Although the brick-and-mortar location is gone, Chef James's mouth-wateringly delicious empanadas and alfajores live on via the website for catering, shipping, and local delivery. They are perfect to order for parties, gifts, or just treating yourself (as I do). read more

Came to Destino for Restaurant Week and overall, my friend and I really enjoyed our experience. We began with a couple cocktails. I had myself a pisco punch and felt that it was just right. For my 3 courses, I opted for tiger shrimp to start, salmon for my main, and panna cotta for dessert. My friend opted for pork belly to start, also the salmon for main, and the chocolate bunuelos for dessert. For $40.40, we felt that the portions were just right and that it was good value for the ingredients featured. Between the tiger shrimp and the pork belly, I thought the pork belly won. I just thought the combination of textures was on point! The pork belly was braised buttery and soft but featured this awesome crispy char on the edges accentuated by the chimichurri and the creamy lima bean puree. The shrimp, on the other hand, wasn't bad but it lacked a little something in my opinion. The cashew-peanut sauce was tasty but maybe a wedge of lime could have really put it over the top. For mains, we both enjoyed the salmon very much though parts of mine were just a hair underdone. The tamarind flavor was unique and I really enjoyed the squash puree with goat cheese on the side. Wished the sauteed spinach could have been dressed up a bit though. For dessert, I thought my panna cotta was executed better than the bunuelos but that the bunuelos had more potential. The panna cotta was luscious and full of vanilla bean flavor, but the dulce de leche got a little lost in the already sweet medjool date. The brittle on top of the panna cotta was amazing though! As for the bunuelos, they were triple chocolate sitting in a chocolate sauce so yeah....super rich! But luckily they paired it with an amarillo jelly that was so good. It brought some much needed sweetness and heat to the dish. All in all our restaurant week experience with a cocktail came to about $65/person after tip. Good for a once in a while treat! read more

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Yum. Many years ago I had a voucher for this place which I never used. Came on a whim on a Tuesday to see what I had missed. Ordered two tapas and they were so good I had one more. Ceviche (they had two kinds). Was spicy and fresh. Yuka croquettes with micro greens. Grilled shrimp with garlic over puréed plantains. Really great flavors. Good wine list. I had the Catalan garnacha. Great meal. Place was absolutely empty on a Tuesday night. read more

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Came on a whim and left happy. We were in luck when we stopped by for dinner on a Sunday because it's all dat HH on Sunday! This place is tapas style so portions were a little bit on the smaller side for sharing. We got passion fruit margaritas. This was amazing! The perfect balance of tart and sweetness. And towards the bottom, it gets a bit strong. The fish tacos were interesting but yummy. They were pretty tiny though. The ceviche was so good. Fresh with great flavors. Shrimp tostado was another favorite. I wish they were bigger. Lomo Saltados were also really yummy. Beef with fries and gravy. Heavy but comforting. read more

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We went on a Friday night around 7 and it was not crowded. We got an intimate table in the bar area. Our waiter made a special cocktail for my wife that she enjoyed. We ordered the ceviche, tostada, Yuca nachos, and the arancini. Overall we enjoyed the experience, the ambiance and the night out but the food was not our favorite. The ceviche was not a flavor we were expecting and did not enjoy. The guy who brought it out asked if we wanted chips with it as he dropped it off so we said sure, not knowing he was charging us $4 for them. The tostada was by far my favorite. The shrimp were huge and fresh and the corn on top was refreshing. The Yuca nachos were a bit heavy and I wish had a little more flavor but they weren't bad. The arancini again lacked a bit of flavor. They came with a small dish that made them better but after the sauce ran out I was no longer interested in eating them. I may come back to try the Lomo Saltado and some drinks but I wouldn't feel the need to reorder anything we tried except for the tostada. read more

Destino - Ceviche was not what I was expecting, other food was good but wouldn't order this again - Caterers Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great experience here! My girlfriend took me on a date here, and it had a nice vibe. All the food was very great and the drinks were good! Will be back! read more

A group of us wanted to check out SF Restaurant Week. When deciding on a restaurant, a few of us wanted to try Destino. I made the executive decision and we had dinner here on Saturday, January 21st. I made a reservation for six at 6:30pm through OpenTable about a week prior. One of my girlfriends ended up joining us last minute and they were able to accommodate our party of seven. *LA JEFA ($12): combination of hibiscus infused La Caravedo Pisco, vanilla reduction & lemon, Shaken with a touch of orange *PISCO SOUR ($10): La Caravedo Pisco shaken with fresh lime, jarabe & a touch of egg white, Served frothy with an elegant angostura bitter swirl ×3 *PISCO PUNCH ($11): SF's original creation, Aromatic Barsol Pisco aged with pineapple gomme, served up with a punch infused pineapple garnish *MI MULA ($10): Pisco, Mezcal, Tequila or Bourbon, Lime juice & blood orange bitters, Served over ice, topped with ginger beer & a cayenne-sugar rim Our table wasn't quite ready when we got here, so we started at the bar. I got a Pisco Sour. I'm normally a whiskey girl, but for some reason, I love how refreshing a pisco sour can be. This one did not disappoint. Tangy and not too sweet. One of the best versions I've had in a while. San Francisco Restaurant Week 2017 ($40) ×3: *vieiras: seared day boat scallops, black garlic, dried jamon serrano, avocado mousse, parmesan spear ×2 *ensalada de destino: baby arugula, anjou pears, concord grapes, house-made queso blanco, pistachio dust, camu camu vinaigrette *empanadas de aji de gallina: free range chicken, aji panca-cream reduction, parmesan don alfonso olive-salsa criolla *lomo saltado: angus top sirloin, roma tomatoes, soy-balsamic reduction, french fries, white rice x3 *pear bread pudding: anjou pear bread pudding, golden raisins, cajeta-dark rum sauce, vanilla crème *triple chocolate chile buñuelos: spiced chocolate fritters, cinnamon sugar, jalea de aji amarillo, chocolate reduction x2 We decided to get three SFRW dinners and ordered the rest a la carte. Honestly, I had so much to drink earlier, I didn't really try any of the food. I just recall them bringing out the empanadas instead of the salad. Our waiter let us keep the app and brought the salad shortly after. We also wanted to try the panna cotta, but unfortunately they were all out. Overall, I'm not sure how great of a deal their SFRW menu is. The scallops are not on their regular menu. But the salad is normally $10, the lomo saltado $23, and the desserts $8 each. So unless the scallops are more than $10, we didn't really save much with their SFRW menu. It's only $1 less. *Red Sangria: jarra ($32) ×2 *Plantain Chips ($4): crema de rocoto ×2 *Yuca Fries ($6): mint mojo *Sampler of all Three Ceviches ($26) - Ceviche a la Peruana: wild ecuadorian corvina, aji limo, cilantro, canchas, sweet potato chips / Ceviche Mixto: wild australian butterfish, tiger prawns, chipotle leche de tigre, fried leeks / Salmon Tiradito: local king salmon, ginger, creamy aji reduction, malagueta pepper, poppyseed ×2 *Panceta con Pallares ($13): hampshire pork belly, white lima bean pureé, peppadew chutney ×2 *Lechon ($27): adobo rubbed pork shoulder, crema de aji panca, sweet potato, encebollado, pan de yuca ×2 *Offley, White Port, Barão de Forrester, Portugal ($8) ×2 *Broadbent, "Reserve", Aged-5 years, Madeira ($9) *Malamado, Familia Zuccardi, Malbec Port, Arg ($10) *Double Espresso ($3.25) *Cafe ($2) So the only thing I really tried was the sangria. It was rather light, but good for sipping throughout the meal. The lechon serving here was huge! Our party didn't even touch the second one. So you may be okay ordering just one if you have a party of five. Especially if you are ordering a bunch of other food like we did. Everyone seemed to enjoy all the dishes we ordered. I can't really comment on the food, but our waiter was great and we all had a good time. If anything, I'd come back for that Pisco Sour! My mouth is watering just thinking about it! Yum! read more

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It's been awhile since Nina Y. and I had a catch up session over dinner, and I like to get out of my Mission Bay bubble every once in awhile, so I picked Destino as our destination. Beautiful and classy tapas style restaurant that doesn't break the bank. Perfect for friend dates, romantic dates, or casual business dinners. Our waitress was sweet and attentive, checking on us regularly. Food came in a timely manner too. It was a smooth experience overall. We started with the ceviche sampler, which had three different types of ceviche. There was wild ecuadorian corvina, wild australian butterfish, and local king salmon. They were all so tasty, and I liked them the most in that order. The waitress asked if we wanted plantain chips with this, but Nina and I didn't feel too strongly about them and didn't want to pay extra. The ceviche was delicious as it was, and it was definitely the best item we ordered from the menu. We also shared a grilled chicken empanada to get a taste. I'm a fan of savory instead of sweet empanadas, so this was perfect. Black mint, grilled corn, queso fresco, and aji huacatay. YUM! Would also recommend. They're pretty big, and you could easily have one per person, but we split one since we wanted to make room for other dishes. Turns out, I wasn't a big fan of the other dishes we ordered. They were more bitter than savory, if that's such a thing. The brussel sprouts were cooked well, and I like that they weren't fried, crispy, or charred, but I just didn't like the flavor, especially when paired with the cauliflower pureé. We also got the pork belly, which was recommended by our waitress. Again, didn't care for the white lima bean pureé that the dish came with, although I LOVED the cut of pork belly. Sometimes it's too much meat or fat, but it was the right amount of both. Overall I would recommend this restaurant for any occasion, and I would love to try more of their menu items. Latin bistros and pisco bars are growing on me quickly, for the inherent reason that I get to try a greater variety of flavors. The atmosphere and service definitely ramp up the experience, though it can get a little crowded between tables. Overall it's a fun and intimate time! read more

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How can food from the same kitchen be night and day? I'm referring to our average experience at Destino, the restaurant sharing the same chef and kitchen as Pisco. The same trio at Destino few months ago decided to go for some bites and drinks at Pisco. Empanadas de Queso (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/8Jos9nqlts6DX6o2zKDAzA?select=2DzxI6Yif6kar6kdyQunWA): So delicious! Filled with tomatoes and cheese, along with its crispy and hot crust. Spectacular. Way better than the empanada we had at Destino. PisCo-Chino Roll (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/8Jos9nqlts6DX6o2zKDAzA?select=2DzxI6Yif6kar6kdyQunWA): My least favorite of the night. Tuna, quinoa and heart of palms wrapped in seaweed. An unsuccessful attempt to emulate tuna maki. The seaweed was soggy. The quinoa was cold. Dislike! Bolitas de Quinoa Frita (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/8Jos9nqlts6DX6o2zKDAzA?select=Q7FmoGHBsapzUbJeFDRVmg): aka risotto balls. Hot little crunchy bites. The risotto had the perfect texture, soft but not mushy. The spicy dipping sauce made it sooo good! La Ropa Vieja del Pastor (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/8Jos9nqlts6DX6o2zKDAzA?select=nxznZEjk6opNcIR9D80ddg): Slow cooked pork shoulder cooked in salsa. Omg!! The meat melted in our mouths! The plantain chips were crispy and went well with the pork. Drink special (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/8Jos9nqlts6DX6o2zKDAzA?select=UBHxnUOAiJv_jirW4MSzwQ): No idea what this was. While the drink was pretty tasty, it was also super strong. Wowzers! Aged brandy hits fast! Too bad I was DD. It was definitely a good drink. read more

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The BEST Pisco Sour in SF. Period. A pisco sour should be sweet and citrusy topped with the lightest foam dotted with angostura bitters for fragrance. Pisco Latin Lounge gets it right every time! The bf is usually happy with his Johnnie Walker black on the rocks, but whenever he fancies a cocktail, his go to is a pisco sour. They use soldeica-quebranta, I'm not sure if that varietal makes all the difference but I love it! (My fave restaurant nopa's version doesn't even compare) I've also tried their basil-tini, even though it was tasty, I'll stick to the classic Pisco sours here next time. Pisco Latin lounge also boasts of creative, modern tapas. We just had dinner before we came here, so we didn't get to sample any of their offerings except for their charcuterie and cheese. We tried the Leon herradura, a smoky Spanish chorizo and the tetilla, a soft cheese also from Spain. It was spot on! Service was attentive and friendly (our gay server must've winked at me 1000 times or maybe his eye was just twitching badly, but I digress) I hope we get him again next time we're here. Get your pisco on, whether you're seated at the cozy tables for two, at the bar or their front lounge sofas. Like I said, the best pisco sour in SF. read more

Destino - Pisco sour - Caterers Near Me - San Francisco, California

I happen to love Destino, yet it's taken me quite a while to try out the sister bar next door since I am not much of a bar-hopper. Jamie W. and I had a half-hour to kill before making our dinner reservation at Mission Beach Cafe, so we strolled in looking a tad too suburban for the slick and slinky figures that paraded through the narrow space. Compact as it is, Pisco Latin Lounge is hipster-cool and surprisingly well spaced with bar tables scooted to the side and lounge areas flanking the front and back. The $4 Plantain Chips are a good deal and highly addictive as you dip them into the kicky serrano-chile salsa. Neither of us went for the signature Pisco Sour. Jamie went for the $8 Mango Margarita, a daily special quite refreshing. I ordered the $9 Coconut Mojito, which wet my whistle just enough to arouse my hunger. What takes it down a notch is the decibel level in the early evening. Girls giggling in the back quickly escalate into cackling hyenas filled with helium and meth. The service is also on the mechanical side, as I got the sense that maximizing turnover was the basis of their speedy, stealth moves. All in all, it's a worthy stop if you happen to be in the general area, and the weekly $12 pairings they offer also sound tempting. DRINKS - 3.5 stars...pretty refreshing AMBIANCE - 3 stars....hip decor but bit cramped and plenty noisy SERVICE - 3 stars...on automatic pilot TOTAL - 3 stars...next time, I'll probably just go next door for the full dining and drinking experience at Destino read more

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My Peruvian starting rotation: Fresca (http://www.yelp.com/biz/too9HyaKed74IW24XzBh9A) Mi Lindo Peru (http://www.yelp.com/biz/1DDbE3XJF6lFL_KpU6Pmww) Limon (http://www.yelp.com/biz/chWLsfWUJ5k8-73t9FOM9A) My Peruvian bullpen: Machica (http://www.yelp.com/biz/VG4tugriIkPpT8RmVe2LGg) Destino With so many places in the city that I still need to try, I am doubtful that I would ever get around to calling up my Peruvian bullpen, but Destino was a solid restaurant. Atmosphere was probably best out of all the Peruvian choices (5 Star decor). Food was enjoyable, but with some issues. Ceviche at Destino was good, but I felt that it was lacking the more interesting blend of spices, which you get at Fresca and Limon. Furthermore, the part of tuna they used had a rough layer, which wasn't cut right. I enjoyed their empanada, but I still like the ones at Mi Lindo Peru more. Server told us that Lomo Saltado (stir fried beef) was their most popular dish. I liked the seasoning, but I felt that the beef quality was subpar. What I really liked were the French fries that it came with! PRICES: $17.00 Ceviche Sampler $4.50 Chix Empanada $19.00 Lomo Saltado $8.50 Two Pilsen Callao $6.50 Glass of wine $15.00 Tip and taxes ------------------------------ $70.00 Total for two - $25.00 Restaurant.com certificate ------------------------------ $45.00 Total for two (using the certificate) read more

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Who doesn't love tapas? Destinos serves Central and South American-inspired dishes. This was my second time having dinner here and yes I'm a fan! So a friend and I planned our fellow Yelper Joy A's birthday dinner here last night. Our party was for 20 people and the service was great. The restaurant itself is small and very intimate as it is not loud or crazy busy. For starters we ordered: Plantain Chips served with this amazing dip! I can't describe this dipping sauce but the flavor was sweet as the plantain chips wasn't salty but perfectly baked and crisp. Ceviche Sampler, consist of Pacific Sea Bass, Aji Amarillo, Cilantro, Canchas, Yellowtail Tuna, Tiger Prawns, Ginger, Lemongrass Oil, and Ahi Tuna, Avocado, Organic Mango, Achiote Oil. These 3 items were divided onto a small dish. The Ceviche Sampler was dam good!! some ceviche has that tart taste, but not in this case. All flavors were juicy, fresh, and did not over power each other. Yuca fries- Ohhh better than french fries! Next to sweet potato fries, Yuca fries are my favorite, a lot more healthier and they used that amazing dip for dipping sauce!! For main entrees we ordered: Empanadas- Peruvian Chicken Grilled Chicken, Queso Fresco, Andean Black Mint. The portions of the empanadas were so mini, as it came with 3 miniature ones. What I liked about this empanada was the crunch! I only took 1 bite because I was getting full and we still had 3 more dishes. Shredded Chicken Lasagna- I found this weird as when it came out, it looked like chicken pot pie hehehe I wasn't really fond of this entree only because of the taste. It wasn't the shredded chicken, but the ingredients? I'm not sure what was exactly inside but did not taste like lasagna. Pork Belly- OMG this was the highlight of my meal!! We ordered actually two orders of this item hahaa hey it is tapas!! lol Yes sooooo juicy and mouth watering. It's served on a bed of sweet mashed potatoes. " you had me at hello" that's how I felt hahaha So for the last item we ordered, I can't remember the name. The menu is is slightly different compared to the on-line menu. But I can tell you this, worth every bite!!! Glad I took a picture of it tho!! LOL Over all a great venue ended in Success and happy people. Ohya, did I mention that it was 25.00 per person? GREAT HUH? read more

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This place, and particularly the indescribable talent of the head bartender, has elevated Pisco Latin Lounge into an entirely new echelon of SF drinking (and dining) establishments. The libations, both in variety and craftsmanship, now FAR surpass that of nearby rivals* Orbit Room and Blackbird. *and by rivals, it's akin to a wiffle ball team challenging the Giants to a full nine innings. Essential ingredients for each expertly muddled concoction are skilfully prepared and aged days, weeks and even months in advance. Off-menu (off-season) secret items ensure continuity, but newly created options are even more impressive. (I'm particularly in love with the Bibi and the Bacon-Strawberry "Manhattan" to Lima) I dislike yelp reviews which don't specifically call out each favorite menu item (we shared six different options over two trips in one night, pre- and post- Sushi Zone, of course), but any good mixologist, as we experienced tonight and so often in the past, will ask your preferences (savory, sour, sweet or spicy), allow you to then sample the tastes and scents of the aforementioned raw ingredient mixtures, and then handcraft a drink you only DREAM could be conceived of at your usual watering hole. Trendy drinks are all the rage, but as we have all noticed, seldom executed with the precision alluded to in the menu. Pisco goes above and beyond. Follow the steps above. If you are somehow disappointed, your next pisco sour on el veinte ocho de julio is on me. read more

Destino - Caterers Near Me - San Francisco, California

* Atmosphere/decor: 5 stars Lots of colors, personality, and lively but not unbearably loud. * Service: 3 stars Our server was super friendly & helpful at the beginning as we were ordering. Then he disappeared off the face of the earth for an hour or so while other servers brought out our food. We had to ask these random servers for things like water, the dessert menu, the bill. He finally returned and apologized that it was crazy at the front of the restaurant.. but the place had been slowly emptying out for the second half of our meal. * Plantain Chips + guac - free: 3 stars Great texture, with chunks of avocado, not too pureed. But the flavor was too tart, too lemon-y. * Empanadas (2 per order) Caprese (Heirloom Tomatoes, Mozzarella, Organic Basil) $6: 4 stars Very nice. Like the crisp skin, rich cheese filling. * Gnocchi de Yucca, Huacatay Pesto (House-made Yucca Gnocchi, Peruvian Choclo, Oyster Mushrooms, Huacatay-Marcona Almond Pesto): 4.5 stars This would've been 5 stars except the pesto was WAY too salty! Otherwise these are like fancy & amazing tater tots =), great crisp, flavorful, wonderful. * Arepas de Queso vegetarian (Pineapple - Piquillo Pepper Salsa) $7.50: 3 stars Not bad except I just had The Arepa Lady last weekend and that was so much better! Destino's arepas had too thick of a crispy layer on the outside of their arepas. They had very little flavor while the salsa had a little too much. * Andean Quinoa Rolls, Chipotle-Mango Salsa (Cabbage Rolls Filled w/ Organic Red & White Quinoa, Butternut Squash, Swiss Chard) - $10: 1 stars Huge disappointment. The rolls were bland, even with squash, and loosely packed and impossible to eat without making a mess. Once again, this dish suffers from not having flavor while the salsa has a little too much. * Ceviche Al Caribe (Wild Australian Butterfish, Coconut Milk, Piquillo Peppers, Serrano Chile, Fried Leeks) - $12: 4 stars Surprisingly good! I usually don't like ceviche but Destino seems to be famous for theirs. The fish was fresh, delicious, and the subtle yet fragrant coconut milk sauce was great. * Tacos de Pescado (Jerked Red Snapper, Brazilian Mango, Serrano-Tomatillo Salsa) $8: 3 stars Meh, really can't say much. Good, not great, not bad. Not too much flavor. But I did love the tortillas - very fresh, soft but sturdy. * Triple Chocolate Chile Bunuelos (Chocolate Fritters, Cinnamon Sugar, Salted Caramel, Vanilla Bean Creme Anglaise) $7: 4 stars These were so great! Like fancy munchkins =). Subtle crunch to the outside + rich & dense inside made the fritters great. Plus I always love creme anglaise! read more

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I went to Destino for Dine About Town SF with a friend because she highly recommended it. Now, I highly recommend this place too! Plaintains: Delicious way to start! I loved the sauce that came with it Red snapper Ceviche: Yum! It was full of citrus flavor, and I loved the fried sweet potatoes.. That was surprisingly delicious. I wish it had more fish, though, because I couldn't get enough. The Lomo Soltado: The beef was so tender, and I loved the tomatoes. And the rice melted like butter in your mouth. Bunuelos: I've had wasabi fudge cake, and I so I was pleasantly surprised to get a hint of heat when taking a bite out of these tiny cakes. They also have a good wine selection, but very few to get by the glass. I'll need to try their cocktails next time. The only downside is the noise. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, but the acoustics suck. There were a few celebrations, and just a lot of people because of DAT. It was hard to keep up a conversation.. But if you're into such a vibrant environment, then this place is for you. read more

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Excellent spot, cam here by myself and did a couple of the chick empanadas. They are incredible, 4 dollars a pop, but well worth the price. I also did a relleno, it was solid. They have some great music, Latin of course, playing and the bar tender turned out walking me through the menu and drink menu. The owner runs the kitchen and is a awesome chef. I turned out doing two glasses of can franc. Overall it was a great experience that I found via Yelp. It's a cool vibe with great Latin fusion food. Check it out! read more

Destino - Epic! - Caterers Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here for a friend's birthday and the server was super accommodating to our party. Ceviche sampler was good, but a bit pricey for the portion. However, you get a little bit of everything to try. The quality of the fish and seafood was good. The pork belly appetizer was a good size and the flavor was excellent especially with the lima bean puree and the chutney (sweet and savory). Had a taste of our friend's chocolate mousse and it was divine. We had the triple chocolate fritter, I enjoy the spice and the chocolate flavor, but I wish it came with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream to make this dish complete. Sangria was okay, we had the pitcher, not really recommended. read more

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Came here on a Saturday evening before a concert. My bf and I shared a ceviche mixto with plantain chips, pickled veggies, and a lomo saltado. Overall, we weren't particularly impressed with our meal compared to our dining experiences at other Peruvian restaurants. The prices did not match with the quality. Lomo saltado: the sirloin was too dry. We both wished it was more tender. It seemed like it was just cooked for too long. Other than that, I really liked the rice (there's big pieces of Peruvian corn in it) and there was a good amount of fries). I don't recommend getting this. I Ceviche mixto: not a fan of the chipotle tiger sauce-- I would've preferred just simple lime juice. Other than that, it was pretty good. The pickled veggies weren't at all what I was expecting, but it was interesting. It's a tiny dish of sliced up veggies marinated in oil. I probably won't be back any time soon, but I would be willing to give this place another shot and try other things on their menu. read more

Destino - Ceviche Mixto - Caterers Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm giving 4 stars for service, but maybe 3.5 stars for the food. We arrived about 30 minutes before closing. It was a quiet night for the restaurant, so they were about to close early, but they were happy to accommodate us. We group shared the yuca fries and 2 empanadas. I've had better yuca fries, but I might be comparing it to the yuca fries I've had in Latin American countries. The empanadas were good, but they were small for $4 a piece. I had the lomo saltado, and I wasn't really a fan of the sauce. It didn't taste like a classic lomo saltado to me. I've been to Peru and I've probably eaten at all of the Peruvian restaurants in San Francisco. I've also eaten at Mario's in Melrose. The lomo saltado at Destino's was probably my least favorite. read more

Dinner review. Restaurant week. Plantain chips - 4/5 Pork empanada - 4/5 - Best so far in SF Scallops - 4/5 Cream corn casserole - 2/5 Pork belly - 3/5 Lomo saltado - 3/5 Chocolate fritters - 3/5 Overall, "I'm a fan." read more

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I am surprised by the recent bad reviews and the fact this restaurant is not more popular. Hubby and I like it a lot. We went last night and had the following. - ceviche (the first one on the list with yellow tail). 5 stars and great with Plantain chip. Definitely get It together. It doesn't look like a lot but it actually is very filling and yummy - ensalade de destino. 4 stars. Surprisingly flavorful and interesting - pork ropa vieja. 4 stars. Yummy and perfectly marinated - bacalao fish. 3 stars. The fish was just okay but the corn squash side and tomatoes eaten together with the fish made this dish worth well Last but not the least, the pisto flight is really worth trying. We love the Italia pisto the best. read more

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I checked out Destino with a few of my old college friends for HH on a chilly Thursday afternoon, their HH runs from 5-7pm. The restaurant was empty by the time we got there but eventually filled up. We got a nice booth table by the window and ordered some drinks to start. I'm pretty indecisive so I asked the waiter for his recommendations - he recommended that I try the Pisco + Pickle Shot... and I was like sure! why not. Pisco is a strong brandy coming from Peru or Chile, it's strong but very smooth and unique, and the house pickle juice cuts the intensity really well. I also tried the Red Sangria which was ok. We ordered some Bar Bites to share: [1] Toasta de Camarones - corn tostada, prawns, with a corn-goat cheese salsa. Delicious, zesty, yet sweet. [2] Fish Tacos - butterfish, mango, chipotle, pico de gallo - this came with two tacos per order and was pretty good. The mango with pico de gallo was a good combination. [3] Yuca Nachos - yuca fries, mozzarella cheese, avocado creme, encebollado (onions), and slow braised pork. Yuca fries were a bit dry for my preference, but the toppings were good. [4] Empanadas - Pork, Caprese, and Chicken. All were good. Our server was great - he was very attentive and gave helpful recommendations. Great place for HH bites and drinks anytime. read more

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Location's kinda in the middle of a quieter part of Market Street but Destino is a cozy spot for happy hour. Sip on a pisco sour of course or try some of the happy hour cocktails like the refreshing chilcano with the bright flavors of lime and ginger beer (and pisco of course). They also have wines and beer specials during happy hour along with bar bites. After all, cocktail drinks taste better when paired with snacks like yuca nachos and shrimp tacos. The space isn't too large so it often feels lively in here which makes Destino a fun spot to pop by after work for drinks. read more

Wine - $34 for a bottle of Malbec?! Hell yeah!! Ceviche Sampler - Yikes, $21? Did not even like any of the three ceviches and they all tasted the same. Too sour and too mushy. Chicken Empanada - Really dry. Tastes like a really dry hot pocket. Mushroom Empanada - Tastes like a hot pocket. Pumpkin Squash Curry - Looks cool, tastes bland. They should have carved out more of the squash because it was so overpowering in flavor and texture. There was so little curry inside and it didn't taste like curry. I just felt like I was eating a boiled pumpkin. Lomo Saltado - Best dish there. Too little meat! Panna Cotta - This was good, but at this point I don't think they could have redeemed themselves from the very uninspiring meal. Wish I spent my $60 on drinks at Pisco Lounge... read more

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Strong drinks. Happy hour menu available. Kind and fun bartenders! Great decor. 2 piscos and then another pisco cocktail and I am ALL GOOD. for all night. YES! read more

My review is very late compared to the reasonable timing Stefanie C. posted her review. This place was good, but not the best place we've had before, but not bad either. Ceviche - definitely a staple whenever I got to an Argentinian place. The three different ceviches were delicious (I enjoyed all of them) and a recommend for ordering. Also, we got the empanada - chicken. Also good, but not the best ones I've had. We decided to also ordered two other dishes for us to share. The pork belly was pretty good - a little fatty for me, but nothing too bad. The puree I thought was great and a good pairing with the pork. The brussel sprouts were good, but not amazing. Overall, this place was a good restaurant with some pretty good food. Didn't try the drinks. Protip: ceviche read more

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Came here with friends for SF restaurant week. The appetizer was fine ( four of us, two ceviche, one salad, one tamal) for everyone except for mine... the fish wasn't cleaned properly, so one of the slices of my fish was still attached to the sinew. I ended up trying to cut through it for a good two minutes, much to the amusement of the rest of my friends. The main course ( three sirloin stir fried in a balsamic soy reduction , and one lingcod ) were awful. No one finished their plate. The meat was over cooked, the corresponding wine pairings ( $25 extra ) were also awful, and the lingcod looked like someone took a ragu and dumped it all over a piece of fish from a packet. My fish in this main course tasted like ammonia. The dessert was okay. I've had better. So much for putting this place in the SF restaurant week catalog, it was awful. Maybe their regular menu is better but I wouldn't want to come back. read more

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What happens when you are first name basis the moment you walk in and it is your first time visiting this restaurant. You are home and treated as family. In Peru, the same feeling comes to mind. Peruvians have the biggest smiles. We got our own private area, right in front of the beautiful Market street. This is the last day of restaurant week, almost like last chance before the next year. We had two appetizers, two entrees, two desserts (well, three). The pork belly was the best. Crispy and flavorful. The shrimp tostada was delicious. There's something about the way they marinated the shrimp. You can taste the shrimp and the flavor. Je ne sais que. The entree was lomo salado (don't understand this dish makes the sirloin a little tough but the french fries were good. The salmon was just right. Enjoyed the puree. The coconut cream was flan. Yummy. Just the right sweetness. The panna cotta, oh boy, it was smooth like butter. Our surprise third dessert was the bread pudding which was a mistake but it was good with apples and raisins and alcohol! We had the best red wine to go with dinner. Can't wait to come back for more. Thank you James for making our dinner so memorable. read more

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Romantic Valentine's My boyfriend and I had our first date at Destino. We met up at Hotel Biron wine bar a block away, and liked each other so much we went to get dinner nearby. Destino is a Latin American restaurant with a mix of Peruvian and Brazilian food. The ambiance is cozy. They have a great selection of wine and cocktails. This is the perfect setting for romance. For our Valentine's dinner we had plantain chips, brussel sprouts, churrasco, and lechon. The plantain chips were solid and paired with a spicy sauce. The brussel sprouts were delicious on a puree of cauliflower. The churrasco was the best - topped with chimichurri sauce! The lechon was tender, fall-off-the-bone. The lechon itself wasn't well seasoned, but it was in a spicy red chilli sauce. I didn't really like the chilli sauce, but the lechon was perfectly cooked that I didn't care. Destino is located at Civic Center. If you're not familiar, the neighborhood has a large homeless population, so be weary at night. However, don't let that deter you. The area has a ton of great restaurants, including Destino. read more

Destino is a really cool bar/restaurant with really good food. I went with a group of 6 and they easily fit us in and the servers were super attentive. I've been before but have just sat at the bar and the bartenders were excellent as well. The cocktails are really creative and the bartenders will even concoct something for you if you give them some direction on what you are looking for in a cocktail. I started my dinner with the cocktail "Pickle me please", it was a take on a dirty martini but with pickle juice instead of olive, it was love at first sip. For dinner, I chose the pre-fixe menu that they offer during dinner service in the restaurant. I had the ceviche as my appetizer, the Lomo Saltado as my entree, and chose the bunuelos as my dessert. It was a ton of food so I definitely shared with my friends. The lomo saltado might sound simple on the menu but it is really freaking good, the reduction has an amazing flavor and the french fries are crisped to perfection. I also had the "La buena sidra" cocktail during my meal, it was delicious. Overall, super good food and great cocktails. I have been back since and will definitely be back again I'm sure. read more

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We had a great experience having James as our caterer for our event at Monroe. James was very helpful and patient throughout the planning process. The food was delicious, our guests loved everything they put out. The empanadas and arancini were definite favorites. I also appreciate that James called me a few days after the event to ask how everything went and make sure we were happy, he really cares! read more

The ambiance of Destino was very nice, the waiters were great but I just don't think it's worth the price point. Appetizers! Scallops: interesting guacamole sauce, just a touch overcooked, and not as seared and crispy on the outside as I would like, but a satisfying bite overall. The cheese chip was a bit stale unfortunately and it didn't add to the scallop as much as I was hoping for in terms of texture. Chicken empanadas: This was my favourite dish. The only one of the night I would come back for. Creative, creamy chicken, crispy dumping wrap contrasting with the soft tender chicken filling. Delicious. To top it off the side of pickled veggies complemented the creaminess perfectly. Entree Steak and fries: fries weren't as substantial as u would have liked, the rarity of the steak pieces were slightly inconsistent, rice was my favourite part, but two starches and a meat made me wish for some fiber. But I guess thats just the saltado style. seasoning of fries was a bit inconsistent as well the cut of steak was a bit too lean to be cooked medium, was hopping for a fattier cut of meat or less cooking time. Desserts Was really hoping these would pick my review up, but I tried the chocolate puffs, the bread pudding, and the hotchata, and I unfortunately wasn't a fan of the flavours and textures. read more

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I actually wanted this place to be amazing, and it was good, but there is room for improvement. I sat at the long bar on the one side of the restaurant, and granted it was 530 on a Tuesday, but the place was empty the entire time I was there (over an hour) with the exception of one couple who walked in. Lots of different Piscos and I had a traditional pisco sour. Some HH specials on drinks and beer, and the bar had some additional tapas it seemed. Some decent wines by the glass available also at reasonable prices. I had a chicken empanada and it was quite tasty. I followed that up with a chorizo combo of sorts, house made and spanish chorizo, grilled, chopped into bite size chunks, and served over a parsnip puree. It was good, but at $14 or so, not great. Although I was warned the clay dish was hot, the contents (the puree) was room temp. A couple of sausage bites were inedible because of gristle. Overall, I may give this place another try and would be better with more people so can try more tapas. These are not spanish tapas - definitely peruvian. read more

Came here to celebrate my friends birthday and it was pretty empty when we got there, but I still made a reservation just in case. We were a group of 7 people and they were very accommodating. We ordered a bunch of small - large plates to share among the group and didn't find any of it anything special... One thing I found odd about this place was that when we ordered ceviche, there were no chips to go with it... when we ordered the lomo saltado, there was no rice or anything to pair with. But overall, it was really good service, but just mediocre food read more

I bought the chicken empanadas, 4 and baked them at 400 . They were delicious, nicely done, juice , and pretties. Every bite was so good, excellent empanadas. I am a good cook and I know what does it good food and this ones were extremely Delicious ; these empanadas from Destino were the best I had ever eaten in SF and not expensive at all, considering the work and nicely pocketed. I highly recommend these juicy delicious empanadas. Now I am planning to buy the beef. read more

Came here for a nice dinner during restaurant week and had a fantastic time. The service was great and attentive which is always key to me. The layout of the restaurant is also cool in that it has an attached bar which I will visit soon. The decor was great and had a warm vibe to it. The food was amazing! I have had my fare share of Peruvian cuisine and this was one of the best. We started with the plantain chips that came with a chipotle dressing. They were perfectly crispy, wish I had a whole bowl of them! Next we moved onto our appetizers. I had the chicken empanadas. The dough was baked to perfection and the meat inside was seasoned very well. Lastly I enjoyed the lomo saltado. I thought the portion was small at first sight but it ended up being more than enough! Meat was cooked medium and the fries and rice were great as well. I would highly recommend Destino, great food! read more

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This review is for James and his catering service! He catered my wedding at Monroe and the food was the best part of the evening. The range James provided for such an amazing price point is unparalleled for the Bay Area, and his staff was so attentive and thorough. We will 100% be using James and his team for all future catering needs and I HIGHLY recommend him. He was responsive, patient, kind, and enjoyable to work with. We'd give 10 stars if possible. read more

Went here for an early dinner the other day, seated right away at a great secluded table. They have great decorations and it was a lovely restaurant. We ordered sangria and 2 pisco drinks that were delicious!! they have awesome cocktails and would definitely come back for the drinks! Food on the other hand wasn't impressive, not enough flavor or texture. It was bland and nothing stood out. I will be back for drinks! read more

Sunny Wednesday found us longing for some Peruvian & Destino was on the list! Brought our drinkys over from Pisco Latin Lounge who is their sister-neighbor & they totally go together ( they're just like PB & J ) & continued the trend.... Dinner drinky was the Pisco Sour - nice & tart w/ the right amount of egg white foam & Bitters - refreshing! Delights included the Strawberry & Yellow Beet salad - this had squash seeds & the tenderest beets & sweet strawberries - excellent combo! Gnocchi - these were fried dumplings of yucca potatoes paired w/ shittake mushrooms & combined w/ this absolutely delectable peppery sauce to give it a bit of kick. We could have had at least 3 of these! Puffed Quinoa w/ red & yellow beets - brussel sprouts & baby carrots. Loved the veggies but the quinoa was still on the crunchy side & I guess I prefer my quinoa to be more of the soft & fluffy variety Desserts were another winner - The Mr chose the Pisco Pound Cake w/ a berry coulis & I got the Chocolate Fritters. These were by far the winner & the Mr was jealous 'cause there was no way I was sharing! Molten chocolate donuts all coated in a cinnamon - they were crispy on the outside & gooey on the inside & to make it over the top, there's a chocolate sauce as well as a liquidy cinnamonny sauce to dunk it in. Delectable! Ended our evening w/ a Pisco Flight - there were 4 different piscos & I had no idea there was such a difference! Grapes from all around the world ( just like wine ) make for different flavor notes & each had their own complexities & nuances Our server was an absolute doll & all made for a super-fun evening out! Huge fans here!! read more

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