Peruvian in St. Louis

Chef Jorge Calvo has opened a downtown location of his popular Shrewsbury eatery - still St. Louis' only Peruvian restaurant. The menu features a broad selection of traditional dishes that draw from Spanish and indigenous cuisine as well as Asian and Western European influences. Ceviche is a national dish, here available with tilapia, tart and spicy, or with shrimp and mussels. Beef, chicken and seafood entrées predominate. Saltado de langostinos brings lovely shrimp in an olive oil-white wine reduction, while aji de gallina features a unique blend of chicken, walnut, chiles and cream.

CLOSED - St. Louis' first and only authentic (or, for that matter, counterfeit) Peruvian restaurant does its homeland cuisine proud. Though the menu skirts around meats like goat, tripe, alpaca, sheep and guinea pig, all traditional staples, it offers great ceviche, papas rellenas (large, knish-like potato dumplings) and pascualina (spinach pie). The cocktails alone are worth a trip, especially Peru's signature pisco sour, a frothy concoction whipped up with raw egg, sugar and South American brandy.