La Costanera La Costanera

La Costanera Awards

Coastside restaurant featuring Peruvian cuisine.
Openings: Dinner Tues.-Sun.

Features

La Costanera, Montara, CA


La Costanera Restaurant Review:


Even if it’s only to enjoy one of its pisco-inspired cocktails, a visit to La Costanera on Montara Beach is a must. Better yet, take that cocktail out to the restaurant’s patio, outfitted with heat lamps and fire pits, and watch the sun set or stargaze. Inside, a spacious and elegant dining room offers unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows across the entire western-facing wall of the restaurant. The 10,000-square-foot, tri-level space employs a mainly open floor plan, including a wide open and pristine stainless-steel kitchen, but there are a few small nooks for privacy. The menu is extensive, with more than 40 tempting small plates to choose from, all hailing from Peru. One of the eatery’s signature dishes is causa, a layered mashed potato dish served at room temperature that can be prepared with tuna, chicken or shrimp. Bright, colorful sauces are another hallmark of the restaurant. Langostinos encrusted in nutty quinoa are served atop a yin-yang of bright pink and green passion fruit sauce. Deep-fried yucca balls come plated on a pool of yellow huancaina-mustard sauce. For dessert, swoon over the moist tres leches cake topped with toasted coconut. The wine list focuses on selections from Argentina, Spain and Portugal.