Great place in bustling union square. Wonderful food, but one of the best new restaurants in the country 2018, according Esquire? Methinks not quite that excellent. A wonderful ceviche mixto is piled high and served with soft boiled sweet potato. Fresh shrimp, squid, scallops and sea bass doused in a Chili lime dressing with thin sliced red onion atop is a picture worthy dish. Chili's are ground up and drizzled atop the citrusy mountain of fish. It is refreshing and has exactly the right amount of heat (can be ordered spicy or not) so as to not take away from the delicate flesh. The creamy, shredded chicken stew is a an excellent rendition of a very traditional dish often made with condensed milk in the absence of fresh cream. Here it is served with rice and a hard boiled egg. Lomo Saltado is a flamboyant display of color. Bright red pepper, red onion, and white potatoes in a deep brown soy sauté provides a wonderful example, along with the chicken of the dishes for which Peru is most known. The beef is perfectly med-rare. Service is polite and attentive. However, the seating is less than ideal as hosts attempt to squeeze parties of 3 or more at tables intended for 2 next to other diners in far too close proximity. It is also frigid - each time a new party enters, blasts of artic air endear most guests to continue their meals wearing their outerwear. Drinks are creative and measured precisely. Little creativity is evident beyond the good choices of liquors. Celeste is good. Very good. But It doesn't rise to the level of best new restaurant. Celeste produces traditional Peruvian dishes very well, with fresh ingredients and with care. read more

What an adorable spot! Celeste has a wonderful ambiance - I loved the music and the art on the walls. The space itself is a lot smaller than I expected, but that made the dining experience feel extra intimate. We ordered the ceviche, two different causas, and the lamb stew to share, in an attempt to depart from my usual lomo saltado. I particularly loved how flavorful and fresh the ceviche tasted! Our server was also very attentive and patient - definitely looking forward to coming back! read more

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Saw a woman eating here with her dog the following week while we were getting drinks next door!! Didn't seem like a service dog because it was barking................ read more

Celeste - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I was reading through the reviews and really thinking about my experience here, and decided that there's a lot about my own experience that was decent, but I can see how others' may not have been as good. My husband took me here for my birthday, and it's a great place for TWO. Two only. As there were three people next to us at what is clearly seating for two. They were squished, and when I had to get up from our table to use the restroom, it was awkward and difficult to exit and return. I realize the space is super small and they can only do so much, but.... We ordered three dishes. One was a cold potato appetizer which had avocado and tomato in the middle. Pretty tasty and unique (at least for us, since we're not super knowledgeable about Peruvian food). Our two main dishes were also good- although the stew was really the star of the show. The peanut and cinnamon flavors went so well together! I'd recommend this place on a quieter night where you won't be jammed in too tightly, just for something different. But it didn't blow my mind as was the overall expectation based on reviews and the Esquire magazine article. read more

I was worried when we made reservations a month in advance. What if celeste didn't meet all the hype?! Well it did in fact that after we finished our meal we made a another reservation a month out. Food: fantastic everything seriously..the ceviche is better than ones i had in Miami and I lives there for a year. The steak sauce was amazing and steaked cooked to our liking! The scallops were probably my favorite! Just look at the pictures and you'll get it. Potato causo was to the eye pleasing as was the taste. I wish i had one now... FYI the place is small. It's hard to come to this place with a party greater than 4. Also, not many tables don't recommend sitting by the door as you will freeze when it opens. read more

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I was really looking forward to this one and I was a bit disappointed. Let's go go through the details: The good: - mixed ceviche was great! Was it the best I ever had? No. Was it good? Yes, definitely. - service was decent. What was disappointing: - the place is tiny with tiny tables. The three of us were seated at a table for two and had to eat elbow to elbow in the bench with plates barely fitting. - the food was OK... it was very simple and basic for the price. I think it's very overpriced for what it is. I personally wouldn't go back just for the overall experience and price. The people working there are wonderful and the ceviche was decent which why I have 3 stars. read more

Celeste - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Nestled in Union Square is this small but powerhouse of a restaurant that serves the best and most authentic ceviche I've had in Boston. The drinks are extremely creative and delicious. The staff is friendly, professional, and warm. Everything about Celeste screams hidden gem and the perfect date spot. read more

Pisco Sours we're good. Ceviche was made with Blue Cod which can be very fishy, but at least it was fresh. I wish they would use red stripe or sea bass Instead. The yuquitas are really a papa rellena using yuca instead of potato, it was fill with veggies and it was ok. The ají de gallina was not good , that's such an easy, simple dish to make too so it was surprising. The tacu tacu a lo macho, which when done right can be incredible, sauce was out of balance and after a couple bites I had to stop. The shrimp causa did not look appetizing, it had too much Mayo on top, I tried a bite of it but couldn't get myself to take a second one. I like that menu is short and the place is small, feels cozy. I would come back for some cocktails and maybe a ceviche but only because Peruvian options are incredibly limited around and tend to have old school environments. This place is modern and has its own personality. read more

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I would like to start this review by confessing I am not a big fan of raw seafood, so I was skeptical of going to this place. I couldn't have been more wrong. The food was excellent. We had scallop ceviche which was delicious. The citrus sauce really complimented the natural sweetness of the scallops. We were looking to have the tuna tartar which was unfortunately not available. However, the server gave us a tuna salad appetizer on the house. The beet salad was also refreshing. For the main course we had lamb shank which was falling off the bone, squid ink pasta which had a seafood umami note. Everything was cooked perfectly and the servers were knowledgeable and engaging. We will definitely visit again when we are back in Boston. read more

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Amazing food and really cool ambiance. Cod ceviche was so good. One of the best and coolest restaurants in Boston.

Friendly staff. Small. Original. Only negative is that they seem to have limited stove space in the kitchen, which results in only 1-2 dishes being prepared at a time. There was quite the wait to get our food in the first place and then the first and last dish for our table of 4, were quite spaced out. I guess that's why they only take reservations for two people and all tables are arranged for two customers. If you had a larger group, it would be hard to serve everyone at roughly the same time. read more

Don't miss this place. They have something very special going on. The food is exceptionally well prepared and flavorful. The environment is fun, friendly, and cozy. Dining at Celeste was a wonderful experience and I'm very grateful to the staff there for their attention to detail and flawless execution. read more

Incredible food!! Super authentic and reminds me of the food I ate in Peru. We got the ceviche mixto, lomo Saltado, tuna tartare, squid ink pasta with scallops. All so tasty and can't wait to come back to try other dishes! Ps get the pisco sour! read more

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I had been hearing rave reviews about Celeste ever since I moved to Boston six years ago, and man, it did NOT disappoint. Super inspired, highly unique and above all, delicious food. Intimate, funky atmosphere. Highly recommend the maracuya (passion fruit) sour for a cocktail, shrimp and mango ceviche, causa with tuna tartar, fried yucca, and pasta with scallops. read more

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Disappointed despite the hype. Drinks and starters were very good, but was very let down by the main dish I got (lamb stew, which was a salty, homogenous mass of tough meat). read more

I wish I could have written a good review of the food, atmosphere, and service. I made a reservation for 6PM and when I got there I was told I had no option but to sit inside. They said they did not want to ask us to leave when their other reservation at 7pm got there. So, we are told preemptively, either take what we give you (even though you have a reservation) or don't eat here at all. So disappointed. I was really looking forward to spend my birthday. They had 3 tables available as per the picture. read more

Celeste - Outside Seating - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

This is a tiny little place with 7 to 8 tables. It is not obvious to find from the street. I wished they had a bigger or fancier sign. But it is consistent with the atmosphere the owner trying to create, homy, cozy, and casual. We came in early on a Friday evening. The owner and servers were super nice to us. We sat at the bar, which turned out to be an excellent idea. Because we could chat with the bartender and watch the chef cooking. The flames coming out to the stove while cooking really amazed us, although we could not catch a good picture of the flame. The food tasted fantastic. My favorite was the Japanese style tuna and stir fried beef. My friend said the happy hour lamb taco was perfect too. The meat can melt in your mouth.... people often dining there all have high remarks of this place. No wonder such a tiny place got popular. read more

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Make a reservation in advance dining options currently include inside, back patio, or street facing. Dividers between every table. Great friendly service, the ceviche and sours are the star of the show! We ordered 2 appetizers and 2 entrees and split family style - was a lot of food and walked away with leftovers. Ceviche was bright and fresh! read more

Celeste - Ceviche Mixed Seafood* - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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// BOTTOM LINE // Celeste is a beautiful restaurant with a petite but exciting menu, bolstered with a solid wine list. It's going to fit in quite well in Union Sq. A fantastic place for a date or drinks, although big group seating will likely be hard to come by. Their website hasn't been updated yet but you can find their menu here (although it was slightly different when we went): https://www.scribd.com/document/373140393/Celeste-Opening-Menu // THE SPACE // So pretty! It's small -- the bar seats around 8 and there are a handful of two and four person tables in the rest of the space -- but feels big and bright. The host asked if we had reservations but I wasn't sure where to make them online. Either way, we found seating at the bar. It got crowded later in the night (Friday) and there was a waiting for open tables. // THE FOOD // Excited to try some Peruvian dishes I've never had before here. - The lomo saltado was delicious. The beef was juicy and flavorful. Came with a separate bowl of rice. - The Friday special this week was fish, cooked Chinese style. A heaping helping of fish with bell peppers and potato. - Mixed seafood ceviche - another large portion, pungent with lime and a pile of fish, calamari, shrimp, and the like. There's a vegan version made with artichoke! - Causa de avocado and vegetables - tasted and looked like the beautiful love child of a potato salad and deviled eggs, if you're into that (I AM.) // THE DRINKS // Loved the drink menu. They have small $4 mezcal with House juice cocktails that cater really well to my diminutive alcohol tolerance. I think they switch the cocktails around, but the one we had was with cucumber and mint. Yum. We also helped ourselves to their excellent wine list. They have orange wine! Which we haven't gone across in Boston yet. Their sparkling wine (Oyster Bay) was a delicious funky wine that capped off our night beautifully. Overall, Celeste is a great, classy space that Union was missing. Service was uneven, but I know they'll iron it out soon! read more

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The problem is, this place is SMALL. Way too many people crammed in there for Covid safety. The sidewalk tables in front are right next to each other with a small divider that, imo, doesn't really do much of anything. It's just not safe. Plus the loud, static-y sounding music was annoying. read more

Made an easy reservation for two on Resy for indoor dining. The inside of this place is small & intimate, as my wife was saying it felt like a boba shop. For our cocktail, our waiter recommended his favorite, the Maracuya Sour with the spicy option; we loved it! It was unique, and the spiciness complemented the passion puree flavor perfectly; also the bartenders know how to make their cocktails, including the fluffy egg white on top. For food we got: - Ceviche Mixed Seafood: Perfect! I've never had such delicious blue cod in my life. - Tuna Sashimi: They say it's Peruvian style, but the sauce was soy sauce based? Anyway, it was delicious! And they were generous with the sashimi, giving it more in two large slices. No complaints here. - Tuna Tartare Causa (Potato Terrine): We didn't know what we were ordering, but this one baffled us. It was tuna sandwiched between reshaped potato. We regret getting it. - Seared Scallops with Squid Ink Fettucine: Yum! That huancaina sauce made it. - Seafood Risotto: This felt like a Cioppino in disguise, but it was delicious. The risotto absorbed the sauce and it was glorious. Also had the Chicha Morada, and wow these guys know how to make their drinks! This is nonalcoholic, but was very refreshing after our meal; it had just the right amount of cinnamon. We left here with happy hearts, stomachs, eyes; all the senses and organs. It was only the Causa that confused us, as we thought we would get the tuna tartare that's in the yelp photos, so make sure you know what you're getting yourself into! Would definitely recommend this place for the food, drinks, experience, and service. read more

If I could give this restaurant 10 stars I would! After a day in Somerville, we stopped in here for a snack and a drink. I called to make sure they were open, which they told us they had a few seats at the bar waiting for us(LOL). In excitement, we rushed over there as fast as we could to find happy and smiling staff welcoming us. It was also a bitter cold day! As we got comfy at the bar, my girlfriend who had been here before told me to try their Pisco Sour, so I did! And, OMG, it was the best cocktail I have ever had. With an egg white, and some other simple ingredients, the Pisco Sour cocktail was refreshing, soft and delicious. We also ordered a few snacks to share: the arugula salad with parmesan, fried yucca and the tuna sashimi. Everything was AMAZING to say the least! And, for dessert I had one of their popular Mezcal's on the rocks (smiling from ear to ear). Celeste is by far one of those restaurants that after eating and drinking here, you can't wait to go back again and again. My friend and I still talk about the experience to this day, and fantasize over their fried yucca and Pisco Sour. It's like a fantasy that you want to relive over and over again. After reading this review, I hope you will take my advice and go check out Celeste, you will be in Heaven! read more

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3.5 stars? I wanted to like it more. It's been on my list for a while and we decided to try it for Valentines Day. I believe I made my reservation a month in advance but even then the 10:30 time was all that was left. We arrived about 20 min early and were seated right away which was awesome. The restaurant is small, so there really isn't an area to wait for a table. Service was excellent. Our server had recommendations and was attentive. I very much enjoyed their cocktails, I had both the special for the night as well as a Pisco sour. For an appetizer we had the mixed ceviche, which was delicious and flavorful. For my meal I had the scallops and squid ink pasta. Scallops were good but I found the pasta extremely heavy due to the sauce. My boyfriend had the risotto which he said was good but not amazing. Two other things worth noting... The music was too loud. It was a great mix of tunes, but depending on the song playing we could not hear each other or the server. It was also a very cold night and our table was fairly close to the door so I ended up keeping my coat on as every time someone entered or left there was a blast of chilly air. It looks like on one side of the door they put up some fabric to protect the people dining there, but I think there should be some thing protecting the entire doorway. Ultimately I am glad we went, and we had a good evening. But I don't see myself wanting to go back. read more

W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-l !!! This is a date vibe. Food is Staff is beautiful. This place is a hidden treasure - thank you Maria!! read more

Celeste - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Another visit in 10 days, same amazing experience! Service is top notch. Tried some new dishes and cocktails. Highly recommended place! Yes read more

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I don't understand what the hype is about. The reviews place this restaurant as one of the best in the country, and I had to book three weeks in advance. We came into a small but cozy restaurant. They had a snack prepared for each table that was roasted hominy. For us, that hominy was dusty dry and unpleasantly burnt. We ordered the causa with shrimp, which honestly tasted like potato salad that was mostly tasteless except for the flavor of store bought mayo. We ordered the cordero which was lamb and beans with rice. It was homey, ok, but not anywhere near the quality or flavor for a 4.5/5 star rating. We also ordered the fish stew which they claimed was a Chinese-Peruvian dish. This dish fell way short of our expectations. It was bland, and the fish was overcooked. To say we were disappointed is a huge understatement. This was not what we were expecting for a restaurant that is ranked top in the country by any measure. It really makes me question these rating systems, especially given the price point. If you are looking for homey Peruvian food that's expensive, look no further. If you are looking for one of the best new restaurants in the country, be prepared for a huge letdown. Ultimately, it was a decent restaurant but did not stand up to the expectations from reviews. read more

Food was honestly pretty mid and overpriced. Ceviche is probably the best thing on the menu but the entrees were disappointing and were basically all stews. Good drinks though. read more

Not sure where to start... Let's just say what a surprise!! Celeste is amazing in every possible way. The atmosphere, the food, the staff, the drinks, the music, the people... The food is full of flavors, fresh, authentic and the proportions are perfect. The Staff, natural, personable and charming, everyone from server to owner, bartender and cook were really nice and attentive to us. The drinks, you know when your cocktail takes 5 minutes to come and you start getting mad because you know that at your usual spot it takes 1minute? Well forget it, their cocktails are actual cocktails, full of flavor, and refreshing, something worth waiting for. The music, is on point just enough to top off the authenticity of the place. The other customers were all really happy and seemed to all enjoy the experience which made my experience even better. Save room for dessert. read more

Celeste - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Hankering for some ceviche and recommendation from a colleague led to me to give Celeste a try. A small restaurant with people waiting for a table, I would definitely suggest making a reservation ahead of time. The tables are closely packed and part of the kitchen is open to the restaurant so you can see what's cooking. Started out with a mezcal margarita which was perfectly Smokey and tangy, it's easy to mess up mezcal, but they did it right. Also tried a specialty cocktail they had that night and it was delicious too. We ordered the avocado and tomato causa to start, which was visually appealing but taste wise was not particularly extravagant. We weren't quite sure what to expect with this but it was essentially a stack of cold potatoes, tomatoes, and avocado covered in sauce. The ceviche de blue cod I was hoping was going to be the star of the show, but once again it was lacking flavor. I expected more lime juice in the ceviche and maybe that is not how Peruvian ceviche is done, I'm not sure but I fly a little disappointed it didn't have more of a zing. My favorite dish was the shredded chicken, it was definitely the most flavorful of all the dishes and was unlike anything I had tried before. Even though the food didn't blow my mind, it was a cool spot with good service and unlike any other place I've been in Boston. read more

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"Are you all finished? We have other customers waiting." Not exactly what you expect to hear when you've just spent about $200 on food and drinks for two. I was really excited to try this place. I'm a huge fan of Peruvian and there's not many great places in the Boston area. Overall, the food was delicious. The ceviche was small but very good. The lomo saltado was really great. If my review was purely based on quality food it would be 5 stars. However, a restaurant is more than just the food taste. It's also about the experience. Unfortunately for this place, the service ruined it. If you are considering food just for takeout then maybe give it a shot. Or, if you enjoy feeling like a cash cow on an assembly line of customers give it a try. Otherwise, I would not recommend. read more

Celeste is such a warm, welcoming spot. It's quite small on the inside (I definitely recommend making a reservation) with a great vibe. The staff is super friendly, the food is incredibly flavorful, the pisco sours are excellent (we saw them squeezing the fresh limes behind the bar!), and the playlist helps create a celebratory, light-hearted atmosphere (you can even follow the playlist on spotify!: "celeste rica musica"). read more

Its my first time to have Peruvian food. Have to say it is delicious! The restaurant is very cute and they offer various drinks as well

This review is largely for how inept their operations are during the pandemic. To recap, Their website doesn't load The online Take-out system doesn't work The person on the phone got my order wrong They do an awful job of distancing from customers They blare music so they can't hear you Fish ceviche was fine. read more

Celeste was awesome. We got a drink while we waited for our table and the pisco sour was tasty. We split our dishes because we wanted to try different things and the main dish was mostly splittable. The appetizer was interesting and surprisingly good. I didn't expect the shrimp and potato combination to work so well. The tacu tacu a la macho was terrific. Fresh seafood and good flavors. The dulce de leche was on point. I would definitely go back. read more

Absolutely incredible food and will be coming back. I am a sucker for seafood and so this restaurant is my heaven. The mixed ceviche was fresh, and a relatively large portion. The sauce was just the right amount of tangy with a wonderful mix of spice. For the entrees, we ordered the shrimp scampi and the scallop squid ink fettuccine. Both amazing. The shrimp scampi was with rice rather than pasta, and the sauce was just unlike what I've tasted before. The scallop fettuccine was also full of bold taste and some of the best I've had. read more

The food was good, but the menu options are a little limited if you don't want ceviche, steak or stews. We got the mixed seafood ceviche, the tuna tartare causa which was spicy mashed potatoes sandwiching the tartare, the scallops with squid ink linguine which has a great texture and the steamed fish with vegetables which came with rice. The special fried yucca stuffed with mushrooms, spinach had a crisp shell. The indoor area is very small and outdoor dining is covered with umbrellas so be prepared to get a little wet if it rains. read more

Celeste - Mixed seafood ceviche, tuna tartare causa and fried stuffed yucca. - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Wonderful wonderful wonderful. Every dish I ate here was honestly magical. The mixed ceviche was super flavorful and heavenly. The scallop fettuccine was the perfect amount of savory. The steak was perfectly cooked and the dessert just the right amount of sweet and savory. I left planning my next trip to this restaurant as the menu changes daily. Service was great as well. Loved the decor and the music. Also liked that the kitchen was visible to the patrons. Overall this place deserves all the praise. If you're ever in Somerville you should definitely stop by and check it out. read more

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Unintentionally came to dinner with a bad mood but the vibe and atmosphere of the restaurant was very uplifting and fun. Had a wonderful time! Friendly staff, great atmosphere, and awesome food! read more

The food is amazing, the cocktails are yum, and the service is impeccable. We had the ceviche to share, the steamed fish and the scallop with squid ink pasta special. Everything tasted great. The servers were able to explain the ingredients to us, and they are very welcoming. 10/10 would come back. The space is eclectic and a bit hip - but it is very small. We went on monday for dinner and it was packed. Be sure to make reservation in advance. read more

AMAZING. Seriously. From start to finish. #1 - Ask for recommendations and thank me later. #2 - Be sure to try a causa. #3 - Prepare yourself for a mind blowing meal but also the warmest and kindest service (and least that I've experienced in BOS) What we tried: Cocktails. They were wonderful. My negroni was a wonderful twist on the classic and it went down too quickly. Causa. Our waiter recommended the tuna tartare and it was incredible. Specials. I ordered the arroz con mariscos (creamy rice and beans with mussels, shrimp and squid in a tomato-y, creamy sauce) and tried the squid ink linguini with seared scallops. Both were absolutely amazing. Wine. Again, their recommendation proved to be absolutely lovely. So lovely that I ordered a refill for dessert. Five adult beverages, an app, two entrees, and dessert resulted in us pretty much needing to be rolled out of there and the bill wasn't even $150. They could've charged twice that amount and I'd have felt satisfied. You almost don't notice the ambiance once you experience the food and service but it really is pleasant (don't judge a book by its exterior cover!) and has a cozy, neighborhood feel. I had high expectations and was still beyond impressed. Top five restaurants in Boston, EASY. read more