Delicious Peruvian food and friendly staff. The bartender makes great Pisco Sours. If you sit at the bar you can see how they cook. read more

Cool place with good food and I have eaten here often, but had a bad service experience here tonight. Checked Resy for a last minute table at 815 and there were several tables available at 845. When I arrived at Celeste and asked for table the host acted really put out and make a big scene about how they had no availability. I walked out, opened Resy on my phone and behold! Tables available at 915! Why the host didn't just offer to seat me in 30 minutes I have no idea, but the whole thing felt really unpleasant. read more

Delicious food and lovely atmosphere. The staff is very attentive and everything we had here was better than we could have imagined!

What a letdown... I'm always on the lookout for good Peruvian restaurants in the Boston area. Union Square already had 2 and Celeste is the new addition to a list of disappointments. The Good: The ambience is good. They play chicha music, and their decor is a mix of modern and Peruvian pop culture. They even had a quiz on the bathroom about Peruvian historical figures. The causa de tuna was decent. The tuna tiradito was good. The wait staff was friendly and hospitable. The Bad: This place markets itself as a Peruvian restaurant, but a lot of their dishes are actually a fusion of Mexican and Peruvian food. Not a problem in itself, but Celeste needs to be more upfront about what their style of cooking is. This is the crux of all the other Latin American cuisines in the United States. They all want to incorporate Mexican food to appeal to something their American audience is familiar with. While living in Peru, I never had any food served with black beans or wrapped in a taco... The Ugly: I adore Lomo Saltado. Celeste's dish could not be called a Lomo Saltado. "Saltado" means to sauté and in Peru this is traditionally done in a very hot wok. What I was served looked more like a soup. I got beef, tomatoes, potatoes, and onions in a deep bowl of sauce. The sauce was underwhelming and not savory. The potatoes were not fried as it is traditionally done in Peru. They were boiled and barely had any flavor. There was so much sauce that the potatoes were dissolving in the sauce. The sad part of my experience was that the wait staff didn't know my dish came with rice!! Instead they gave a side of rice to a friend eating ceviche... what?!?!? When I asked my friend to taste some of her rice, it was beyond bad. The rice didn't have enough salt and it was stale and hard like you had just reheated it in a microwave. Unfortunately I won't be coming back. read more

Arrived close to closing and they were nice enough to make up a table outside for us. Ordered pisco sours, shrimp and mango ceviche, lomo saltado and the tacu tacu. Everything was delicious, our server was great, and she even threw in a dessert (suspiro--THE BOMB) and a couple shots of pisco for the road. A lovely impromptu dinner; will definitely be back! read more

I love this place! It's small and cute. The peruvian food its also quite good and the drinks are on top! Totally recommend for a date night. Try the lucuma dessert :) read more

Delicious meal. The space is definitely small and cozy so good to make a reservation in advance. We really enjoyed the ceviche as well as the drink special which was some kind of a passion fruit sour. read more

Unfortunately this was not a hit. The execution was off. The tuna special had so much sinew we could not eat half of it. The saltado dishes were served in bowls that were too small for the serving size given... The beef in the lomo was chunks of beef rather than strips and did not taste like quality meat. Cute space, friendly service but missed the mark with the food for the price. read more

The food was ok but not great. We tried the avocado and tomato causa and that was good, ceviche not great, pulpo anticuchero was ok, and the carapulcra wasn't good. It lacked flavor and tasted a bit watered down. My husband and I are both Peruvian and when we saw that they had dishes like carapulcra and locro we were excited because these are not common dishes served at restaurants. Those are more household dishes... and although we didn't try the locro I wouldn't recommend the carapulcra. We also had the maracuya sour which was very good and but the chicha wasn't great. Service was lacking a little bit too but it wasn't bad. Our servers were nice and the ambiance was also good. read more

Food was awesome, but it is packed and absolutely no where to hang out so don't come early for a drink. We did and they were friendly about it but we were really in the way. Go for the food which is unique and delicious. Drinks were great too once we were seated! read more

Celeste - Pisco Sour - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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We went for drinks and a quick bite and it was great! Service was amazing-they even gave us free pisco at the end as a special treat. Drinks were strong and simple while still flavorful. The mixed seafood ceviche was perfect for a hot day, and then we had the tuna tartare causa which reminded us of cold, spicy/salty mashed potatoes (it was tasty!). read more

We had a wonderful meal and experience. Very welcoming. Attentive service but no hovering. Greetings from the owner. And the food....fabulous! The scallop crevice special was exceptional....our only complaint is that there was no bread to sop up the sauce (and the tables are too close to try to sneak my fingers on the plate).. Lamb stew was great and I don't even like cilantro. The sirloin was yummy and thankfully, it came with a bowl of rice to soak up the delicious gravy. The dulce de leche dessert was delightful. Can't wait to go back. Next time, we'll split one entree and try more of the other menu items. Joyous, not pompous, delightful and delicious. read more

The drinks were great, the ceviche was AMAZING, the lamb stew was so good I'm talking about it days later. Friendly and efficient staff and damn did they earn that James Beard semi finalist status. read more

FANTASTIC! I adore this place. The food was superb as well as the service. They make you feel like family. Try the scallop crudo it will knock your socks off. Interesting cocktail menu and delicious wines! read more

Excellent food and service. Everything we ordered was amazing. Definitely recommend it. We tried backyard garden this time but there were a lot of bugs, intimately quiet, and very hot. Front patio was lively, more space, & nice music. Wherever you sit, you'll appreciate the Peruvian style dishes read more

From top to bottom this place is spectacular! The ambiance, the drink, the food, and the staff were so on point. We basically ordered the entire menu and even though they warn the food comes out as its cooked, it still came out well balanced and paced. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable. We could not stop talking about the spring rolls...crispy and packed with flavor. Salmon on charcuterie was melt in your mouth devine and the duck confit pierogies were cooked to perfection. We were greeted by the chef at the end who insisted the dessert was a must and wow was he right...vietnamese coffee flavored ice cream with the most amazing soft biscotti I've ever had. I will continue to follow this restaurant and enjoy their menus everywhere! Thumbs up! read more

Did not enjoy the food or the service. Drinks ok. How long does Yelp need this review to be?

Amazing food and service! We had Ceviche as appetizers and it was one of the best Ceviches we've had in the U.S.A. The scallops with pasta was to die for and the Tacu Tacu was also great! Highly recommended! Thomas was our server and he was very nice and attentive. It's a small space with great atmosphere. Try to make a reservation before going. read more

Celeste - Scallops and pasta - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Their ceviche and drinks are pretty great but seating is uncomfortable. I do not recommend the steamed fish, it was over cooked and bland.

This is my favorite restaurant in the Boston-Somerville-Cambridge metro area. It's small- seats maybe 20-25. Every morsel of food is the most exquisite combination of flavors. Yesterday mg husband ordered the cilantro lamb stew with rice and I ordered the tacu tacu a la Manchu. The cherry on top- pun intended was the passionfruit grenadine cocktail. read more

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Service was excellent and the staff was so welcoming and friendly. The food was very tasty overall. We asked the waiter for recommendations and wanted to order "whatever they're best known for." They suggested the mixed ceviche, scallop and pasta dish, and lomo saltado. For a restaurant that is so highly rated, I was a little surprised by the ceviche being poorly sliced and the scallops being ever so slightly over done. Overall, good food, but probably not rushing back. read more

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Exactly my kind of spot! We came in and it immediately smelled like we were in Peru. The open kitchen and bar gave a perfect vibe. The food and cocktails were authentic and delicious. The staff was super nice and gave us an extra desert and shots after we finished. Can't recommend this enough! read more

I've dined here 3 times and have had wonderful experiences. The staff is always friendly, and the food is excellent. Definitely enjoy the vibe as well - the music and decor bring a fun energy. I suggest the pisco sours (duh) and ceviche mixto to start the meal. Anything else you order will be delicious as well! read more

This definitely wasn't what I expected - it's a really small space and an interesting mix of minimalist trendy with that hole-in-the-wall well kept secret vibe. You have really modern design with their neon-light sign, gold painted brick backdrop, projected sports game on a white wall.... but the way the staff was operating and the food itself felt more traditional and familial. We really liked the ceviche and tuna tartare, shrimp scampi was pretty good. It wasn't as wow-ing as I had hoped bringing out-of-towners but it was solid. read more

My second time there - and both fantastic! I'm very familiar with Peruvian cuisine, but outside of Lima it's hard to find good Peruvian. This place is as legit as it gets. Great variety of classic Peruvian dishes. I recommend the Seco - bits of lamb in delicious sauce with creamy beans. If you like hot, ask for some rocoto pepper sauce on the side and add some. Classic Lolo Saltado also delicious (steak and onions and potatoes). For cold appetizers try the potatoes in cheesy sauce or the causa. The service fantastic and drinks as well. It's a very small place so definitely make a reservation. Destined to become a top restaurant in the Boston area!!! read more

A cozy modern interior with an open kitchen and traditional Peruvian food makes this an interesting experience in Somerville's Union Square. We sampled many of the ceviches with potato sides and great pisco cocktails. Typical entrees of Lomo Saltano and Sudado de Pescado were perfectly seasoned, tender and delicious. Everyone at Celeste was extremely warm and gracious which made for a fantastic dining experience. read more

If you're looking for a party in your mouth, get the ceviche mixto with a spicy pisco sour (or 3!) . Such a delicious and filling meal!

I had a wonderful experience at Celeste. First of all, the food was stellar. My party got lots of plates to share, which I would definitely recommend because I enjoyed everything! I especially loved the ceviche and tuna tartare. The service was also excellent! Maria and the entire staff were super friendly, helpful, and responsive. They did a great job of cultivating a lovely ambience, with lively music, charming decorations, and a convivial atmosphere. I am already planning to return and would definitely recommend. read more

Delicious food, ranging from ceviche to a tasty lamb plate. The architecture is both pleasant and amazing, and the restaurant features original Latin American art. Service was excellent and the owners are attentive. The bar is varied and features a mix of tequilas, including one that's called Union....for Union Square. Open for lunch and dinner and late night, it's a wonderful addition to the neighborhood (a couple of doors down from the also wonderful Neighborhood Restaurant). read more

Went for NYE dinner. Tiny space but still a comfortable vibe. The cocktails were excellent, as was the beer selection. The music playlist is great! The highlights were the ceviche and lamb stew. On the pricey side, but the quality was really high on every dish. Really friendly staff and great service. Definitely plan to return to try some more items. read more

We already have great Peruvian food in Union Square, but I'm still super enthusiastic about this (relatively new at the time of writing) spot. Food-wise, so far, I've been most enthusiastic about the ceviches, the arroz con pollo, and the desserts. All the drinks I've had so far have been great, and the beer list is always full of unique offerings. The atmosphere is awesome. I keep bringing people, and they seem enthusiastic too. I hope you enjoy. read more

Fantastic food and service. We had a great dinner at Celeste. Everything we tried was delicious. The best were the cerviche, the scallops and ink squid pasta, and the dolce de leche dessert. The hostess was really accommodating when we made our reservation and the waiter was wonderful. The restaurant is really small so make a reservation if you don't want a long wait. read more

Thank you Celeste for a wonderful evening! I've been waiting to go all week, and was so happy we got to go last night. Celeste is an intimate little shiny gem in Union Square, with great ambiance and delicious food. It's small and cozy, and the staff/owners are so welcoming and attentive. We felt like we were having dinner at a friend's place. Cocktails were excellent, esp the margarita (made with mezcal). We had a fish ceviche and a hearts of palm/avocado ceviche (vegetarian) which were both delicious, as well as an avocado/tomato causa (also great and veggie). We shared the lomo saltado, arroz con pollo, and steamed fish in a Peruvian/Chinese style. I'm Chinese, and the fish tasted so much like my mom's home cooking. Not that we weren't expecting things to be excellent, but Celeste is brand new, and I think it's rare to go to any restaurant, even the well regarded/established ones, and really like EVERYTHING, but we all felt that way! Usually there's at least one thing that I could have done without, or didn't like as much, but really everything was fantastic. We loved the lomo saltado so much that after we had finished all the beef and onions and potatoes, we poured the sauce over the remainder of our side of rice just so we could savor the last drops of flavor. Of course, there were a few little growing pains hiccups, like our reservation was written down half an hour off (which wasn't a problem because there was a party that had no-showed (you missed out!)), and one of our mains didn't get ordered initially. But, throughout it all, everyone was so gracious and accommodating, doing whatever they could to make us feel comfortable and happy. We were treated to a side of rice on the house and a delicious custard dessert. While they're new, Celeste clearly doesn't have any issues with their food, and their attention to customer service is excellent. I'm sure they are onto something and great things! We can't wait to come back. Thank you! read more

Amazing food and service all around. We had the seco de cordero con frijoles (white bean lamb stew) and a shellfish (scallops, shrimp, mussels) and rice dish. Both were amazing - you can tell that a lot of attention and care goes into the preparation of each dish. The entire staff was incredibly inviting, attentive and just seemed happy to be there and proud of their restaurant. I will absolutely be making another trip soon. It's a small and popular place, so I recommend non-peak hours to make sure you can get a table. Splurge on the dulce de leche for dessert. Sooooo good! read more

BEYOND DELICIOUS. Go to celeste before word gets around & you cannot get a table. I would go every day if I could. EVERYTHING is amazing, but my fave has to be the ceviche. THANK YOU CELESTE! keep doing what you are doing! NO PARA SIGUE SIGUE! :D read more

When a restaurant inspires you with a delightful experience, you write a review. The staff and ownership were all pleasant and excited to share with you. Although we walked in, they accommodated us within an hour. While being a very small restaurant, the food was timely. The atmosphere felt exclusive. True fine dining in a humble Somerville neighborhood. I honestly can't remember everything we tasted. Everything was well balanced, next dish better than the one before. We met the owners after dinner and they embraced us as we raved about the great experience. There are nights you have a great dinner, and there are nights you have a great experience. This is a memory we won't forget, and will certainly plan to return regularly. Bravo. -Drew and Lindsey read more

Celeste - Peruvian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

This was my first dining experience since covid! Food was amazing, but staff was even better. Seriously recommend this restaurant to all!

This is my first time and certainly not the last. What an amazing dinner. Came on a Friday, made a reservation. I recommend you make a reservation because the place is really small. It's small but it's intimate. You can see the chef cook your food. We started with the ceviche mixed with seafood and the causa de avocado and tomato -it was worth every dollar. They ask you how spicy you prefer your ceviche. And it was perfect we asked for it to be not too spicy ha! Then I ordered the Arroz con Marisco and my head almost fell in my plate. It was sooooooo delicious (love cilantro). My husband ordered sudado de pescado (it was a special) and it was just good. I'm glad the ceviche and arroz de Marisco is on the regular menu. I will definitely be back for those two plates. Oh yeah the drinks were great too. We ordered a pisco sour and sangria both were perfect. I'm not sure if it's because we had a reservation but I absolutely love how they don't rush you they simply let you enjoy your meal. Hard to find this kind of service in Boston. read more

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Amazing food and amazing service. We had the seafood risotto and lomo saltado and both were great! Also a solid selection of cocktail drinks. read more

This was my first time at this place. Love the food. Nice atmosphere and great service.