What’s the concept?

Just when you thought Dubai’s standard of Peruvian cuisine had reached its best – Totora opens its doors! The colourful, contemporary and welcoming restaurant offers classic flavours from Peru, influenced by a harmonious hint of Japanese technique and skill. The menu is sharing style friendly and comprises ceviches, tiraditos, causas, maki rolls, small/big plates, grilled skewers and wok fried dishes.

What were the food highlights?

We shared dishes of a beautiful scallop tiraditos , which came paired with leche de tigre, coriander oil and a delightful crunch of quinoa to balance the textures, plus a beautiful ceviche of octopus, shrimps, sea bass, boiled cassava, and chulpi corn, to begin with. Followed by a gorgeous bowl of succulent duck with rice cooked in aji Amarillo and coriander, for main with a DIY wagyu tenderloin prepared tabletop on a sizzling Himalayan salt brick.

How was the service?

Our fabulous waitress Rosana knew the cuisine and menu inside out and really made the experience by introducing us to things we perhaps wouldn’t have tried otherwise, including the trio de causas, a Peruvian street food consisting heavily of flavoured mashed potato (served cold), with slight fillings of octopus, shrimp and crab.

What was the atmosphere like?

You enter over a walkway that imitates the look and feel of a traditional rope suspension bridge, and can opt to sit in the two-tiered dining room area, or downstairs in the trendy lounge, where a DJ plays and a bar serves up unmissable pisco sours. If you’re a fan of Peruvian – this is a great spot for quality food bursting with unique flavours, in a vibrant yet relaxing atmosphere.

Around Dhs250 per person for three-courses, excluding beverages. Address: Totora Cebicheria Peruana, DIFC, Dubai, UAE. Tel: +971 4 3999666.