Cafe Secret Restaurant Review
1140 Camino Del Mar (12th St.) 
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Del Mar, CA 92014
858-792-0821 | Make Restaurant Reservations | Menu
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Cuisine
Open
Breakfast & Lunch daily, Dinner Fri.-Sat.Features
- Heart-healthy dishes
- Romantic setting
- Kid-friendly
- Reservations suggested (dinner)
- Outdoor dining
- Casual
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| The Basagoitia family from Lima works diligently in their compact kitchen within this quaint cottage, producing authentic Peruvian dishes. By day, it's counter service, but on Friday and Saturday nights, you can enjoy a sit-down meal with relaxed service. Breakfast-goers will appreciate the fresh pastries and omelets, but be adventurous and try the pan con chicharron---a hearty sandwich loaded with pork, yams and the signature salsa criolla (finely sliced onions, aji pepper, cilantro and lime juice). For lunch, we recommend the empanadas---we like the ground sirloin, caramelized onions and aji pepper that spill from its dusted-in-powdered-sugar shell; pair it with a chilled Cusqueña beer. The Swiss chard pie is another good Peruvian treat. Then there's the ceviche---nuggets of sea bass in lime, garlic, onion and more aji peppers; its Peruvian corn, canchita (toasted corn) and sweet potatoes balance the dish. Dinnertimes can be crowded, and offer more specialties like Peruvian scallops au gratin and pesto raviolis with queso fresco. Do not skip the Key lime meringue, a testament to the wonders of whipped eggs and sugar, with just the right punch of lime. |
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