El Norteno

This is some of the best Peruvian food I’ve ever had, and to find it in Rome, especially in the Termini area, was a real treat. Everything was cooked and seasoned impeccably, and the Sangria was one of the highlights of out meal, as well.

Oh my god! What a great surprise after 5 days of pizza and pasta, pasta and pizza… We found the place in an area that seems to be a bad one (Termini) but it’s definitely worth the visit. We had the Papas a la Huancaina (A classic Peruvian appetizer), the Ceviche Mixto (AWESOME) and the Lomo Saltado (Great). At the end, we enjoyed a PERFECT pisco sour (the most popular Peruvian drink) to end a great dinner. The outside seating is good and the service is very friendly and speaks –of course– Spanish and English as well. Don’t miss it. It’s worth every single Euro.

One of my more recent travel traditions is to find a Peruvian restaurant everywhere I go and this restaurant in the Termini area did not disappoint. My boyfriend did a reconnaissance mission late one night and then treated us to some familiar eats for lunch the following day.
The meal began with a bowl of freshly made cancha (conrnuts) and rocoto dipping sauce. I had to have an Inka Kola and was impressed that it came in a glass bottle (unlike the cans we get here in the States.) I had the pollo rostizado with fries and rice. My boyfriend had his favorite, aji de gallina. My daughter immediately asked for the Peruvian version of every toddler’s dream meal, salchipollo, aka chicken bites and fries. Everything tasted authentic and was well-​seasoned.
The ambience was traditional Peruvian including Andean blankets as table linens. I loved hearing Peruvian Spanish being spoken by a predominantly Peruvian clientele.
Extra props to our attentive hostess, a young Italian-​Dominican who lived in the States for twelve years and still speaks American English perfectly.