. read more

Celeste is an unassuming facade to one of the best and freshest experiences Somerville (and Boston) have to offer. It may taste fresher and crisper than many of the sushi restaurants in the area serving ceviches, crudos, and Latin/South American inspired dishes that belong among the top restaurants yet served out of what reminds me of a diner (but extremely clean). The place is unassuming like I said, with a cloth sign outside. Before you can even read the sign you will smell the complex and spiced dishes being prepared. Upon entering I got a sort of a local diner or a place that I would walk into when abroad in Latin America or the Caribbean. The space is clean and the staff is extremely friendly and upbeat (a welcome change these days). Service is as fast or slow as you would like it to be and the menu is different than anything I've seen in Boston in the 6 years I've lived here. With all that out of the way, let's talk about the food. The highlights can appear to be the crudos, ceviches, and starters that eat more like tapas (and priced as such). There is not a bad thing we ordered and 4 of us shared ~8 different dishes. The seafood is fresh, treated with the deft hand that supplements without overpowering the natural sweetness and brine of the fish/seafood. However, the stews are what stole our hearts. The Incan stew and stir fried sirloin/strip steak in broth were some of the best things I put in my mouth this year. Everything is juicy, spiced/seasoned perfectly, and ordered to your preferences in terms of cooking temp and level of spice (hotness). On top of that, the two desserts they offer are worth getting even if you don't think you have room. They are two of the most interesting and surprising desserts I've had in a long time, boasting latin/south American ingredients and preparation. I had never heard of either, but one ate like a tangy dulce de leche and the other like a citrusy butterscotch pudding. The one drawback (if any) will be the price point. A lot of people will want a fine dining experience for the sort of price you will pay at Celeste, but you aren't paying necessarily for the space or where you are eating... rather for the fresh and clean ingredients used by the expertly prepared chefs who send out these beautiful and complex dishes. It's not a weekly sort of place, but rather a special treat or splurge on occasions that demand something... different compared to the likes of the other Boston icons or titans in the dining space. I can't recommend it enough! read more

I love Peruvian food and have enjoyed it in many places, so this was a real disappointment, especially considering the restaurant's high Yelp rating. I should have paid more attention to previous reviews mentioning the lomo saltado, it came with cooked potatoes instead of fries and was served in a small soup bowl, which made it awkward to eat. The flavors were just okay. The suspiro limeño mostly tasted like condensed milk. Unfortunately, I wouldn't come back based on this experience. read more

Celeste - Suspiro limeno - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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This place is by far my favorite peruvian place in the Boston area. You can really taste how high quality the food is. The drinks are so creative and use peruvian pisco. They have their own take on some dishes like ceviche and they are not traditional but they are amazing in their own way. Anytime I'm back in town, I will for sure stop here. Service is nice and fast and the ambiance is upscale but very cozy. read more

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Simply w o w ! Every single aspect of this meal was even better than what I had expected (and my friends have RAVED about this place). Plenty of street parking available and super quick service. The place is a lot smaller than anticipated, but you don't feel cramped at all. We were originally seated behind the door, but after asking to be moved they so nicely put us at a different table. Cocktails - so delicious, especially the pisco sours. They're more on the sweet side but that's what I prefer Mixed ceviche - high quality seafood, generous serving, and great flavor. I love that they add extras to their ceviche, it really adds some great texture Papusa - this may have been a special for the night, but it was so crispy and delicious, who can say no to fried cheese! The prawn was massive but tender and perfectly seasoned Cilantro stew with lamb - the meat was so, so tender. I wasn't expecting so much meat to be packed into the meal but the serving was generous and well worth it Scallops - rich and decadent. The scallops were sweet and tender, and the fresh tomatoes added just the right amount of acidity to this dish Dulce de leche custard - we were absolutely stuffed at the end of the meal, but we HAD to try the custard, so we asked for it to-go. They packed it up in a little container that traveled well. Definitely so full we were in pain but NO regrets with this one The only advice I can give is come hungry! Everything we tried was incredible, you won't be disappointed. We will certainly be back read more

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The food was so colorful and was packed with flavor. The dish presentation was also clearly thought out. You can tell there is so much love poured into the restaurant. Service was great too! read more

Celeste - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

TLDR: Homey Peruvian food Had a great time at Celeste. The inside is rather small with a much larger but at the time of writing this without heat outdoor seating section. Inside has an upbeat chic vibe with an open kitchen. We started with the scallop crudo which felt like a carpaccio you'd eat at an Italian restaurant. The lamb stew is incredibly filling and feels like a home cooked meal. The shrimp linguini like dish was good as well. Hats off to the bartender as the pisco sour was excellent. Smooth, refreshing, crisp, not too sweet. Everything I look for in a cocktail. A big highlight for me was the mousse with Peruvian fruits. Not sure what fruits were used but it's one of my favorite deserts I've had. read more

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The avocado muhammara was incredible! The cornbread was also delicious! A bit of a crowded vibe. All the other dishes my party ordered were pretty mediocre and overpriced. read more

Just did not do it for me. I went with a ton of expectations given this was one of the top rated restaurants in Boston. Causa de Shrimp was simply out of this world. Everything else was just mediocre. Service - 4/5 Food - 3/5 Ambience - 3/5 read more

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We will be back. We had a great time here. Celeste is very small inside so come with minimal items and make reservations in advance. If your table is not available, go to Barra next door for drinks. The service is excellent and the food is delicious. read more

Celeste - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Food: 3 star Drinks : 5 star Service :5 star Went there with a group of my friends and was happy with the ending. Food, nothing memorable as although being Peruvian had nothing in special which screamed South American. Maybe they dumbed it down. Ceviche was below par as the shrimp used was pre cooked: have had in multitude of places and know when it's not the real thing. The cocktails are really great and try anything : will not go wrong. Service was great and impeccable. However, for the price I would expect better and not just picture perfect food which simply lacks in character and originality. read more

Celeste - Lamb stew - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

This was my second time in for couple years. Celeste provides unique vibes and dishes. They have cute spaces -extended when weather permits for outdoor seating. Staffs are very friendly and well understanding about the menu. They have lots of options for seafoods but also recommendable dishes of meats as well. The restaurant is good for special occasions :) read more

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I really enjoyed this restaurant! I think it might be the best Peruvian restaurant I've been to. (I say that having only been to Peruvian restaurants in the US and in Canada.) The service was really great too, and our waiter was really friendly. He tried talking to us in Spanish at first, but was understanding when we couldn't really respond. (Neither my partner nor I is fluent. I highly recommend any of the sours. My partner and I ordered a few. My favorite was the maracuya sour: It was very smooth, and the passion fruit came through. There's an option to make it spicy; my partner and I went with it, but didn't notice much spice. (Maybe our tolerance is high.) For starters, I loved the mixed ceviche and the scallop crudo. The flavors were similar for both dishes, but there's a really lovely range of textures. I highly recommend getting the scallop crudo especially. As per entrees, my partner and I got the squid ink pasta and the tacu tacu. The squid ink pasta: The scallops were beautifully seared, and done just right, the texture of the noodles was perfect, and I loved the sauce with the noodles. I would highly recommend this dish. The tacu tacu: There's the option to add a fried fish for $6, and I say, go for it. The fish was super flavorful, and added a lot of texture too. The mussels and risotto were good too, but I think the fish completed the dish. I feel like the drinks, apps, and mains were all hits. I'd be down to go back and try more. The price points were all fairly reasonable too. The one thing I wouldn't do again: the dessert. That was very one note, and I saw that the little baked sticks were actually prepackaged, like something you can get at a grocery store. I wouldn't get this again. read more

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I walk past this restaurant almost every day and have only gone for drinks. We had a friend visiting and it was the perfect excuse to go for dinner. We made a reservation the same day with some luck. Normally they never have any seats available unless you reserve at least a few days before. It was a covid conscious setting. We had a whole room to ourselves. They're currently using the available apartment next door as extra space. Each room had 2 tables of 4. We were luckily to be the only ones in our room. Our entire experience was lovely. Ivan who was our server for the night was great!! So sweet and friendly. He never forgot us and was always helpful with a question about an item on the menu. I think I got the passionfruit pisco sour which was really nice. I wish I could remember the names of everything but we ordered 3 appetisers which were all so good and fresh. Ceviche with squid+scallops+shrimp Squid with mashed potato underneath Tuna tartare I got the squid ink pasta was good but i wish I got to try it with the scallops. The tacu tacu was a favourite. read more

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Thank you Celeste, show us how Boston can claim a worthy food scene! This is a small hallway of a space. Around 7:30 on a weeknight, the playlist is disco and the patrons are talky. I hesitate to say it's a trendy spot--maybe trendy in the way Somerville is, careful to not put on airs, mindful enough to include a couple vegan and gluten-free options, and self-consciously scruffy. The Peruvian-inspired food is presented on well-loved, chipped plates. The laminated tables are there to be anti-glam. You do, however, get real napkins and high-end service. I had the signature mocktail, which some would say is unfortunate because the cocktail choices are so interesting. However, this red and yellow jewel in the glass made me feel like partying even without the booze. It was sweet, tart, and fruity, and that's good for me. All three appetizers hit it out of the park: the sauce for the ceviche is salty and limey, with some depth from Peruvian peppers. (Much of the savoriness of both the apps and entrees is tempered with hominy in different guises). The tuna causa surprised me with ginger and miso, and the one magnificent shrimp on its pupusa and cabbage bed was a shrimp to put all other shrimps to shame. I felt that both entrees were over-salted. The mixed seafood risotto (the ONLY time in the last five years that I have tasted mussels cooked perfectly, and not a second too long) wasn't quite 5 stars. The risotto just kind of sat there, under a heavy red broth, and had nothing to say. The speed with which the orders came was amazing, really, until I bit into a cold potato under my flavorful shredded chicken. This little unpleasantness, and the salt content are what knocked off one star, but I'm still coming back. read more

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Always amazing. Staff are the best! Do not miss coming to Celeste. Jose and crew (and food of course) make it so we want to keep coming back! Props to the team! read more

Would not have discovered this gem if it were not suggested by a coworker. Tiny and charming space packing a powerful punch---the cocktails were outstanding along with the food/flavors! Looking forward to my next Boston trip to further indulge in the goodness!!! read more

Celeste - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Had been eyeing this place for a bit and finally went Valentines Day (2/14/2021). I'll start by saying we can't wait to go back! The food here is phenomenal, staff very friendly and the atmosphere is intimate with a great vibe. Highly recommend this place for a date spot or small party. We ordered the Maracuya sour, cerviche mixed seafood, scallops con pasta a la huancaina and the tacu tacu a lo macho with prawn. The sour was a perfect blend of flavor and strength. All the dishes were delicious with the mixed cerviche our favorite and a must try. The tacu tacu is great even without the prawn! read more

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This Restaurant is an inspiration of Peruvian cuisine. But the flavors are not what I was expecting. I ordered a lomo saltado. The taste was good but was missing that burnt taste that fire produces, it was served with a poach potato and not with french fries. I also order a vegetarian ceviche. It is better to call it called a salad. Missing the lemon, the cilantro, the ginger. Expensive for what it is. Very disappointed. read more

We didn't have a reservation but we got a spot at the bar right away. Staff was friendly and the food was very good. read more

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Yum!! I sat at the counter top. I like the view. The corn nuts are so good! The team is very kind. The food is great!

We came here around 6:30pm on a Saturday without a reservation (#livingontheedge), hoping that the stars would align and we could walk in and grab a table for two. The staff were incredibly nice, you could see them trying to figure out how to squeeze us in between the long list of reservations they had that night. The told us to hang on and came back saying they had a table, but would need it for 7:30pm. Challenge accepted. We placed our drink orders (I got the drink special that night - sangria) and ordered the mixed seafood ceviche to start. For our mains we shared the seco de cordero con frejoles and carapulcra. The food and drinks are amazing. I am already planning to go back (this time with a reservation). The ceviche was fresh and bright with a good mix of seafood. As far as the mains, I think I liked the carapulcra a bit better than the seco de cordero, but tough to say since the flavors were quite different. I definitely recommend ordering a couple dishes and sharing amongst your party. The space itself is small, but doesn't feel cramped. It's vibrant and lively, but you can still have a conversation without yelling. Great spot! Recommend :) read more

Celeste - Seco de Cordero con Frejoles (left) Carapulcra (right) - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Delicious food! Liked the veg casuela and the risotto, which had an amazing flavor. Kind and helpful staff. Small interior with pretty loud music that made it hard to converse at times. read more