La Mar Cebicheria Peruana on the San Francisco Embarcadero

Once we realize that we will be in San Francisco at dinnertime, we have to schedule a meal at one of our favorite places.  Since Kokkari and La Ciccia are usually booked up a month or two in advance, there was no chance to get into either, but we were lucky enough to secure a reservation at La Mar, on the Embarcadero, facing the water.

La Mar Cebicheria Peruana features Peruvian cuisine, with related restaurants in Lima, Buenos Aries, Bogata, Santiago de Chile, Sao Paulo, and Miami.  Peruvian cuisine combines influences from many cultures for a spectacular result and is always a treat.

We start with octopus!  La Mar offers pulpo ceviche, in jalapeno pepper and avacodo, or anticuchos, inspired by the food carts of Peru, a whole tentacle with potato, garlic, olive aoli, and piquillo peppers.  We choose the tentacle and share.  Fabuloso!

Pulpo, antichchos

For the main course Laura chooses her favorite, the tasting plate of four empanadas:  vegetarian, beef, shrimp, and chicken.  We dig in, then remember the picture.

Empanadas, slightly used

I think she likes them!

I think for a while and, spotting a squid ink pasta dish on the menu, remember the one I made at home last year and decide to order this one and compare.  The Sopa Seca combines squid ink pasta with mussels, clams, shrimp, calamari, and a vegetable stew in Peruvian aoli, all served in a hot iron pan.  Wonderful tastes and presentation.  This one wins, but the competition will continue...they were both different and GOOD!

Soba seca

We have a glass of Roderer Estates brut rose sparkling wine while we consider the menu, but ask our server for a recommendation to go with our food.  We have truly enjoyed the Luca Malbec previously, but want to try something different.  She suggests a rioja from Palacioa la Montesa, a smooth, bright Spanish red wine, with just a hint of pepper, that goes well with everything.  The next day I check K&L Wines to see if we can buy it (as we can the Luca), but they don't carry it.  We often discover interesting Italian, Greek, Spanish, and South American wines at dinner in San Francisco, then, if we like them we go online at K&L to buy a few.

La Montesa rioja

After that great meal, we should be tempted by the deserts, but we decide to head over to the Ferry Building and get some ice cream.  Then it's a short walk along the water and down Market Street to the Embarcadero BART station and the next train under the Bay.

 Enjoying my ice cream

Watching the evening clouds roll in
Isn't there a song about that?
Answer:  (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay by Otis Redding