We stopped here while on our way to my MIL's home to kick off our weekend on Long Island. It was pretty late and we really wanted to make sure we ate something, so we decided to look for something in the area while we were on the road, that we could order and just pick up.
Peruvian is one of our favorite cuisines, so we searched for restaurants and came across Incas. I was a little worried because they only have 2 reviews on Yelp but I chalked it up to them likely being new, so we took a chance. SOOOOO GLAD WE DID!
Hubby called to ensure they were open because of conflicting hours of operation posted online and one of the owners, Jenny, answered. She was very accommodating. We explained our situation and she helped us make our order while also ensuring that our food would be ready by the time we arrived.
We were 8 minutes away when Jenny called to let us know that our order was ready. When we arrived, she and her husband were welcoming. They were actually closing but they held the kitchen open for us. They've only been open for about 6 weeks and are gearing up for their official grand opening on Sunday, July 28th. The date is special, as it commemorates Peru's Independence Day. There will be music, menu samplings and what looks to be a great vibe.
We got to know the owners pretty well. Jenny is originally from Queens and moved onto LI to be with her hubby ten years ago. They opened their restaurant not even realizing there was a strong Peruvian community in the area.
This place is official. The food we had was fantastic. Obviously, we went with their pollo a la brasa, chicken chaufa, salchipapas, avo salad and their criollo salad (onion salad). All were delicious. Their green sauce is AMAHZING! It's definitely a pleasant change from the weird mint green-colored aji verde we've experienced at another franchise-style Peruvian spot that shall remain nameless, IYKYK.
Some things that stood out at Incas, was their alfajores, which are smaller than I've seen, so we're able to enjoy a few more bites. Jenny even made us two pisco sours while we chatted. They were so good. She's a pro and even educated us on the preparation and history of pisco. We also had some pisco shots for good measure. We also tried their chocoflan, which was really nice and not overly sweet.
They boast a nice dining area and I love the nods to their culture. I don't even care that we're over an hour drive away. I'm definitely coming for their grand opening, despite having to also work in the city that day. Something tells me it's going to be worth it.
Please come out and support this small business!
Hours of operation:
Tue-Thur: 12p-9p
Fri/Sat: 12p-10p
Sunday: still up in the air but possibly 10A-7P to accommodate for a brunch seating. read more