La CostaneraStill one of my favoritesHad another great meal yesterday. However, we ran into a glitch using our Bloomspot coupon. I made a dinner reservation but asked the front desk whether we could use the coupon for happy hour. She said it was fine, so we went to the patio and enjoyed a few drinks and a few lovely tapas. When getting our bill, the manager told us the coupon excludes happy hour. He pointed out the 'fine print' which I obviously missed. I then told him I confirmed with the front desk before heading to the patio. Long story short, he honored the coupon, but I hope the front desk ladies didn't get a scolding. Communication, people.
All in all, still one of my favorite places to dine!!5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMVery good, but a little priceyThe food was very good, but a little high priced. I'm sure price is influenced by the view and atmosphere, which are excellent. Done get me wrong, the food is good. The ceviche and anticuchos were a bit small, as were the yucca. In a group of 5 adults, 1 child, we all only had a taste of each.
Entre size was better, though the cordero (lamb) was small (2 chops). It was all delicious, paella, churrasco, pork shoulder, lamb, & fish. The steak was cooked well, though there was at least an inch of fat on one end.
Peruvian fair was rather limited. Ceviches, lomo saltado, cocktails. Everything did come with a aji rocoto or amarillo sauce. No picarones or papas rellenas, but those are hard to find.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMI will come here for life!I had an amazing first experience of La Costanera. So much so, that I chose to revisit this time with my mother for Mothers Day. It was an amazing meal and now this will be a memory with my mother to last a lifetime. I have always had luck finding places that are quaint and superior food. All over the world in fact. My original visit in October 2012 was spectacular, and the top 5 meals of my life were altered by having the short ribs. It was just a wonderful time for me. The first visit was solo, this 2nd visit was with mom, making next time I'll bring a special date. Thank you for being such a gem off Hwy 1. You make the drive worth every mile.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWOW WeeeHad just a great time, eating small plates and drinking pisco sours for almost 3 hours.
Best restaurant in California5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMCoastside DiningHave read a lot about La Costanera and knew it had been awarded a Michelin star so very excited to try it out. Location is spectacular. The restaurant's architecture is interesting and you feel that you're hanging over the beach. 2 lovely outside patios. Service was impeccable. Food was interesting and mostly wonderful. We ended up ordering many small plates. Loved the seared scallops and crab cakes. Thought the spareribs were a little tough. Interesting and tasty cebiche appetizers. Loved the seafood & gnocchi.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMWe totally enjoyed it. FoodWe totally enjoyed it. Food was good, service was outstandng and it was a great romantic night since they accomodated our table next to the scenic view... Thank you so much!5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMspecial occasion dinnerfood was great, service was great, but disappointed that we were not offered the window table that I requested on my reservation.
Still had a great dining experience.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat spotwe love this place. Wonderful pisto sours, great views. Very, very hard to get into if you don't reserve well in advance. Downstairs is casual, upstairs is fancy.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Meal & Great ServiceBut the noise level isn't energetic. It's loud, hard surfaced room. For our group, other than the sound level we loved it!5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat restaurantWe loved this place. Next time will try to make itat late evening and sit around the fire. Only complaint is lack of Parking. The adjavent lot that one can go to from their parking lot is full of big pot holes. I am hoping it did not damage my car! I will just park across the street in future.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMView & FoodElaborate rendition of the food of Peru. Haven't had anything like it in Peru, but this is better anyway.
Watch the sun set over the Pacific from the patio or the dining room.
Bring your dog and sit outside.
The music is a negative, rather boring and not in keeping with the décor.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMSmall bites, big tasteThe menu had a lot to choose from, all of which sounded really tasty! We ordered the quinoa coated prawns, chicken empanada, yucca balls, and a side of mac cheese with truffle oil. We also ordered a steak dish which was served with tomatoes, onions, and a yummy broth/sauce over rice. They certainly did not disappoint in the food area! Everything was very flavorful and accompanied by tasty sauces. Last, but definitely not least, was the dulce de leche stuffed churros for dessert! It was the perfect ending to a great meal!
Being located right on the HMB coast, we also had a great view of the sunset. Interesting decor, but overall a great experience! We'll be back!
Best of all, we had a Bloomspot certificate so even saved a little $$!4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMFood quality has gone downFood quality has gone down since their popularity increased.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful food, service andWonderful food, service and atmosphere. I had heard good things about the restaurant but found that it surpassed our expectations. The food and service were wonderful. We are definitely planning to come back. The only negatives were uncomfortable seats and a big bump in the parking lot that needs to be paved over or something. My car is an AWD and slightly higher than some but still it hit the ground despite low speed. Great restaurant!4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMWould give 5 stars if hadWould give 5 stars if had more vegetarian options.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMLove this restuarant - theLove this restuarant - the only downside is that it gets a bit noisy when full, but apart from that the ambiance, view and food is great!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat restaurant, usuallyThis is normally one of our favorites. However my most recent dinner was slightly less spectacular. It was very noisy and my meal (lobster paella) had almost no lobster or chorizo in it. Until this meal, I have always been very happy with fish specials, Peruvian specialties (we always get the cebiche appetizer to share ) . The fish is always of the highest quality and beautifully prepared. So, i recommend the restauarnt, but not the paella.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding food and service.Outstanding food and service. Certainly deserving of a Michelin star.4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMNot only do you get a beautifulNot only do you get a beautiful ocean front view (when its not foggy), you also get great food. Our wait staff ( Alex) was fantastic.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat choice for a fine meal,Great choice for a fine meal, with creative peruvian cuisine that emphasizes fresh fish. Try to schedule dinner during sunset,, which only adds to the already impressive ambiance.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was the fourth time IThis was the fourth time I have been here and the food does not disappoint. I am Peruvian and I am basis because I grew up eating my grandmother's home cooked Peruvian meals. So whenever I go to a Peruvian restaurant, I try to have an open mind. La Costanera twist on certain Peruvian dishes is very tasty and the service has been better each time and this last time was no exception. The server was very attentive as was the entire wait staff. Of course, the view and atmosphere was a plus.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMSuper!First-rate food included various ceviches, a sweet potato dish, and various meaty and vegetarian dishes. Also notable: a butterscotch-pudding-type dessert, which was out of this world. Entrees also very, very good. Service was stellar. Though we were an early-evening, low-alcohol table with two kids, we were treated like royalty, both by the dining room manager and the servers. I can't recommend this place highly enough.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of my best food experiencesIt has a gorgeous ocean view and I cannot decide whether the view was better or the food was better. We have tried 2 appetizers, 4 different main courses and 3 desserts, and all were awesome. This one is mainly a seafood restaurant and they are great at it. What is surprising is that the beef was also much better than most of the steak restaurants.Go there like 1 hour before sunset, so you can enjoy both the great view and the sunset view.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMIncredible view, excellentIncredible view, excellent service, some dishes exceptional, but not all.
Perfect place for a date.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing view, great for samplingAmazing view, great for sampling lots of plates as portions are small. Between my wife and i we ordered 4 plates and split them and we not too full for an great dessert.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMFood is excellent with a niceFood is excellent with a nice presentation, cebiches are super tasty. I brought my kids and they loved the mac & cheese small plate and the lomo saltado large plate. Early evening on the weekends is a good time to go with the family, view is incredible!3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of the best Peruvian restaurantOne of the best Peruvian restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area if not in the US3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMIt was a great dining experience/adIt was a great dining experience/adventure. Wonderful food combinations and sauces, really fun to share. Incredible views, comfortable bar scene with a value added happy hour. Nice outdoor area, weather permitting.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat view of the beach andGreat view of the beach and surfers. Go during daylight. They do have firepits outside (weather permitting) and a large open area downstairs if you don't have reservations. Sadly not open for breakfast or lunch.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMMore of the good stuff fromMore of the good stuff from the group that brought you Mochica. Worth it.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMA Peruvian Cousine GemBeing a lover of Peruvian food, I believe La Costanera is a gem in the Bay Area. The location in Montara is a bit far for most people but is worth it specially with the opening of Devil Slide tunnel. Food was great and the service was outstanding. The tiradito and the Adobo were spectacular. The oceanic view is the best in the Bay.
I will come back again and try more dishes.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is my fourth time eatingThis is my fourth time eating at La Costanera:
1. Service was excellent, as always, from the Hostesses to the Waiters.
2. Food was amazing, vibrant, and well displayed, although it seems that portion sizes have gone down a little bit.
3. Drinks were great, and per our usual experience, seemed to have a heavy pour (not that I mind!)
A special little place, that deserves the hype.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMLoved Everything!Our meal was out of this world amazing! And our waitress had a great knowledge of the food and was able to explain in depth about some of the unique ingredients. I love this place for special occasions!3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMThe cebiche was awesome, andThe cebiche was awesome, and the lobster was superb. We had an excellent time.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMAmbiance is awesome sinceAmbiance is awesome since it is by the ocean. Food is really good and consistent. I can come back here again and again and again.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways enjoy dining at thisAlways enjoy dining at this restaurant for the authentic food and the million dollar view! Excellent pisco sours.3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMDefinitely make a reservationDefinitely make a reservation before coming here--this place looks like it's always busy! The appetizers are good, but are fairly small and fine for sharing with one other person (we had an empenada and some filet mignon skewers), but the meals are quite generious in their portions. I had Lomo Saltado (a beef dish with tomatoes, onions and potatoes), while my wife had some lamb chops. Food was outstanding! We ordered the homemade churros for dessert--they were good, but not really big. It was my wife's birthday, so our waiter brought us out some flan as well--that was wonderful! Can't wait to go back!3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways enjoy the food. JustAlways enjoy the food. Just recently went and the portion sizes decreased while the prices stayed the same. They used to me excellent and now they are good. Not sure what happened. Nothing beats the view!3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMSPECTACULAR!This was our first time at La Costanera. It was absolutely fabulous. We ordered small plates and shared everything. The food was perfection, the service spectacular, well timed, efficient but never overbearing. The taste of each dish was marvelous. We eat out in SF A LOT We both agreed this was a totally unexpected surprise. We will place this HIGH on our list for a return visit. WONDERFUL flavors, beautiful presentation! Thanks to Groupon we tried it for the first time. We have already told everyone we know! EXCELLENT!3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMBring back the BandidoThis is the second time I have been here and was looking forward to having the salmon meal they used to have. They did not have it and the kitchen ran out of the Adobo which I also know is amazing. So I got my third choice which I wasn't too fond of but it was still good. The calamari appetizer was amazing but I am definitely going to have the sauce underneath the calamari on the side next time. The servers are friendly and they have help getting refills, bussing, and expediting. Service was a little slow for me but I am a college student so I know they think I won't tip. I rarely get good service but I am a server myself so I do tip and semi-understand why I don't usually get great service. But the server was nice. Great for a date spot.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was spectacular.The food was spectacular. We had some problems with the service when we were sitting outside. They seemed to be very understaffed.
However, the manager more than made it up to us by bringing us a couple of small plates on the house. The ambience is wonderful.
This is definitely a repeat!3/13/2013 12:00:00 AM