This St. Augustine restaurant is one of the best in the U.S., OpenTable says

Gary T. Mills, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union
·2 min read

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If you’re looking for a special restaurant to impress your significant other or out-of-town guests, a small St. Augustine Peruvian restaurant may be just the place.

But don’t take our word for it. Instead, take the advice of more than 2,000 diners who have left reviews at OpenTable, leading the online reservation platform to name Llama Restaurant to its annual list of Top 100 Restaurants in America.

Recently released, the list is culled from over 12 million diner reviews and dining metrics, including ratings, five-star reviews, reservations and more.

Llama Restaurant comes from chef/owner Marcel Vizcarra, who immigrated to the U.S. more than a decade ago at age 21 and opened the restaurant at 415 Anastasia Blvd. in 2016, bringing the flavors of his homeland Peru – and its Incan, European and Asian influences – to St. Augustine.

"We want to provide not only an amazing meal, but an experience," Vizcarra told the St. Augustine Record in 2021.

The restaurant is known for entrees Ceviche Clasico, Mar Y Tierra (surf and turf), Cordero Cusqueno (Andean-style roasted rack of lamb) and more.

Since the OpenTable list debuted in mid-November, diners from across the country have left a number of five-star reviews, including:

  • “Llama Restaurant is THE best restaurant I’ve been to hands down. I came here a few years ago and they just keep getting better.” (Guest, Orlando)

  • “Best dining experience in St Augustine by far... You won’t be disappointed.” (Guest, St. Louis)

  • “A true culinary experience... I highly recommend Llama you will not regret it!” (Percy, New York Area)

  • “Absolutely the best meal we’ve had in St. Augustine. Can’t wait to come back again.” (Guest, Philadelphia)

Host Samantha Brown dines with Chef Marcel Vizcarra at his Llama Restaurant in St. Augustine.
Host Samantha Brown dines with Chef Marcel Vizcarra at his Llama Restaurant in St. Augustine.

Earlier this year, Samantha Brown, host of PBS travel series “Samantha Brown’s Places to Love,” featured the restaurant and Vizcarra on an episode, describing the Peruvian restaurant concept as “They are adventurous, they are fun, they are delicious.”

But before you head out to Llama, know that reservations can be hard to come by, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings: the small restaurant only has 10 tables, so plan ahead for your special evening out.

More Florida restaurants named to OpenTable’s Top 100 list

Other Florida restaurants named to OpenTable’s Top 100 Restaurants in America list for 2023 include:

And from Savannah, Ga., Elizabeth on 37th and The Olde Pink House Restaurant also made the list.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Llama Restaurant in St. Augustine named to OpenTable's Top 100 list