Note before reading that the stars apply to the food only. This is a very fine place to go to for wine, beer, cocktails. The atmosphere is cozy and dark, the service is warm and pleasant, and the music sets a perfect vibe for a relaxed, intimate night with friends.
We were excited to try this place since had heard great things about Donna's and had seen Insta-brags of the Peacock burger.
We ordered the burger ($17), the fries ($8) and the grilled heart ($13) to share. The burger was nicely constructed and tasty, but basic. IMHO this isn't a $17 burger. The tomato, lettuce and onion were generous, but also cold, which chilled down the patty. The bun was just a bun, barely toasted, cold to the touch on top. There are better burgers within walking distance, so this one is tough to rally behind.
The fries were fine, but they're the unusually long, uniformly rectangular, cuboid type that are a touch powdery inside. Again, my mouth waters thinking about similarly priced fry plates at several other local watering holes. I won't remember these.
I've had grilled heart before / anticuchos marinated in aji panca, so I knew what I was getting into with this dish. I felt confident ordering it, theory being that if a place is going to offer an organ meat, it will be a standout. But I couldn't detect any panca paste, the sauce on the plate was watery, and the pieces came buried in a mound of sliced green onions, which didn't pair well for me. The meat was chewy and I found the lack of flavor off-putting.
Again, if you're looking for a hip-looking, comfortable and cool place for some drinks with friends, do put this place on your list. The drinks seem reasonably priced in contrast to the food. Though I didn't try a cocktail, it seems like this is where The Golden Peacock might be putting its best efforts. read more