A cool new restaurant opening in Williamsburg these days is as common as Trump making headlines and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of choices. A few months of sustained hype though is a good sign the newbie is a winner and Llama Inn definitely falls into that category. The Peruvian restaurant delivers the captivating mix of fancy training (chef hails from Eleven Madison Park), unknown ingredients and funky presentation within a bright triangular space right by the BQE – hipster definition right there.
The artsy space is surrounded by big windows, greenery everywhere and colorful craft from the motherland for an allover cheerful and unpretentious feel. You naturally walk up to the inviting wrap-around bar that takes center-stage as you should – their drinks alone are worth the trek.
When I think of my trip to Peru I mostly think of Pisco Sour and their variation on it was out of this world. Adding puréed purple potatoes, bitters and a dash of nutmeg turned the classic into a transcending concoction called Flying Purple Pisco…you’ll want a few of those! The whole cocktail menu reads like a dream and we ended up digging through it during our meal despite the presence of some interesting South American wines – the cocktails were just too tempting.
A little tipsier than when you first arrived, you’ll probably want to order the entire menu which seems at once familiar and whimsical, and most definitely drool inducing. Divvied up into vegetable, fish, meat, and large plates, it’s all meant to be shared easily and is one of those places where ‘a bit of everything’ is the real way to go.
The flavors are intense and the combinations deliciously interesting with standout dishes such as quinoa with banana, avocado and bacon and a ceviche bathed in dashi and topped with fried plantains. There were purple chips on top of my skewers and plenty of ingredients I had never heard of. I felt incredibly entertained on top of savoring every single bites and sips which to me is the formula for a most wonderful evening. One more reason to visit now – their amazing rooftop bar opened for the summer which I’m sure will make those pisco cocktails taste even better!
Quinoa, banana, avocado, bacon, cashew
Corvina ceviche, lime, dashi, plaintain, habanero, red onion, cilantro
Anticucho 1 – chicken thigh, fermented soybean, aji verde, potato chips
Anticucho 2 – pork belly, char siu, pickled chilis, spicy mayo
Duck sausage, rice, english peas, raisin, cumin, beer, spinach
Chocolate, lucuma, coffee
Llama Inn
50 Withers St,
Brooklyn, NY 11211
T: (718) 387-3434
Map
