As a response to the owner's rude reply to my review I'd like to reinstate the fact that to this day (March 2 2024) the restaurant's main website DOES NOT have any mentioning of the fact that reservations are required for dining there: http://llamarestaurant.com. Dear Marcel, your attitude is what ruins your restaurant's reputation among reviewers. It doesn't matter if I had a pleasure of dining at your restaurant or not but the off putting experience itself is what had caused this whole negativity in the first place. Please update your website to reflect your policy, so diners are aware before they make plans to drive all that way to try and walk in just to be turned away. Updating your website will truly help you avoid honest one star reviews like mine. Thanks! Original review below: No walkings! The waiter was very rude when we walked in suggesting that the reservations are recommended TWO WEEKS ahead of time! No apologies, he was actually very eager to kick us out. Before coming in, I thoroughly checked llamarestaurant.com which appears to be their main website and the information about reservations was NOWHERE to be seen. We just wasted our time getting there. Very disappointed. read more

This is an update to my first review, where I gave Llama 5 stars. Since my last visit I have yearned to come back. I absolutely believe this is one of the best restaurants I have visited in close to 40 countries. The best, maybe not, but absolutely worth a visit. I made a reservation a month before visiting, but I do not think that is common. I just wanted to come here for my wife's birthday and Valentines Day. Parking has gotten a little bit better, but it can be a squeeze if you have a big car. We had a choice of where to sit when we came in and chose a small table. The restaurant is small, intimate, and was decorated tastefully. The staff is wonderful and the owner is attentive and thoughtful. He may have recognized us from our engagement dinner, but he sent over some tasty whiskey and coconut shots. We ordered some drinks to begin our adventure. My wife ordered the Cuki and I ordered the Passion. Both drinks are mimosas and are presented beautifully. Llama does a wonderful job of presenting dishes and drinks. I do wish they had some other types of cocktails, but they do carry some Latin beers. We didn't order appetizers, but went straight to entrees. My wife ordered the Quinnoto, which is a creamy Quinoa risotto with a mixture of fresh seafood. I definitely ate some of her food. It was a generous portion and came beautifully presented. I ordered the Ceviche Classico, which is a traditional serving of Ceviche with sweet potatoes, crispy chulpe corn, giant Andean corn, and Leche de Tigre. It was a bit spicy, but nothing I couldn't handle. As always the staff was attentive and refilled our water often. The only thing that was disappointing was that we were too full to eat one of their amazing desserts. The ALGARROBINA CUSTARD is worth a visit all on its own. This is always the first restaurant I suggest to friends and family in the area and I wouldn't think twice about eating here. The menu has changed since our first visit and I like that it is not stagnant. While some prices are high, you are paying for quality and experience. This restaurant reminds me of Central in Lima, which is considered one of the best in the world. Yeah, that good. Oh, they have a tasting menu experience! It has a ton of courses and I want to do this at some point. I bet it will change my life. read more

Delicious, unexpected taste and quality of food. The waitstaff very professional and friendly. We came an hour before closing, which I don't like to do for fear of getting rushed to eat. Not here. If you live in the area, you have to go here ! If you are visiting in the area, you have to go here ! read more

Llama Restaurant - Peruvian Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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A small restaurant with big flavors! Reservations are recommended as they do fill up. The foods had so much flavor and by far one of the best restaurants I've been to. The service was quick and very welcoming! We enjoyed every bite here read more

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We went here for my husband's birthday and we had a great time until the end of the dinner, which was a shame because it really killed our vibe and ruined the experience. They rudely kicked us out because of the next reservation. Now, I understand that restaurants need to keep it going, but we just paid for a $400+ dinner. The least you could do is be tactful. There are ways to communicate this rather than straight up saying "the tables have time limits" and there is another reservation. I guess they care more about getting the most money out of the night than ensuring their patrons have an excellent experience. Also, if they are so worried about time then they should have improved their service because they were very slow. What sucks the most is it was my husband's birthday and they ruined the night. This was the fourth time we have eaten as this restaurants and have recommended this place to several friends. We will not be back and we will most definitely be discouraging anyone to come here. *Response the the owner: We were not seated 5 mins prior and we did not stay 10 mins after. We were shooed away at 8:57pm. Our reservation was 7:00pm. We were seated right at 7:00pm, which was fine but don't lie to make yourself look better. I know the time your waiter told us to leave because I was in the process of calling our cab and I checked the time right away. I remember distinctly what time it was. We ended up waiting outside in the cold. Plus, your bar area was full, so moving there was not an option. You are also lying about notifying us that the reservation is only for two hours. This was never mentioned. I also know $400 for 4 people is expected. This was our 4th time at your restaurant. I don't care about the money we spent. I'm just saying, for that kind of money, I expected to have a better overall experience. Restaurant is all about the experience and your restaurant placed a damper on the end of our night and it was a birthday dinner. Thanks a lot. read more

The food is amazing!! Sorry didn't take more pictures was too busy enjoying the amazing food!!! This place is worth the wait for reservations. They are full every night for a good reason. Fresh produce amazing flavours one of my favourite places. Definitely my favourite in this area!! read more

Llama Restaurant - Peruvian Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Incredible food, incredible service. I could end this review now because you just need to go. It's as simple as that. Need more convincing? Ok, buckle your belts, I'll tell all. Read past the quirks because in the end it was absolutely worth it. I'd had Llama on my list for some time and decided to make a reservation for our anniversary. We had never been there before and had no idea what to expect. We were a little put off by the parking lot which seemed designed only for compact cars and the instructions for other vehicles to park in the front or back. I didn't really see any parking in the back, but we were able to park on the street right in front of the restaurant. The restaurant is small from the outside, with no lobby or check-in area. I tried the door handle at 4:55 but it was still locked. Peeking through the window I saw activity inside. Note, a hurricane had just passed through the area and although I had confirmed they were going to be open I was a little worried now. All worries ended at 5:00 sharp when the door opened and we were cheerfully invited inside. They meet you as you walk in with a friendly greeting immediately followed by "Do you have reservations?" After checking your name against their list, they seat you. The interior is extremely cute, and what seemed small on the outside was cozy and intimate on the inside. Decorations were adorable and on point for the cuisine. This is not a sprawling establishment and you will need reservations and a phone call if you have a large party. Service was impeccable. Super friendly, helpful, great suggestions, great explanations of the menu, great recommendations. You are served a complimentary dish that I'm afraid I can't recall the name of consisting of I believe plantain chips and a generous helping of some sort of roasted crunchy corn. Delicious unfamiliar flavors is the watchword of this establishment. I wanted to ask for more after we swiftly cleared our dish. Since we were dining peruvian I asked for a peruvian beer, and received an icy frosted mug of cusquena lager. So very refreshing and one of the best beers I've tasted from a bottle in a long time. I would totally buy that if I can find it in a local store. My wife opted for the chichamosa. She opted for it five times because she loved it so much. Champagne, purple corn, pineapple, lime and spices. You will not find this anywhere else, and you will want to try it. I'm not sure what the spices were but they reminded me of a pumpkin spice. Very intriguing flavor and a lovely purple color from the corn. They have a intriguing menu of non-alcoholic native beverages that I would have enjoyed sampling as well, but the occasion called for alcohol. For an appetizer we decided on the ceviche lima, which is fresh corvina marinated with lime juice, cilantro, and limo peppers served with Peruvian giant corn and glazed sweet potatoes. The liquid is poured into the dish tableside with the other ingredients placed around the rim of the bowl. We were then advised to push them into the liquid and let everything marinate for about a minute before eating. Incredibly robust flavors, amazing taste. A definite treat for our tongues. The intermezzo was again something I cannot recall, but served in small metal cups. Tasty and cleansing, it cleared our palates for the delights to follow. And delights they were. I had the arroz con mariscos which contained a delectable assortment of "fruits of the sea" served over the best risotto I've ever had. Generous amount of shrimp, two large prawns, two large scallops, tender calamari, parmesan crisps. Utterly amazing. I've had comparable dishes at the same price point with half the seafood. My wife had the mar y tierra with hangar steak and the same large shrimps I had in my meal, served over broad-noodled pasta and the most delightful sauce I've tasted in forever. Dessert: do not opt out! The custard is incredibly creamy with wonderful flavors, and the sacred valley cacao superb. Cappuccino was perfect, served with rock sugar that made it special. I know I'm running out of adjectives but what I need to stress is how fresh and robust everything tasted. Presentation is divine, with special dishes used and rocks or pebbles. What a wonderful way to glimpse another country's cuisine! Yes, the bathrooms are around the back of the restaurant and you have to go outside but they make it fun with cute llama signs and decorations. Is this part of a five-star experience? I'd prefer them inside but the building is what it is, and with this kind of amazing overall dining I'll slide this into the category of eclectic that adds to the overall charm. "Hole-in-the-wall" "Hidden Gem" do not do this place justice. I've dined at places with phenomenal bathrooms but the food was only half as good. Now we just need to figure out when we can return! Thank you, Chef Marcel! read more

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I've been waiting for the perfect occasion to come here. This weekend was my husband's birthday dinner. From Jacksonville, it's just over the bridge of Lyons on the right. It doesn't look fancy, but go anyway. Before you go, I suggest you call or make reservations on Open Table. They stay busy. We were greeted at the door with a friendly masked welcome. After being seated, we ordered our drinks and appetizers. For starters, Ceviche Lima, fresh Corvina marinated with lime juice, cilantro and limo peppers, served with Peruvian giant corn and glazed cubes of sweet potatoes. Our second appetizer was Anticuchos. Marinated and chargrilled beef hearts, andean corn and golden potatoes served with panca pepper, scallions aioli. For my entree, I ordered the Peruvian Arapaima fish/Paiche. It was wrapped in plantain leaves, cooked over hot coals, served with yucca, heart of palm and a passion fruit cilantro sauce. ( you could have served the sauce on a flip flop and it would be delicious!) I finished my meal with the Leche Cookies. OMG! I never! Amazing, delicious and beautiful food ! There was a brightness in every bite that will not disappoint. I highly recommend this place. Business casual, great wine list, wonderful staff and did I say great food???? read more

Llama Restaurant - Ceviche - Peruvian Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Specific categories ranked on a personal scale of 1-5 Drinks: 3.75 (Cusqueña and the Lima Mule) Apps: 4.7 (Ceviche Lima!! Ceviche Nikkei!! Anticuchos!) Entree: 4.6 (Cordero Cusqueño and Patarshca) Dessert: 4.8 (The Jungle Zen Pie!!) Service: 4.5 (Very helpful, polite, and enthusiastic) Interior: 4.3 (Cute decor, intimate space, outdoor bathrooms) *Context* My boyfriend and I love to casually rank our dining experience in these categories (he does not give out 3.5+ scores easily). So far, Llama is our highest overall rated restaurant to date! We definitely enjoyed the food, which really stands out amongst other St. Augustine offerings and we will be back. Llama definitely gets 5 stars. Make sure to make a reservation. read more

Llama Restaurant - Jungle Zen Pie - Peruvian Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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It's my birthday so Mah Wife took me out to dinner to a restaurant I've been dying to go to: Llama Restaurant in St Augustine. We ordered a bunch of food so this post may be a bit lengthy. TL;DR - it was all delicious. Service was excellent. Presentation was beautiful. Go. Apps: Ceviche Lima - Fresh corvina marinated with lime juice, cilantro, and limo peppers served with Peruvian giant corn and glazed sweet potatoes. Anticuchos - Marinated and chargrilled beef hearts, andean corn and golden potatoes served with panca pepper-scallions aioli. If you didn't tell me this was beef heart, I would've thought it was thinly sliced ribeye. Tender, juicy, flavorful, and a total smokeshow. Entrees: Paiche - Amazonian arapaima seasoned and wrapped in plantain leaves cooked over hot coals, yucca, plantains, hearts of palm and a passion fruit-cilantro sauce. Mar y Tierra (Surf & Turf) - Lomo Saltado over tagliatelle pasta, shrimp and tossed in an Amarillo pepper Huancaina cream sauce. The Hanger Steak was cooked medium rare. Absolutely fantastic. Dessert: Algarrobina Custard - Black carob tree sap based cream, berries and spun sugar. The black carob tree sap reminded me of molasses. Dulce de Leche Sandwich Cookies - Creamy Dulce de Leche sandwiched between two house-made shortbread cookies. It was a special for tonight and not on the usual menu. read more

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Our favorite place for anniversaries and date nights! Travel to Peru without a passport! You'll receive 5 star service as if you're home for the holidays and your family is spoiling you with the most flavorful meal - appetizers, salads, drinks, entrees, desserts - that all taste heavenly, fresh and flavorful! read more

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The service and the ambiance were great! It was a wonderful birthday celebration and I am glad that I made reservations before the date! The food was so well put together and the flavors were very well thought out. Little on the pricey side but wonderful for special occasions. read more

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This restaurant was highly recommended by a friend. It was superb. Fabulous flavors and reasonably priced. The staff were superb. We had the ceviche, pork belly, lamb chops, hanger steak, grouper and salmon . Every dish was unique and cooked to perfection. I must say the salmon dish was probably the best salmon I ever tasted!! I would highly recommend this restaurant. It's a treat!! read more

I first found out about Llama restaurant on Instagram and immediately made a reservation. After having dinner there it is probably one of my favorite restaurants in north Florida- and will make every attempt to return! The physical restaurant is small and cozy, and the service was unparalleled. Everything - from the restaurant decor, to the service, to the warm wine palette cleanser(!!!) before the main course - was intentionally thought out to create a unique and unparalleled dining experience. The food was out of this world. For appetizers, our table shared the Anticuchos and Ceviche Nikkei; the Anticuchos were perfectly cooked and the Ceviche was a salmon ceviche that left my taste buds craving more. For the main course I had Seco de Res- some of the best braised beef I've ever had and the portion was well worth it. The criolla onion salad was the perfect side. Finally, the dessert did not disappoint. Alfajores Affogato and Crema Volteada (kind of like flan) were a great way to end a delicious meal and fantastic in-restaurant experience. Bravo! read more

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We haven't been able to visit Llama in a while due to COVID and just generally being busy, but had a chance to grab a table this last Friday. If anything, they've only gotten stronger. It's the kind of high level service where you never feel overly waited on, but looking back notice that the ticket times were uniformly quick, drinks were always full, and the table was always clean, almost by magic. Staff is super friendly and knowledgeable, and the vibe is just really good. The food is flawless. Everything we ate was executed perfectly - most impressively the Arroz con Mariscos, which manages to combine spot-on cooking times on the risotto, scallops, shrimp, and mussels. The kitchen must be on top of their timing because they just nailed it. And the ceviche is last-meal level good - I could eat it every day. The Leche de Tigre is bright, perfectly acidic, and bursting with flavor. Llama is a gem, highly recommended. read more

Wow! This restaurant was on my "To try" list for a long time! I finally got a chance to try it with Emily G for a little late birthday celebration. We made the treck to St Augustine and I will say Worth It! Walking in it's so so so cute! Very small and intimate, decorated beautifully! Attention to detail is this places strong point, everything had that special touch! The martini had a flower frozen in the ice, the ceviche app was served so pretty like an art work, the antichuchuos were served smoking in a glass cover, so unique and beautiful...they have definitely mastered the presentation of their food! Then the bonus was you get to eat these beautiful foods! Delicious! We both enjoyed everything, I would say this is more of a fancy special occasion kinda place, definitely get reservations on Open table and enjoy! read more

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The most creativity in a very quaint space. Llama takes you away to Peru and you really feel like you've stepped into a different story while you eat here. Relaxed and heartfelt service, they put love and thought into everything. You get a whole experience with llama. My favorite drink would be the flower bomb and anticuchos for an app. My husband and I make it a anniversary dinner because it is a special kind of dining experience. Be willing to try new things and explore when you come here, it is definitely a place to plan your adventure and spark all of your senses. It's also photogenic, the food as well as the space. Convenient Parking on the side for limited guests as well as additional in the rear. read more

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Wow! This place is on my must go list every time I go to St Augustine! Incredible ceviche, fantastic lamb chops and great service! Place was packed, so we were served wine while we waited outside, and the waitress made sure we were all well taken care of before and during our meal. read more

Small eclectic vibe boutique restaurant. The service was top tier. The food was tasty. read more

Llama Restaurant - Peruvian Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

If this were just about the food, I'd give 5 stars. I think the overall experience, while still pretty good, doesn't warrant more than 4. We had the surf and turf and the pesto pasta dishes, both with hanger steak. These dishes are both super tasty and delivered with a good quantity. Service was good, but not special. We had a res and were seated immediately. We eat out a fair amount and while this food is definitely top tier, I don't think the value is quite up to the pricing. The use of slightly tough hanger steak in $50+ pasta dishes seems a little off. The restaurant is quite crowded and seating isn't very comfortable. But, if you don't care about the overall value, the food may be worth a visit. Next time we splurge we'll likely try somewhere else. read more

Anniversary dinner: The flavors and exotic presentations, and service was top notch. As it was our anniversary, I was hoping the small restaurant would feel cozy. But it felt more crowded than cozy and it's absolutely loud. So if you're looking for romantic and cozy, this probably isn't it unless you can get a four top along a side wall. But the ceviche was excellent and the steak dishes we had with pasta were perfectly done. We also had the yuca fries with three sauces that we loved. Quality wine list was reasonable. $230 with tip. In and out with reservations in 1 hour 20 minutes from seating. Had enough leftovers for lunch. Enjoy. read more

I feel confident this place would have a Michelin star if they stopped in St. Augustine! The food is incredible. Ever since my husband and I first ate here it's the only restaurant we have had dinner at when visiting St. Augustine because we are always so eager to come back. The ceviches and the Mar y Tierra are some of our go-to dishes. read more

The surf & turf was to die for. I highly recommend this place. Wish they had more cocktail options. Make reservations in advance! read more

Llama Restaurant - Surf & turf - Peruvian Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Sitting on a run down looking boulevard in an unassuming small white building hides this gem of a restaurant. It was our 23rd wedding anniversary and we were in Florida on business but never fear, I have my trusty Yelp reviewers to guide my way! We were feeling something South American and came across Llama Restaurant just outside of St Augustine. Called the restaurant and they were able to squeeze but we'd have to sit at the bar (I see this as a good sign). We got the last parking spot in the unpaved parking lot and noticed the bathroom in front of us. Good to know that we'd need to go outside in an emergency! We walked in with some apprehension but were delighted by the charming decor that transports you to high-end dining in Lima, Peru. We were seated at the bar and admired the pitcher of mint leaves waiting to be used in a cocktail. Upon seating we were served a small bowl of Concha - Peruvian corn cooked in oil with salt served with plantain chips. I could snack on this all day! As you crunch a buttery oil blasts into your mouth with a touch of salt to round out the flavors. Drawn by the fresh ingredients at the bar we ordered these drinks: Flower Bomb - Prosecco and Elderflower syrup in a martini glass filled with an orchid in an ice sphere spritzed with rose water upon serving. It was quite a beautiful presentation and had well balanced flavors throughout. Cuke- Prosecco, Cucumber, cactus, lime, mint , and time served amidst crunch ice. The cucumber and lime jumped out a bit but this was a tasty treat that should be consumed on a beach at sunset. Lima Mule - Prosecco, ginger beer, ginger-mint syrup, and lime served in a brass mug with fresh mint, ginger, and limes. This was the best version of a Moscow mike I've had as the mint and lime mellowed out the typical ginger heat you'd get. Muddling the fresh ginger and mint leaves as we drank it (I say we because my wife kept stealing my drink even though she didn't finish hers!). Highly recommended!!! We decided to order two apps and share a meal due the inability to walk away from either Casua Trio or Antichuchos. Causa Trio - Shrimp, Octopus, and chicken separately served upon a potato salad to form 3 stacks. Each cake was delicious but the potato was a bit front and center but I still enjoyed the flavors of their sauces and proteins through the German style potato salad flavors. Antichuchos - Beef hearts skewered through Peruvian corn into a stack of fried potatoes served with a panca pepper scallion aioli that must have fallen from heaven. The dish is served in a smoky glass lid that allows the dish to emerge from the clouds. The beef hearts were amazingly seasoned and when dipped into the aioli delivered such a variety of robust flavors. I really enjoyed the fried potatoes dipped in the aioli as well as they were perfectly cooked and season. My wife dipped each kernel of corn in the aioli as she didn't want any to go to waste. Wow!!! At this point in the meal we knew we struck gold in this treasure of a restaurant. Before delivering our entree they served us a Hibiscus and vodka pallet cleanser in two shot glasses in a box filled with rocks and sea shells. The drink was tasty and very mellow, I'm ready for the crescendo! For our entree we selected the Mar y Tierra (Sea and Land) which was an Amarillo pepper and huancaina cream pasta with shrimp served with chunks of hangar steak. This was a large portion so we were very happy that we chose to split an entree after consuming 2 apps. The pasta was perfectly cooked and the sauce was very rich. The shrimp had that amazing charcoal flavor as it was grilled before mixed into the pasta. The hangar steak was out of this world as it was tender and had an amazing wine? flavor that it must have been marinated in. This was one of my favorite entrees in my life. Mind blown! For dessert we decided on the custard. Served in a wooden bowl with spun sugar guarding the custard treasure thus dessert was astounding. Much thinner than a typical custard with an amazing flavor of black carob tree sap similar to molasses this creamy custard was enjoyed scoop by scoop with the crunch texture of spin sugar with each mouthful. As a bonus they served us an anniversary dish of Andean chocolate mousse with a llama cookie on top. This was a small but powerfully rich mousse that left a rich chocolate taste in your mouth. Delicious! To the friendly staff who were able to squeeze us in and make our 23rd Anniversary so special, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We appreciate the passion that you all put into your food, drinks, and decor!!! Decorated with Llamas, llama paintings, wood, and soft lighting this Peruvian restaurant shines like a diamond in a dingy cave. If you're in Florida, make the trip to St Augustine and have the meal of your life. If you have spare time you can enjoy the charming city, but this is the reason to travel there! read more

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Normally, I don't leave negative reviews,, especially if I haven't had the opportunity to actually partake in the restaurants food, however, I'm going to make an exception in this case. After making a reservation for my family at this restaurant several days ago IN PERSON, our group grew from 4 to 8. We attempted the change via OpenTable, but could only add an additional reservation. We tried to call the restaurant however no one answered. We were going to be a party of eight with two of the guests being children under two who would not require seats. An hour before our reservation I was contacted by the restaurant and told that we would not be welcome to dine as we have small children in our party. When I originally made the reservation IN PERSON, I informed management that I would have our young children in our group. in any case, this is such a gross failure of service and consideration of us as customers, I'm convinced they did us a favor by not honoring our reservation. If you have children, obviously, this restaurants not for you!!!!!!! After reading the owners response, I would like to make a few additional comments: You mention that my review is unfair, what's really unfair is that our last evening in Saint Augustine was negatively impacted by the fact that we planned to dine at your restaurant, and had to change our plans at the last minute. Furthermore, during the day when we couldn't reach anyone on the phone to adjust the size of our party, we made a second reservation for two online, which would've brought our party size to six. Your comment about "not being able to accommodate our party size" is disingenuous at the minimum and patently untrue considering this context. Look, I understand that you don't want children in your dining establishment. But when I made our reservation IN PERSON AT YOUR RESTAURANT, I made it very clear that we HAD children in our group. So again, thank you very much for making our last evening in Saint Augustine so memorable!!!! read more

Amazing food and spectacular service. We decided one a more upscale dinner tonight and Llama was fantastic! It's a smaller restaurant and reservations are a must. Started with of octopus appetizer which was delicious. Plated beautifully with a light and delicate taste this is definitely a must try. Main course I tried their Paiche which is a Amazonian fish wrapped in plantain leaves served with yucca, plantains and heart of palm. Overall such a great dining experience from the service to the quality of the food. My only complaint would be the seat cushions on the chairs are pretty uncomfortable but wouldn't stop me from returning. read more

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If I could give this place 10 stars I would. It's that good! I first came here with St. Augustine Foodie Adventures and was blown away, vowing that I'd come back. I finally saw an opening with someone as adventurous in eating as I am (my boyfriend) and made a reservation for Sunday evening. He was amazed by the quaintness of the restaurant and the great attention to detail, from the cloth napkins, down to the mini llama figurines that held the reserved signs. We sat at the table in front of the front window and I showed him the markings on the wall where the water stood when a Hurricane Matthew came through. Our server Radek was amazing. We enjoyed the plantain chips and canchita (roasted corn kernels) with our starter drinks. He ordered the Lime Mule (prosecco, ginger beer, ginger-mint syrup, lime) while I had a Flower Bomb (prosecco, elderflower syrup, rose essence, orchid sphere). Radek placed my drink down then sprayed the rose essence over it from a perfume-like bottle. I wasn't expected that but I loved the added touch. The orchid was encased in an ice ball that rolled around in my glass. We ordered two apps: the Anticuchos and the Pulpo. I've had both before and I wanted him to try it. The Anticuchos (beef heart skewers, potatoes, peruvian corn) were presented differently this time around. These were under a smoky glass and when Radek lifted the glass it filled the air with meat aroma. They were so tender, cooked and seasoned to perfection. The Pulpo (octopus carpaccio, onions, olive aioli, sweet Peruvian peppers) also had a beautiful presentation though not as dramatic. We both commented on how each tentacle slice was not chewy and if more people had it served this way, they wouldn't turn their noses up at it. I love the little peppers. Once you pop them in your mouth, you first think that they're going to be hot but then they mellow out with just a soft hint of sweet spice lingering. Time for a second round of drinks! He ordered the Sexy Cherry (cherry compote, simple syrup, champagne) and I had a Cuke (prosecco, cucumber, cactus, lime, mint, thyme). Both were delicious. For our entrees, he got the Zeta Capchi and I did the Paiche. We also received a banana liqueur palette cleanser before our entrees came out. This was served in a shot glass and smelled heavenly. Down the hatch. I ordered the Paiche (arapaima in plantain leaves yucca, plantains, hearts of palm, passion fruit-cilantro sauce) because I remembered how amazing that fish tasted the first time I had it and I wanted to relive that moment over again. By far, that is my favorite kind of fish to eat. It's so tender and tastes nothing like the fish we have here. The sauce pairs so well with it. His Zeta Capchi (Cusco city style oyster mushrooms stew, natural potatoes, queso fresco, black Andean mint, poached egg, side of jasmine rice) left him in a state of "Mmmmms" and "Oh Mans" and "Dang this is goods". I tasted a bit and I could see why. If I was sick, I would only want to eat that to get well and feel better. That's a hug in a bowl. He wants to come back to this place and so do I. I believe this is the best restaurant we've ever been to. read more

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Food was excellent. A great menu with a lot of delicious choices. The grouper wrapped in a plantain leaf was very moist. All the waitstaff were friendly and helpful. Our server, Gabriel, was very knowledgeable about the menu and attentive during our dinner. We were there on an early Wednesday evening and it wasn't too crowded and relatively quiet. By the time we left the restaurant was filling up quickly. It's worth it! read more

First time here...reservations a must. Super expensive . Stellar service. Great for a special occasion. Peruvian food...everything on the menu is something you won't get anywhere else. I'm glad I tried it. Wines were super delicious... However our server never mentioned the price of the bottle and like a fool I was too embarrassed to ask in front of our guests bottles of wine can run you $80-$130 apiece if you don't ask! Surf and turf was delicious but the beef was not good quality... Fish great Pork belly great read more

Incredible, really. Not much else to say here. The octopus is otherworldly. There wasn't a single thing I did not enjoy here.

I have been to so many Peruvian restaurants now since it is my favorite and now I have found my all time favorite here at Llama Restaurant. They go above and beyond the traditional and the plates are not only delicious but their presentations are absolutely beautiful! This is an intimate restaurant with a romantic rustic feel. You need to make reservations because there are maybe about 20 tables. Some four top tables and some two top tables. I was so happy I was able to get a table on a Sunday night through Open Table. We started with the anticuchos which are beef heart. I've had this elsewhere a few times but here they serve it a bit different. They present you with a long dome shape and set it on the table. Inside you will see their is smoke so that it infused through the beef. Take off the dome and enjoy it with a side of red sauce with mild spicy and good. On the bottom are the bigger size corn kernels and two slices of potato. Sooo soo good!!! Our entrees consisted of a Paiche, my order which is fish served in banana leaf with a passion fruit sauce. His was a Costillo Seco which is basically like a beef mountain with rice. Sooo good!!!!!!!!! Like beyond delicious.... Lastly were our desserts - coconut passion humita is a corn pudding with passion fruit flavor and candied corn. Medium dense on the bottom light like whip cream on top. Delightful and very passiony. We also had the algarobo custard with spun sugar. I've never seen spun sugar on desserts and oh my this is so good. I'm glad we ordered both bc they r both flavors and options that you just can't get anywhere. I ordered a simple chicha morada, traditional Peruvian drink to wash it down and my hubby just had water. Our flavors were outstanding and our service was perfection. We were a bit nervous with the menu being a bit different but our server was very helpful and the way he explained the dishes after the fact were spot on. This is officially my new favorite restaurant!!!!!!!(with extra exclamation points) read more

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Great food, great service, great experience, highly recommended. It is reservation only so make sure to book days in advance.

Excellent recommendation from the staff at The Collector. I've never sampled Peruvian cuisine, but their rave recommendations simple could not be ignored!!! Somehow they swung an early reservation for us - Thanks!! The location is a bit sketchy, considering this is an upscale restaurant, but once you get past the strip mall store front you won't be disappointed. Very small - only 8 tables, but that insures great service, which we certainly enjoyed. Only beer and wine (South America wines) is my only knock - a full bar would have been very nice. That said, the wine list is good and you will find something for your palate. Started with the Ceviche Lima, she had the Pulpo. Very, very tasty - the portions were small. For entrees, I had the Mar Y Tierra (Surf & Turf), she had the Paiche. I have to tell you, best seafood meal I have every eaten. Call it a Mouthogasm - the flavors and textures were incredible!! Portions were excellent. Super delicious!! We skipped dessert, but there was no room. Certainly will come back again. One note - since it's small, reservations book quickly, so plan ahead!! read more

Llama is fantastic in nearly every way - food, atmosphere, staff - all five stars. Writing this now because Erfamian's review is completely delusional. read more

Unique, fabulous flavors! Service was excellent. Was impressed with their vegetarian selection. We will definitely be going back.

Very well thought out. Food is amazing. Servers all work as a team to make sure every one has an enjoyable visit. Weird where the bathroom is but whatever works. Can't wait to go back read more

Went there about a year ago. They were out of everything. Seated us by the front door and service was terrible. It certainly did not deserve a Michelin recommendation. It was a tiny dark little place on the side of the road and you had to leave the building to go to the bathrooms that were practically Porto potties in the back. read more

Probably the best food we've had in Jax. Absolutely amazing. Will definitely be back!

What a delight! When we arrived, I immediately understood why it's so hard to get a reservation: the place is very intimate (tiny). Ambiance is Peruvian farmhouse. Service was good. The food preparation and flavor is five star, but at three or four star prices. The mocktail and cocktail menu had some items that were fun, different, and delicious. This meal is in "best ever" category, and we can't wait to go back. This time we'll know to book far in advance. read more

Had a wonderful experience! Staff communicated very well with me before-hand and created a special tasting menu to help celebrate my wife's 40th birthday. The atmosphere was perfect - quaint, tasteful, and all the ambiance you'd want on a chilly December evening. Upon arrival, we were immediately sat at our table. Our server was very attentive and kind, and helped us order drinks to our taste. The star of the show though was our tasting menu! The owner/chef, Marcel, hand-delivered each of the dishes to our table. He then told us the inspiration behind each dish, all with roots back to Peruvian influence. Super cool! Overall, they just went out of their way to make us feel special. We have visited Llama several times over the years, and have always had a five-star experience. This place is perfect for a date night or special occasion. Highly recommended! read more