Central Restaurante

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#111 of 3,491 Restaurants in Lima₹₹₹₹, Peruvian, Vegetarian friendly

+51 1 2428515+ Add website

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Hours

Mon

12:45 pm - 1:45 pm9:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Tue

12:45 pm - 1:45 pm9:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Wed

12:45 pm - 1:45 pm9:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Thu

12:45 pm - 1:45 pm9:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Fri

12:45 pm - 1:45 pm9:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Sat

12:45 pm - 1:45 pm9:00 pm - 8:30 pm

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What is Travellers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Ratings and reviews

4.5

3,448 reviews

#111 of 3,491 Restaurants in Lima

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Details

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PRICE RANGE

₹13,854.00 – ₹22,513.00

CUISINES

Peruvian

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

meals, features

Location and contact

Av. Pedro de Osma 301 Barranco, Lima 15063 Peru

+51 1 2428515

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Details

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PRICE RANGE

₹13,854.00 – ₹22,513.00

CUISINES

Peruvian

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

Meals

Dinner

FEATURES

Reservations, Private Dining, Seating, Street Parking, Valet Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service

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4.5

3,448 reviews

Excellent

2,440

Very good

508

Average

233

Poor

134

Terrible

133

Paloma S

Panama City36 contributions

Interesting

Nov 2020 • couples

The reservation website is not 100% functional. There is a need to send emails to confirm the reception of the reservation request. Arrival with friendly staff for reception. We were asked to put on different face masks. We took the small tasting menu and honestly it was too much food. I couldn't finish it all. The dishes were quite interesting. Many different types of food from different parts of Peru. Lots of research behind each dish. Dishes nicely presented with some real examples of the ingredients. Servers seem to have a straightforward speech that they quickly recite upon presenting each dish. When asked questions, the answers are quite general and seem to relate to local information/ingredients, not necessarily easy for outsiders/people not so knowledgeable of peruvian ingredients. We opted for the wine pairing and, unfortunately, this was a complete dissapointment. One wine serving was to last for two dishes. However, the servings were less than one ounce (about one small sip!) making it impossible to have a full wine pairing experience. Furthermore, the wine presentation seemed to repeat a fixed speech and did not offer any knowledgeable answers to the questions asked about the wine or what could have been a pairing experience (not much to do as servings we're extremely limited). Overall the experience is interesting and good as many different ingredients are offered. The restaurant has service-related elements to improve.

Written 9 November 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alexandros S

14 contributions

What an experience !!!!!

Feb 2020 • none

I have been traveling around the world, mostly Europe, for the last twenty years trying to eat at the best restaurants each place has. I would say I have been to quite a few. Usually restaurants with one, two ,three Michelin stars. Central was the best experience I had in my life by far !!! Central is on another level. What can I say about the flavor of the food , the wine pairing , the service, the staff !!! Perfection !!! This is art you can see,smell,touch,feel,taste. Almost every dish brought tears to my eyes with the deep and sophisticated flavor. The service was like a choreography. the pairing of the international wines was a perfect marriage with each dish. The restaurant has its own little factory for purifying the water they use to cook and serves you to drink , still and carbonated . Easy worth traveling to Lima to have this experience . Probably I will go again when there is a new menu even though I have to change four airplanes and travel for a day. It is totally worth it . Thank you Virgilio Martínez Véliz and your team for an extraordinary experience . I will never forget it.

Written 20 February 2020

Souniio

Athens123 contributions

Unmissable dining experience

Feb 2020 • couples

Wow what can I say without using a bunch of superlatives!? From the moment you arrive at Central you are immersed in the concept by the exceptional staff who are always attentive without being intrusive. The room is beautiful and the tables well spaced. The 16 course tasting menu was a feast for the senses and takes you on a tour from the depths of the Pacific to the heights of the Peruvian Andes; flavours complement one another and there are lots of surprises for the palate. I won’t go on too much except to say it was probably one of the best dining experiences I have ever had and one I will never forget. Peruvian gastronomy is rightly famous and Central takes it to another level. One more special mention for the amazing staff, they really are to be commended on their professionalism, friendly attitude and attention to detail. Tip: book well in advance!

Written 14 February 2020

ClubdeiPensieri

Berlin5 contributions

An intricate web of lies with a melting heart of deception

Aug 2020 • none

You thought the world’s #6 ranking restaurant should serve food that actually tastes good? You fool. Philistine. Rube. Stop staring at the deconstructed pumpkin dream, lay to rest your delusions and let me emulsify you back to reality. What are we actually looking at? A disgrace to Peruvian food or the epitome of the Peruvian hype? Probably both since you can get better-tasting foods on the streets of Peru and yet, it’s clear that places like Central have been instrumental in raising Lima’s profile as a foodie haven… So what to make of it? Well, the first mistake not to make is thinking that your palate is in for a treat. Rather, you’re in for an elaborate ‘journey’ through a concept articulated around a series of dishes. While the idea of a conceptually driven menu is in itself rather exciting, perhaps someone forgot to tell Virgil that a real culinary 'Gesamtkunstwerk' should effectively engage all your taste buds, not just be served on fancy plates with an elaborate narrative backdrop… Unfortunately, the main problem of Central is that it’s a hoax built on smokescreens and mirrors. On a purely culinary scale, while a few plays on texture are clever and some taste combinations are effective, its food effectively ranges from subpar to good but nothing more, with most dishes actually tasting barely OK to pretty average. A boring fisherman’s pie in a carved out old pumpkin? Voilà! Some vegetable crisps artfully dropped on atol or scallops? This way, please. A dry old seaweed cake that tastes like yet another boring kale crisp? Say no more. Some ridiculous balls of dough - I’m sorry, ‘flying potato’ - which are so tasteless you HAVE to dip them in stuff? You had me at 'flying'... In the end, this is no haute gastronomie, but merely haute bullsh*t (also known bullshiitaké). Nothing more than an elaborate bluff for uneducated palates. Sure, it features Andine/South Peruvian and Amazonian/North Peruvian ingredients (corn, cocona, mashwa, oca, paiche, plantain, amaranth/kiwicha) but their processing is bland, boring, unimaginative and akin to namedropping. This is no way to bring out the unique flavours of these ingredients, and no way to showcase the culinary traditions of Peru’s communities. It’s essentially an ego trip propelled by a good eye for creative plating. Sadly, it seems that Virgil makes up in conceptual flair, marketing skills and decorum antics what he lacks in real culinary talent. In other words, you sure as hell don’t go to Central to get any taste bang for the many bucks it will cost you. You go for an ‘experience’ that does not actually involve food but rather that inedible sense of ‘I’ve been there’, ideally complete with an Instagram picture. Like the foam that surrounds your plate with nothingness. Looking fly but quickly flying by. A dream about a dream that turns into a nightmare for your wallet. Skip this one out if you have a refined palate or enough common sense to think that taste matters.

Written 17 February 2021

Peter S

London15 contributions

Go there if you're in Lima

Jan 2020 • none

We've been to Central as a group of four and had to make the reservation a few months in advance as Central is pretty much fully booked all the time. It's absolutley worth making this effort for the experience - and I'd argue it is a great experience. We had the 12 courses menu (there is also a 16 courses version) resembling different ecosystems in Peru. The restaurant has a research team, which shows in the flavours and textures of each course - they are amazing. We also got a short tour at the end through the restaurant(s), including the 'research lab' and Central's sister restaurant and bar. The beautiful space would be worth going there even without the fantastic food and the service is excellent. All in all highly recommended - don't miss this experience if you are in Lima.

Written 3 February 2020

Silvita

7796 contributions

Incredible culinary experience

Feb 2022 • friends

After many times trying, I finally I got a reservation for lunch… situated in the hip Barranco district, the ambience is elegant / sober / generous. Service personnel is around you making you feel good. We chose the 11 dish tasting menus - a culinary travel experience from the coast to the jungle, every dish using the ingredients of the different sea levels. Every single dish was exquisite in taste and presentation. Being served dessert by Virgilio himself (and being a little startled as I was not expecting it) was for sure the perfect ending of a unforgettable experience. Another plus: they are very accommodating of guests’ needs: one of the party had a seafood allergy and they managed to create a great alternative. Prices were not low (around 180 per person including drinks) but not high compared to other restaurants of this caliber. All in all - a must!

Written 12 February 2022

Kelly2000

New York City121 contributions

Quirky and creative but we left hungry

May 2019 • none

Central is definitely unique. However, half of what was unique was the presentation of the food rather than the food itself. There were some interesting flavor combinations but the portions were so small that you could easily wonder if you tasted something with no possibility to take another bite to confirm. Often dishes consisted of a morsel sitting in an interesting (but inedible) display. Emblematic is a small piece of piranha sitting in a bowl of piranha heads. Can I remember how that little fish scrap tasted? No. I do remember the fish heads. The strangest issue is that my wife and I (who do not have big appetites) actually left a tasting menu hungry. In fact Central has become an inside joke for us. Customer: "that looks delicious". Waiter: "oh no. that is just for looking. this pea in the corner is the part you eat". Food in Peru is excellent. But I've had the "Central" experience and have no need to repeat it.

Written 6 February 2020

Cpmorgan1994

Dallas19 contributions

Culinary Experience

Jul 2019 • none

Debatably the best meal I've had in my life. Splurge for the larger tasting menu and and the wine pairing and you won't be disappointed. Remember that the reservations come out in blocks, so make sure to set a reminder on your calendar to make the reservation so they don't fill up.

Written 5 February 2020

Moni

Chicago674 contributions

Peru expressed with Food

Dec 2020 • couples

I wanted to go to this restaurant always being selected to be amongst the World’s top 10 restaurants. When you enter Central, you enter a new world made of the head chef’s creativity and connection with the diverse universes that exist in Peru. We traveled from the ocean to the high mountains to the Amazon through our meal. Each dish had its own story and made use of the unique ingredients that you can obtain only in Peru. It was a very fun and unique experience. The wine pairing was good too. Best part was if we finished drinking before we finished our plate, they poured more :) Not sure if I’d say the food was the tastiest food ever but it was certainly an experience. Overall: 4 Service: 5 Location: 5 Food/Drinks: 4 Atmosphere: 5

Written 15 January 2021

jvaneede

1 contribution

Interesting but disappointed. No repeat for us.

Sept 2022 • family

Too much Marketing by "the best 50 restaurants in the world". Peru food hyped to its extreme in creativity and display, yet insufficient new flavour and consistence for us, not worth the cost. We had dinner with 4 persons, two non-vegetarian and two vegetarian Altitude menus. Some servings were tasteful but multiple other servings lacked body and flavour, especially in the vegetarian menu. We tried to get the full Peru food experience at Central and were disappointed in what you get. Highly priced compared to other good Peru and other countries' restaurants (4 pers, 2 wine pairings, cost> euro 900). The vegetarian menu had clearly less consistence and flavour. Multiple courses were also smaller. We commented the lack of flavour and size during one of vegetarian servings. Centrals' feedback: 'this is the serving'. Vegetarian menu was charged same as non vegetarian (despite less size and flavour). I hope the staff (all cooks, all servers) get paid well from the high charges; we heard that it is often not the case. 2nd ranked worldwide restaurant: for us over the top. Interior is nice, chairs are comfortable, but temperature in the restaurant is NOT good i.e. it was way too cold. Service was generally friendly. We had dinner at Maido last Aug and there we had more a 'wow' exeperience. Yet also this restaurant is (too) highly priced for Peru and other countries. Going forward will reduce our choice to one star Michelin restaurants or below, meaning restaurants that serve food in a more simple texture in decent portions, yet with a delicate touch (such as the sauce) at a more reasonable price. Lesson learned.

Written 8 September 2022

Angela L

Katy91 contributions

Unique Culinary Experience

May 2021 • none

I made a reservation about a month in advance, because I really wanted to ensure that we had a chance to try this top-rated restaurant. We chose the 'EXPERIENCE MUNDO MATER' experience and it was definitely one of the most interesting food experiences of my life. While the portions separately were small, 14 dishes was a ton of food and I was stuffed by the end. I loved that all the dishes only included local ingredients and the fact there was a bit of a story behind each dish. They also had the altitude ingredients came from for each dish printed on a little menu. Taste wise, the flavors were definitely some of the most unique and distinct I had ever tried. I can't say I loved each dish, but I was definitely excited for each one once when they brought it out. There is an immense attention to detail and utensils were changed every time a new dish came out. Some dishes were delicious, others I would not eat again, but I am glad that I got a chance to try them all.

Written 7 June 2021

Cat & Stephen

Minneapolis4 contributions

Extremely thoughtful, well-crafted tasting menu that highlights unique local ingredients

Jan 2021 • none

In just having another conversation last night with friends about the best restaurants we have visited in the world, Central once again was the highlight of the conversation. We visited in January 2021, it's now October, and we are still passionately raving about the experience. Of course the service and ambiance were exactly what you'd expect in a high caliber restaurant, but it was the menu here that really shined for us. We chose the Creatividad tasting menu, which took us though a journey of ingredients from the Amazon up and over the Andes (not sure particularly in that order, but that was the theme). Thank you Central for giving us an opportunity to experience native Peruvian ingredients in such a fun, delicious way!

Written 4 October 2021

Hector FLores

2 contributions

Overrated perhaps?

Jul 2022 • none

We visited Central in mid-year 202 with a group of younger colleagues. While we ere impressed with the service and performance, we were disappointed with the food. Portions were extremly small, in many cases one bite, served in oversiezed stone with an exaggerated amount of non edible stuff. After just a few months, we do not remember anything notable or remarkable about wht we ate. We are both professionals with knowledge of biodiversity and food history, as well as having experienced truly unique and extraordinary resturants. We regret that Central was not such an experience.

Written 6 January 2023

Esl351

Melbourne137 contributions

a unique dining experience

Nov 2022 • none

At around AUD600 (including wine/alcohol pairing) this was the perfect (if extravagant) end to our Peru holiday. However for the second best restaurant probably good value. We had visited the high mountains, the cloud forest and the arid coast in the preceding few weeks, all of which are represented in the 14 course degustation. (coca, munya, corn and potato varieties had all featured heavily in our Peruvian dining and were variously represented in the different courses - each set at a different altitude). There is a lot of food served at a decent clip - sort of feels like you need to give the wait staff notice if you are planning a trip to the bathroom. We had been to the sister restaurant MIL during a trip which was cut short by pandemic border closures in 2020 so also had much of the background of the concept.

Written 6 December 2022

SHFT54

Miami1217 contributions

Bucket List Worthy

May 2022 • none

Complete and utter WOW! Decadent, inventive, fun and most importantly, delicious. Upon entering we were greeted by a staff member that explained how the meal was to be served (by altitudes, from many different regions of Peru). She guided us to a display table with ingredients that most will be unfamiliar with. The dining room is opulent, and we were sat a table made completely of marble with extremely comfortable chairs. The kitchen is easily observed from any spot in the dining room and is entertaining in and of itself. A total food lab. The food was inventive, fun to eat, beautiful to look at to the point where it was almost a shame to dig in to some of them. Menu turns over due to availability, but we thoroughly enjoyed all of our dishes save one, a corn served 3 ways dish which was constructed impeccably but just missed the mark for us. And our favorite dish being Paku fish and watermelon. Other dishes that were other worldly were the pork belly with callampa mushroom(mushroom was deconstructed and made to look like a net over the pork), grouper with razor clam, potatoes cooked in camouflage rocks with edible dirt, scallops with cucumber, octopus with sea lettuce. The desserts were absurd, in a good way, with a deconstructed chocolate dish which they required you to try each component separately then mix together creating a complex and delicious slurry better than any of the already delicious ingredients by themselves. Service matched the food but it was incredibly formal and a bit robotic. We hung on their every word while they explained each dish and how to eat it, but they were a bit shy to engage us any further. We were well dressed but saw other guests dressed very casually so attend in almost anything you’re comfortable wearing within reason. Also take a brief stroll around the restaurant to admire the true scale of what their doing.