Zcaveche

My friend took me and another friend here one night. We loved it! We loved the bread with the different dips for it. While it was in a so so neighborhood, once inside you totally forget. Why did they have to close?

I went here with a group of gardening friends one day right after they opened. I enjoyed my lunch. We had the Ceviche Mixto another reviewer mentioned — it was actually really, really good.
I would like to go back again just for that. But honestly the only reason I haven’t is that it’s on such a crappy block — as another reviewer pointed out. For me, the atmosphere is an important element, and deciding factor. I live close, and I’ve driven by, but until I see improvement (less riff raff) I’ll have to keep driving to West Portal. Hopefully they’ll work with the neighborhood organizations to improve that block.

I am very new to the neighbourhood but was instantly drawn by the smart, outward appearance, to this restaurant. Inside is less fancy, but you don’t eat the décor so who cares. The service is laid back, which I love. No over enthusiastic waitstaff simpering over you when you are trying to eat.
Down to the best bit, the food. I loved everything that was put before us. The Ceviche Mixto was a great blend of seafood served with, amongst other things, freshly toasted cancha. The portion was large and reasonably priced. For the main course I again chose seafood and had the Arroz a lo Macho or seafood rice stew. It was delicious and the portion was enormous. I enjoyed the leftovers for lunch the following day. The others in the party all remarked on the quality of the food they chose and the generous portions.
This is a place for honest, well prepared, simple but tasty food. If you want tiny portions of fancy fare, with drizzles and garnish, then you will be disappointed.

A lunch meeting in the Excelsior district of San Francisco (Ocean Ave meets Mission St) lead to a good lunch at this Peruvian restaurant. I had the «Papa a la Huanciana» which is boiled potatoes topped with creamy sauce made from escabeche, cheese and milk. For drinks, I enjoyed the «Chica Morada» made by boiling purple corn with apple, pineapple, cinnamon and clover. All this for less than ten bucks. The detractions — limited choice for vegetarians and no heat on a cold winter day in SF.

We were looking for something around the neighborhood. Phở? No. Taqueria? No. Oh hey, Peruvian food!
At first glance, the menu is a little overwhelming, and a little pricey for a place in this particular area. But we looked up and down the menu and found sandwiches! The sandwiches are $ 5, and they are AWESOME. We both ordered the Pan Con Chicharron (Pork Sandwiches), which are sandwiches with deep fried boiled pork, fried yams, lettuce and their salsa criolla. Yum! We also ordered the Salad Special ZCaveche (their house salad). It was simple, but we loved it.
Service was a little hesitant. We stood inside for a little while before they even noticed anyone was around. It was early for the weekend, and nobody else was there. I guess we could’ve walked right out, but we decided to risk it.
So glad we stopped by this place. We want to try the other stuff on the menu when we’ve got some $$ ;) Any other time, we’ll be picking up sandwiches!
To be updated when we try anything else!

Blue Hawaii was not in our cards today… so a trip to Peru was our back-​up plan.
By chance, my friend and I stumbled upon this little Peruvian place in the Outer Mission when we discovered the Hawaiian place down the street was closed. I have to admit we were lured by the bright storefront which is completely at odds with how tired the rest of the block looks. It reminds me of a trip I took once to Lima, a big, sprawling city that may have the distinction of being the ugliest capital city in South America. But there are still jewels there if you’re willing to explore.
And there may be a jewel here. Unpolished and in need of a buff but a jewel nonetheless. Inside, there are bright orange walls and a couple of big flat-​screen TVs showing a montage of Latin American music videos. Gloria Estefan in a glittery gown. Marc Anthony looking like he may need an eye chart. We both ordered the lunch special, the Lomo Saltado for $ 7.50. It’s a great deal as you get a plate with a heaping scoop of rice with nicely seasoned sirloin strips combined with onions and tomatoes over French fries. It tastes particularly good with the spicy green sauce they already have on the table for the bread.
I liked it, and the waitress was nice though our inability to speak Spanish curtailed the potential socializing we saw with the other customers. It doesn’t seem that this place attracts many outside the neighborhood, but it definitely has potential. It’s not quite at the level of Mi Lindo Peru many blocks away, but it’s worth a stop if you are in the general vicinity.
FOOD — 4 stars… hearty Peruvian fare
AMBIANCE — 4 stars… bright and clean inside even if the neighborhood is rather droopy
SERVICE — 4 stars… friendly…habla espanol?
TOTAL — 4 stars… give it a try

on a quick trip in the excelsior I noticed the fancy store front of Zcaveche. Was surprised when we approached that it really was a small family run Peruvian joint very informal almost to casual but clean.
the menu reminds me of fresca on west portal when they first converted from the wraps craze to selling some cerviches and Peruvian specialties… the food was exciting then and less polished… and this place seems geared towards the local Peruvian community and the food is good… my usual complaints about single note tastes and over lemony cerviche.
not a place I would repeat but I would recommend if you are looking for something on outer mission besides the pupuserias and their ilk…