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La Royal

$31 to $50

Peruvian

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 16, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 16 times today

Neighborhood gem
Great for creative cocktails
Good for special occasions

Maria Rondeau and JuanMa Calderón of Boston's award-winning Celeste (Eater Boston's 2018 Restaurant of the Year and Esquire Best New Restaurant) and Esmeralda in Vermont (Esquire's 2021 list of Best New Restaurant in America), open La Royal, their newest Peruvian restaurant down the block from their Cambridge home. While at Celeste, JuanMa recreates his mother’s rustic home-cooking that he grew up with in Lima, his menu at La Royal explores the varied cuisines throughout Peru, offering original takes on dishes from the country’s different regions. They also bringing the same spirit of curation and collaboration from both Celeste and Esmeralda to this project… at La Royal, they've collaborated with professor and award-winning cookbook author Darra Goldstein on a selection of macerated liquors. Maria, a trained architect, has designed the space to create an inviting, lived-in feel, with the kitchen at the heart of the whole project.

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Why they're an Icon

Executive chef: Chef JuanMa Calderon

From the OpenTable editors: You know the food at this Cambridge spot is going to rule because it's from the hitmakers behind beloved Peruvian restaurant Celeste—La Royal has a 2022 best new restaurant crown from Boston Magazine to back it up. Chef JuanMa Calderon's menu is a little more ambitious here, leaning into other cuisines in Peru like Chifa or Chinese-Peruvian food. Choose from dishes like Chinese-Peruvian-style stir-fried noodles with seafood and Nikkei-style portobello mushroom sashimi all while seated in the light and airy dining room or the spacious patio adorned with string lights. Either way, you have to get the pisco martini—Esquire dubbed it one of the best martinis in America in 2023.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Peruvian, Seafood, Home cooking
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Dinner Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(617) 823-1595
Website
http://www.laroyalcambridge.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual

Location
221 Concord Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138
Neighborhood
Cambridge
Cross street
We are located on Concord Avenue, about half a block from Huron Avenue
Parking details
Street Parking
Public transit
For parking, there is ample availability on Concord Avenue in the evenings, and meter parking on Huron Avenue half a block away. Walking or biking, of course, are highly encouraged! We're about a 15 minute walk from Harvard Square up Concord if you're connecting on the Red line, or many bus lines stop on our corner. We look forward to seeing you at La Royal!
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Leche de tigre / tiger’s milk (essence of ceviche)*$22.00
Ceviche mixto / blue cod, squid and shrimp ceviche*$21.00
Ceviche pescado / blue cod ceviche*$20.00
Tiradito de hongo / portobello sashimi nikkei style$18.00
Pastel de choclo / peruvian corn polenta, cheese + aji (vegetarian or ground sirloin)
- -$16.00
- -$17.00
Causa de aguacate y tomate / potato terrine with avocado and tomato$16.00
Causa de cangrejo / potato terrine with crab salad$19.00
Causa de tuna tartare / potato terrine with tuna tartare$18.00
Arugula + watercress salad, lime + black pepper vinaigrette$15.00

PLATO FUERTE

arroz con seared duck / cilantro rice, seared duck breast + salsa criolla $35.00
patarashca / whole branzino grilled in plantain leaves, amazonic condiments$39.00
tacu tacu de pallares a lo macho O verduras / lima bean risotto, panca sauce, mussels, shrimp, squid OR vegetables: mushrooms, scallions, snow peas, bok choy (veg)
- -$32.00
- -$25.00
*pescado con verduras / steamed blue cod, XO peruvian-chinese sauce, aji, bok choy, snow peas, onions, mushroom, peppers$28.00
*sudado de berenjena / steamed eggplant chinese-peruvian style$25.00
*lomo saltado / stir-fried sirloin (8oz), tomato, onion, soy sauce$32.00
*tallarin saltado de mariscos O de verduras / peruvian-chinese stir fried noodles, shrimp, squid, mussels
*tallarin saltado de mariscos O de verduras / peruvian-chinese stir fried noodles with vegetables
v) 32 / 25 *CHIFA: Peruvian-Chinese fusion cuisine developed in the 19th century from the influx of Chinese immigrants brought to Peru as indentured laborers (including Chef JuanMa’s great-great grandfather), using Chinese condiments + Peruvian peppers

What 48 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.6Service
4.5Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

La Royal in Boston is a standout for its "divine" food and "wonderful" staff. This neighborhood gem offers a unique Peruvian-Chinese fusion cuisine and creative pisco cocktails. Diners rave about the "amazing" atmosphere, perfect for both casual dining and celebrations. While some mention service hiccups, the imaginative menu and friendly service make it a must-visit.

48 Reviews

K
Kevin
Greater Boston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food, staff is amazing, drinks are excellent. Always a great experience when we go here. Thanks!
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J
Jair
Greater Boston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 8, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
La comida y el postre estuvo delicioso volveré y lo recomiendo todo estuvo excelente.
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E
Eva
New York City
37 reviews
vip
5.0
37 reviews
Dined on December 6, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Met a friend for dinner and listened to the recommendations from the server, 2 apps and 1 entree to share. It was perfect amount of food with some leftovers for each of us. The shrimp skewers had the most amazing flavor profile with fries on the bottom to enjoy more of the sauce. We loved the arroz con pato for our entree. Also, pisco sours were AMAZING!! Will go back!
1 person found this helpful
R
Russell
Greater Boston
22 reviews
2.0
22 reviews
Dined on November 30, 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
We have enjoyed La Royal in the past but not this time. Cocktail was served with a fly floating in it. Drink was replaced but I feel should have been comped. It was not. Entree described on menu included term “fried” for the fish component. In reality it was pan-seared and a bit dry. Other entree lacked flavor we had come to expect here. I don’t think I’ll go back.
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K
Kelley and James
Washington DC
15 reviews
4.0
15 reviews
Dined on November 26, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
They need a better ventilation system to rid the dining area from kitchen smoke.
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D
Daniela
Atlanta Metro
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 25, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Really good food, the restaurant is pretty, and th service was great
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L
Linnea
Greater Boston
15 reviews
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Excellent Pisco based cocktails, ceviche and Gus main dishes. Loved the light mousse for dessert
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E
Enrique
New York City
9 reviews
3.0
9 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
Food was okay, really expected something more delicious to match the price, felt like food was bland and unremarkable overall, expected better similar to their other restaurant Celeste which I’ve had great experiences at. Drinks were great and the highlight of the evening. Ambience of the space is all over the place I will say, didn’t get a cohesive vibe of the interior design. Had beautiful exposed bricks and beautiful planters, but the rest of the space was all over the place like the random disco balls. I’d come back and give it another chance but underwhelming
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Greater Boston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 17, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Pleasantly surprised by this restaurant we didn’t know about until I did a restaurant search online for Cambridge. It was excellent! I was looking for something that was different from the usual and found the menu quite diverse and full of great options. We enjoyed the cocktails/wine and there were many gluten free options for me. We’ll go back. Pricy but worth every cent
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M
Mel
New York City
62 reviews
vip
5.0
62 reviews
Dined on November 13, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Having visited Peru this past summer, we were delighted to learn of this restaurant. Peru has indeed become a gastronome destination. This restaurant did not disappoint. The server told us dishes were meant for sharing: we ordered one crevice appetizer and two entrees (duck and sliced steak), plus two Pisca based drinks (the ones with the ginger beer). The meal was as filling as it was appetizing. With tax and tip, the bill came to $150. Be advised this is not a large restaurant. The main dining room accommodates about 20 diners. There are several tables opposite the bar and seats at the bar.
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FAQs

You can order delivery directly from La Royal using the Order Online button.

La Royal is rated 4.7 stars by 48 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 16, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 16 times today

Order delivery or takeout

221 Concord Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
We are located on Concord Avenue, about half a block from Huron Avenue
Neighborhood
Cambridge
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Dinner Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Peruvian, Seafood, Home cooking
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Street Parking
Public transit
For parking, there is ample availability on Concord Avenue in the evenings, and meter parking on Huron Avenue half a block away. Walking or biking, of course, are highly encouraged! We're about a 15 minute walk from Harvard Square up Concord if you're connecting on the Red line, or many bus lines stop on our corner. We look forward to seeing you at La Royal!
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.laroyalcambridge.com/
Phone number
(617) 823-1595

La Royal

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Why they're an Icon

Dining areas

Additional information

Menu

DINNER

APPETIZERS

Leche de tigre / tiger’s milk (essence of ceviche)*$22.00

Ceviche mixto / blue cod, squid and shrimp ceviche*$21.00

Ceviche pescado / blue cod ceviche*$20.00

Tiradito de hongo / portobello sashimi nikkei style$18.00

Pastel de choclo / peruvian corn polenta, cheese + aji (vegetarian or ground sirloin)

Causa de aguacate y tomate / potato terrine with avocado and tomato$16.00

Causa de cangrejo / potato terrine with crab salad$19.00

Causa de tuna tartare / potato terrine with tuna tartare$18.00

Arugula + watercress salad, lime + black pepper vinaigrette$15.00

PLATO FUERTE

arroz con seared duck / cilantro rice, seared duck breast + salsa criolla $35.00

patarashca / whole branzino grilled in plantain leaves, amazonic condiments$39.00

tacu tacu de pallares a lo macho O verduras / lima bean risotto, panca sauce, mussels, shrimp, squid OR vegetables: mushrooms, scallions, snow peas, bok choy (veg)

*pescado con verduras / steamed blue cod, XO peruvian-chinese sauce, aji, bok choy, snow peas, onions, mushroom, peppers$28.00

*sudado de berenjena / steamed eggplant chinese-peruvian style$25.00

*lomo saltado / stir-fried sirloin (8oz), tomato, onion, soy sauce$32.00

*tallarin saltado de mariscos O de verduras / peruvian-chinese stir fried noodles, shrimp, squid, mussels

*tallarin saltado de mariscos O de verduras / peruvian-chinese stir fried noodles with vegetables

v) 32 / 25 *CHIFA: Peruvian-Chinese fusion cuisine developed in the 19th century from the influx of Chinese immigrants brought to Peru as indentured laborers (including Chef JuanMa’s great-great grandfather), using Chinese condiments + Peruvian peppers

What 48 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

Does La Royal offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is La Royal restaurant rated?

Is La Royal currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information