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Had a late lunch here on Memorial Day. Restaurant wasn't busy so we were seated right away. We ordered some drinks and studied the menu. Our waiter gave us some good recommendations and we went for the lomo saltado and the ajia de gallina. They were out of plantain chips. Food arrived after a bit and we both really enjoyed our meal. The sauce for the ajia de gallina was very reach and creamy and the hen was braised nicely so that the meat was very tender. The lomo was also cooked perfectly and the dish had some great bites together with the fried. Staff were very friendly and attentive. Would definitely come back here and try some more dishes.
I came here on a Wednesday afternoon for a team dinner. We booked a reservation online beforehand for 8. We got seated down quickly, however the wait was SUPER long. There was only one guy working the floor doing the seating, ordering, delivering, making drinks. etc. The poor waiter was doing his best... but there really should have been someone else workin with him. The food was delicious. I think everyone enjoyed their food. The wait was just way too long.... It took 1.5 hours for us to get our food.
Can't fully review the entrees since my partner and I just stopped by for a quick empanada snack and drinks. Empanada: 7/10. The mini platter gave you a sampler of each flavor and my faves are definitely the beef and mushroom! But it's a little up there for a $20 dish Pisco Sour Flight (blueberry, original and muracay): 6/10. Lowkey shareable with someone else. Chicha Morada: 10/10! Refreshing and sweet. Reminds me of a non alcoholic sangria.
Food: was delicious! Every entree me and my two friends ordered was delicious. I enjoyed my lomo saltado a lot. Their alcoholic drinks were strong and worth the money. My friend enjoyed her seafood dish. INSIDE: was simple and nice. Brick walls. SERVICE was great. The guy server was polite. I would totally come back here. It's located at the end of the plaza. It's right next to Fuego night club.
My boyfriend and I were looking forward to trying Peruvian food but unfortunately we were a little disappointed. We ordered the pulpo appetizer, one of each of the empanadas (chicken, beef, mushroom, spinach & cheese), and the aji de gallina chicken dish. We did really enjoy pulpo; the octopus was tender and we liked the sauce, which was kind of citrusy and complemented well with the avocado. We really liked the chicken empanada as well, as it was very savory and stuffed! I didn't think there was much flavor to the beef, mushroom or spinach empanadas, and regretted not getting more of the chicken. We shared the aji de gallina, which was OK -- I just thought it was a little bland, and I felt like there was more potato than there was chicken. However, we enjoyed sitting outside on Murphy Street and the staff was very hospitable. We'd still come back to try some other items on the menu like the ceviche, which seems to be one of their specialties.
3.5 STARS Came in less than an hour before closing and was still greeted warmly -- service here is honestly excellent. Started with the pisco sour flight (classic, chicha, and maracuyá) and loved all of them--my 3 favorite flavors. For dinner, I ordered the bisteck a la plancha medium rare. Unfortunately, when it first arrived it was cooked well done. They were quick to take it back and brought me a perfectly medium-rare replacement, which I appreciate. That said, the quality of the steak itself was disappointing -- tough, with a flavor that even the soy sauce from their lomo saltado couldn't mask. It's the priciest dish on the menu, so I expected better. This was the worst quality steak I've had in a minute and I strongly suspect they served me the oldest one this could find. That being said... the salad that came with it? One of the best I've ever had. Crisp, fresh, and perfectly dressed. Service was so good I still tipped big. If you're here, I'd recommend the cocktails, the salad, and maybe exploring dishes other than the steak.
This place is so cozy, I was surprised to not see many people inside. Most likely was because i went during dinner time on a weekday. I would definitely come back here again the service was great and the food was awesome! The portions are pretty big. Would definitely recommend trying it out!
Enjoyed a nice lunch with friends at Emelina. It's a bit dark inside the restaurant. We were promptly seated and ordered: Polo a la plancha: friend enjoy this and sad the salad dressing was excellent and very lemony. Lomo saltaldo: I had a taste of the steak. Not as salty as other places which is good. Not a big fan of the flavor though. Friend enjoyed her dish. Bistec à Lo pobre: 5/5 this was mine. Steak was very tasty and cooked med rare. Plantain was good and fries were ok. Rice was buttery. I recommend this one. Glad I tried this place!
I would suggest to come here only if you have a lot of free time on your hands. Our party came for a Wednesday lunch at noon, and didn't receive our food until 1.5 hours in. Granted, we were a large party, but we witnessed other parties having similar waiting times. There was only one server who was doing his very best, shoutout to him for his great hospitality -- I think more waiting staff would be very beneficial though. Food was great overall, and mocktails were yummy! Would recommend to give it a try, if you're free and around the area.
I don't remember the last time I was so disappointed after visiting a restaurant. I hate giving low ratings because I can only imagine how much hard work goes into running a place. We booked lunch today for four adults and two kids. It was Mother's Day, and while we were glad to get a reservation promptly, that's where the happiness ended, unfortunately. TLDR: the drinks were good, the food was average, and the service was a disaster - or non-existent. We had the Pisco Sour and another Pepper-Basil based cocktail. Both were really good. For apps, we had the Papa A La Huancaina and the miniempanadas (mushroom + spinach & cheese). The empanadas had good flavor but were underbaked. The other app was basically boiled potatoes with an under-seasoned yellow sauce - quite disappointing. Even our kids didn't like it. For the main course, we had the Squid Ink Paella and the Chauffa De Pollo (Peruvian style fried rice). The only novelty about the paella was its black color. Flavor-wise, it was flat - not the usual richness, umami, or seafood taste you expect from paella. The fried rice tasted much better, but in both dishes, the chicken was overcooked - dry and chewy. None of us could eat it. For dessert, we ordered the flan and the ice cream. The flan was stodgy, and the ice cream had ice crystals - and even a piece of wrapper in it! That was the last straw. But it was the service - or lack thereof - that disappointed us the most. The restaurant was severely understaffed. I think just three people were managing everything. And although there were only three or four tables occupied when we ordered, it took more than 45 minutes for the food to arrive. I ordered a beer that never came, so I eventually canceled it. When I mentioned the wrapper in the ice cream, the response wasn't apologetic or thoughtful. Throughout the service, it felt like no one really cared, honestly. And we paid $240 for this meal! I don't think we'll be returning after such an experience. It's especially sad because this location used to be home to Sweet Sicily, a restaurant we loved and frequented for several years. I hope the management takes steps to address this.
So excited to have Peruvian restaurant at the downtown of Sunnyvale. Delicious appetizers-- mini empanada ( a variety of options chicken, beef, mushroom and spinach). The main dish is rich flavors of Peruvian Seafood Stew - A tantalizing blend of shrimp, squid, and scallops immersed in a vibrant sauce crafted with Peruvian Yellow Chili Paste, Quebranta Pisco, and white wine. Served with white rice on the side. Friendly services!
I'm very disappointed with the restaurant today. First, the table presentation was terrible -- the tablecloths were wrinkled and looked very unprofessional. The service was also extremely slow because they only had one server and one bartender. We also noticed they must have changed the chef, because both the flavor and presentation of the dishes were very different and disappointing. I definitely won't be coming back, and even the people at the table next to us were complaining about the same issues.
1 month ago
Emelina's on Murphy Ave is such a great spot for Peruvian food! Everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The ceviche was especially good! the seafood tasted incredibly fresh, with the perfect citrusy kick, and I loved the sweet potato and red onion with it. The lomo saltado was rich and savory with tender beef, perfectly cooked vegetables, fries, and plenty of delicious sauce to mix into the rice. The steak was also juicy, well seasoned, and cooked beautifully. The service was just as great as the food! The waitress was friendly, attentive, and welcoming, and we felt genuinely taken care of throughout our meal. It made the whole experience that much better. Generous portions, great atmosphere right on Murphy Ave, amazing service, and delicious food. Definitely somewhere we'll be coming back to. Highly recommend! read more
We decided to give Emelina's another try. Definitely better than our first experience. Even though we sat outside, the service was good. Our server was attentive. We were in and out in an hour. The food was also better than we remember. The black paella was super rich and flavorful. The portion was huge! There was plenty of seafood. Wife got the filet. The sauce was delicious! The whole dish was packed with flavor. The appetizer sample was good as well. The calamari/squid in our dishes were a little tough, but our daughter loved it regardless. The passion fruit juice is also a must! read more
This was my first time visiting this spot in downtown Sunnyvale for lunch. This one is larger than San Carlos location if my memory is right. I have visited the ine in San Carlos couplecyears a go.The interior is simple and features a full bar. We were the only customers in the restaurant when we arrived, which initially made us wonder if we had made the right choice. The menu offers plenty of variety. For appetizers, we tried the yucca, as well as the chicken and veggie empanadas. These were definitely the highlight--very tasty and well-prepared. Unfortunately, the main courses didn't quite live up to our expectation. While the presentation was nice, the flavor was just "so-so" and didn't leave a lasting impression. Because the entrees were hit-or-miss, I'm not sure I'll be returning. read more
2 months ago
4 months ago
Had a late lunch here on Memorial Day. Restaurant wasn't busy so we were seated right away. We ordered some drinks and studied the menu. Our waiter gave us some good recommendations and we went for the lomo saltado and the ajia de gallina. They were out of plantain chips. Food arrived after a bit and we both really enjoyed our meal. The sauce for the ajia de gallina was very reach and creamy and the hen was braised nicely so that the meat was very tender. The lomo was also cooked perfectly and the dish had some great bites together with the fried. Staff were very friendly and attentive. Would definitely come back here and try some more dishes. read more
10 months ago
I came here on a Wednesday afternoon for a team dinner. We booked a reservation online beforehand for 8. We got seated down quickly, however the wait was SUPER long. There was only one guy working the floor doing the seating, ordering, delivering, making drinks. etc. The poor waiter was doing his best... but there really should have been someone else workin with him. The food was delicious. I think everyone enjoyed their food. The wait was just way too long.... It took 1.5 hours for us to get our food. read more
Can't fully review the entrees since my partner and I just stopped by for a quick empanada snack and drinks. Empanada: 7/10. The mini platter gave you a sampler of each flavor and my faves are definitely the beef and mushroom! But it's a little up there for a $20 dish Pisco Sour Flight (blueberry, original and muracay): 6/10. Lowkey shareable with someone else. Chicha Morada: 10/10! Refreshing and sweet. Reminds me of a non alcoholic sangria. read more
25 days ago
2 months ago
1 year ago
Food: was delicious! Every entree me and my two friends ordered was delicious. I enjoyed my lomo saltado a lot. Their alcoholic drinks were strong and worth the money. My friend enjoyed her seafood dish. INSIDE: was simple and nice. Brick walls. SERVICE was great. The guy server was polite. I would totally come back here. It's located at the end of the plaza. It's right next to Fuego night club. read more
7 months ago
My boyfriend and I were looking forward to trying Peruvian food but unfortunately we were a little disappointed. We ordered the pulpo appetizer, one of each of the empanadas (chicken, beef, mushroom, spinach & cheese), and the aji de gallina chicken dish. We did really enjoy pulpo; the octopus was tender and we liked the sauce, which was kind of citrusy and complemented well with the avocado. We really liked the chicken empanada as well, as it was very savory and stuffed! I didn't think there was much flavor to the beef, mushroom or spinach empanadas, and regretted not getting more of the chicken. We shared the aji de gallina, which was OK -- I just thought it was a little bland, and I felt like there was more potato than there was chicken. However, we enjoyed sitting outside on Murphy Street and the staff was very hospitable. We'd still come back to try some other items on the menu like the ceviche, which seems to be one of their specialties. read more
1 year ago
3.5 STARS Came in less than an hour before closing and was still greeted warmly -- service here is honestly excellent. Started with the pisco sour flight (classic, chicha, and maracuyá) and loved all of them--my 3 favorite flavors. For dinner, I ordered the bisteck a la plancha medium rare. Unfortunately, when it first arrived it was cooked well done. They were quick to take it back and brought me a perfectly medium-rare replacement, which I appreciate. That said, the quality of the steak itself was disappointing -- tough, with a flavor that even the soy sauce from their lomo saltado couldn't mask. It's the priciest dish on the menu, so I expected better. This was the worst quality steak I've had in a minute and I strongly suspect they served me the oldest one this could find. That being said... the salad that came with it? One of the best I've ever had. Crisp, fresh, and perfectly dressed. Service was so good I still tipped big. If you're here, I'd recommend the cocktails, the salad, and maybe exploring dishes other than the steak. read more
8 months ago
This place is so cozy, I was surprised to not see many people inside. Most likely was because i went during dinner time on a weekday. I would definitely come back here again the service was great and the food was awesome! The portions are pretty big. Would definitely recommend trying it out! read more
Enjoyed a nice lunch with friends at Emelina. It's a bit dark inside the restaurant. We were promptly seated and ordered: Polo a la plancha: friend enjoy this and sad the salad dressing was excellent and very lemony. Lomo saltaldo: I had a taste of the steak. Not as salty as other places which is good. Not a big fan of the flavor though. Friend enjoyed her dish. Bistec à Lo pobre: 5/5 this was mine. Steak was very tasty and cooked med rare. Plantain was good and fries were ok. Rice was buttery. I recommend this one. Glad I tried this place! read more
2 months ago
10 months ago
I would suggest to come here only if you have a lot of free time on your hands. Our party came for a Wednesday lunch at noon, and didn't receive our food until 1.5 hours in. Granted, we were a large party, but we witnessed other parties having similar waiting times. There was only one server who was doing his very best, shoutout to him for his great hospitality -- I think more waiting staff would be very beneficial though. Food was great overall, and mocktails were yummy! Would recommend to give it a try, if you're free and around the area. read more
1 year ago
I don't remember the last time I was so disappointed after visiting a restaurant. I hate giving low ratings because I can only imagine how much hard work goes into running a place. We booked lunch today for four adults and two kids. It was Mother's Day, and while we were glad to get a reservation promptly, that's where the happiness ended, unfortunately. TLDR: the drinks were good, the food was average, and the service was a disaster - or non-existent. We had the Pisco Sour and another Pepper-Basil based cocktail. Both were really good. For apps, we had the Papa A La Huancaina and the miniempanadas (mushroom + spinach & cheese). The empanadas had good flavor but were underbaked. The other app was basically boiled potatoes with an under-seasoned yellow sauce - quite disappointing. Even our kids didn't like it. For the main course, we had the Squid Ink Paella and the Chauffa De Pollo (Peruvian style fried rice). The only novelty about the paella was its black color. Flavor-wise, it was flat - not the usual richness, umami, or seafood taste you expect from paella. The fried rice tasted much better, but in both dishes, the chicken was overcooked - dry and chewy. None of us could eat it. For dessert, we ordered the flan and the ice cream. The flan was stodgy, and the ice cream had ice crystals - and even a piece of wrapper in it! That was the last straw. But it was the service - or lack thereof - that disappointed us the most. The restaurant was severely understaffed. I think just three people were managing everything. And although there were only three or four tables occupied when we ordered, it took more than 45 minutes for the food to arrive. I ordered a beer that never came, so I eventually canceled it. When I mentioned the wrapper in the ice cream, the response wasn't apologetic or thoughtful. Throughout the service, it felt like no one really cared, honestly. And we paid $240 for this meal! I don't think we'll be returning after such an experience. It's especially sad because this location used to be home to Sweet Sicily, a restaurant we loved and frequented for several years. I hope the management takes steps to address this. read more
So excited to have Peruvian restaurant at the downtown of Sunnyvale. Delicious appetizers-- mini empanada ( a variety of options chicken, beef, mushroom and spinach). The main dish is rich flavors of Peruvian Seafood Stew - A tantalizing blend of shrimp, squid, and scallops immersed in a vibrant sauce crafted with Peruvian Yellow Chili Paste, Quebranta Pisco, and white wine. Served with white rice on the side. Friendly services! read more
5 months ago
I'm very disappointed with the restaurant today. First, the table presentation was terrible -- the tablecloths were wrinkled and looked very unprofessional. The service was also extremely slow because they only had one server and one bartender. We also noticed they must have changed the chef, because both the flavor and presentation of the dishes were very different and disappointing. I definitely won't be coming back, and even the people at the table next to us were complaining about the same issues. read more
Came during midday so it wasn't super packed, but service was a bit slow. Although they did keep checking in on us and refilling our waters. Personally I thought our appetizer dishes (jalea and leche de tigre) were very good and much better than the mains (lomo saltado and salmon w/ pesto pasta). Definitely nowhere near close to my favorite peruvian spot, but it's not bad. read more
We stopped by here for an early dinner around 5pm and had the place to ourselves. The staff was very friendly. We started with some empanadas and a classic ceviche, followed by pulpo a la parrilla (octopus). We also got the pisco sour flight to drink. The food and drinks were absolutely delicious. Of the drinks, the passionfruit pisco was my favorite. I also loved the empanadas and the ceviche portion was quite large. Great quality food and friendly service. Would definitely be back here. read more
1 month ago
It was my first time trying Peruvian food, and I think it might become one of my new favorite cuisines! The server was super friendly and took the time to recommend dishes since it was our first visit. Pescado a lo Macho: One of their recommended dishes--this one came with about six different kinds of seafood! The side of rice was fragrant and paired really well with the rich sauce. Salmón a la Parrilla: The grilled salmon had a nice smoky flavor, and the pasta was chewy and delicious. From the outside, the place looked a bit dark, but inside it was spacious and calm, creating a really relaxing atmosphere. I'd definitely love to come back! read more
2 years ago
Food: 4.25 out 5 Ordered the squid ink paella and the papas rellena. Both were flavorful and delicious. The paella portion was large and you could definitely share this order. Environment: 5 out 5 Casual to business casual environment. Full bar and plenty of seating. They even do a flight of pisco if you're down!! Great place for a date night. Service: N/A Ordered to go. Overall: 4.5 out 5 You'll be pleasantly surprised and will not leave with an empty stomach! read more
9 months ago
There were only two other tables full when we got there. The servers seemed like they were going in slow mo... it took them a while to greet us and seat the two of us. I've only gone to Peruvian restaurants in Southern California and every single place I went they had a bottle of aji verde on the table and they gave us bread and butter, so I was looking forward to that. But this place had NO AJI VERDE!! I don't know if that's normal up here but I was pretty disappointed especially since the food took a while to get out. I ordered tallarin verde con pollo and my friend Lomo saltado. The chicken was cooked perfect and the noodles were fine. It just didn't taste like I was expecting (could be because it wasn't drowned in aji verde like I usually do lol) but it tasted good. My friend liked her food. I tried the meat and it was cooked nicely but it was too salty for me. The chicha morada was delicious. Oh when we asked for aji verde they said they ran out and brought out maybe two tsps of it in a tiny sauce cup. It was not the color I expected... but I guess it was better than nothing. They didn't really come and check on us much either. I guess when they put a bottle of water on your table so you can fill your own cups, they don't really need a reason to come and check on you. The food wasn't bad but the experience was underwhelming. I wouldn't go back if I'm craving Peruvian. read more
7 months ago
5 months ago
5 months ago
8 months ago
We came here on a late Sunday afternoon for early dinner. There were a few other parties there, but there was no wait. Our server was very nice and friendly and great about giving us more info or recommendations! We ended up sharing the piqueos with the 2 fish and 1 shrimp ceviche, a lomo saltado, and some drinks. The piqueos was really good! The portions were surprisingly generous. Loved the balance of citrus and heat. The seafood itself tasted fresh. The Lomo Saltado was great. Loved that there was a good ratio with rice and fries. The sauce was amazing and the beef was cooked well. So glad a Peruvian place opened up nearby and will definitely be back again! read more
2 years ago
Overall I enjoyed the food and experience, it just wasn't amazing for me. I would give it 3, as I don't think I would come back again soon. Food: Fish with quinoa risotto: quinoa risotto was nice and tasted like an Italian American fusion dish. I have never had anything like it so that was unique but it was a little bland. Fish was a little undercooked for my liking but was flaky just not super white flaky. I think the spice on the fish was supposed to add more flavor to the risotto but the cheese in the risotto kind of overwhelmed the spice. Lomo saltado: this is a standard Peruvian dish that we've enjoyed many times at other places. Here it was decently executed, however we found the beef a little chewy. Service: it was a little slow, as the drinks and food took a little longer than other places but we enjoyed sitting outside. Ambiance: all the restaurants with outdoor dining on Murphy have great vibes and this one is no exception. We loved sitting outside and enjoying our meal. The plates were also excellently styled and garnished and that added some extra flair to the experience. read more
This Peruvian restaurant opened fairly recently on Old Murphy street in downtown sunnyvale. It replaced the Italian restaurant, and the interior looks pretty similar. Plenty of seating on a Friday night. Vibe is a little bit casual but stiff, neither fun/vibrant or romantic I enjoyed the Initpalka Malbec red wine that the waitress recommended. I appreciated that the Empanadas come in a variety of flavors (beef, chicken, mushroom, or spinach and cheese). We got the chicken ones and it came with a set of 4. I also liked that the crust feels more baked and fluffy, and not a deep-fried crust. We also got the Black Paella (squid ink) which was okay. The chicken in it was a bit overcooked, and there was a few mussels and calamari. Because it's all stirred together it's kind of hard to find the seafood (vs. a Spanish paella where the seafood is more scattered on top as display). Food came out quickly since it was pretty empty when we got there at 5:30 PM, but then it took 20 plus minutes to get my check paid once there were a few more customers. read more
3 months ago
2 years ago
I haven't had Peruvian food in a while and have never seen a vegetarian paella offered with tofu before. I was excited to try it with some extra protein but unfortunately the dish was quite bland except for the occasional breath of smokiness in the roasted vegetables :/ Logistics: - walking distance from Sunnyvale Caltrain station, also many paid public garages nearby but parking is tight at peak times - indoor seating only read more
1 year ago
My favorite spot, came in to celebrate my stepfather birthday and honestly the food was amazing, I have never tried Peruvian food before and it was such a great choice, I will be back to try other dishes, the service was amazing everyone was very attentive, friendly and welcoming,, fair prices and great portions , I have the sweet plantains for dessert :) like I said I'll be back to try their ceviche. Thank you for such a great experience. read more
3 months ago
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