La Mar Cebicheria Peruana

La Mar's Cebicheria Peruvian restaurant installment in New York City was good, even very good, but just not great.  It is well known for its cebiche/ceviche (maybe Cebicheria is a giveaway) - the fish, veggie, and acid combo that leaves the fish (or shrimp, octopus, squid, etc) slightly cooked by the acid but still delicate and quasi-raw.  There is an enzyme reaction that you can see from lemon, lime, orange, pineapple, etc., juices mixing with the seafood that indicates it has been done well.  It normally has some red onion, and then any other variety of ingredients.


La Mar's cebiche was very good.  We ordered a sampling featuring octopus, tuna, shrimp and white fish.  The octopus was an absolute winner.  The tuna was great, but a tad sweet (the pineapple juice I believe).  The white fish was forgettable because the others were much better, and the final Del Tigre spicy shrimp ceviche was probably the best of the lot.  It had a great balance of spice.  Not a bargain, but when at a Cebicheria, do as the Peruvians...


For dinner I ordered the Squid Ink rice and Scallop number, and my first dinner companion ordered the Asian inspired Hamachi while the other got the Grilled Salmon.  My meal was great, and the scallop was excellently cooked, but the one scallop top and one other mixed in hardly read "main course" to me.  The Hamachi was a bit disappointing, and the Salmon was really solid (but basic).   

We got this dulche de leche, with strawberries and guava thing dessert.  I think they were trying to do something deconstructed, but it just ended up being a bit of a jumble.  Sort of mochi ball and crumble with a little leche.  Overall, the meal was nice, great flavors, great cebiche's with few disappointments.  The fact was, however, between the price and the a few misses (Hamachi, weird dessert), it's not quite at the level of 'overall fantastic.'  We all had a great time, and if you are entertaining I doubt your client will be upset, but I won't be rushing back soon myself.

Deconstructed dessert thing

La Mar Cebicheria Peruana
11 Madison Avenue  
New York, NY 10010
(212) 612-3388
3.5 of 5