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La Canela

4.0 (389 reviews)
Closed • 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM

La Canela Peruvian Restaurant Photos

LA CANELA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Romantic
Classy
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - La Canela

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Picarones
LoiLoi F.

It was a sunny day and the beautiful restaurant looked too good than what it really was:( We had the Lomo Saltado, Ceviche, and a free dessert due to lack of precision. It was OK but definitely better out there.

Diana A.

Definitely one of the best Peruvian restaurants in the area! Service is always amazing and very attentive. They will even give you a courtesy amuse bouche. Which is ceviche in a wonton, fried! 10/10 amazing! Food is always DELICIOUS and they are very willing to make food substitutions when possible. The restaurant is quiet and overall clean. I definitely recommend giving this restaurant a try. Even during our last visit they let us know in advance that their card machine was having some difficulties so if we had cash it would be helpful. We appreciated their initiative to let us know of the issue, my husband quickly went to the ATM took some cash out and easy fix. They were so grateful for us being understanding they gave us free inca cola soda! truly an amazing team and restaurant!

Samantha G.

This is one of my favorite authentic peruvian places to eat. We usually get the combination, papa a la huancaina, and lomo saltado here. I've tried the chupe de camarones and that was delicious! Nothing beats a peruvian homemade meal but this is a close second. The staff there is very kind and attentive. I've been there on their slow and packed days and it's always great. The inside of the restaurant is awesome in itself, since it takes decor from Peru and merges it into the storefront and even inside! Would recommend this restaurant to anyone wanting to try peruvian food!

Roberto M.

Servesr were amazing very polite and professional i have the ceviche de pescado it was good the fish was lilttlebit too cold but it was good I had it with a glass of red wine then I ordered the grill octopus it wasn't cooked all the way through but it's ok I know they can do better in the kitchen....I will defanaly come back and give them a second chance because I love food....

Pisco Strawberry Smash
Thi H.

Peruvian cuisine is one of my favorite and I wanted to look for a new restaurant to try with my husband in Rockville. I found La Canela searching on google maps and it had over 400 reviews with a rating over 4 stars so we decided to give it a try for date night. We came for dinner on a Saturday night around 6:30PM. The restaurant wasn't busy and we were seated right away. While waiting for our food, we received a complimentary snack to try from the chef. It was fish ceviche in what looked like a fried wonton and it was quite delicious! My husband ordered a Sierra Nevada IPA for drinks and I tried their Pisco Strawberry Smash. My drink was the right amount of strong and reminded me of a margarita without the salt rim. For dinner, I ordered the Fettuccini a la Huancaína and my husband ordered the Pollo Saltado. The lomo saltado in my dish was perfectly seasoned but the fettuccini was not what I expected. I love huancaína sauce but this was more on the cheeser side and very thick in consistency. Needless to say, I didn't finish the pasta portion on my dish. My husband said his pollo saltado was delicious. No complaints on his part about the food. Service was on the slower end of things. Although, we got seated very quickly - the waiters barely came around to check on us. It also seems, they all share the tables and we weren't assigned a specific waiter. We had to ask for our check twice. The first waitress never brought the check so I was able to flag down a second waiter and he brought it to us. All in all, the food and drinks were delicious and we would definitely come back to eat here again.

Complimentary ceviche wontons
Nancy L.

La Canela is a gem hidden in plain sight! Right in the heart of Rockville at Rockville Town Center. We were greeted with friendly faces. The server was delightful! He was super patient and knowledgeable. Gave us plenty of options and explained almost every dish for us. We originally asked if we could sit outside. They told us we could but the server warned us that there were a lot of mosquitoes out on the patio that afternoon. We really appreciated his honesty, decided to take his advice and stay inside. Shortly after, we received our extremely refreshing pitcher of sangria. It was filled to the brim, and was not full of ice like most places. My friends and I were able to get 5-6 glasses out of the pitcher. It was a perfect balance of wine and fruit without being too sweet. The owner brought us an amuse bouche as we waited for our food. It was ceviche in a wonton, fried. That really set our palates for the delicious food to come. We got: Fried Calamari & Yucca As always, fried calamari is always delicious. The yucca was soft like mashed potato on the inside and crispy on the outside. Served with an aioli and pickled red onions. Ceviche The fish was very fresh. Cut into perfect sized pieces to give you the best bite of fish. The leche de tigre was just milky enough to help cut the heat of the bits of rocoto pepper mixed. There is a bit of sweet potato and Peruvian corn to bite on if the spice and lime juice do get a little intense. Perfect balance of heat, acid, fat, and sweet in one dish. Whole fried fish Lightly seasoned with salt and fried crispy all the way around. Served with white rice, the delicious yucca from before, and lime wedges. This dish was really comforting for me. My parents would often serve whole friend fish with rice and lime juice for dinner when I was a kid. Biting into this really took me back. However, we used to share the whole fish as a family. I definitely enjoyed the remainder for lunch the next day. Aji de Gallina I love aji de gallina. This one was not as heavy as many I've had in the past. It was delightful! Served with white rice and garnished with olives and egg. The portion was also quite large, took it home to eat the next day as well. To sum it up, La Canela is a treasure and I haven't stopped thinking about it since that dinner. How could I? The service was impeccable; the sangria is the quintessential summer drink; the food was nothing less than perfect. I would recommend this spot to anyone who wants to try exemplary Peruvian cuisine.

Chicharrón de Calamar

Ambiance was delightful, service was friendly and food was amazing! We ordered 3 appetizers, entrees and desserts and everything was delicious. 10/10 would recommend

Beef

We ordered one starter, the fried wonton is on the house, two main course. All the foods are delicious and yum yum. The waiter is nice and very welcoming. We spend good time there and would come back to try other dishes in the future.

The crispy wanton amuse bouche.
Joy B.

Trying new things has never been my best virtue. But, I am sure glad I did last night. On the recommendation of a good friend, we went to La Canela. Beautifully decorated in old world European charm, this quaint restaurant has been tucked into a corner of Rockville Town Center. Our server, Irene, was par excellence! She was helpful with suggestions and gave us plenty of time to make up our minds. She had each round of dishes out on time and her sweet personality made the evening a pleasure. We started off with a complimentary stuffed wanton in a flavorful sauce. It was crispy and delicious. Next, for our appetizer, we had braised short ribs with yucca and pickled onions. I enjoyed the crisp yucca and pickled onions, but the short ribs were well done and dry. Then, we shared a ceviche. The ceviche was tasty and was packed with citrusy fish, tender and sweet potato, and these nuts that added the right amount of salt. I would order this again in a heartbeat. The main dish was grilled trout with jasmine rice and cooked lentils. The trout was beautifully grilled and was packed full of that smoky flavor. It was flaky and tender. The lentils came in a huge portion. They were tasty and cooked in a delicately seasoned sauce. I loved them. The jasmine rice was very good too. The end to a perfect meal, we shared a delicious custard like flan that melted in your mouth. The raspberry coulee was a fabulous addition to this dessert. Freshly made whipped cream and blueberries garnished this superb dessert. I am going to dream of this tonight. : ) Lesson learned tonight, take risks, listen to good friends, and you can find hidden gems, like La Canela!

Chicharrón de calamares and the ceviche mixto
Mario P.

We've been Rockville locals for a few years and we've walked by La Canela so many many times. My Peruvian cousin was in town for a few days and we committed ourselves to dine at La Canela. It was a great decision! The service was warm and welcoming... the place was packed with locals. We started with an order of ceviche and anticuchos (grilled beef heart), plus the chicharrón de calamares (fried calamari) - each were made to order and fresh! Additionally we ordered a round of pisco sours they were mixed expertly! For our entrees, we decided to order several items and share family style. We ordered the lomo saltado (beef stir fried with fries, onions, and tomatoes), aji de gallina, and seco a la norteña - era how came with a side of white rice. Lam dishes were delicious, those others thought the aji de gallina was supper i thought the standout was the seco a la norteña cause it was beef short rib stewed to perfection! I definitely recommend this restaurant in the Rockville town center! It's superb!

Jalea
Nickname Y.

Good vibes. Food is Tasty and fresh. Good service little pricey but worth to try. Definitely go back again

Jalea
Kerlin M.

Every time I have gone to Canela, I always have a positive experience. It smells so good as soon as you open the door. The ambiance is nice, cute for a date or family dinner. No complain about the food, everything was amazing! You even get amuse bouche, I got this time a ceviche in a wonton wrapper. Super good! I would definitely recommend going. The picture includes their special menu option Jalea!

Arroz con Mariscos
Margy C.

La Canela had one of the best service I have ever received. I know this place has been in Rockville Town Square for some time now and I can't believe I haven't tried it until now. I took a friend out for her birthday on a Friday afternoon. We were the first customers. I was pleased to see all the staff wearing masks. It's a very lovely restaurant. The decor seemed like we were in dining in Peru. Our waiter was phenomenal and so attentive. We were treated to a fried wonton to start. I ordered the Arroz con Mariscos. It comes with shrimp, calamari, scallops, and mussels cooked with jasmine rice, white wine, Peruvian spices, sarza criolla, rocoto emulsion. It was such a huge portion that I ended up taking most of it home. My friend ordered the Chupe de Camarones which was a creamy shrimp soup- made with reduced shrimp broth- butternut squash, lima beans, poached egg, potatoes and just a touch of cream. She thought the portion was just perfect. It wasn't an overly large bowl so she was able to finish every last tasty drop. Our server was just wonderful. He overheard me tell my friend I did not want to split the check because it was her birthday. After he took my payment, he came back with a flan and candle on a large plate that said, "Happy B-Day!" I thought that was so nice of him. He also sang to her. La Canela, I will be coming back. Your server, Alberto, was fantastic.

Note ironwork detailing

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2 months ago

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1 year ago

Great food and incredible service!!! The location is quiet and very peaceful. Would recommend this place to anyone!!!

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1 year ago

Poor service from the staff. Extremely long wait for mediocre food. Owner was very rude as well

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The Lady Vintner - This is a close up of the wine machine. I have never seen one before. Pretty cool.

The Lady Vintner

4.9(24 reviews)
0.1 mi

I have been to this little spot twice now, and both times have been very pleasant. It is only the…read morethird place in the entire DMV I know that does the wine card / wine tasting machine system (educate me if I'm wrong). The machine has an ever-changing selection of reds, whites, and rosés to either taste or get a full pour of. Both times I have attended I have gravitated to the red blends, becoming favorites of mine. The staff were really nice to chat with and I love the way out of the place, though small. I would be excited to sit outside when the weather is better, though it's just the sidewalk with a bunch of cars going by a busy street. The inside has bar seats, a small lounge area, and a high long table. Did I mention they also sell a bunch of wines, snacks, and more? They have events too, so I will have to check those out.

Cheers to this black woman owned wine bar in Rockville Town Center. I had been hearing amazing…read morethings and decided to check them out for myself. I visted on a Tuesday so it wasn't too busy. I found reasonably priced metered parking right outside. There's also a nearby garage. Demi was a pleasure to chat with and learn more about this business. I liked the self-serve option for tasting and/or a full glass. I was impressed with the selection of wines. My fave was the Castella D'Alba (a red blend from Portugal). They offer charcuterie options. It's not a large space so if visiting with a group, reservations are recommended! I can't wait to visit again.

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The Lady Vintner - Wine selection

Wine selection

The Lady Vintner - If you would prefer a beer? They have got you covered.

If you would prefer a beer? They have got you covered.

The Lady Vintner - The selection of white wines.

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The selection of white wines.

Amalfi Coast Italian & Wine Bar - Linguine seven fishes! My partner loved it.

Amalfi Coast Italian & Wine Bar

4.5(151 reviews)
45.5 mi

This place is so cute! My partner & I were in the area for something else. She had already scoped…read morethis place out and wanted to come for an early dinner. First of all, can we just talk about how cute historic Stevensville is?!!! There's a cute little historic Post Office and cute little shops. Anyway, the food here was great! We came a bit early so we were seated right away in the bar portion of the restaurant. But mid-dinner, the place started getting packed! This is a popular place! We started with drinks. She ordered a smoked old fashioned which was an experience! The smoke lingered for a bit. I got the limoncello martin, which had this delicious foam on top. They were both STOUT drinks and very tasty. For dinner I ordered the special, which was the Seafood Cannelloni. OMG, it was so good! The pasta tubes were stuffed with shrimp, scallops, crabmeat, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and spinach. The sambuca cream sauce was divine! It was sweet. Not overly sweet, but enough to keep you going in for another bite. I ate the whole dish!!! My partner ordered the Linguine Seven Fishes. She loved it. Overall, it was a great experience! Tobias was an attentive server and everyone on the staff was friendly. There's parking in the back. We'll definitely come back!

Absolutely gem that unfortunately gets missed, despite the glorious curb appeal. I had the very…read moredelicious Parpadelle Allo Zafferano, a happy combination of lump crab, shrimp and a larger scallop in a Saffron Cream sauce. Service was friendly and there was a lot on the menu for which I want to come back. Parking off the main drag, block from the restaurant.

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Amalfi Coast Italian & Wine Bar - Inside

Inside

Amalfi Coast Italian & Wine Bar - Linguine Seven Fishes

Linguine Seven Fishes

Amalfi Coast Italian & Wine Bar - Brussels sprouts appetizer

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Brussels sprouts appetizer

Black Ankle Vineyards - Indoor seating

Black Ankle Vineyards

4.3(194 reviews)
25.7 mi
•$$$

Representing the DMV runner-up to out of town pick for letter B for 2025, B is for Black Ankle…read moreVineyards. My girlfriend & I visited Black Ankle on a Saturday in September 2025. We were out somewhat in this direction, and there was a Meetup group going here, so we thought to check it out as it's rare we ever go to a winery as it's normally out of the way, more likely of an occurrence when on a vacation. We took some crazy back roads from where we were in western Howard County, through Carroll, & into eastern Frederick County, where Black Ankle is. We went to the bar inside to get wines. I got a white wine; I think Chardonnay, and I think my girlfriend got a sweeter Rose or something like that. Both were delicious, but we preferred our own more. We sat outside in a nice patio area. We were in the hot Sun on that sunny day, but that was cool with me. We learned of a tour going on, which we got in on. The tour guide who wore an Italian flag bowtie was entertaining and informative. We walked around the vineyard, going inside the cooled storage areas, centrifuge area where the wine is mixed, etc. We even saw some of the old wines they had made from years earlier. We saw sheep dogs, which protect the vineyard from pests, which were cute. Overall, this is a high quality winery with plenty of nice outside & inside seating.

My husband and I had a wonderful time visiting this vineyard! We went with friends and participated…read morein a wine tasting. Bill was friendly and welcoming, he educated us well on the different types of wine and made us laugh through stories. This is a great spot to bring kids and let them run around and soak up the sun. The interior is cozy and well organized, restrooms are clean. This was my first time at the vineyard and I think I fell in love with their white wines, which is rare for me (I am a red wine girl)! I look forward to visiting the vineyard soon again, highly recommend it for date night, hanging with friends, or catching up with family.

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Black Ankle Vineyards - The details!

The details!

Black Ankle Vineyards - Early evening on the outside patio

Early evening on the outside patio

Black Ankle Vineyards - Outside patio

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Outside patio

AZU Peruvian Cuisine

AZU Peruvian Cuisine

4.5(29 reviews)
0.4 mi
•$$

I recently tried Azu Peruvian Cuisine in Rockville and overall had a solid experience. I ordered…read morethe lomo saltado, the copa, and the chupe de langostinos. The lomo saltado was well executed. The beef was tender, the fries were crispy, and the classic mix of soy sauce, onions, and tomatoes gave it that authentic Peruvian flavor. The portion size was generous and satisfying. The chupe de langostinos stood out. It was rich, creamy, and packed with shrimp, which is important because many places skimp on seafood in this dish. It had a deep, comforting flavor and felt very traditional. The place itself is small and casual but welcoming, and the service was friendly. Overall, it's a good spot in Rockville if you're looking for authentic Peruvian flavors. I'd definitely come back to try more dishes.

Good size place with a small area as you as you walk-in and a larger space for at least 6 tables+…read moreand a bar area with 4 stools. Nice set-up but they are still awaiting their liquor license (as of Jan. 2026), so they only serve non-alcoholic juices, sodas and water (for now) and hot teas on the weekends. The servers are very sweet and really know the food and menu. However, I did observe they are either a bit inexperienced, or the place is still getting things in order-- as they carry the food out without trays. I observed one server carrying a soup very close to the rim with bare hands. Now, for the food. An excellent array of varied dishes from different regions of Peruvian cuisine. My husband and I have tried our fair share of Peruvian food both in Peru and across various U.S. states. It's our go-to-food. The food here had its highs and lows. The Good & The Bad: Grilled octopus was delicious with a generous portion of everything served on sizzling skillet. Chorros à la chalaca (fresh mussels) served with pico. Both had a lovely presentation and savory flavors. Lomo saltado (sautéed beef tenderloin pieces) with fettuccine à la Huancaina served over a bed of fettuccine in a spicy cheese sauce (IYKYK). The Huancaina sauce was on point as was the sauce for the lomo--The (lomo) beef however was not. Beef was overcooked and tough to chew. And being a Peruvian spot the Classic Ceviche was a work of art but the flavor and the spice-level was lacking. Finally, I asked for a side of sauce and was charged for 2 oz. of sauce. They also tacked on a service charge fee for a table of two. Overall, the ambiance was nice and friendly but the food coming out of the kitchen did not warrant a $130 bill. Honestly, the prices are comparable for this kind of food. But I would expect better product and less hidden fees. I hope this small business will keep improving I'd love to give it another chance once they work out the kinks-- but judge for yourself!

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AZU Peruvian Cuisine - Dining space

Dining space

AZU Peruvian Cuisine
AZU Peruvian Cuisine - Aji de gallina

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Aji de gallina

La Canela - peruvian - Updated May 2026

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