The food was exceptional! I lived in Peru for several years and every bite brought me back to my time there. Chef Jose Victorio and his wife were friendly and informative hosts. I will definitely being going back every time I make it to Baltimore. A few tips- The location is quite small. I definitely recommend making reservations. The small, nondescript door sticks a bit and the knob only turns one way, so try both directions when you arrive to avoid ringing the bell and looking like a fool (as we did). Finally, as several folks mentioned, this is a slow, intimate dining experience. Plan to spend at least 2 hours (maybe closer to 3) if you come over the weekend. It is well worth the time. read more

Puerto 511 is a new Peruvian restaurant in Baltimore over in lower Mt. Vernon. The restaurant is easy to miss if you are not looking for it and can get quite packed due to the small size (5-8 tables, depending on party size). Be sure to make reservations if you are looking for a specific time for dinner. Additionally, the restaurant is BYOB with a $2.50 corkage fee per person drinking. Atmosphere: Puerto 511 is a very small restaurant with 5-8 two person tables that could be pushed together for larger tables. Some light music is playing in the background but the atmosphere is not amazing romantic (though I think they are still decorating). This would be a good place to catch up with a small group of friends or for a more laid-back date night. Service: The service is wonderful. The restaurant is run by a husband and wife team, originally from Peru (they recently moved about 8 years ago). The wife introduced herself to us when we arrived and her husband came out later in the meal. She provided nice details about each dish and asked about our desire for spicy food. She constantly checked back during the meal to make sure we had everything we needed, but was not overbearing at all. Food: The food was amazing. Though I have not been to Peru, I have heard from others whom have lived there that this is very authentic. They make all their sauces and dips in house and serve traditional dishes like ceviche. We had the Lomo Saltado and Huancaina Spaghetti for entrees and the Ceviche Classico for an appetizer. The ceviche was spicy and incredibly good. I would agree that the portions of the entrees are smaller than the average restaurant in Baltimore, but the food is really worth going for. Be sure to specify spicy level if you like hot foods. Price: Appetizers run around the $15 mark but are large enough to share between two people. Entrees are around $18. With wine that we had brought, a meal for 2 including an appetizer and two entrees was about $65. Overall, Puerto 511 is a great Peruvian restaurant in Baltimore. The owners are incredibly nice and are looking to get to know the customers that come through the door. Be sure to make a reservation if you are looking for a certain time for dinner and bring wine or beer, as the restaurant is BYOB. read more

I came here recently with a large group for a friend's birthday. It was outstanding! The staff was so kind and accommodating, and the food was unlike anything I've ever had! And don't pass up on dessert! Heads up: if you'll be drinking, I recommend bringing at least 2 different types (like a white and red wine) to match each course. I can't wait to go back! read more

Bottom line scores: food 4, service 5, atmosphere 3.5, charm 5. Ate here on the recommendation of our Baltimore daughter. Small place, maybe 10 tables. Reservations a must, particularly at peak times. We reserves and no problems. We are non meat and non seafood eaters, and so appreciated that they offer vegetarian alternatives to many of the dishes. As soon as we were seated I wondered about the beer/wine selections, and the server asked us if we brought our own alcohol. I hadn't known in advance that this was a BYOB place. The server immediately handed me a business card of a local wine store and walked me outside so I would start off in the right direction. In a 3 minute walk I was there, and the shop fixed me up with an excellent cold Mosel Rielsing from Germany. Fabulous and perfect with the ceviche. We started with an appetizer: the vegetarian version of Anticucho De Corazon: Grilled skewers of mushrooms (instead of veal heart) marinated in aji panca sauce with grilled potato and peruvian corn, We ordered two types of ceviche entrees: first Ceviche Clasico (Fresh fish in classic "leche de tigre", cilantro, red onion, glazed sweet potato, andean corn), and then Tiradito 511 (Fresh sliced fish in yellow chili pepper cream, glazed sweet potato, andean corn and cancha). For the three of us, we ordered two of the Clasico's. We ordered one dessert: Quinoa flan (Quinoa and algarrobina flan, pisco italia, cappuccino wafer). Every dish was excellent, tasty. Service was excellent. Service is by the owners, husband and wife. They are both adorable and super friendly. Even though (or maybe because) the place is so small, it was noisy. We tried to speak in normal tones, and despite nobody shouting at the other tables, we found we had to speak up to be heard. When the server spoke to us, it was difficult to understand her because of the combination of ambient noise and her charming Peruvian accent. Total bill was almost $100 plus the $14 bottle of wine, which seems a bit much for three people. Servings of ceviche are modest, not quite a small plate, and we did not leave full/stuffed; we were satisfied and did not leave hungry. I can see returning here because of the delicious food, the different cuisine and the charming service. Value is not great. So maybe I would try/return elsewhere first. read more

What can I say... the hype is for real. I have no affiliation with the folks at Puerto 511 and am in no way endorsing this restaurant because I feel the need to. I am giving this gem five stars because it deserves it. This is the reason why I Yelp... to find artists whose canvas is a plate... and to experience cuisine that challenges the pallet. Puerto 511 is an understated attraction on the outskirts of Mt Vernon. It is on a side street and from the outside, looks like a carry out restaurant. Inside though, it feels like your in someone's home. There are six tables and a kitchen. The owners are a husband and wife duo. She does the waiting and he does the cooking. When I saw the dishes coming out of the kitchen I knew this was going to be a REALLY good meal. Everything was presented in such a beautiful, elegant manner. There wasn't a single bad dish. I think my favorite was the ceviche classico. Since its BYOB we brought some wine and beer, which bought the price down. That's another thing I like... this place is reasonable. Your getting top quality food for under $20. The owners take great pride in what they are presenting to their customers. The wife shook our hands below we left which only added to the personalized experience. I TRULY hope Puerto 511 does an incredible business because they deserve it. Parking can be a bit tricky but its all worth it. read more

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This place is by far one of the best hidden gems in Baltimore and the DC area. It's quaint, deliciously scrumptious, and best of all, it's BYOB. I try to come back as often as I can. It's a great date place and also a wonderful place to celebrate a birthday, graduation, or work get together. read more

Very good atmosphere . Food is presented as a fine dining cuisine, but with good prices :) . The appetizers and meal were delicious, with a very authentic peruvian flavor. They are BYOB so keep that in mind as if you bring a pisco bottle they can make piscos sour for you for less than $3 each. Good deal! read more

We walked by this place without noticing it, but I'm glad we found it. It was a good sign people were waiting at the door on a brisk, windy day. We had the ceviche to start, amazing. Just the right amount of spice. Followed by the lomo saltado, which we both promptly devoured. I could eat it three times a day. The staff is very friendly, we will definitely be back! read more

It's like the chef has invited you to come and dine at his home. It's a tiny, but tasty operation. Expect to wait in between courses. The wait is worth it. We had the veal hearts, ceviche, lamb, paella, Peruvian toast and the flan. If anything, we should have just split the Peruvian toast for dessert and skipped the flan. Will be back. read more

This is my favorite hidden gem on Baltimore. Delicious food and personal service. Best ceviche in the city, hand down!

This place was awesome! My mom loves Peruvian food, so I booked us a table for the weekend, when they serve the pre fixe menu. It was delicious! We especially loved the mahi-mahi and ceviche dishes. We packed up one of the courses to go because we were so stuffed - made for an excellent breakfast! Service was great and the owners are cordial and welcoming to all diners. Highly recommend. read more

I didn't want to be the first one to not come through with a five star review but here we go. I really wanted to love Puerto but despite excellent appetizers the entrees were lackluster. The ceviche, cassava balls and tamalito were awesome and unique but the lomo saltado was a few strips of meat and french fries with a side of rice for $17. On the positive side the chef owner and his wife are really lovely and BYOB rocks, they just need a better selection of Peruvian entrees. I will return and hope to be able to sample more unique dishes. read more

My husband and I LOVE this place, but are slightly disappointed with some of their recent changes. We visited last night and the food is still incredible, however, they now ONLY have a fixed price menu on Fridays and Saturdays ($59/per person) and you aren't able to order anything off their regular menu. It's 6 set courses (no choices for each course and the 6th is dessert) and every single course was top notch. HOWEVER, the courses are pretty small and it took over 2 HOURS to get all the courses! We're all for a leisurely dinner, but had no idea it would take that long. So, if you plan on going on a Friday or Saturday, make sure you're prepared to be there for a while. If they continue with the fixed price menu, I think it would be ideal to only have it on Friday OR Saturday, not both. They have such awesome food, but not being able to choose what you want is pretty disappointing. read more

I very much enjoyed the food here. The portions were a bit small but the quality was there and the server we had was very attentive. Also, the dining area was cozy and brightly lit. I came here a little over 2 months ago, so from what i can remember, my friend and i got lamb crusted dish along with ceviche and two other dishes that i can't remember. They were delicious. This place is worth checking out though. read more

I am sure the 5 star reviews got your attention, they got mine. I personally would have given them 4.5 stars, but decided to round up. Def make reservations, this place is SMALL. But the size has nothing to do with the quality of the food. Growing up in Miami, I have had friends grandmothers make me Peruvian food, and there is nothing more authentic than that of a grandmothers. The Ceviche here is probably as close as it gets. I ordered the Huancaina Pasta, because I LOVEEEEEEE Huancaina sauce. This dish wasn't my favorite. My dining partner ordered the Lomo Saltado, and that was amazing! read more

We had the prix fixe on a Friday night, 6 courses. The first four were exquisite, with wonderful combinations of flavors, very fresh ingredients. The fifth, with beef and octopus, was just OK, but I'm not a big beef eater. Dessert was once again excellent. read more

Ok to start this review let me just say this. I came here based on the other reviewers that gave this place a five star on yelp with 58 reviews. When I first finished the hike here from my hotel and saw the outside I was at first really wondering if 58 people who had posted reviews before me had lost their minds. I decided to enter anyway and I'm so glad I did. Best Peruvian restaurant prepared meal I have had in ten years. First few words of caution to people who don't know the place. VERY small restaurant with only 9 two tops. Call ahead. I was lucky as a walk in, couple behind me were turned away. I had the causa sampler and ceviche mixto arocotado. Both were excellent. Before coming here causa meant tuna or chicken between two layers of potatoes to me. As that is the only way I had ever had it before this. This platter is not related to that in any way. Three flavors of different seafood with different sauces. The ceviche was very good. A little mild for my personal tastes, but it grew on me as I finished the meal and drank a bit of the leche de tigre. So well worth one of my in town nights and food experiences. read more

I was so excited to try this place after I saw the rave yelp reviews! I called ahead of time to make a reservation. The smallness of the place is both a pro and a con. With the limited space you MUST call for a reservation. The door opened a lot to people wondering in and being turned away for not having a reservation. Since the joint is so small every time the door opens you notice, by the end of the night I could have given the spiel of not having an open table for walk ins. However due to the table sizes the chef himself made a point to come out of the kitchen and serve at least one dish to each table and ask how everything is. Everyone there is so friendly and answers any questions it kinda feels like you walked into a family home for dinner! This place really keeps with the Baltimore charm. The food was amazing! I was worried that the smaller plates would leave me hungry but with the appetizer, ceviche and entree, my dining partner were good. There really isn't anything I wouldn't recommend on the menu. Also don't forget to bring your own wine or beer as this place is still BYOB. read more

Puerto 511 - Peruvian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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When you see this place from the outside, you're pretty sure you're getting punked. But inside it's cozy, sweet, and quaint. Raw fish with spicy sour sauce. JUST RAW FISH WITH SAUCE EVERY WHERE. I mean the real names are ceviches and tiraditos, and they are pretty darn amazing here. I could just eat that section of the menu all day long. Still, that would mean I would miss out on the lamb. Missing out on the lamb would have been a mistake. I'm glad I rarely make mistakes like that. I went with my half peruvian half chilean friend and she certified it as both delicious and authentic. Yay! In her words: "They have the right corn! This is what the real corn is like!" We also drank the purple corn drink. She said it was yummy but tasted slightly watered down. Also If you bring pisco, they'll make you pisco sours. Careful, WARNING: only come if you have time to spare. read more

Man was I excited to try this place. Maybe it was high expectations but I just didn't feel like this place lived up to the hype. The chicha morada drink was really tasty. The fried plaintains at the beginning also tasted great, as well as the sauce accompanying it. We had the ceviche clasico which tasted alright but nothing special. The sauce was good (quite sour) and the fish was just normal fish. We had the spaghetti which tasted asian (which was delicious, but not the best I had). The paella was a little too bland and did not have that much flavor. Maybe I just don't like peruvian food? I'm not sure but I wasn't super impressed with this place. Service is super slow so be prepared. I like the idea of the place and thought the ambiance was great! read more

Very small establishment. I tried their ceviche and pasta. The pasta was spicy, which I really liked, and it was definitely one of the better pastas I've had in my life. Ceviche was just ok. Nothing fantastic. Finally, the lamb chops were about average; it was ok but would not order again because it didn't leave me with a huge impression. It is a small restaurant that seats about 10-15 people MAX, and the service is very slow. You have to make a reservation at least a week in advance to be able to eat at this place. However, this restaurant is definitely worth trying out. read more

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Definitely one of the best tastes in Baltimore great experience overall, every single dish is a delicacy, finely prepared and beautifully represented, creative, detailed. Byob if you want a glass of wine with your ribeye; otherwise they have two authentic Peruvian soft drinks that I enjoyed! read more

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We ordered the Ceviche, anticucho, and corderito. The decor and service are like Peruvian food, simple and excellent. I don't like flashy places with terrible food so Puerto 511 hits right on the spot for my taste. Favorite place in baltimore so far. read more

If you are looking for a place to spend a couple of hours enjoying delicious peruvian food and being waited on by the nicest, most gracious host...Puerto 511 is THE place to be. Puerto 511 is a reservation only restaurant because they are small (only 6 tables). It really does feel like you are part of the family for the evening. I am very used to restaurants getting people in and out but it was nice to have a little time between courses to chat and just enjoy the company. I recommend you take a nice bottle of wine and someone who is great company :) As far as the food: every plate we had was on point. My favorite was the thai inspired ceviche and I also loved the ceviche clasico. They were very accommodating when I asked for a vegetarian saltado, which was to die for. During dessert we borrowed a menu and planned out what we will be eating the next time we are there. We'll definitely be back. read more

This is the real deal! The food and service are amazing! The food is the same as the food I've had in Peru! You can't go wrong here because everything was delicious! read more

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Yum! Yum! Ok, full disclosure. I've been to Peru and had the best ceviche of my life in Lima. To date, that statement still holds true. BUT, I am more than pleased with the food at Puerto 511, and highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. We started with the anticuchos. I wanted to try this popular street food while in Peru but was warned that my tourist stomach may not be able to handle local street food. Therefore, last night was my first time trying this dish. I LOVED it. I would never have guessed that it was veal heart. It was wonderfully seasoned and tender. My partner wasn't aware of what the item was, and I refrained from telling him until after he tried a piece. :) Next was the ceviche classico. It was hands down the best ceviche I've had in the States. Yes, not the best I've ever had, but still pretty freakin amazing. We then shared the chaufa. Again, very good. I would have liked more seafood though. There wasn't very much calamari in the dish. The meal ended with the quinoa flan, which was a nice finish to the flavorful meal. As other folks noted, this place is super small. Make a reservation! The wife and husband team are wonderful - the wife especially. She truly wants you to enjoy your food and experience. I will definitely become a regular. read more

Celebrated our 15th anniversary here. My girlfriend loved it; best Peruvian food she has had. I thought it was OK (I've never had Peruvian food before). Very bland decor. Service was extraordinarily slow and there were long pauses between courses. We were the only table besides a table of 3 on a weekday night, after 8:30 p.m. Started with the ceviche mixto. I've never had ceviche before and thought it was ok, some of the seafood was more tender than other pieces but my gf who really loves ceviche said it was very good. Also had the causa sampler which wasn't as flavorful as I was expecting. Gf had the lamb chops and that was her favorite part of the meal. I had the paella - again, it was fine. The only dessert they had left was the Peruvian toast. I would have never picked that one, but it was SO GOOD! My favorite part of the meal. Like French toast with ice cream and chocolate and caramel sauces. Not too sweet. Great ending. Without cocktails and more options for snacks, the slow service felt even slower. I can't imagine what it's like when the restaurant is full. read more

This place is absolutely amazing. You would have no idea looking at the outside but the food is just incredible. read more

Puerto 511 - BYOB too! - Peruvian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Delicious ceviche and the lomo saltado was excellent as well, perhaps a little on the salty side but otherwise excellent. Good value. BYOB. read more

Puerto 511 - Lomo Saltado. - Peruvian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Overall, Puerto 511 did not disappoint. The restaurant itself is not in the best part of town and the place is very unassuming, but I think it's part of the charm. The restaurant itself is small (would definitely make a reservation), and it feels as if you're eating in someone's living room. The service can be a bit slow (by the end of the night, the chef served as the waiter as well), but I felt that they weren't just about getting customers in and out, but really wanted their customers to experience their food. The food itself was excellent, fresh, and SO flavorful. Would high recommend the lamb chops and the paella. I was a bit disappointed by Lomo Saltado, although this is their most popular dish (tasted a lot like Asian stirfry, in my opinion). Would highly recommend this place. Make sure to go with a good company on a leisurely night because it'll be a 3 hour dinner. read more

What real food should be like ... Simple, tasty, and right to ur heart... I'll always respect and put first on my list food that is made with love and passion , just for the feeling and the enjoyment of cooking despite the profit or any other secondary benefit. read more

Puerto 511 - Causa sampler - Peruvian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Realize going in that this is a hole in the wall type of place in a sketchy neighborhood. However, the food is outstanding and the small staff couldn't be warmer or more accommodating. Our appetizers were the tamale dish and the veal heart. We followed that with their classic ceviche and their lamb entree. This was all exquisitely prepared. We'll be back and we'll spread the word that this place is worth a visit. PS - it's small, seats maybe 20 so reservations are a good idea on the weekends. On our Thursday visit there were 3-4 empty tables. read more

First off, it's a crazy small hidden spot, which of course adds intrigue. I snuck in for a quick solo bite while in town for business. Because I was solo they were able to sit me since they knew I'd be fast. Definitely need reservations. Place sits 15-16 max. It's byob. Another awesome point despite me not taking advantage tonight. Food- limited menu but with some interesting options. Ceviches looked great but I opted for paella. This is a simple dish but also one that is regularly done poorly. This version had decent seafood (although could have used more). Excellent flavored and an amazing sauce on the side that added a little heat. Service- it's lean. Do not expect much attention. I saw one guy handling everything. It was fine but they could turn more with a little more help. Overall- go. But make reservations and bring wine. read more

Puerto 511 - Small non-descript entry - Peruvian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Never had Peruvian food until tonight. This place is awesome. It uses simple fresh ingredients to produce amazing dishes. Highly recommended read more

Puerto 511 - Amazing place and great food - Peruvian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Best Peruvian food in Maryland, everything is so perfect, the chef takes care of every datail to make every dish to perfection.

Great place. Make a reservation for the weekend meal. Been 4 times. Highly recommended. Don't take a table in the basement

Believe the hype. Worthy of a 5 star rating. Everything on the menu is delicious and it's BYOB!

Great little places good food to bad the so limited selection of food as Peruvian food is so more extensive.

Legit, fresh Peruvian food. We shared the ceviche mixto, tamales, shrimp stew (amazing!) and Peruvian paella. Reasonably priced. Byob. Couple that owns (chef and front of house) is very sweet and gracious. What more could you want? read more

Cozy and very friendly little place with really good authentic Peruvian food - quite the discovery, here's to hoping their business will succeed, but not to the extent that we can't get a table anymore! Not all dishes were available as the fresh ingredients needed were not available in Baltimore that day - we took this as a sign of quality! Delicious food, great atmosphere and a very decent price. read more