It looks very nice inside, and you expect the food to be great. Well, Lucuma doesn't disappoint! The food is delicious; everything from the appetizers, to the entrees, to the desserts. The drinks are equally as good. Of course, the meal is made more enjoyable because of the excellent service. I highly recommend Lucuma! I've been here more than once with friends, and next time I'm bringing my family! read more

We ordered: 1. Chirulín- Peruvian cocktail. Main flavors are grapefruit and cinammon- sounds bad but was oh so good! Features Pisco Quebranta- a single varietal brandy from the Ica Valley in Peru. Pre-dates the more well known Pisco Sour by centuries. Highly recommend. 2. Causa acevichada- imagine a yellowtail sushi roll and cover it in potato salad. Delicious, but strange- feels like a dish heavily inspired by the huge influx of Japanese immigrants to Peru in the early 1900s. Watch out- those pretty red peppers bite! 3. Pulpo al olivo- the delicate cream sauce, avocado and herbs were heavenly! 4. Ensalada César: good but pales in comparison to the other dishes- basic. 5. Tequeñitos: just ordered for the kiddo, ok but would not recommend. The neat part was the passionfruit sauce that came with. We used it on the next dish... 6. Empanadas: we ordered the sampler and I only tasted the mushroom which was delicious- but I probably wouldn't order again because I inly have so much room in my belly and I want to fill it with seafood! 7. Coliflor: the least impressive dish- I wouldn't recommend- just ok- needed more flavor. 8. Conchitas a la parmesana- echoes of oysters Rockefeller- fabulous- very rich and meaty- served on the half shell-4 to a plate. if I could do this meal over, I would skip the cauliflower, Cesar salad, and empanadas and order 2 more of these, another octopus and more Chirulín ! So good! Go early and street parking will he easy. read more

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What a treasure! I can believe they've been open for about a year and this is the first time we've been there, hands down best Peruvian restaurant I've tried in the bay area. Very lively ambiance, service was great, we sat at the bar and the bartender was super friendly and helpful. We tried the Ceviche tropical, the short ribs, and pulpo a la parrilla i would rate them best first in that order. Drinks were great, on the must expensive side but delicious. Took a cheesecake to go and haven't try it yet but looking forward, read more

Lucuma Kitchen and Bar - Ambiance - Peruvian Near Me - Oakland, California

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This was my second time coming to Lucuma, and this time it was to celebrate a friend. We had a reservation for 6 PM on a Thursday and it was already very busy. What's great about Lucuma is that people will actively talk to you at the tables near you. That is the wonderful ambience and environment that Lucuma fosters. And now for the food! What can I say everything I've ever had. There is delicious. We started with really yummy drinks. I had the Peruvian cocktail Chirulín and my friend had the Pisco punch. We then had the Papas, which were perfectly fried, so yummy with an egg. Then we each got an entrée, and my entrée was the salmon with mushrooms in a really creamy sauce. We were both yummy and ahhing at our food. They are a tiny place, maybe 20 tables or so, but it is really worth it and they maximize the space to accommodate as many people as they can. It is on the pricier side, but the food and the service is worth it. Very close to Bart and buses and about a block away from Broadway. read more

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Let me just start up by saying how much I love Oakland and the food scene is so great. I was invited to go out to a festival out in Oakland, and we wanted to grab a few drinks before we headed there. The minute I saw the first photo of that cocktail on Yelp was when I made the decision that we were heading straight here. I love the ambience, it's definitely moody, definitely a vibe that you can take photos in and a place to celebrate. We walked right and there was no wait and walked through the restaurant which is super cute very Spanish influence. They had merchandise for sale which was pretty cool. We decided to sit at the bar, which is at the end of the restaurant it's a pretty small bar so don't expect much seating. We were greeted by Felipe, the bartender who I immediately knew that he was able to make a delicious cocktail. I decided on the cucumber drink, my friend had the margarita with the dandelion, and my partner decided to have the same thing as I did as it was the most refreshing thing I had tasted in a very long time. We only went there for drinks and appetizers. Their menu has a lot of Peruvian dishes and everything looked really delicious and yummy. We decided to order a little appetizer which was the root and it tasted just like potato, and the dip was magnificent. There's so many drinks on the menu so please try them all. I will definitely be returning as this is one of my favorite places now in Oakland. read more

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We had a great time here and I highly recommend this place. The food presentation was immaculate. The taste was solid and delicious, with my favorite probably being the Ceviche Verde - and my wife enjoyed the scallops. A couple of people in our group commented that the texture of the yucca fries was a little different than normal, but they served them with a nice dip. The drinks were pretty good, too. I really took a liking to the El Capitan - it had a nice spicy kick to it. The Old Fashioned was definitely solid, and the Pisco Sours were well-liked by a couple of guests in our party. Aside from the food, the ambiance was great. It wasn't too loud, with nice Latin music playing in the background, and the decor was very cultural and colorful. The bathroom was actually pretty nice, too, with a good vibe to it. The staff was super friendly. The servers offered great suggestions on what to eat, took birthday pictures for us, and were just extremely welcoming. Even the hostess came over to our table to greet us and thank us for coming. It was crowded that night, so the only thing I would say is there was a tiny bit of a wait just to get our order in. That could have been a little quicker, but other than that, the food and drinks came out fairly fast. Definitely recommend checking this spot out - another great restaurant in Oakland! read more

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** 4 - 4.5 stars ** Visited for lunch and had a nice dining experience. Traditional Peruvian with a bit of California-fusion is how I would describe Lacuma Kitchen and Bar. When you walk in, vibrant colors, plenty of greenery and a bright space with friendly and welcoming staff. Even the bathroom has a vibe. This visit I ordered: CEVICHE VERDE with Fish of the Day of rockfish. Fresh, raw white fish with great texture from the choclo (large-kernel Andean corn), toasted cancha (corn nuts), and slices of sweet potato. Dish is served raw, lightly marinated and made to order in a cilantro-based sauce with citrus with a bit of heat from aji limo (Peruvian pepper) - good but a tad salty. Served with plantains but unfortunately, not crispy and more soft and chewy. The trio of empanadas: chicken, beef, mushroom was accompanied with an aioli. Tasty! Friends enjoyed their dishes with no complaints. Lacuma Kitchen & Bar also has creative and quality cocktails/mocktails. Ordered the refreshing cucumber drink (recommendation by our server) as I didn't want anything with alcohol. Bright, fresh with some sweet from sugar and slight sour from the lime juice. Leo, our server was friendly, made suggestions and attentive. A great spot for date night, special dining event and lunch. Located on the corner of 17th/Franklin in Downtown Oakland. Would return to try their entrees. read more

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So many gluten free options, and as a celiac the attention to detail in the kitchen is invaluable. My wife and I had the cauliflower, lamb, and short ribs. Everything was bursting with flavor. A moment for the decor which our incredible hostess Liz was happy to give us back story on, majority of the items coming directly from Peru. The vibes and ambiance were everything, we will be dining here again. read more

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Friday night date night at Lucuma was a win. We arrived right on time for our reservation and were promptly seated at the bar, which ended up being one of the highlights of the evening. The mixologists were friendly, professional, and impressive to watch. Everything was done with care - clean, sanitary, efficient, and clearly well-practiced. A lot of places could take notes. The cocktails were vibrant, fresh, creative, and genuinely delicious. The food somehow topped the drinks, everything came out quickly, hot, and packed with flavor. The standout for me was the mushroom empanadas. I still can't stop thinking about them. The mushrooms were incredibly tender and flavorful, and the pastry was perfectly flaky. 10/10 would recommend and can't wait to come back. read more

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We arrived right before 5 pm on a weeknight, so I was surprised that they were fully booked. The restaurant was empty, but it didn't take long until they were full. We sat at the bar which was just fine. The restaurant is small, and the ambiance is colorful and comfortable with velvet chairs. The bar chairs are actually kind of narrow, if you're a big person you may not be able to fit! There was a hook for my purse under the counter which I always appreciate, small touches are everything. It was fun to watch all the interesting drinks coming from the bar, a bright yellow one with a marigold on top, and and many of their signature Pisco sours with Lucuma written on top. The bartender was making strawberry jam on a small stove. In the kitchen I could see big flames coming from a pan. Lots of action to watch! The food was delicious and serving size was good. Loved the ceviche which is one of their specialties, but be warned it has some heat. Overall food was top notch, they have a great variety of dishes including vegetarian choices. If you're coming from out of town another great thing about this restaurant is that it's just steps from 19th Street BART. read more

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Loved this place so much. We didn't have reservations but a party didn't show up for their reserved seats at the bar. This is the first time I've heard of a place reserving bar seating. I guess it's that popular. It was pretty tight seating at the bar, no wiggle room at all. Be prepared to wait to order and get your food when it's full. We had to wait to order drinks and we were at the bar! Lol Staff is very friendly and helpful. What we ordered: -Asado de Mamita: Short ribs, aji panca sauce, green mashed potato -Aji de Gallina: A Peruvian classic reinvented. Shredded chicken in creamy aji amarillo, gnocchi, white rice -Empanadas de la Casa: mushroom [VEG] We sampled each others plates and were not disappointed. Everything was so flavorful! The only downsides are the place is small and there is only one bathroom. People that are waiting to use the bathroom are standing in the way of servers and in the smaller section near the entrance. We'll definitely come back. read more

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Went here for happy hour and had a great experience! We didn't have a reservation, but they seated us right away. The place is super vibrant and colorful with a really fun atmosphere. The food was delicious, and my favorite dish was definitely the ceviche. The cocktails were also very well crafted and tasty. The staff were friendly and welcoming. Would definitely come back again! read more

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Took my partner here for her birthday and the staff made it a very nice experience. The restaurant is open 7 days a week and I always pass it on my way to BART, but had to try it for myself. The empanadas were delicious, the yucca fries were cooked great, and I really enjoyed the lomo saltado. The waiter was also accommodating with my drink order since I didn't really enjoy his suggestion, he allowed me to order a different one and comped it. I didn't get to try nearly as much as I wanted to, but we'll be returning. read more

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Wow, great place!! Beautiful decor, food presentation was outstanding, service was excellent, and food was both unique and delicious. Our server provided excellent guidance and knew the menu well. Can't wait to go back! read more

Lucuma fits all categories of date night, girls night out (GNO) and spacious enough to fit a group of people comfortably. I've been here twice and have been equally impressed with the food and service. I will definitely return because of their consistency! - Chinito Ceviche Del Mar - has to my favorite that I've tried, it has the perfect balance of savory & citrus notes. It pairs so well with the plantain chips - I would suggest also adding taro chips if they have them available as well. - Leche de Tigre Ceviche Del Mar was definitely on the salty side. The flavor profile was definitely there but the salt was a little overpowering so we didn't finish. The fish was very fresh! - Bistec a la Pobre had great balance of flavor and texture from the beef, egg and plantains. - NA Pisco Sour had all the elements of a perfect cocktail without the alcohol and was not overly sour or sweet. It is a neighborhood gem and perfect spot to catch up over great food and drinks - it is now part of my Oakland Restaurant rotation. read more

Lucuma Kitchen and Bar - Bar Area | IG: @lisaaaaletseat - Peruvian Near Me - Oakland, California

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TLDR: Great colorful vibes and food. Will definitely come again :) Highlights: honestly everything we got was a hit and it was the perfect amount for two people. And everything came out pretty fast. Also compared to the other Peruvian spots I've tried, this is by far my favorite (flavor, portions, and ambiance). Service/ambiance: wonderful on both. It was surprisingly lively on a Monday but it added to our experience. The servers were kind and super attentive. Notes: Ceviche doesn't come with chips so you have to order that separately! They give you a good amount though and I think it's a mix or plantain and potato chips (served warm). Parking was quite easy (just parked down the street). The restaurant is a little small but they have tables and a bar area. They also have a happy hour that ends at 5:30 which I will def be back for! read more

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Came here on a Friday afternoon with friends for happy hour. There happy hour actually starts at 2pm, not 3pm like their website and some pictures might say. We were impressed with how good the drinks were. My favorite was the house pisco sour. The happy hour menu items were a bit on the pricier side for the amount given. It is definitely more worth it than going outside of happy hour though. Their food and desserts were okay -- we basically tried everything on the happy hour menu. The presentation of the food and drinks were nice. I would definitely come back for drinks though. The staff were friendly and welcoming though. read more

Lucuma Kitchen and Bar - House pisco sour -- delicious! - Peruvian Near Me - Oakland, California

So we were in coming from a long drive from LA. Came across this spot and we were pleasantly surprised. Great ambiance excellent service. I ordered favorite Peruvian dish Lomo Saltado and my wife got the this seafood dish with coconut rice that was very good. Over all this place would be saved as a favorite read more

Lucuma is one of my favorite Peruvian spots. Yes, it's on the pricier side but the food, drinks, and service are all worth it. It's a beautiful take on traditional Peruvian cuisine with a modern twist. The ceviche cremoso is easily one of my all-time favorites and everything always tastes high quality. I usually sit at the bar and the service is always great. The bartender is super helpful and genuinely nice every time which makes the whole experience even better. The decor is also beautiful and really adds to the vibe. Definitely a go-to when I want something a little more elevated. read more

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Very beautiful restaurant, lovely decor. Service is attentive and very kind. Drinks Pisco Sour: 10/10 loved the logo on the drink top Pisco Punch: 10/10 bigger than we expected but great flavor! Food Anticucho: 7/10 big portion of meat! I could only finish one stick. It was more on the dryer side, would've liked a more tender meat. But the flavor was good. The choclo with the dish was also dry, typically, it is soft. Lomo Saltado: 10/10 tender meat, great crisp and flavor on potatoes. The rice was good, no notes. Onions were crispy which i like in lomo saltados. Overall, a beautiful place to enjoy drinks and food! read more

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Amazing food! My daughter lives near here and has said she's visited us before and everything she's eaten was very wonderful! We had the grilled octopus appetizer, which was excellent! And coconut shrimp appetizer also excellent! My main dish was salmon covered in this wonderful coconut sauce with mushrooms! read more

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The cutest vibe inside, it honestly felt like stepping into a little slice of Peru. I came on a Sunday evening and it was pretty busy, so we ended up sitting at the bar. The bartenders were friendly, just very busy. I ordered a pisco sour, which came with the cutest design on top, such a nice touch. We ordered: * Ceviche - the broth had great flavor and felt very true to a classic Peruvian ceviche, with the corn and sweet potato. I do wish the portion was a bit bigger, and the plantain chips could've used a little more salt, but still enjoyable overall. * Lomo saltado - flavorful and satisfying. I've never had it served with a yellow sauce before, so that was a bit different but interesting. * Ají de gallina - my first time trying this dish and I really liked it! The layered potatoes were a standout. Overall, such a cute spot perfect for a date night or a girls' night out. read more

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Walking into Lucuma, you are immediately greeted by the house maître d'--a charming Alpaca statue! The decor is eclectic and vibrant; the bar area is even adorned with a large red straw octopus and straw fish. It's a beautiful, warm, and cordial space where you can easily hang out at the stylish bar or settle into a cozy dining room table. We started with the chicken empanadas, which were delicious with a light, flaky crust and flavorful filling. For entrees, the Lomo Saltado and Aji de Gallina were the highlights--both felt like authentic, homey Peruvian comfort food. The addition of gnocchi in the Aji de Gallina added a great texture alongside the rice, a creative take on a homey classic. The Arroz Norteno was also packed with flavor from the cilantro and spinach. My only note of caution is the Flambéed Ahi Tuna; it was disappointing and lacked freshness, with salt being the only flavor despite the passion fruit sauce. However, the service more than made up for it. The owners and servers are incredibly cheerful, attentive, and always wearing a smile. It's the perfect spot for a late lunch to avoid the crowds and enjoy a nice conversation! read more

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I remember when this location used to be a Beauty's Bagel (rip :') but the updated interior now is done sooo beautifully and vibrant! Only came here for a quick drink and shared appetizer but omg I dream of how delicious the ceviche was. The Peruvian corn is such a great contrast to the rest of the dish. The El Picaro drink is a great choice for those who like savory, and the Incan Old Fashioned was definitely a fun twist on a classic. For those with sensitive noses, be prepared to get hit with wafts of Palo Santo from the Incan Old Fashioned. Service here is sweet and very friendly. I'd for sure recommend this spot! read more

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I highly recommend making a reservation as they do get quite busy. Interior is very modern, bright, and comfortable. Food was really good, I really enjoyed the leche Tigre ceviche, plantain chips were a good compliment. Lomo saltado was really good, meat was tender and the potatoes were seasoned really well. The Classico and verde ceviche carried more spice, but also very tasty. Service was really good, our waitress checked in with us as did the hostess at the front. We enjoyed this dinner spot and will be back! read more

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We had a fantastic celebration of my husband's birthday at Lucuma. All staff members were so kind, especially Garrett who was behind the bar on the night we dined there. Lucuma has incredible energy, and on the Saturday night we came in it felt like entering a party we were glad to attend. I highly recommend eating at the bar, especially if you're dining solo or with one other person. We sampled widely of the drink and food menu and didn't encounter a bad bite. Birthday celebrations are important. Thank you Lucuma for making this one perfect. read more

I was disillusioned the restaurant was small and they could not accommodate us because we had no reservation on a Tuesday at around 5pm. But we opted to eat at the bar. The Peruvian-inspired cocktails were tasty but pricy so I recommend to go during Happy Hour, Mon - Fri, 3-5:30pm. Food is good and atmosphere is awesome. read more

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Only the girlies will understand the joy that is sitting at a nice and visually appealing bar and yapping it up with your girlfriends! It was great spending a little bit of time doing just that at Lucuma! We were a bit too early for our reservation across the street at Sobre mesa, so we hopped into Lucuma to sit at the bar and have a little drinky drink. First of all this place was so cute on the inside! Lots of color and festive decor everywhere. Definitely a treat for the senses in more ways than one. I saw tons of other girlies in here enjoying the beautiful bar as well. They definitely know how to appeal to us girly pops. The super sweet hostess sat us and we got to looking at the menu. Since dinner was only an hour out, we opted for drinks. I got the Pisco Sour while my friend got the Alchemist. Both were super yummy, but I really enjoyed mine. I asked the waitress if I could make mine spicy and boy oh boy did they deliver! Probably one of the spiciest drinks I had and I loved it! Sour and spicy, totally up my alley. I loved that they had tons of alcohol free options for drinks as well! Cute Cute Cute little hour spent at Lucuma! Hopefully, next time I can take more time to try the food. read more

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Ceviche was amazing. Octopus was a little too mayonnaise heavy for me but still pretty goo. The drinks were also good I got the tiqilo, but expensive for $18. Got the lomo Saltado and the meat was tender. Would give this place a five star if it was a bit cheaper. For 3 dishes, 4 drinks came out to $200. But the vibes are cute for a date and service was excellent, very friendly. read more

Lucuma Kitchen and Bar - Mixto Ceviche - Peruvian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Lucuma is such a great date spot! The ambience and decor is very authentic and fun. Low lighting and smooth music creates a vibe best suited for vacation lol there is no item on the menu I have disliked nor has there been a server that disappointed. This restaurant has tried and true for me and mine.! read more

Lucuma Kitchen and Bar - Scallops! - Peruvian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Just affirming my love love of my local hangout by sharing my shell scallop photo :) Note: they're open Sunday nights if you're stuck looking for a place that's open on Sunday's. read more

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The vibes in here are super cute for a date night. My partner reserved this spot and we enjoyed everything that we ordered! The grilled octopus tentacle was especially good - super tender and flavorful with the saucy beans. Our waitress was extremely friendly too. Would definitely come back if I'm craving peruvian food! A bit on the pricer side but lovely for a night out. read more

Lucuma Kitchen and Bar - Pisco sour, ceviche cremoso, pulpo - Peruvian Near Me - Oakland, California

A Yelp recommendation... Nice atmosphere w/a chill vibe, greeted w/warmth & a smile. The Alchemist 3outta5 the coconut fat-washed whiskey had me intrigued but I've never had matcha & that killed it for me. I couldn't get past the earthiness & appreciated the comp. Brisa Andina 3.5outta5 Light & refreshing Tikila 4outta5 Refreshing & light Ceviche 5outta5 It tasted great. Too many red onions (imo) but they were an addition that I pushed aside. The overall flavor however was amazing! Tequenitos 5outta5 The wantons were crisp, & filled proportionately. The passion fruit sauce was delicious. Pulpo al Olivo 4outta5 Octopus was tender & tasted great w/the accompanying sauce & veggies. Conchitas à la Parmesana 4.5outta5 We were skeptical about the cheese but it actually tasted great. The sweetness of the scallop danced harmoniously w/the salty, nutty & sharp savoriness of the parm. There was just a bit too much for my liking. First time trying Peruvian cuisine & it was a good experience. We enjoyed ourselves. #GoTaste&See read more

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This is a small but warm restaurant. I started with beef wonton with a passion fruit sauce that was amazingly tasteful and perfect pairing for the wontons and yuca fries as appetizers. As a second curse i had a chicken empanada with aji amarillo nayo sauce, i asked for rocoto to have a little bit of spicy. As a main i had Pork ribs with spinach smashed potatoes, they were crispy and flavorful. I paired the food with a Malbec. As a digestive I had The Alchemist cocktail, which had coconut whiskey and matcha, it's a must if you like both. The host and my server, Milene, were really attentive and helpful. Due yo i live nearby it's going to be my new spot. read more

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I've been once and was impressed enough to leave a five star review. We went mid-week at lunch time and it was busy. The place is intimate and lively - perfect for ladies night or date night. Groups may be an issue since it's small - so call ahead. They do have a lunch time special. My friend and I shared that, as well as an off regular menu entree and it was a great mix and quite a bit of food. The ceviche was incredible. Fresh and flavorful. The lomo saltado was so good with real cuts of steak and they didn't skimp on protein. In lieu of fries, usually featured in this dish, they featured flash fried potato wedges. The pork sandwich special was good (honestly too rich for me) but my dining partner enjoyed it immensely. Service was solid. We sat at the bar and it was fun and interesting to see them preparing the food with the freshest ingredients. No cocktails for us, but they looked fun! A business lunch was fun, but I'd definitely come back pre or post Fox show for some eats and cocktails! read more

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Presentation is gorgeous. Chuletas were delicious. The chimichurri sauce elevated the lamb well. And the lamb was cooked to perfection. My dad would like it. I am not a huge fan of the potato cake because it was in 3/5 dishes ordered. We also had the cauliflower, and a shredded chicken dish. I highly recommend the chuletas. The papa rellena was underwhelming. The meat inside wasn't hot and at the same time tasted overcooked. I have had better. Service was decent, attentive and kind. We asked for the food to come out all at once but they came out one at a time and it was kinda random. The tables are a bit too close together for my preference. I felt like I could hear the people next to us and vice versa. I would have liked a bit more privacy. Otherwise read more

Lucuma Kitchen and Bar - Papa rellena - Peruvian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Delicious! So happy we have Lucuma a try. The paella was delicious! I highly recommend getting a ceviche and the Cesar salad. Both of the margarita drinks were quite tasty! read more

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I wanted to love it, I really did. My best friend and I went for brunch Sunday & I was quite taken with the decor and vibes initially. Well thought out, cohesive while still exciting design - vibes, check. I ordered the iced Incan Gold Matcha Latte, Lucuma French Toast and a side of crispy bacon, my friend ordered the El Picarone Latte, Tamalito Peruano con Huevos, and a side of fried sweet plantains. That matcha latte was absolutely spectacular - creamy and smooth, very high quality matcha you can taste. 10/10 The French toast came out first, and alone, more like an appetizer (even though it was brunch and I only ordered that and bacon). Out of respect, I wait until everyone at the table has their food to start eating; from what I've experienced, it's also considered generally respectful dining etiquette. The other items, including my bacon, don't come out for another 15 minutes. The poor timing of the kitchen negatively impacted my ability to enjoy my entire order hot, or at least lukewarm; by the time my bacon arrived the beautifully plated, delicious looking French toast was ice cold. There was only one other person at my table & I saw all three plates for the folks next to us come out together. Idk what gave. I would have liked to experience it warm, but declined the option to have kitchen make another one because I didn't want my friend's food to get cold while she took her (unexpected) turn at waiting to eat food she was excited about. What also made me raise an eye is that there was no offer to comp the cold French toast or offset the bill in any way due to the poor experience caused by bad kitchen timing. Overall flavors were decent, bacon was crispy & warm, but the cold French toast is like a wet blanket over the whole experience. I get some days things just aren't up to par, so I'd likely try one more time because the floor staff were lovely, the decor is really gorgeous, and despite it being cold the French toast was not bad, which means it's likely fire when it's the right temp. read more

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I've officially found my new go-to Peruvian restaurant. I stopped by for lunch today and we ordered a few shareable plates: yucca frita, asada de mamita, leche de tigre, and the standout of the meal- papa rellena. Everything was absolutely divine, but the papa rellena was my favorite. It was full of flavor, and while I never thought egg and raisins would work together, I was proven wrong. I'll definitely be back just for that dish alone. It's so exciting to have a fun, vibrant restaurant like this so close to home. One small note: the placement of the host stand right by the front door isn't very functional. While we were checking in, the heavy door swung open and hit us as someone walked in- apparently it happens often, according to the hostess. A small layout tweak or a quick heads-up to step aside would make a big difference. That aside, I'm already looking forward to coming back and working my way through more of the menu. Highly recommend giving this place a try! read more

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Ok, Oakland I see you! Looking for a spot to tuck into with a friend for lunch? Lucuma Kitchen and Bar was alive on a weekday in December. Serving elevated Peruvian dishes, adding Lucuma to the roster of spots I can't wait to go on a future date night to. Service was attentive and quick upon entering, and a friend and I were able to get front row seats to our ceviche making as we nestled up to bar seating. We went with the Lomo Saltado (get the fried egg add-on), and ordered from the Lunch Break menu: essentially a 'fast fixed menu for busy weekday guests' that includes a starter and entrée for $34.99. We chose the Ceviche Clasico (with red onion, corn, sweet potato), and the Pan con Chicharron sandwich. We just went with water since we were stopping in between a few things, but the cocktail/mocktail menu looks so divine. I normally don't order ceviche, but I feel like it's almost a must at Lucuma..they have a whole menu focused on it! Such beautiful presentation, heavenly bites of freshness, and the flavor medley..almost like there was a dance party of ingredients on my palette. Delicious. The lomo saltado was incredibly hearty, and the steak was cooked to perfection. And the star for me..the sandwich! I've never had a sandwich quite like this before (see my photos). With sweet potato, aioli, and salsa criolla, the pork was equally cooked just right..both juicy and salty (in the BEST way). No notes. Literally finished it off. And the bread? So fresh and soft pillowed between a heaping serving of the classic pork. They really don't skimp on anything here! This spot is really nice to the eyes. Vibrant, cozy, and normally I never talk about the bathroom at restaurants because (why?), but the bathroom at Lucuma? Top-tier. Friendly peeps, sweet digs, and they also serve brunch and dinner. Oh, and we didn't grab dessert, but my eye is on the El Turrón ~ Anise cheesecake topped with Peruvian candies? Yes, yes, yes. Located on a corner, do some homework ahead of time for parking garages in the area. Street parking could be a bit tough. read more

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