Dining

All tourists would like to taste the local cuisine of the land. You are encouraged to do so but are advised to be cautious about it. Tourists have complained of stomach ailments while dining indiscriminately in Peru. It is therefore advisable to take some precautions to ensure that the trip is enjoyable and without upset stomachs.

It is advisable to drink only bottled water. It is also a good practice to check whether the seal is intact or not before opening, to negate any chance of tampering. Drinks should be ordered without ice. It is okay to ask for tea or coffee as the brew is made with boiling water.

Salads are best avoided and it is better to stick to fruits and vegetables that can be peeled before eating. Even high-class restaurants resort to washing salads in tap water, increasing the risk of infection. Dairy products are also best avoided here unless they have been pasteurized. Seafood should only be eaten in clean places that have a fair amount of turnover to avoid being served stale fish. If the restaurant is being patronized by locals and other tourists, then it can be safely assumed to be a good joint. Eating from street vendors is best avoided. Though the fare may look attractive and inexpensive, it is best to avoid such food, as most vendors do not have the requisite sanitary regulations.

Most of the major towns in Peru have several restaurants with a decent bill of fare.

Chinese cuisine is quite popular here. Nowadays, vegetarian restaurants have also become quite sought after and hence several restaurants offering veggie food have mushroomed all over the country. In the larger towns, restaurants are open throughout the week, from 11 in the morning to 11 at night. In smaller places, restaurants have a weekly off, usually on Sunday. The menu is typically set in small places, one for the morning and the other for the evenings. The meal package in such places serves soup and a main dish followed by a cup of tea or coffee.

Seafood is a specialty in most of the restaurants along the coast. Ceviche is the classic Peruvian seafood dish that has been popular through the years. This dish contains fish, shrimp, scallops or squid, or their mixture, which is marinated in limejuice and chili peppers. It is then served "raw" with corn and sweet potato and onions. It is quite affordable at around $2. Escabeche is another tasty fish-based hors d'oeuvre that has peppers and finely chopped onions. Scallops called conchitas are another specialty of the region and are cooked in a number of ways. Salads are also quite popular and are served with interesting combinations such as huevos a la rusa (egg salad) or palta rellena (stuffed avocado). Pollos a la brasa, spit-roasted chickens are a specialty of this place and are popular with the locals and the visitors. Mountain food has a staple diet of potatoes, rice and meat. Trout is widely available, and so are cheese, ham and egg sandwiches.

Tipping is a normal procedure in most restaurants though not obligatory and need not exceed more than $ 0.5. A service charge of ten percent as well as a tax of eighteen percent is added to the bill in trendier and stylish restaurants. If there is live music being performed in the restaurant, then this could further go up. At times a cover charge of $ 1.00 is charged in up market restaurants.

A. Top Restaurants

Villanova

Ricardo Palma 299,

Miraflores,

Tel: (511) 241-4508

Fax: (511) 445-0630

A visit to this restaurant is like a visit to several countries all at one time as they serve several cuisines, which can be savored amongst breathtaking architectural splendor of the building. French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Peruvian cuisine is served here that can be enjoyed by the tourists.

Brujas de Cachiche

Av. Bolognesi 460,

Miraflores,

Tel: (511) 447-1882

Fax: (511) 444-5310

This restaurant is famous for the buffets it has on offer. Tourists can enjoy a combination of both southern cuisines with Peruvian Creole food.

Costa Verde

Playa Barranquito

Tel: (511) 441-3086

The fine and delicate flavor of Peruvian recipes set against a backdrop of excellent service is what makes this restaurant stand out. This has found a place in the Guinness records for the enormous variety of dishes that is offered in a buffet.

L'Eau Vive

Ucayali 370 (across from the Torre Tagle Palace),

Central Lima. Tel 427 5612.

A French order of nuns is known to prepare food in this restaurant. The service and quality of food is par excellence and is patronized by residents and visitors in large numbers. A unique detail about this place is that the profits earned are donated to charity for the benefit of the poor and needy. It is open from Monday to Saturday from12: 30-15:00 and 19:30-21:30.

Restaurant Machu Picchu

Near Hostal Espaņa

Ancash 312,

Central Lima

This is a restaurant for those who cannot afford to spend a lot. The food is wholesome and cheap here and hence is popular with visitors on shoestring budget. The restaurant provides simple menus that are set and serve large portions.