La Costanera Restaurant: Reviews

La Costanera Restaurant: Reviews | restaurant info + video | full episode video

Donna MacDonald
Name: Donna
Occupation: Consulting Manager
Location: San Francisco
Favorite Restaurant: La Costanera Restaurant
Reviewed La Costanera Restaurant: Saturday December 21, 2013

La Costanera is a hidden gem in the Bay Area. Where else can you sit next to the beach and watch the sunset having driven only 30 minutes from San Francisco? You can choose to sit on the patio (there are heat lamps and fire pits), in the bar/lounge, or upstairs in the dining room. Great to have the options. Same with the food – it’s fun to have a selection of tapas one time and then come back again for a more formal dinner. La Costanera feels like going on vacation.

On this visit, we sat in the bar/lounge in one of the small sectional sofas that looks out to the ocean. The bar/lounge area was maybe half way full and we could see the fire pits outside which made for a nice, cozy ambiance. Our waiter, Nick, was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. He recommended the wine that we had and it was delicious. It was nice to be here on December 21st as the restaurant was playing festive music in the background. Though we sat in the bar, we were very well taken care of and the wait staff was super attentive. We ordered each dish one at a time, and never felt rushed or hurried – and the food arrived at the perfect intervals. Even without being able to see the gorgeous views – this place gives you a feeling of “being away from it all.”

George Schroeder
Name: George
Occupation: Analytics Administrator
Location: San Francisco
Favorite Restaurant: King of Falafel
Reviewed La Costanera Restaurant: Sunday, January 5, 2014

A visit to La Costanera should be considered an experience above mere dining out. We arrived at 6pm on a Saturday night after a challenging parking adventure and were seated right away. Reservations here seem to be well advised.

We were greeted by our server Alex who was a native Peruvian, and after a quick look at the extensive menu, decided to put ourselves in his hands for the evening. He graciously agreed to bring us a series of small plates that were authentically Peruvian. The result was a meal that was interesting, memorable and consisted of one delicious surprise after another. Among these were an excellent Ceviche made with ling cod and accompanied by corn, sweet potato and onions. Another was a Pollo Causa with a chicken salad atop two causas – beetroot and spicy spinach.

We tried the excellent Peruvian punch called Chicha Morada, which is made with a base of purple corn mixed with pineapple, clove and cinnamon. My companion tried a dry Spanish Cava that she declared wonderful. Later on she enjoyed her first Pisco Sour while I had an espresso with dessert. The espresso was the weak link in the beverages we tried, being simply average and a bit weak.

Desserts were Suspiro a la Limena, Tres Leche Pudding with Pisco Cream and Churros. The churros were accompanied by a chocolate sauce and were lighter than most churros I’ve had before. They also did not feature the typical sugar and cinnamon.

The service we received from Alex was simply superb. He carefully explained each dish he brought out and seemed to delight in showing off the specialties of the restaurant. The atmosphere was comfortable and contemporary and the noise level was tolerable. The star of the show is the ocean view which blacks out at night. The tables are spaced nicely so you don’t feel crammed in with other diners.

At $170 for two, this place was worth the price. For a memorable meal in a wonderful setting you can’t do much better than La Costanera.

Christopher Hoofe
Name: Christopher
Occupation: Barber Shop Owner
Location: Mountain View
Favorite Restaurant: Luka's Taproom & Lounge
Reviewed La Costanera Restaurant: Sunday, December 22, 2013

Any time I’m on the beach for dinner is a slice of heaven. The restaurant sits on the coast overlooking the beach with an area for walking before or after dinner, and every seat in the restaurant had a good view of the ocean. This noise level was non-existent. I had space between the tables and the lighting was ideal for the time of day. The atmosphere was very relaxing and calm. The patio area was also nice as you could sit outside with heat laps and fire logs.

The service at La Costanera was EXCELLENT! The staff was very friendly and well versed on the menu options. The waiter introduced himself (Alex) before making any dinner recommendations. All my needs were met and the coffee was fresh and strong to my liking.

La Costanera was a very nice dining experience. I would recommend a trip here and will be returning in the near future with friends.