Central

Don Burns

6 months ago

Spectacular. The best meal I've ever had. The storytelling through the food was remarkable; like exploring Peru through your plates. The service was perfect. The setting was beautiful. It's worth a trip to Lima just to dine here.

Stephanie Hawthorne

month ago

From the moment we arrived, every detail reflected an unwavering commitment to excellence. The staff was exceptional—warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about sharing the story behind each course. Every dish was a masterpiece. The presentation was breathtaking, but the flavors were even more impressive. The creativity and ingenuity behind the menu were unlike anything I've experienced—bold yet elegant, sophisticated yet deeply connected to Peru's diverse landscapes. Every course felt intentional, surprising, and beautifully executed. A special highlight was meeting Chef Chen from South Korea, whose passion and talent added another memorable layer to the experience. It was a privilege to see the people behind such remarkable craftsmanship. The journey didn't end with the meal. The visit to the Theobroma Lab was absolutely fascinating. Going deeper into the world of cacao—its origins, science, flavors, and artistry—gave me an entirely new appreciation. No wonder Central was named #1 on The World's 50 Best Restaurants list. Every detail—from the impeccable service to the artistry on every plate, the storytelling behind each ingredient, and the immersive cacao experience—demonstrated why it has earned worldwide recognition. Central exceeded every expectation we had. The entire experience was classy, sophisticated, and undeniably sexy in the most refined way. It's not just a meal—it's an exploration of Peru's biodiversity, culture, and creativity at the highest level. I left inspired, amazed, and already looking forward to returning. I would fly back to Lima just to experience it again. Without question, one of the finest dining experiences of my life. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'s

AC Slater

2 months ago

Not sure much more can be said about Central that hasn't been said already, but it lands as one of my favorite meals ever. It's really much more than that; the artisty, creative use of ingredients and techniques, serene atmosphere and warm and knowledgeable staff. Central is so much more than just a "tasting." It's a journey, challenging at times, but ultimately you're left feeling like it was worth every moment.

Jan Kwak

3 months ago

Walk into a dimly lit garden with accent lighting showing herbs and plants used in the cooking. The atmosphere is calm, relaxing and inviting and the service is superb. Unbelievably well researched dishes made from all local food ingredients are truly imaginative. They have such an imagination. Flavours you won’t find anywhere else. There is even a laboratory upstairs where they experiment with different parts of plants to create new flavours and textures. Not just worth driving for, worth flying for!

David LeMay

month ago

I've wanted to sit down at Central for years, ever since I was in culinary school as a young man. Well, 10+ years and a career change later I finally got the chance. And it was a lovely experience, some very unique ingredients handled with care and expertise. A well crafted display of some of Peru's incredibly diverse ecosystems and agricultural history. Almost a museum of food. If you have the time and the means Central is well worth the visit.

Ozy

5 months ago

I had the privilege of dining at Central, and I can honestly say it became my favorite restaurant experience in the world. For years, Eleven Madison Park held that place for me. But after this experience, Central has taken it. This wasn’t just a meal. It was a journey through Peru’s ecosystems, culture, and spirit. Every dish felt deeply researched and intentionally designed using local ingredients in ways I had never seen before. Each course felt like a story almost like walking through a living museum of Peru’s natural world. But what made the experience truly unforgettable wasn’t only the food. It was the people. I unfortunately forgot the names of our servers, but I will never forget how they made me feel. Their storytelling, authenticity, and warmth transformed the experience into something deeply human. It didn’t feel like restaurant service. It felt like being invited to a special family dinner in someone’s home. That energy changes everything. Great restaurants can serve incredible food. But when a team brings genuine connection and authenticity, the experience moves to another level entirely. One detail that absolutely fascinated me was their obsession with the plates and presentation. Every plate felt like a piece of art carefully chosen for the story of that dish. The ceramics, textures, colors, and shapes perfectly reflected the ecosystem or concept behind the course. It felt like the chefs weren’t only thinking about flavor they were thinking about the entire sensory experience. It’s rare to see that level of intentionality. You can feel the passion and obsession behind everything they do. The cacao research was another moment that stayed with me. Listening to their deep research about cacao was mind-blowing. The level of curiosity, respect for nature, and dedication to understanding ingredients is extraordinary. This is not just cooking this is exploration. It’s passion. It’s purpose. It’s obsession in the best possible way. I even wanted t

Maor Gil

2 months ago

Central in Lima was absolutely spectacular — one of those meals that stays in your head long after the last bite. This is not just a restaurant. It’s a journey through Peru. Every dish feels like a different landscape: the coast, the Andes, the Amazon, the high altitude, the deep flavors, the colors, the textures — everything is so thoughtful, so creative, and still so delicious. Now I understand why Central was named No. 1 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. It doesn’t feel like hype. It feels earned. The whole experience is elegant, emotional, surprising, and full of soul. And honestly, it was so good that it basically forced us to visit Mil, their restaurant near Cusco. After Central, we had no choice. We needed to see where this whole universe continues — closer to the land, the altitude, and the ingredients that inspire it all. A truly amazing experience. Peru should be very proud of this place.

Carlos Bolanos

3 months ago

Dining at Central was one of the most memorable culinary experiences we’ve ever had. The tasting menu was incredibly creative and beautifully executed, but what really elevated the evening was the wine and spirits pairing. Every course felt thoughtfully connected to a different region, altitude, and ingredient profile of Peru, and the pairings added another layer of storytelling to the experience. The service was warm, knowledgeable, and never pretentious — the team genuinely seemed passionate about what they were presenting. Some dishes challenged our expectations in the best way possible, while others were simply unforgettable for their flavor and presentation. Central is much more than just a dinner reservation; it feels like an exploration of Peru through food, culture, and creativity. Absolutely worth the experience and easily one of the best meals we’ve had anywhere in the world.

Archana Kamath

7 months ago

On our trip to South America for an Antarctica cruise, we made a stop over in Lima just to try out Central, which has been on our wish list for quite a long time. And what an amazing experience it was! Food was delicious as expected but what really impressed me was the creativity with which the ingredients were transformed from it's original state into something extremely unexpected. It was a journey through Peru, with unique ingredients chosen for each dish based on the altitude. My favorite was an item with a bread like consistency that was made completely from different kinds of sea weed (including a sweet glaze that went on top!). Truly incredible! The dinner was thoughtfully curated and attention to details was fantastic. The drink pairing had a mix of unique aperitifs/digestive they create in their lab and South American wines. We also got a quick tour of their lab where they work through these transformations and got to meet the chef and his culinary team. I am pescarian with allergies to some specific mollusks, which they handled extremely well. I did not feel like I missed out on any experience due to my food allergies. Place books out pretty quickly as soon as they open up reservations (I think around 3 months in advance).

YORK YU

month ago

Central! Ever since watching Chef’s Table feature this restaurant nearly ten years ago, I had wanted to visit. To me, this restaurant serves as a grand showcase of Peru’s incredible biodiversity and culinary heritage. Through ingredients sourced from different elevations and ecosystems across the country, each course tells a story and introduces flavors that many diners may never have encountered before. It is an impressive journey through Peru’s coast, highlands, and Amazon rainforest. That said, not every dish was perfectly balanced. Some courses felt overly salty, while others were too mild or too acidic. At times, the restaurant seemed to favor bold extremes over harmony, and I believe there is room for improvement when it comes to balancing flavors. However, this was a relatively minor criticism in what was otherwise an exceptional experience. The service was outstanding. Our server was warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about sharing the story behind each dish. Throughout the meal, we were also given books and educational materials that provided additional context about the ingredients, regions, and culinary philosophy behind the menu. What makes this experience special is that you are not simply consuming calories; you are gaining a deeper understanding of Peru as a country. By the end of the meal, you leave with a richer appreciation of its diverse landscapes, cultures, and ingredients. Overall, despite a few dishes that could have been better balanced, this was a memorable and worthwhile culinary experience that I would absolutely recommend