On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Latin American, Tapas Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: West Portal
331 reviews
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
"It's a true testament to Destino that I tried not only a wide variety of food during dinner there recently, but some *raw* food to boot.…" read more »
Loading...
Our party of 3 arrived hungry, so the prompt seating by a friendly hostess (6:30ish on a Wednesday) gave this place high marks from the start. We ordered from the cena (dinner) menu: cerviche mixto (seafood "cooked" in lime juice), anticuchos de corazon (beef heart kabobs), churrasco a la chorillana (medium rare rib-eye), lomo saltado (steak strips over rice), and pollo a la brasa (rotisserie chicken), with Inca Cola to wash it all down. Every dish was delicious, with the tangy cerviche as my favorite. Not 5 stars 'cos too loud for good conversation and pretty pricey. Plus the "authentic Peruvian" in our group said his mom makes better churrasco. Otherwise, thumbs up!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Gosh, I never have a bad meal here. Been to Fresca a million times.
Always get the Aji de Gallina (chicken stew) or Adobo de Chanco (braised pork stew) and cameron a la piedra (shrimp ceviche).
It's all great.
How could I have not Yelped this restaurant yet.. This is my favorite restaurant in the city of SF... I guess it has a lot of memories for me... but more than that, they got major good grub, in it.... It is bloody wicked, mate...
Ive been there numerous times, and its never left me down, ya dig..besides the grub, theyve got exceptional service and a nice/casual/upscale vibe to... to all the first timers, you wont feel uncomfortable by the posh setting, which is classy enough but not low budget... this place is awesome for a first date... i think everyone will be satisfied... how if you are a bruv you are definitely going to impress the lady friend by this gem...
you cant go wrong with any of the appetizers and entrees and desserts you order.. however, there are a few standouts. my favorite dish at this restaurant are 2 dishes.. one the roast/grilled half chicken.. by far one of the pieces of chicken you will ever try... but better than that is garlic crusted red snapper fillet with spicy tomato broth and assorted pescado... its in my opinion the best dish on the menu...
it has so many flavors... youll mouth will thanking you for choosing this dish...honestly it is one of the best dishes in the city.. i highly recommend everyone to try this....
and if you didnt know, the potato was cultivated in Peru not Ireland or Idaho like everyone thinks...
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Went there with a party of 7 for my birthday. I arrived on time and the rest of the party trickled in within the next 10 to 15 minutes, which according to the hostess is just way too late. She refused to hold our table for us and gave us attitude like we're holding up the world. So we said, fine give the ONE other party waiting the table while we wait for the last 2 people to arrive. Another table was about to leave anyway. But noooooo, the hostess didn't like that idea. In fact, I don't even understand what her issue was. It's not like there's 20 people outside waiting for a table. It was us, and the other party of three. Anyhow....
Food was absolutely delish! (Yes I'm a fan of Rachel Ray, does that make my critique of food any less believable?). I especially loved the lomo saltado which is stir fried steak with french fries. Also loved the platanos fritos (fried plantains). The waiter was lovely and service was amazing. The flan at the end was yummy as well. One of the best birthday meals ever! Minus the rude hostess.
Amazing food and service! I've been there several times and each time I have not been disappointed. The sangria is better at Cha Cha Cha and needs improvement but that's ok because I'm going for the food. My recommendation is the chicken stew with the ceviche sampler and many good choices of Cabs.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Went here for a date with the wifey....nice decor, we luckily got here right before the rush so we were seated immediately. The place is a little cramped.
The Service is so so, they were nice, but not very attentive.
The fried wontons with cream cheese are yum....i could eat those all night. The ribeye was buried under a million things and not much flavor. The plate was huge and filling but not very tasty. Luckily the wife had the Halibut on a risotto crisp. That was good. If and when I go back i'd get that instead.
All in all, a nice little placed nestled in West Portal. Parking can be a mess if you go there peak times, otherwise the muni train stops right in front. Food is good, service is ok, would go again to try something new.
This is one of my favorite restaurants for a nice steak. I prefer this West Portal location over the Fillmore one as it has a more casual welcoming feel. The rack of lamb and steak are go to dishes, both dishes are cooked perfectly and have unique seasonings. The duck breast is just ok. The sangria is tasty as well.
Enjoy...
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
It's been almost a year since I ate here, so I don't recall many of the details. However, I can tell you that it was one of the ten best meals of my entire life. And this was even after being made to wait over an hour for a table, after the hostess initially told us 20 minutes.
We ordered several dishes between three of us and shared. There was soup, chicken, and seafood, and it was all incredible. I usually like to go into more detail when I review, but I feel that I had to give Fresca its due. I had never eaten Peruvian food before, and boy did they make an impression.
We originally wanted to go back to Limon rotisserie with the kids, but they were closed on Labor day. Since we had the craving once again for good Peruvian food, we decided to go to Fresca. Our other favorite Peruvian restaurants with reasonable prices are Mi Lindo Peru and Inkas.
My family and I had a great dinner at Fresca Monday night. My wife had the trout and shrimp combo, my daughter had the lomo saltado(sauteed beef with fries, tomatoes, and onions), my son had the fish and chips kids meal, and I had the Peruvian paella. For an appetizer, we had the anticucho(beef heart-grilled).
We really liked the food, but when the bill came, I was surprised for being charged $3.54 for the San Francisco health plan for their employees. This sort of ticked me off that I had to help pay for their employees' health insurance. My total bill came to over $95! Whew!
So when you go Fresca, check your bill for the extra charge for the health plan, and see if you can dispute it or just pay it, and tip less.
Overall, a great place that I would come back to.
The food and service were great and everyone was satisfied. I would recommend the Churrasco. Some of the yummy plates at our table were the pollo a la brasa, lomo saltado, pescado sudado, and the mahi- mahi plate.
I would definitely recommend reservations. We went on a Monday night and there were no tables available. ***Be sure you make reservations at the right location- we showed up at the wrong one. Yet they were still very nice and accommodating, and we only waited a few minutes to be seated.
The place is small, and if you have to get up to use the restroom be careful not to dip a body part in the ceviche at the table next to you! Because its small its also LOUD! I felt like I was screaming to be heard across the table. :) Pricey so make sure you order items that are "worth it".
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
SANGRIA. here. is. awesome.
There's this one waiter there, a young guy, who proudly told me he had made the sangria. I kinda brushed it off, like yeah, okay, buddy. After a few sips of his sangria, I decided I wanted him. It was yummy - not too sweet or too wine-y(?). It was perfection.
The steak salad there is so refreshing. I know, who orders a damn salad at a Peruvian place? Well, I do. The steak is cooked tenderly, laying peacefully on the bed of salad with a drizzle of a light, but creamy dressing. It was orgasmic. My boyfriend had the steak sandwich served on Dutch crunch and fries. Super good.
Their flan was pretty good - very light, but we were so full by the time the dessert came, we only took a couple of bites.
Service is fantastic. Try to come during their off hours - after 1:30, 2 or so, because they're not usually packed. We've never had to wait for a table.
Also, there isn't a full bar at this Fresca, unlike the other Fresca's on 24th and Fillmore, but hey, it's in West Portal (strollerville), so whatta you expect?
I went to Fresca with a ceviche craving and ordered a ceviche mixto and the causa (a concoction of potato, crab, and avocado). The ceviche was a generous size which I appreciated--so large that I took the causa to go. The flavor was decent but not spectacular. I lived in Lima for a year though, so my standards are admittedly high. And because ceviche is all about the precise combination of local ingredients, it's hard to make it taste authentic outside of Peru. I just had the causa as a late night snack and it was delicious with spot on authentic flavor. I was so impressed with the causa that I will probably return to Fresca to try other dishes, but it may take awhile for me to feel motivated as the prices are awfully steep.
The saltado here is AWESOME, which is how I usually judge Peruvian restaurants. Tender marinated beef sauteed with onions and potatos over a bed of white rice. Simple, but so perfect here. They redesigned the interior about a year ago, so if you haven't been by for a visit since then you should definitely check it out.
Great atmosphere, great place for a dinner or lunch date.
Small, cramped restaurant. Comfortable chairs. Pricey foods. but so DELICIOUS!
I ordered tequenos (shrimp, crab and cream cheese in flour-based wrapping with a special sauce) and mulas de salmon (salmon, guacamole and sour cream in flour-based wrappings). I know I know, that's one two appetizers, but HEY! I was on a budget. I think I should come here again when I a) have more money, and b) don't come during peak hours.
I love this place! I've been here 3 times, so far and it has always been wonderful! You have to try the camerones dish, served in a buttery tomato sauce - so tasty! We also had the lamb, swordfish, and the mahi mahi (different nights) and all of it was a new taste surprise. The wait staff is so helpful and accommodating. I always take my out of town guest here and they all want to go there every time they are back.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
First of all, any restaurant that makes me have to search for parking at West Portal has to be good. Coz everyone knows you have to circle the block several times and do that about four times and ypu're about ready to move on.
Anyway, their steak dish is very good. The stuff with seafood just ok. Mainly because it can get a little fishy at times. Fair warning.
It was OK. Nothing special. Average food, nice drinks, crowded, we waited 20 min - Sat night 8:30. Its pricey!!! (Big waste of money) and I did not get an orgasm from the food.
The waiter was sexy
Pure deliciousness. The service is better than average. I am salivating just writing about the food.
Fresca is my brand new, glue swallowing, Peruvian princess. My mail order, ceviche bride (minus crossed eyes, south of the border sores and a filthy moustache) impressed my fucking fickle taste buds. Consider my bollocks knocked into a satisfied bundle. The food is aces high people...aces high indeed!
After a brutal day of wheeling and dealing, I was tired and grumpy like a molested donkey. I crumpled into a lump when seated. I was starving (flies started to hover around the corners of my mouth). The table (smaller than a Smurf's enema) was clean and didn't suffer from skewed equilibrium. Good. I was really in no mood for shit like that. Had it rocked, I would have thrown the table through the window and urinated on the rubble.
Suddenly, I detected motion on the edge of periphery. A smallish, fast moving creature scurried out, stared at me with huge eyes, blinked twice and left a bowl of chips and salsa. Just as quickly, it vanished back into the depths of the kitchen. This mysterious entity in an apron turned out to be our busser. Shit on a greased stick, was he fast! Gopher Boy ended up being the highlight of my evening. More on him later.
I started with a soothing cup of herbal tea and the Ceviche Mixto to warm my cold nads. I don't know what sort of ethereal magic they weave into the seafood, but the ceviche was sublime rocket fuel. That spicy lime/sea salt kick lifted my tired soul into an orgasmic netherworld of fucking bliss. I left my heart (and egg white encrusted boxer briefs) behind at Fresca compliments of the Ceviche Mixto.
Next to walk the plank was the not quite as impressive Pollo skewer. Meh. While nicely seasoned and juicy as a freshly waxed mollusk, this paled in comparison to the mighty Mixto. I should have launched it at across the room (the chicken, not my thick load). As if on cue, Gopher Boy popped up magically to refill my hot water. He mumbled with animated hand gestures about a giant farm?? and something esoteric involving good luck, gambling and a sheep! He laughed like a cracked out hyena, pointed off into the distance and disappeared through a door. What the fuck? Gopher boy was like dinner, a show and an anti-drug ad all rolled into one, quasi-Quasimodo inspired package. I wonder what spraying him with Raid would do?
My entrée thundered down upon the table like fossilized buffalo shit...the fucking Pescado a la Macho had arrived! I felt my testosterone levels spike just looking at it. This large, ample serving of roasted red snapper set adrift on seafood stew was indeed a looker. The snapper was dapper, delicate and ripe for fingering. I sucked it up like King Neptune's vacuum. The stew was light and filled with happy little dead creatures. My only complaint was the calamari appeared to be of the midget variety. Attn Fresca seafood buyers: order the beefy squid next time; why dick around with the runts? Cheap asses. Don't make me dress like Captain Jack Sparrow and show you how it is done.
Man, I was happy, dinner was good and I felt refreshed. As I waited for the dessert menu, something hit the back of my head hard. While being pushed forward, I simultaneously swung around to find myself nose to camel toe with a bulging FUPA (fat upper pussy area). This giant box of labia bacon was attempting to maneuver its girth between tables...and ended up dragging her fat mound across my face. The smell of yeasty, pubic hair mixed with the rusty aroma of blood was pungent and overpowering. I almost vomited. "I am so sorry" it hissed dismissively. Yeah, fuck you hairy lap. Next time, figure out which end of a douche actually works. And shave that unruly pelt; this isn't the dark ages. Leave pubic hair in Berkeley...where it belongs.
Monster minge attack aside, I had a wonderful evening. Thank you Fresca, thank you Goat Boy (good luck growing that facial hair; if it hasn't filled in at 30, it ain't gonna happen), thank you West Portal (for not being the Richmond district), thank you sow with the giant vaginal mound, thank you Visa, thank you Purell (I had to rub something on my face after the flap attack), thank you hot college girls who checked me out when I walked by Starbucks (call me...threesomes are my specialty), thank you Peru (nice to know you export more than just shemales), thank you Walgreens (for selling the Kimono condoms with Aqua Lube that I love), thank you San Francisco (for not being Oakland), thank you Gavin Newsom (you suave, whore banging machine...keep waving your PlumpJack in their faces), and thank you planet Earth...I love you all, good night and Todd fucking bless!
People thought this was:
Useful (5)
Funny (14)
Cool (5)
I took my girlfriend on a first date here about a year ago. Went back for our 1 year anniversary and this time was just as good as the first (the girlfriend and the food, that is!)
The service is awesome and so is the food. My girlfriend had the halibut - I'll definitely be getting that next time. It was superb!
You can drop a little bit of coin here, but it's well worth every penny.
I'm def. a fan of Fresca. I have to agree with Jonas that everything was good. The crab and avocado salad was a surprise. It looked like a mousse cake. The bottom layer was yellow, crab cake and avocado in the middle and then another layer of yellow. I believe it is some sort of potato mix.
I tried the wok fried steak w/ fries and onions and damn if i wasn't surprised. The steak was tender and juicy. My fries soaked up some of the steak sauce and I love it. I love soggy fries anyway. Loving the onions as well. Not too soft or too raw. Perfect.
My bf had the seafood paella and I liked that too!!
Then came the mango cheesecake and I'm not that big of a fan, but it tasted pretty good.
The extra star is b/c there is only 1 waiter and I believe 2 busboys. Unbelievable!! but service wasn't that slow. Impressive, I must say!! I will def. be back to try their other entrees!!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Great food, small, intimate dining room, ideal for a lunch date.
Favorites:
Deep fried crab and cream cheese wontons with a semi-thick, semi-sweet sauce.
Halibut: fair sized filet over white rice with an amazing red-cream sauce. Served with corn peas, and some other veggies.
Quesadilla: Filled with montery jack, grilled onions, and freshly grilled chicken or steak.
would definitely had given 5 stars, but one, huge downside.
Love the fact it's quant, hate the fact that because its so small they feel they can charge you 2.95 per soda, and 2.95 per refill. Sigh. Didn't they get the modern-day restaurant business model memo? I swear it said free refills somewhere on there...
I normally don't like paying this much for Peruvian food, but hey, everything was good so I can't complain.
JONASAPPROVED!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (2)
I'd never had Peruvian food until I found Fresca. I'm now a huge fan of the cuisine and eat it as often as possible.
Love their Ceviches!!! My favorite is the halibut. As for main dishes, the Churrasco was grilled to perfection. The purple potato hash and wild mushrooms were an excellent accompaniment. Also love the rack of lamb with truffle mashed potatoes. Seafood dishes are incredible as well. The Ahi was incredibly fresh last time I had it. I've always left feeling satisfied and look forward to my next visit.
I've been here several times and I really love the food here. I remember I liked the dessert here too, but most of the time I haven't had room for it because I always order an appetizer. The service is okay, but some of the prices for the food is a bit expensive, it depends on what you order though, like I would not want to pay $22 for a small bowl of soup.
This place is BOMB! One of the best in West Portal, no doubt about it. The Polla de la brasa was awesome and so was the Chicken Aji, mmmm.
Pricey, that is the lone drawback.
A-Ok
here are the quick facts. no more no less
FOOD: yummy
fresh ingredients
very consistent ***important***
good portion
TRY: original ceviche
creamy soupa
ceasar salad with grilled salmon (you have to ask for it)
paella
SERVICE: sucks dood.
They've gone cocky over the years I think. They don't really care to attend you with a smile, (I actually heard the famous tubby waiter at this location nudging the hostess, "SMILE" and heard her say, "why? i don't care!" and just walked off.)
I said the food was consistent, but service has been consistently rude as well. so what do i do?
TAKE OUT!!!
unless if I know i'd be sitting on my ass long time with a pitcher of sangria and won't give a shit (oops, did I really say that?) about sitting and waiting and wondering where my waiter, water, salsa, and food have disappeared to, we get it to go! yup
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
I've heard great things about Fresca and I finally got a chance to try it myself on Saturday at this location.
The staff was very accommodating to our party of 7 without reservations. They sat us at a back table where a few of my friends had their back to another table and space was tight. They brought out chips and salsa and ice water right away. Perfect for hungry diners!
We didn't order any appetizers and we didn't need to because the portions were just right. However, I think some of the guys felt that it wasn't enough for them. I ordered the Peruvian style rotisserie chicken with fries and salad, and I couldn't finish it. Fries aren't the crispy type - it's more soggy. Salad had a creamy cilantro dressing. Chicken was huge and really flavorful. I tried the bf's grilled pork chop and I liked the sweet apple flavor. I didn't like the accompanying baby spinach or sweet mashed potatoes. The spinach had a white wine flavor which tasted odd with the veggie. The sweet mashed potatoes were too rich for my taste and they were cold. In fact, the other people who ordered grilled pork chops felt their mashed potatoes were more on the lukewarm side. Didn't get any dessert, but ordered one pitcher of sangria and that was enough for 7 people (1 glass each).
Service was up to par and everyone was friendly. Prices are a little high for what you get. Fresca was good but not that good.
Small venue with bare walls which provides FOR A REALLY LOUD RESTAURANT. Fortunately, my date has very nice lips, so I got to read them all dinner long. The service was clumsy, but very polite. They brought us the wrong ceviche order - we dug in not knowing the difference (it was delicious, regardless). The waiter eventually caught on, apologized, and brought us the correct order. The food was tasty and we definitely want to come back just to try all the different ceviches they have on the menu!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Peruvian is my new fave! Fresca does an excellent job of carrying out the bold and intense flavors of Peruvian cuisine. I came her for lunch on a Sunday and got the Paella ($23)..it was AMAZING! the rice was cooked perfectly, the seafood was fresh, and the lemon wedge topped it all off. I also tried the pork/carnitas plate, and the fish sandwhich..I'd definately go with a heartier dish than a sandwich here.
The ambiance is cute and perfectly sized (but I would imagine a wait during dinnertime). The waitstaff however is a bit crappy, they take a while to come to you and don't really attend to you much. You'll be lucky if you get your water glass filled more than once. Great time overall, just one start knocked off for the service.
Thanks Tiffany for bringing us to this fantastic Peruvian restaurant. We had a blast there. The place is warm and cozy, although tough for bigger parties. The food is really good. Most of the party ordered this steak strip with onion and rice dish and they loved it. And I ordered this entree-sized seafood soup dish and it's fabulous. It's really tasty, creamy and fresh and nothing like I had before but it's not strange at all. We also sahred this potato croquette appetizer and it's just really good! I can't wait to go back.
The only complaint is the service. We made a reservation for 7:30 pm but didn't get to sit down until after 8:00 pm. They need some seating control.
Finally got to try the Toro Steak Salad my coworkers rave about. It did not disappoint! My hubby actually got his with chicken as he's not a huge steak person, and that, too was a winner. Extra props for Fresca because I ordered it to go and they put the warm meat in a separate container so it wouldn't wilt the salad greens. Finally, a place that gets me and my OCD!
I've walked by this place over a dozen times and never noticed it. Well we noticed it today. It has a nice clean feel with the wooden tables and simple colorings.
So for lunch, I ordered some crab cakes and a skirt steak salad. The crab cakes has no lumps in them, which made the inside a bit smoochy and not as good as I hoped they would be. The salad was excellent. One thing for sure, don't order an appetizer if you don't plan to share, that was way too much food. The steak salad was very tasty and filling.
Other patroons near by order a fish taco, crab salad, and sandwiches, which all looked wonderful. Down side of this place is service is horrible. I didn't have the issue of waiting long since all the stores seem quiet on this long weekend, but it does take a bit of effort to get the waitress' attention.
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
I love Fresca with passion. I've been going to the West Portal branch consistently for the past 4-5 years and they never cease to amaze me. The service is always superb as well. Initially I only went there for dinner, but as the years went on, lunch became somewhat of a regular as well. Both offer an extraordinary dining experience. For dinner, I usually like to get the arroz con mariscos (rice with seafood) and the trucha encebollada (pan seared fish with grilled onions on top). Those two dishes combined together is like a party in your mouth. The flavors mesh well and harmonize together; I'm sitting here drooling just thinking about it. For lunch, their sandwiches are all really delicious as well. I would say the only bad thing is parking but no one ever seems to be happy with that. Overall, you rock Fresca!
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
One of the very best latin american restaurants I've ever eaten at, and I've been to a few, trust me. Some of those restaurants were also out of state, as in Spanish Harlem in NYC and those in downtown Miami.
The food here is fresh, sometimes spicey, and tastey. The arroz con mariscos and the paella are to die for.
As others have said, you should call in for a reservation and even then, waiting for a seat on Friday and Saturday nights is tough. However, every minute of waiting is worth it.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
First off...My iced tea was never empty....Service was great....Atomosphere is great, and the food is fantastic. Definitely the best Fresca in the city.
We live in Noe Valley, just one block from the 24th street location. The service here brings us back.
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
Fresca has some fantastic food. I've never had the chance to have Peruvian cuisine until I went to Fresca with my extended family. If you like seafood, this is a great place to get some fresh ceviche. We had a variety of dishes to get a true sense of their style. We ordered a trio of ceviche off their tasting menu and each item was very flavorful. I feel that Peruvian food boasts the best of Latin and Asian flavors as most of the ceviche had a lime and light soy as seasoning.
We tried the paella as one of our entrees and loved it. It was the right amount of seasoning and was packed with lots of prawns, mussels, clams, scallops, squid, fish, chicken, and chorizo. This is probably the best paella I've ever had.
The other entree we had was a rose crusted seared ahi. This entree is not on their regular dinner menu, it was a special for the night and it was my favorite dish. The ahi was extremely fresh and the sides were crusted and seared, but not over cooked. It was a liberal protion of ahi, I want to say at least 10 ounces. It was served with some mash potatoes and seaonal vegetables.
Fresca is a great place to enjoy some delicious, high quality Peruvian food. Each time I go, I am never disappointed.
Food was pretty good. Probably would have been great if it was sizzling hot instead of nearly lukewarm. Service was pretty decent, seemed like nice folks, but we didn't really have any special needs. Place was loud, to echo everyone else's reviews (and echo would be the appropriate term...). Boring decor. Good price for the food but the location made it not so much worth it. Maybe if you're craving some good meat and the place is nearly empty.
For the food, this place would get 4-4.5 stars(as Grace K once stated)
I frequented this place during my heavy dating days 4-5 years back,
and always could count on it for great atmosphere, great food, and great service.
Now, it seems, only 2 of the 3 are available.
The one lacking is GREAT SERVICE.
The girlfriend and I arrived last Saturday night at 9pm and w/out a reservation. We were seated within 5 minutes - which is good.
On our left were 2 asian couples who were eating together, and two older spanish ladies on the other side of us.
The asian couples were complaining how their water never got served(which is a common complaint by my asian/bros sisters..but this particular complaint had some merit to it).
They hadn't received water for their ENTIRE dinner!
The older latinas next to me were complaining in spanish that the waiter was incompetent and that everything was late and out of order. (I could understand this cuz my GF is latina =) Not that I have super translative powers..YET).
For the beginning of the meal, I just brushed off what they said, and
dismissed it as regular restaurant banter. You always find someone who complains right?
But it wasn't so. These complaints were totally legitimate.
Our waiter came to us 10 minutes after we sat.
This tubby latino guy who's about 5'5" tall or so came and apologized to us for the long wait.
He then took our order. Cocotuna Ceviche, shrimp appetizer, and some ribeye steak.
We received our drinks early, and 10 minutes after..the ceviche and shrimp appetizer.
Both very good and flavorful. The ceviche is very tart, and lemony. To my latina gf, that's heaven. To my korean tastebuds..it's an acquired taste.
Most korean people don't like tart lemony flavors. Just not in their vocab. They steer towards the more fermented flavors of bean paste etc. Which ironically my gf says latin people don't like...fermented. Oh the cultural polarizations!
ANYHOW..back to the food. So we liked the ceviche and shrimp..but had to wait.. I mean WAIT for the steak.
10 minutes passed. We asked the waiter..he said "it's coming". He runs to the back
and doesn't even talk to the cooks. ANOTHER 10 minutes passes. STILL no response.
We ask again and he says it's coming. By the way..we never get any water in these 20 plus minutes..
On the 30th minute..my gf gets fed up and speaks in spanish to the other waitress and she says it's coming and also runs away.
The shorter tubby guy REFUSES to come over to where we are!!
What a coward! He actually hid back in the back end of the restaurant.
The older, taller grey haired waiter was around the back when my gf went to the restroom where she firmly asked for our steak and that we had been waiting 30 minutes.
He said "It'll be right there". He quickly shakes his head and talks to the cooks. Within minutes...the steak finally comes out.
ALL THE WHILE...the 2 asian couples were replaced by 4 other people..who were served ALL OF THEIR FOOD
by the time our steak came out.
What the hell gives???
The coward of a waiter wouldn't even approach us...
Not a "SORRY FOR THE DELAY...here's a free ice cream"
Not a "SORRY FOR THE DELAY...we'll take care of the steak"
Not a measely "We're SORRY"...(that's all we really wanted).
Our bill came out to 64.39. I paid 64.39 in cash and coin.
NOT A PENNY MORE.
We waited close to 35-40 minutes for the last entree.
COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. Made even worse by the cowardice and unprofessionalism of the small tubby latino waiter.
My gf wanted to give him a piece of her mind in spanish..but we couldn't find the runt.
I REALLY LIKED FRESCA.
The food is usually very good.
But if you go there, and this waiter is serving you...
I STRONGLY recommend that you request a different waiter.
HE was CONSISTENTLY bad to every table he served.
He should NOT be a waiter.
Until he's gone, from Fresca..I keep my rating at a 1 and I will not be back.
p.s. The steak was pretty good..but we weren't interested eating it 40 minutes after our other food and at almost 10:30pm
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Cool (1)
Reasonably good food, reasonably fresh. Noisy inside, which detracts from the overall experience. The service varies but generally is ok. The place is rather small and slightly cramped, so depending on the day you might have to wait. I think its a little pricey for what it is...which is tapas-style, peruvian food, and probably not the best that you can get in the city.
| Page: 1 |
