Stop by Saturday and Sunday for classic fare at Tallahassee’s Peruvian destination
My husband and I have been fans of Cafe de Martin — and its authentic Peruvian fare — since it opened last year, but happily we can add one more reason to visit the cozy nook in the Esposito Garden Center plaza.
The cafe, which serves lunch and dinner, is now open for breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays. We went there on the cafe’s inaugural breakfast service, which started Aug. 6, and thoroughly enjoyed our dishes. No surprise!
The cafe features classic breakfast selections — a dish of eggs, choice of meat and Tribeca oven Pullman loaf plus omelets and French toast — which all come with orange juice and coffee or tea. I especially loved the French toast, made with brioche, topped with berries and bacon; add a drizzle of blueberry syrup.
The breakfast menu also offers sandwiches including a smoked chicken or pork sandwich, Peruvian-style Asado, Butifarra sandwich (a Peruvian specialty with pork and a red onion Creole sauce) and fried fish — plus mimosas.
The cafe’s lunch and dinner menus showcase delectable Peruvian specialties such as causa (a layered treat with mashed potatoes, avocado and either shrimp, chicken, octopus or ceviche) ají de gallina (chicken in a creamy sauce made with ají amarillo chile peppers), papas en salsa Huancaína (sliced, boiled potatoes topped with a mildly spicy cheese blend), lomo saltado (a Peruvian stir-fry), cilantro lamb stew and the country’s famed ceviche.
Chef Martin Araujo Bohorquez, co-owner with Tallahassee financial adviser Gary Parsons, opened Cafe de Martin in 2021.
Born in Lima. Bohorquez has more than 25 years’ experience in the restaurant industry. The cafe is the only Tallahassee restaurant I know of presenting a full menu of Peruvian fare. These are homey but sophisticated dishes melding the cuisines of several cultures, including Chinese, Italian, Japanese, French, African, Spanish and the ancient Incas. Peruvian cuisine is dubbed the original fusion food.
An extra treat, the restaurant has added a lovely outside patio and deck, with lots of colorful umbrellas and plants.
Cafe de Martin is at 2743 Capital Circle NE; 850-900-5969. Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday.
A version of this article appeared in Florida Politics.
Here are some other pictures from Cafe de Martin:
