El Q'ero Restaurant
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
42 Reviews for El Q'ero Restaurant
Hands down best Peruvian restaurant! Every bite was followed by high praises. Their maduros, which are served with cilantro and sourcream, are a must! If you get fries with your dish, remember to ask them for their delicious orange dipping sauce (can't remember the name), which is 10x better than ketchup. Q'ero's also has wonderful service! They were closing up for lunch, but the restaurant kindly let us make a last minute order. It's not cheap, but their food is well worth the money. Highly recommended!
and yes, as the sticker on their door states: Yelp really does love Q'eros!
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Found this place on yelp!! Drove by it many times before but never noticed it.
Appetizers were tasty, had chicken empenada and a thing with meat wrapped in potato. The hot sauce rocks!!
I was with two people and we had the Lamb Shank, Flank Steak, and Short Ribs....all were excellent. I had ordered the duck and the server wrote down the wrong thing...I ate the lamb anyway. The kitchen brought out some duck anyway so i could try it.......unbelievable!! Props on them for that. We were way too full for dessert but they all looked great.
It was a little pricey, but portions were big and quality high, so...you get what you pay for.
Place has a nice South American feel........ every bit of the place is wrapped up in the theme....nice touch. Sangria was tasty also.
I will be back
Turns out South American food is pretty damn good!
After reading all of the blue ribbon reviews, we stopped in the Q'ero for dinner and got an appetizer cornucopia. The ceviche with cornnuts was pretty much amazing, as were the vegetable empanadas with the unique spicy sauce. There was a beef-filled potato that touched me too. The appetizer thing was a super idea-- each of the dishes was a big winner and two people got Thanksgiving full for the same price as one of the pricier entrees while enjoying a mighty variety. Patrick the waiter was superb-- not only very attentive but knowledgeable about a unique cuisine as well.
Big recommendation: Call ahead to reserve a table. We walked up and contended with a big crowd. They were nice enough to fit us in at one of the outdoor tables, but there is no booze outside so we weren't able to sample the sangria that everyone was rambling on about (thanks a lot, Puritans of Encinitas).
Anyway, try this place.
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Delicious, well presented food. The staff was very nice and attentive, but not especially polished (typical for a family-type operation). Short ribs were great and the fish sandwich was tops, but don't leave without trying the Tres Leches Cake.
Great little place to eat when you want an intimate place where food quality matches the friendly, rustic charm of the interior.
I found out about this special place from the good folks of the Sean O'Shea Foundation http://www.seanosheafo..., and now I join the legions of Yelpers who love, love, LOVE this restaurant!!!!
It seems almost redundant to post a review on this restaurant if you look at the 39 previous reviews...but OMG I would not have believed how good this place is had I not sat down and enjoyed a meal for myself. I'm still in food heaven from today's lunch!!!
Shame on me that I can't remember the name of the yummy beverage I had (nonalcoholic with lots of fruit in it). The maduros were perfection...that sweet sticky goodness without being too mushy or dry. The Amici greens were well dressed and who knew carmelized pepitas would be such a nice complement? The sea bass ceviche is out of this world - a divine combination of citrus and heat, replete with some kind of toasted nut or seed (piñon?) and yucca.
I would have been happy enough if the meal stopped there, but the main entrees were off the hook! The Aji de Gallina was tender and flavorful (a little firey too!) and was complemented nicely by a side of quinoa. My friend's Bistek a la Trujillana was a fiesta for the mouth - the spectrum of flavors I've not yet experienced until today. One bite of tender beef, carmelized onions, sauteed greens, and roasted sweet potatoes equals pure bliss!!!
Save room for dessert, though, the Tulum tart has strawberries & raspberries atop a crumbly crust with cream is simply amazing. I kept eating bite after bite, enjoying the flavors and textures of the light and satisfying dessert. I wish I knew how to make this!!!
Not only is this Tulum tart extraordinary to the tastebuds, it has special inspiration and meaning. For each Tulum tart purchased at Q'ero, the proceeds are donated to the Sean O'Shea foundation (see Page 3 of the spring newsletter http://seanosheafounda...).
~Namaste~
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Holy guacamole. The food is GOOD.
My co-workers and I went for lunch - reservations of course!
We ordered a couple appetizers and sides and we ended up sharing:
Ceviche: It was a little too tart to me. i had sour lemon face.
Antojitos: Yum. Crispy. Slightly garlicky. Dipping sauce had a slight kick.
Calamari: It was delicious. It's almost stewlike, but the calamary has a slight crunch since it's lightly fried. They also threw in some wicked chile de arbols in. This had to be one of my favorites.
Platano Relleno: This was really good too. The sweetness was really yummy.
Llapingacho: This was also really good and also another favorite. This was only one serving, but we just ended up cutting it all in small pieces because we wanted to try it. I thought the cornmeal would add sweetness to it, but the balance was perfect.
We all ordered different dishes, and we asked the waiter what was good. He practically recommended all the entrees!
I ended up getting the Costillas en Jora ( beef shortribs braised in chica de jora beer served over aji amarillo seasoned mash potatoes). The ribs were tender and falling off the bone. It was super soft, and just came apart in your mouth. It was very filling though, and I only ate half. The potatoes were just amazing and creamy. It was also topped with these crunchy cornlike things.
My coworkers also loved what they ordered - the Arroz con Pato, the Aji de Gallina (she mentioned it had a kick to it though), and the Bistek a la Trujillana.
I don't think you can go wrong with what you order here.
We were so stuffed, but we just had to try the tres leches cake.
The waiter said it's on the heavier side, but I didn't think so at all (but then again I'm a dessert person and love sweets). We thought it was very good!
And - the sangria is SO yummy! We kept getting pitchers. It almost has a prune-like taste to it, can't put my finger on it, but it's one of the best sangrias I've had. It also seems like it has some sort of "spice" or cinammon or something in it......... We inquired if we could get it to go. And you can buy a gallon of it -- but not immediately. You'd have to order it. YUM.
I'm so grateful the staff is friendly and let my two friends and I squish into a small table after closing, perhaps they saw the hunger in our eyes. The thing that most impressed me at El Q'ero was the plantain cakes stuffed with black beans(they come as a side). Now, I have never been that big a fan of the plantain, but that night my world changed. The plantain cake blew me away, amazing, my favorite part of the meal. Everything else we had was divine as well, but the plantain cake you must try, and its only $3! FANTASTIC! El Q'ero is tinee tiny, which imparts a intimate and warm vibe, but it is popular, so it may be a wise to make reservations.
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My best experiences at this restaurant have been when we booked as a group of 6 and ordered the pairing dinner. It's a bit expensive.. but not for what you get. There are about 6 courses, all paired with a different wine, and the food is created especially for your group. The chef (who is amazing) creates a menu based on the freshest ingredients and whatever inspires her. Its definitely an dining experience and not just a meal.
So if you are looking for an intimate experience, this is a good place to go. This also means it will be best for you to make a reservation before you do go. If you happen to be enjoying the evening with an arrogant despot that decides a reservation is not needed, then they might make room for you as they did when I went. Seeing how the staff was so willing to serve such a worthless piece of humanity was very impressive. I ordered some chicken thing and the Sangria. I enjoyed both and recommend anyone to try the Sangria here. Take your most annoying company here or suggest it on a charity date, regardless of how infuriating the other person/people are you might still enjoy the evening.
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I'm glad they finally changed their name to El Qero from "Amici's". I think, in the past, it was somewhat ignored because it sounded like yet another Italian place in Encinitas (you'd think there is a rampant witness relocation program going on there, every other restaurant is Italian).
I hope they don't expand the size, I like the feel of dining in someone's living room.
The food is great, obviously, it's a perfect romantic dining spot.
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A 10/10 on:
1) Ambience
2) Service..slow but good company is all you need to kill the time as you wait for your order!
3) Delicious food
4) Dependable recipes
5) Surprisingly fresh seafood!
Be absolutely sure to reserve a table atleast a day in advance. This is in the heart of Encinitas amidst the hustle & bustle of the neighborhood! I will recommend this place to anyone, anyday..Note that they are closed on Sundays (yeah!) & Mondays! Bon appetit!
Hop into your coche, use your imagination and take flight to Peru. Your experience at El Q'ero will be a few grand short of a spectacular vacation. Located off the 101 in charming Old Encinitas, El Q'ero is my "cheapo vacation-o" where the ambience is warm and the delicious wine (and PHE-NOM-E-NAL Sangria! Ay ay!) warms your palette. The food, well, it's worth the somewhat hefty price tag- undoubtedly as every plate I've received at Q'ero has made my heart sing and tummy smile. The Empanadas are mind blowing; the steak is, as my mother has said, "the best steak she's had in her 58 years". If the addictive Argie wine hasn't gotten to your head and the euphoric food hasn't thrust you home to make passionate love to your partner (think "Zorro" folks) then be sure to take in your surroundings. The burnt orange walls are covered in Peruvian garb, ornate ceramics and enviable tapestries. Ask your server for one of the two owners, they'll gladly hop on board your whimsical vacation as a bonafied tour guide explaining the history behind the artwork. Before you know it you'll be saying, "La comida es delicioso y el restarante es hermoso" or the "The food is delicious-o and the restaurant is beautifulio"- I'm guessing the latter of two if the wine and Sangria have kicked in. Make sure your return flight home is a safe one and hail one of the many cabs zooming up and down San Agustn, I mean, Highway 101.
Hiccup...
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Quite possibly the best calamari on the planet.
Formerly Amici, El Q'ero is a wonderful find and unique dining experience for San Diego at large and Encinitas in particular. The restaurant is small and very personal; expect to wait if you don't have reservations. I would not call it "fine" dining albeit the food is delicious and as fine as any I have had in San Diego. Rather it is fine food and casual dining - my husband and I love the Peruvian - South American ethnic cuisine served as do my children. Bring a fat wallet; it is a splurge, but so yummy and flavorful its worth it.
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I decided to eat here after I read all of the great reviews. Food was pretty good, but not for the price. The ambience wasn't that great and the service was just OK. There are so many other great restaurants on the area that I doubt I will be eating here again.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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04/24/2008
I decided to eat here after I read all of the great reviews. Food was pretty good, but not for the… Read more »
The General Yelp community loves this place, as there are many glowing reviews.
Consider this glowing:
Go there. Bring friends. You'll Love it.
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Talk about luck! Fools that we are, my friend and I were dying to try El Q'ero and figured if we got there early (5:30), we'd have no problem getting in. Well, we ended up waiting to see if someone didn't show for their reservations - and as promised by the kind host/waiter - we were whisked to our table (and away to Peru) at exactly 6:15! I wanted one of everything on the menu, but opted for the short rib (which was to DIE for). The sangria was PERFECT on this hot sultry nite, as was the food, the service, and the entire experience. I'll be going back again and again until I try everything on the menu - and I'll keep going back even after that.
If I could I would give this place a 4.5, they were pretty close to spectacular.
My sister, wife and I checked this place out based on a recommendation. This place certainly seemed off the beaten trail, and we were excited to try Peruvian food. Upon arriving, we immediately noticed the size of this place- not that big. Thankfully we had reservations and we were seated immediately.
The decor was very unique and had a warm feeling to it. Our server was friendly, attentive and knowledgable of the menu. We felt like we were in for a pretty good evening, and sure enough, that's what we got.
For dinner we all tried something different. My wife got the lamb, I ordered the chicken in a walnut and and aji sauce, and my sister got the seabass. My wife's lamb was excellent- tender, flavorful and delicious. My sister's sea bass (a fish I can't say I really expected much out of) turned out to be stupendous as well. As for my chicken, though it was tender and flavored well, compared to the other dishes, I felt it was a little plain. I probably shouldn't have tried my wife or sister's dishes, but how could I not? For dessert we got these cookies made with dulce de leche. Even though the cookies were dry, the dulce de leche inside carried them the whole way, they were quite impressive. Overall, it was a very satisfying evening.
The prices are moderate at this place, with entrees ranging from $20-30, with the portions being pretty decent, and the flavors being more than excellent. If you're looking for a different kind of restaurant for a casual meal, this would be a great place to check out. I would advise making reservations as space is limited.
My partner is Peruvian. We are always looking for authentic Peruvian Restaurants whenever we travel. Recently, we traveled to San Diego's North County for dinner at El Q'ero and were truly impressed with the restaurant.
To our detriment I had not made reservations and although there was seating available outside, I was just getting over a cold. The owner, Monica, and several of the wait staff were so kind and informed us that if we were willing to wait, they would make room for us in 30 minutes. We went across the street and had a glass of wine and returned 30 minutes later to have one of the best Peruvian repasts we have had outside of Peru.
The food was lovely, beautifully seasoned, and beautifully served. We started out with some of our favorite appetizers just to get a sense of how authentic the food was. We had empanaditas de verdura (not your grandmother's empanadas), anticuchos, and calamari a la diablada. All of the foods were a nice slightly modernized version of the original Peruvian delights. I had the Aji Gallina and my partner had the Ceviche special of the day which was an Ahi with aji sauce. Everything was wonderful.
I have no doubt that if the restaurant was twice the size it would be full, the wait staff were kind, the food was delicious, the owner was present and as I mentioned accommodating. We will definitely make the trip to dine there again in the future frequently!
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I had the opportunity to eat here on two occassions during their first week of business, and considering this place is getting great recognition and rapport it's next to impossible to mosey on over to this establishment any given day for lunch/dinner due to two factors:
1) limited amount of space (small dining area)
2) Reservations limit an opportunity to spotaneously walk in this place to simply eat lunch.
Note to readers as I already noted to myself: If you want to enjoy lunch/dinner book reservations.
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One day over a year ago when I was wandering up and down Moonlight Beach by myself, I decided to go up and down PCH to find lunch. I was intrigued by El Q'ero's unassuming outward appearance, especially in the midst of all the boutiques and Italian places peppering beachside Encinitas. I was able to be seated right away, as I must've been there at an off-peak time. I had what I can only call the Peruvian equivalent of a hamburger and french fries (slow cooked beef and what I think were yucca fries), and I was very well taken care of by the staff, and thought the food was delicious.
Cut to several months later when I was there on a first date. Luckily I had the foresight to make a reservation, and also lucky for us, we didn't wait too long to be seated. The staff, again, was friendly and one of the servers even bought me and my date a bottle of red wine! Neither one of us were terribly familiar with the cuisine, so we just picked things that sounded good based on description, and everything was fantastic. I would recommend this to anyone, but especially for couples. Said date and I did not seek to continue a relationship, but we definitely still had a good time! The intimate atmosphere, relaxed (but friendly and attentive) pace of service, and delicious food lend itself to a great date.
I recommend the house specialty drink, chicha morada. It's quite unique and tasty!
I can't wait to go back with my boyfriend for our next anniversary, as I've been telling him about it for months.
Edit: 4-24-08: Aforementioned bf and I went for dinner on a Wednesday night shortly following my review. He fell in love with his entree, the halibut special, and we've even been back another time since. Now every time we discuss where to go for dinner, El Q'ero comes up at his suggestion. :-) I think we're going to try to save visits, though, to keep it special.
This is another one of those, "what can I say that hasn't already been said", reviews.
I loved it! I was staying in Del Mar for a few "get away days" from Chula Vista and we stopped in for lunch. We had yelped the Del Mar area and El Q'ero came up. So we called ahead and they recommended a reservation.
So we arrived around 11:30 am and were seated promptly. The afore mentioned crowds were yet to arrive.
I can see the frustrations that some have called to our attention but if you expect that going in then you will have a wonderful dining experience.
*Make reservations, but be prepared for a wait. And if you decide you want to go during prime hours, don't get pissed if you have to wait.
*Go with plenty of time to eat. And don't use logic when you get your food (How can it take 30 minutes for this?). Once you start eating you won't care because it's good food. And we have already told you so!
Go with plenty of time to eat without concerning yourself with the usual 15 meal. Stay and relax, don't go with anyone you don't want to have a long conversation with.
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I love food. I know good food. And I know really good South American food (having grown up on it and also having eaten it as an adult when visiting the boyfriend's motherland).
El Q'ero (formerly Amici) is a-m-a-z-i-n-g. I've been several times with different friends, and the service, food, and atmosphere never disappoint. Having said that -- here are the things you should know:
1.) It's slow food. (Think high quality, fresh, local ingredients that haven't sat under a heat lamp.) Your meal is an experience to savor and you'll enjoy the time and care put into procuring the ingredients and preparing your food.
2.) If you're a vegetarian, this isn't the place for you. Beef (and lots of it) are on the menu, along with pork, chicken, and seafood.
3.) You need a reservation if it's dinner -- with only two seatings a night (see slow food, above) and a tiny dining room, them's the rules.
4.) Save room for dessert. If that means saving part of your entree for tomorrow's lunch, so be it. You have been warned.
Personal faves: the calamari appetizer, lomo saltado, arepas, or anything on the specials menu ... wash them down with a nice Malbec. (The co-owner will give you a great recommendation and tell you a bit about the place if you ask him. At this point, I know about his son -- he's the little boy in the big painting on the wall to the right of the door -- and how it is that he's always at the restaurant.) For dessert: the tres leches cake and the alfajores with the tawny port. (It's criminal to leave without having enjoyed at least one of these postres.)
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this is my favorite restaurant because of one thing:
tres leches cake! i would marry this cake if i could. seriously the best thing ever created!
aside from that, it's got charm, personality and the best food youve ever had. ive tried many things here and they have all been amazing with a unique blend of spices and sauces. one that stands out was a fillet with berry sauce (cant remember what berry because i had never heard of it) . make reservations regardless what day of the week because they are always booked.
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finally went here after all these years, and i have to say it was able to live up to the hype. i never understood how a place so small could be a restaurant, but at night when its packed, its so cozy and nice. the menu is interesting and filled with food i have never had before. i got the braised lamb with cumin and cilantro and it was excellent. the serving size was huge and the sauce was amazing. my boyfriend got the steak with caramelized onions. and he too was pleased. good portion sizing, and every flavor and ingredient was delicious. i only wish this place were a little less expensive, but even so i will be back, if only for another special occasion.
note: the peruvian beer is not really that great, tastes very similar to beer i have brewed at home. i would recommend wine here.
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Make this yet another glowing review! Boyfriend and I celebrated our 6 mo. anniversary at the cozy romantic corner table in the back. Everything was perfectly prepared and presented. We absolutely loved the seabass ceviche, short ribs and rack of lamb special. The ceviche had so much flavor, not just an overwhelming lemon flavor, but a nice spicy kick too. The short rib was so tender and melty. I was only able to have a small bite of the lamb before the bf devoured it, although I had a few bites of his yummy sweet potato and fresh kale. Patrick recommended a lovely wine which complemented our meals well. Although we couldn't eat another bite, we somehow made room for Tres Leches Cake AND chocolate espresso torte, both excellent.
Service was excellent, we didn't have to wait for our reservation (on a Tuesday night) and certainly felt welcome to enjoy our desserts well after the restaurant closed at 9:00. We can't wait to go back and try the skirt steak or seabass!
Great food. I highly recommend the Empanaditas De Verdura and for a main course, the Rack Of Lamb. Good wine selection, service was a bit slow, but very attentive. Don't forget to order the Flan, it is some of the best I've had anywhere. If you don't like much noise, the constant din of conversation and music will be compensated by the excellent dishes.
They also feature a great collection of Naive art, characterized by a childlike simplicity.
This is one of those places that I hesitate to recommend, because I don't want to share this wonderful intimate gem with the rest of the world. I'd rather keep it all to myself. That being said, the very authentic peruivan/south american food is so wonderful and the service so top notch...this restaurant deserves nothing but publicized raves!
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3 letters to describe this place - W O W!!!!!!!!!!
First, this isn't a place I'd usually try. I'm not a big Peruvian/South American food lover (at least not before) so I would not search this place out. Turns out, didn't have to. My wife's grandparents received a gift certificate here from some friends but it was a little too north of SD for them and they knew we would be in the area celebrating our anniversary so they gave it to us. We weren't sure what to expect because we couldn't find anything online except a few glowing Yelp reviews.
We first tried to call and make reservations for a Tuesday night but they weren't open and a message on the machine said they were closed on MON and all reservations for SAT were taken already... (good sign). So we called TUES morning only to find out they were closed for a wedding. We finally nailed down a reservation on THUR.
The place is small. Only about 11-12 tables inside and another 2-3 outside. Some fit 4, some fit 2, anything larger you'll need reservations for sure. It is also very colorfully decorated with a South American theme. We had a table for 2 in what seemed was the main walkway through the restaurant but oh well.
We each had a couple glasses of Sangria which was just ok and I'm a big Sangria fan. We detected either banana or plantain in the drink which seemed a little off but overall it was still good.
For apps we had to get the "orgasmic sea bass ceviche" as described in another review below. It was awesome. It was my first time trying such a dish and I loved it which says a lot. Very flavorful! We also ordered a chicken empanada based on the owner's recommendation. It was pretty good. They put olives, raisins and some other odd additions inside but it was good. Not orgasmic ceviche good, but good.
For the main course, my wife got the lamb shank and loved it. It was cooked well and served with rice and veggies in a thick gravy type pool. I ordered the skirt steak and was blown away. This thing had sooooo much flavor, melted in your mouth, was just awesome. I'm not aware of the different Spanish spices used but this thing was great. We had no room for dessert but other people seemed pleased. The lamb chop special was also available that night and it seemed someone at most every table ordered at least one because we saw them go by a bunch of times and we were getting jealous.
Walk-ups had quite a wait to get in but as I was walking out, I told them it was worth it. If I could give this place 7 or 10 stars I would. It was one of the best meals I have ever had in a restaurant. We can't wait to go back!!!!
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Update 9/17 -
Had the opportunity to return here tonight with my wife to meet up with her dad and sister for a meal. Made reservations ahead of time which of course was a good idea. This place does not rush you and dinner can easily be 1.5 to 2 hours. Sorry, I'm not adventurous so I ordered the Ceviche and Bistek a la Trujillana again and again was BLOWN AWAY. I think this might be my favorite restaurant. I also talked my wife into the Bistek. My sister in law order the Lomo Saltado which was also very good but I prefer the Bistek. My father in law ordered the pork shank special. Get this, it was slow roasted like a osso bucco and then fried at the end to be moist on the inside and crispy on the outside. Kinda like carnitas only 100 times better! The restaurant was full so I cannot stress enough, MAKE A RESERVATION.
DOUBLE WOW!!!!!
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I've tried to eat here twice, albeit without reservations. First time I walked into the tiny, yet busy, room with enticing aromas wafting pleasantly. There was no hostess and all the servers and busboy (or is he a server too?) were frantically running around. I finally had to body-block a waiter and ask if there was a list/wait. He pointed with his chin, as his hands were holding a couple plates, to a table in the corner, and said 5-10 minutes.
So we waited outside. 10 minutes went by. Another 15. Finally 20 minutes had passed. Several times a server and busboy passed by us on the sidewalk while serving the 2 or 3 outdoor tables. Nobody acknowledged us.
We waited and tried to get eye contact with the waiter who'd promised the table. Meanwhile the table had cleared. But for another 10 minutes the dirty dessert dishes remained on the table. Nobody said a word to us.
There never was so much as a "sorry but the couple at your table is taking longer than we expected". Or, "sorry it's taking longer can I get you [...] while you wait?"
It's not cheap -- entrees run $25+ And while it's small, I firmly believe they should have a hostess, or a manager or someone who has a bit of restaurant decorum, hospitality and customer service skills, to greet customers, take names or at least smile and try to offer some assistance.
The next time we tried the place again it was busy. Always a good sign. Again, no hostess. No acknowledgment as I walked into the crowded room.
To be successful in the dining business, it's imperative to have customer service training. The staff here is not trained to great customers. There's no obvious point of contact when you walk in. It's a detriment to future success if you rely entirely on your wait staff to seat people, deliver menus or take names.
I want to try El Q'ero, but if I swing and miss on my 3rd attempt - game over.
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Fast forward a few weeks. So I finally made a reservation. It was a weeknight (place is closed Sunday and Monday) so I figured best to tempt my taste buds and palate when the weekend crowd isn't pouring out the door.
I noticed other tables were reserved by cute handwritten and personalized "reserved" signs. Though my name wasn't on any. My feelings weren't hurt as long as I got a seat. Which happened swiftly.
I noted that there was only a bus-boy and a one server who seated us, handed us our menus and then disappeared. When he came back he had a puzzled look on his face when we answered "no" to his question on whether somebody had come by to take our drink order. Odd, I thought. Who would take our drink order? The bus-boy? There was no bartender that I could see.
We ordered a glass of wine from the small but almost exclusviley South American wine list. The chardonnay-viognier blend was nice, but nothing special. I did notice that their wine list, though small and eclectic, is reasonably priced. And the selection of wines by the glass is decent.
I started with the ceviche. But against my first instincts I ordered the ahi instead of the sea bass. The ahi was served fresh and tasty not unlike ahi tar tar with avocado. This is not at all like the greatest ceviche I've had along the coast of Peru. So next time I will order the sea bass ceviche which is prepared in the traditional style.
Meanhwhile I ordered a bottle of red wine. This took some time and when the bus boy came by to drop our 2nd appetizer (we were sharing and spacing out the dishes as courses) the bus boy acknowledged that the server would bring our wine but they were chilling it down. I ordered one of the more expensive bottles ($80) on the list. Nice to see that in this SoCal heat it's better to serve a red wine at 57 degrees +/- rather than 70+. But I wish they'd have proper wine storage.
When the server did bring the bottle of red he chatted with us as he uncorked the bottle and then proceeded to pour it into the same glass and on top of the dregs of the white wine. Which frankly I do at home all the time. But at a fine restaurant I would expect a change or stemware; or at the very least to ask me the question and let it be my decision if I wanted to have my expensive red poured into the same glasses as I had my wine-by-the-glass white. I should note that the stemware is of good quality, for those who care about such things.
My friend ordered a mix grill of scallops, shrimp and sea bass. She enjoyed very much but thought our appetizer salad and ceviche were much better. I enjoyed the short ribs served on a bed of potatoes. It was outstanding.
Overall, I love the menu and the food is very good. But at these prices and with the service that doesn't match, El Q'ero needs to take things up a notch if they expect to keep the crowds. You see El Q'ero is essentially a re-badge/rebranded Amici restaurant. I can only think that they needed to freshen up the image as the old Amici was tiring out in an increasingly competitive Encinitas dining scene.
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You absolutely must have a reservation at El Q'ero (formerly Amici) because it is tiny and the food is totally awesome. It's always packed and if you just show up you will have to wait. Even without reservations it is worth calling ahead to try to get on the list before you arrive.
Since the restaurant is so small they do not have a proper hostess stand. A waiter can just point your table out to you. Don't be afraid to just grab whoever appears to be in charge when you first walk in to ask about your table. They are busy, but very nice. I've never had trouble getting a waiter's attention.
All of the food is really delicious. The Peruvian flavor is really unique and not at all what I was expecting when I first ate here. This restaurant is part of the slow food movement, so you get the opportunity to eat at a really leisurely pace. If you are in a hurry and have a plane to catch or something, don't eat here. When I used to go here all the time, my regular thing to get was the Amici Greens with goat cheese, which I split with my dining partner, and either the empanaditas or the vegetarian dish I can't pronounce or remember the name of, but which contains mushrooms, asparagus, and quinoa, and is the tastiest vegetarian dish ever made. The salad comes with a great citrus dressing, and the sauce on the entree is indescribable, but awesome.
The service is excellent, very attentive, but not overly formal. The head waiter was familiar with me and knew my name and regular order within my first few visits, which I found very flattering and professional.
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One of the few authentic restaurants, staying high and dry against a tsunami of corporate eateries.
Chef Monica takes food seriously. She's been an active leader in the Slow Food movement. (If you don't know about that, just think of what would be the opposite of fast food. Hint: think healthy, tasty, carefully and lovingly prepared using locally grown food by someone who knows the growers.)
It's important to know this is small restaurant, and it's been discovered. So, sorry to say, but this place that used to be a secret of locals is now getting busy, almost too busy. The food hasn't suffered, though, just some sensitive souls who seem in a rush.
When planning to go here, it's best to take a nice, deep breath, repeat that important culture-forming word "Manana" to yourself, and if you can't get in for that special night, have a second day in mind. Slow down, enjoy the experience.
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El Q'ero was fantastic!
The space is intimate and the service friendly without being fussy or pretentious. We had reservations at 8:30, but were seated when we got there an hour early - major points for making us feel welcome!
The food - the FOOD!! We started with an amazing duck appetizer - it was delish, and definitely large enough to share including mashed sweet potatoes and greens. The flavors of everything were so intense and really well balanced.
Mains were the short ribs and the pork special of the night (not the chop...forget what the cut was called). Of the two, the pork leg was the stand-out. It was crispy on the outside and very tender on the inside. The yucca was a perfect compliment to it. Again, really complex flavors. The short ribs were very tender and tasty.
For dessert we ordered the Tulum tart. OMG - you must try this dessert! It was perfect in every way. Great, unusual textured walnut crust, light as air but rich, creamy filling. It was amazing. I want to serve this instead of cake at my wedding. YUM.
This is a must-try spot.
We were driving down Coast Highway, looking for something great for lunch, something nonmexican and something nonchain. We found Q'ero while searching and couldnt pass it up when we walked by, it smelled so amazing. We had a slight wait for seating, but the place was packed. We had never had any Peruvian food, so we asked the waiter what to get, he suggested the Ceviche and Aji de Gallani. Both were out of this world. Each had a slight bite to them, but were flavorful and delicate at the same time. We loved this restaurant. We would recommend it to anyone who loves good "slowcooked" food!
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Surprisingly delicious! I took my girlfriend to El Q'ero last night and we didn't really know what to expect. Here's what we got: some of the best Sangrias we have had in a loooong time, then a delicious hand made chicken empanada as an appetizer. For the main course, I had the sea bass plate (AWESOME), and she ordered a "something something de Jora" that was ridiculously good. We topped it off with a passion fruit desert that was also delicioso!
It's a bit pricey, but I highly recommend this place! 5 Stars :))
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Q'ero is one of my favorite Encinitas restaurants for a nicer meal. Last time we had the ceviche, squid, beef short ribs and the filet mignon special. Everything was perfect except the sangria. I always forget they dice the fruit and put ice in it. Entrees for dinner are 20 - 30. There is Peruvian beer, wine by the glass, and bottles are 30+. Q'ero does not seat many so be sure to call ahead for reservations.
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Great food, great evening with friends, and a wonderful host. We had the chef's dinner, so much food we couldn't have any more. I'd highly suggest the calamari, the braised beef, and the tres leches for dessert.
Enjoy!
Also known as Amici's, located on the Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas, the atmosphere is cozy, warm, and the food is exquisite. Fresh, and well prepared food is served by people who care. The best dining experience in Encinitas. What a gem.
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