Q'eroQ'ero GMO???2nd time. Bf & I, with parents visiting from Texas. Noise level loud, hard to hear waitress & others at own table. Reservations 8pm, arrived 7:40, table already ready, seated right away. Food good, portions a little on the small side. Had Ceviche app (excellent, SPICY!) greens salad, chicken Salternas(empanada) & Dinner special (mahi). Biggest concern is all the corn used.. Q'ero is your corn Genetically Modified? It would be great to know you were supporting of, & true to Bolivia & Peru who have banned GMO'S) with certified Non-GMO ingredients in your restaurant. On your website you claim to be "a restaurant of great integrity" dedicated to preserving the traditions of "the Q'ero community ~ the guardians of ancient knowledge." I hope so.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely mealThe four of us ate vegetarian choices and shared sangria and South American beer. All delicious. Cozy restaurant, love the look!6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMA MUST!Q'ero is a gem. My husband and I had just visited Peru and were excited to see what this restaurant had to offer. The food was fresh, authentic, and delicious! The ceviche was refreshing, the specials were unique, and the beef hearts, a staple Peruvian street food, were to die for. Washed down with a Pisco Sour (national drink of Peru) and you will never want to leave!6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMOur "never miss" reservationNow that we no longer live "down the street" we always make time to book a reservation. The food is amazing every time. The chicha pisco was divine! It can be fairly noisy as its 12 indoor tables in a small space. The service is always superb. The food is the best Peruvian we have ever had!6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMSmall but deliciousQero is definitively on a league of it's own when it comes to ethnic food. The complexity of flavors are married with simple preparation that make it easy for anyone to enjoy. Suggest to try all the tapas6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMEthnic food at it's best!The food is excellent, true to the Peruvian roots, most dishes seem to be coming from your grandma's kitchen, our waiter was attentive and knowledgeable but not intrusive (something that I really appreciate) but let me tell you this, if you are in a hurry and pretend to be done with dinner in 30 minutes just forget about it, here the food takes time, as good quality should, and the wait is well worth it, specially with one (or two) Pisco Sours on hand.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food but don't stay too longWe had a great time with our friends at Q'ero. As usual, the food was fabulous. Service was great. But I thought was it a bit obnoxious that after dessert was served, and the check paid, we were basically ushered out the door. They do not welcome you to relax and enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant. So if you're just looking for great food, this is a nice place.But if you actually want to relax and chat after your meal with friends. I wouldn't suggest this place. They don't welcome that.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMFood is great; like the varietiesFood is great; like the varieties of the empanaditas; dessert is unbelievably good. Amy is a wonderful waitress.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMKiller sangria!Wife and I went to Q'ero for a date night. It's small and quaint with great ambience. Friends of mine had recommended the sangria so we immediately went for that and it was simply awesome. Perfect mix of red wine, fruit, and sweetness made for a very refreshing drink. We started with two glasses but shifted to a pitcher/carafe very quickly. For food, we ordered calamari, Saltenas (a beef empanada), and shrimp skewers. Everything was tasty, but the Saltena and the hot sauce the serve with it were wonderful. We finished the meal with the Tres Leches cake, which I'd challenge everyone not to like. It's amazing. I walked out of this place feeling very impressed with this Encinitas gem.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMPeru ReviewThis is a very small, but very charming little restaurant. Cozy atmosphere with a decided South American flavor. The staff is extraordinarily friendly and super-professional. The food is wonderful, with some dishes you have never tried before and a few that are reminiscent of other South American dishes but with Peruvian influence. The prices are not out of the ordinary, with dinner for two including a bottle of wine and an appetizer at just over $100.00.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMExtraordinarydumb system limits characters so this is choppy.
long time customer for 10ish years. moved to east coast, but always eat when in town. the menu is great. appetizers excite the palate: antijuitos, seviches over the top , favorite is the ahi seviche. the fresh fish specials are fantastic: "right out of the ocean", perfectly cooked, halibut this week superb. Entrees: standby is short ribs, perfectly braised and tasty, other favorite specials inculde their duck duo/trio and venison. the wine list is superb and offers reasonably price tier 1 south american wines. A great malbec is the tikal amorio. Dessert: tres leches is the best, and is in my bride's favorite dessert anywhere in the universe. Thx to monica, a great foodie and owner !5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMPeruvian gem for all occasionsI've eaten at Q'ero about 20 times, never had a bad experience. Not super cheap would be the knock, but that's not a bad thing to me. Personally, I think it's crazy that two people would spend $60-80 @ Islands when they could do Q'ero for $100-110 (me & the lady usually are $150 but we go to town on the Pisco Sours). I've had just about everything on the menu; you are taken care of no matter what you're in the mood for: lamb, pork, fish, vegetarian, beef, salad. Ceviche appetizer is a must, though I'd say the empanadas are a must as well. Other tip: call for a reservation 4-5 days in advance, not many tables. But once you make your reservation you can have something great to look forward to.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat mother's Day GiftMy daughter and I dined at Q'Ero as a gift from my granddaughter. Neither of us had ever been there before; we went armed with an emailed gift certificate and good appetites.
Wow were we ever pleased! The food was delicious and enough to satisfy without satiation. Dessert, after that solid meal was not required. The food was wonderfully prepared: vegetables fresh, meat tender, sauces delectable and everything prepared to aturn and presented very attractively.
Thank you, Q'Ero, for a delightful treat - I hope to see you again!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic Food ExperienceThe food here is an amazing treat for your tastebuds. Go with people that like to share food, as there are many dishes and appetizers you will want to experience. The service is impeccable. All the people working there make you feel welcome and part of their family. I have had dinner and lunch there, and both are a wonderful. Their sangria is the best anywhere!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMLively PeruvianExcellent selection of flavorful South American dishes. Very small and somewhat loud when full, which is almost always at dinner hour. A few tables outside, where wine can't be served because they're basically on the sidewalk. Expensive, but worth it in my opinion for its unique menu.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food great service.Great food great service.
Best part there's no other place like it4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food, service, andExcellent food, service, and ambience. We love Q'ero!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMVibrant and delicious! EnjoyedVibrant and delicious! Enjoyed that dinner out with friends became a very special evening because of Q'ero's ambiance, warmth and wonderful food!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMThis new restaurant was aThis new restaurant was a great find, and a good addition to the area. We only tried a couple things on the menu, and I plan to go back for some of the tapas (that's not what they are called on the menu, but de facto what they are). Since we typically dine quite early, we had no more than an ordinary wait for our food. But the restaurant - which is quite small - filled up around 6-6:30, and I wondered how the small kitchen would manage with so many orders at once.
Re service: hard to get our waitress's attention so I could order wine once she had taken our food orders.4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMQero never disappoints! WeQero never disappoints! We will keep coming back and bring our friends.4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic, authentic SouthFantastic, authentic South American food (Bolivian, Peruvian). Nothing else like it in San Diego region.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was absolutely wonderful,The food was absolutely wonderful, and the service was excellent. I was very impressed and will be going back. My only comment is that due to the intimate space, it was very loud and difficult to conduct a conversation without shouting at times.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMBest Restaurant EverThis is one of the best restaurants ever. I love coming here. The food is excellent, the service is superb.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently Marvelous!I have been enjoying Q'ero's delicious menu for many years. My most recent meal was a lunch with a friend from New Mexico, and as always, the food was exceptional. Q'ero is the place that I bring friends when high quality dining and spirited atmosphere is important.
If you want a more serene midday meal, reserve a 1pm slot after the lunch rush is over.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMWe love the short ribs! BestWe love the short ribs! Best in the area! Small and cozy restaurant with good service and wine list.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMA little pricey but worthA little pricey but worth it. The flavors were top flight.
We'll be back!3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was excellent. TheThe food was excellent. The calamari appetizer is not to be missed. For entrees, we had the pork shank and the special halibut. Based on a previous review I was concerned that the halibut might be too dry, so I mentioned this to the server and she made sure that that would not be the case. The desserts were a bit too sweet for me, but I am not a big fan of desserts anyway. Unfortunately, they do not serve espresso. Needless to say, you have to make a reservation a few days in advance.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMQ'ero consistently providesQ'ero consistently provides unique Peruvian cuisine combining regional Peruvian ingredients with a beautiful presentation.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMQero is absolutely wonderful!Qero is absolutely wonderful! Food is amazing, service is awesome, decor is beautiful and rich in color and vibrancy. I chose Qero for my birthday celebration. I would go there just for the Tres Leches!3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had two people servingWe had two people serving us- the guy was kind of rude (he placed a votive candle on our table reaching from my husband's ear without saying excuse me or anything), but the lady was very nice and respectful. Food, as always, was great (we got the lomas saltado and the rack of lamb special, and the calamari to start with), and so was the sangria. I would definitely go back, since I love their food- I would just try to avoid the bad server!3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMMy wife and I love eatingMy wife and I love eating at Q'ero. The food is always very fresh and very good. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Reservations are required though. It is a very small space and the chance of walking in and getting a table are very slim.3/12/2013 12:00:00 AM