Our family loves celebrating special occasions by going out to dinner. Sometimes we eat at our usual tried and true spots but oftentimes we try new restaurants like the foodies we are. A few months ago, for my wife’s birthday, we decided to give MACA Peruvian Restaurant a try.
We had driven past MACA several times and heard great things from a couple of foodie friends. As I always do before trying a new place to eat, I also checked Yelp before visiting. Confident in what I’d heard, the many positive reviews, and beautiful food pics, we headed over. I’ve gotta say MACA did not disappoint!
Restaurant Vibe
Our group of 13 family and friends arrived at the restaurant at about 5:30 P.M. on a Saturday. Upon entering I felt a casual vibe. Most of the tables were occupied by families eating dinner, chatting, and all appeared to be enjoying themselves. Spanish music played in the background and overall it felt as if we had shown up at a relative’s home for dinner.
We were greeted by Jenny as we entered the restaurant. She asked if we had called ahead? I immediately knew I had fumbled. Why didn’t I think about making a reservation for our large group? Arghh. I embarrassingly said no and apologized.
She didn’t turn us away though. Speaking in our native Spanish language, Jenny said “No se apuren” meaning don’t worry. It would be about a half hour wait to be seated.
She invited us to sit by the bar and have a few drinks while we waited. Not bad I thought. It could have been longer or we would have been forced to go elsewhere. A few of us ordered beers and enjoyed catching up at the bar.
Drinks
I think we waited less than 30 minutes before Jenny motioned to us that our tables were ready. She sat us near the front of the restaurant and apologized for the wait. She began by taking our drink orders.
We began our celebration with a couple of pitchers of Red Sangria and a few bottled beers. I don’t usually order Sangria because it tends to be too sweet.
After tasting MACA’s version we quickly became fans. It was AH-MAZING and is hands down the best Sangria I ever had!
Appetizers
A few folks in our group started out with the Empanadas. Jeanette and I decided to skip the appetizers so we could have room for the main dishes.
We were lucky to get a taste test from those who ordered them. They were hot and crispy and filled with generous amounts of strips of beef and cheese.
Note to self: Don’t skip these next time.
A couple of the kids tried chicken with rice and beans. Let’s just say that the adults didn’t hear any complaints. The plates were wiped clean and there were no doggie bags to take home
This was my main dish. I ordered a medium steak and loved it. The entire meal was delish, and I felt like I’d died and gone to foodie heaven.
Related Post: Astoria Seafood Market Review
(Poor man’s steak dish)
Jeanette loved this dish. She usually gets chicken Chaufa when we go for Peruvian — this was her first time having a seafood version. She described that every bite had a fresh piece of seafood. In fact she enjoyed it so much that when we went to celebrate my best friends promotion last month she ordered it again.
In honor of my wife’s birthday, they brought her a piece of Tres Leches cake. The owner led the entire restaurant in singing her Happy Birthday. My wife was surprised when the owner brought out balloons with the words Happy Birthday on them.
These Churros were served nice and warm. They tasted fresh. The drizzled chocolate along with whipped cream, cherries and sugar on top made me a very happy guy.
Final Thoughts
MACA Peruvian restaurant offers excellent food and fantastic service. The vibe makes families feel welcomed. Jenny and the rest of the staff clearly take pride in their work. We cannot wait until our next visit!
Note: Weekends are the busiest. I suggest calling ahead especially if you have a large party. Additionally, there is Karaoke every Saturday night and live music every last Friday of the month.
What to Know Before Eating at MACA Peruvian Restaurant
Address: 62-12 Woodhaven Blvd, Rego Park, NY 11374
Phone: (718) 651-2441
Price Range: $$
Menu: Peruvian cuisine with a focus on seafood
Ambiance: Casual
Delivery: Yes
Parking: Street parking
Reservations Accepted: Yes
More on MACA Peruvian Restaurant: Facebook|Yelp
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Have you ever eaten Peruvian food? If so, let us know where in the comments below
