Is this one of those jazzy places that you only go to with a coupon? Â I could not believe the prices! 18 bucks for stewed chicken (4oz) a cup of rice and potato salad. Â I will grant it full deliciousness, but way way overpriced. Â I noticed as we were paying out that almost every table had a groupon or coupon of some sort. Â I guess we missed the memo. Â Do not go without a coupon.
Review Source:I am sorry to say that I wrote this review without ever tasting their food. Â Hubby and I came here last night to check them out for restaurant week. Â We had been really looking forward to trying Taita, since we travelled to Peru a few years ago and of course since they have rave reviews. Â
We walked in around 6:30 on a Sunday evening.  It is a smaller space but it doesn't feel small.  There were several empty tables, including a few bar tables.  The person who seated us told us that since we didn't have a reservation, we could only sit at the bar tables, which was fine with us.  He also warned us that the food would take a while, "around 15-20 minutes", because they had been so busy the night before.  Then he said it was because they were short staffed.  I don't know which of those were true, but 15-20 minutes did not sound all that long to us so we were seated at the bar table.  We did confirm that we could order from the Restaurant Week menu  - "Of course!".  But he handed us regular menus.  We looked at them for a few minutes and waited for a server to greet us.  There was no one sitting at the bar so I assume the bartender was not supposed to help us - he made eye contact but then looked away.  Finally, I asked an employee that was walking by if we could see the restaurant week menus, and he told us that there were no other menus.  At this point we figured they did not want our business anyway and left.  I was really looking forward to a pisco sour and all the food the other yelpers are raving about but I don't think we will be back.  Went with two stars because the atmosphere was nice enough and none of the employees were flat-out rude.
I am a fan of this place. Aside from it being close to my house, it's yummy and the food is well priced.
Started off with a pisco sour- so good. Pricy at $9 though.
My friend and I shared the Causa de Camarones y Avocado which didn't dissapoint.
I had the Pollo Asado con Ensalada Rosada- Chicken thighs cooked for hours in Peruvian spices, served with rice and pink salad (potaoes, beets, onions, and homemade mayonnaise) for my entree. It was really good. I would've liked a little bit more chicken though.
The only downside to last night was that we didn't get the yummy corn snack to crunch on. Maybe they were out. :-(
So my first review wasn't near as good as it could have been. Again, I have to say that before eating here I had never understood what Peruvian cuisine was, but I can honestly say now that I want to make it a staple in my life.
Though this little restaurant is wedged in behind a dive bar and across the street from a massive Irish pub that shouldn't keep people away--because the food is absolutely spectacular.
Living in a land locked state it is hard to truly appreciate fish. A lot of fish we eat is shipped in and we don't fully understand the fresh taste that fish are supposed to have. But the chef here has made the best tasting seafood that I have ever had in Colorado. Why is that?
Because everything here is made to order. Nothing is sitting somewhere in a warmer waiting to be served, which means by the time you eat it the true flavor is completely gone. That is never the problem here.
And while the menu might feel strange to those of us who have never really understood this type of cuisine the great thing about it is that you really can't go wrong. Even the happy hour menu isn't the slop that you could get at bars, it is rich, flavorful food that makes you want to order seconds...and thirds... and fourths.
Yes there is a lot of spice, but it is used so well--this chef knows what he's doing.
Make this place busy! Don't be afraid of it!
So. I lived in Peru for about 9 months about a decade ago and I STILL haven't forgotten the food. It is, without a doubt, some of the best food I've ever eaten in my life and since moving back, I've been on a quest to find the best, closest to authentic Peruvian food that I can find in Denver.
There are several places that try. Some do better than others. But Taita does it best.
I tend to go overboard at Peruvian restaurants, because I just want to eat ALL the recipes, so I left this place completely stuffed.
I started with one of the traditional Peruvian cocktails, a Pisco sour. Pisco is a hard liquor made from grapes, but it's not sweet. It's more like rum, but clear. And it packs a punch. The drink is made of Pisco, frothed egg whites, sugar nutmeg and something else I think. It goes down nicely though. I highly recommend trying one.
Then, for appetizers, we got a Papa Rellena and a Tiradito de Aji Amarillo. To describe a papa rellena is to decribe everything with the world. Mash some potatoes, then create a filling of meat and veggies, then shape the mashed potatoes around the filling to look like a potato, then fry it. I drool every time I think of them and Taita set the bar in Denver. It was light and the flavors were great. It didn't taste like greasy fried food.
The tiradito ceviche I wasn't as big of a fan of. I'd never had ceviche in a sauce other than the typical leche de tigre (great hangover sure, btw), plus, the pieces of fish were, in my opinion, not cut small enough. Each piece looked like a quarter of a filet and I prefer my ceviche in bite sized pieces. what can I say, I'm picky.
But the true test of a Peruvian restaurant is the seemingly simple dish called Aji de Gallina. It's shredded chicken in a sauce that, try as I might, I could never replicate in the states. Most restaurants are lazy and don't properly shred their chicken. But Taita did a good job of making sure it was finely shredded and that sauce. Mmmmm. DAT SAUCE. It's so good. They're the closest I've ever tasted and it might be spot on, but it's been so long that I can't remember exactly how it tastes.
Oh server was incredibly friendly and the decor of this place is classy. It's not overwrought with chintzy Peruvian souveniers. It's got Peruvian flare, but they've definitely kept the place looking very good.
The only other bummer was that they don't have any Peruvian beer. I would have loved a Cusquena, but I guess there are some really strict beer import laws or something that prevent it from being possible. Still, I will be back here for more of their crac... er, Aji de Gallina very soon.
The wife wanted Peruvian and I hit yelp for options besides downtown. Â We tripped upon Taita as a close-by option and had a happy hour deal. Â Looking at the photos and double checking the address we hit this place last Friday afternoon. Â When you see photos it is hard to believe they are real...trust me the food matches and exceeds the photos you see.
You want to enjoy a place with solid food in a place that hides what is inside this is the place to be. Â Happy hour is awesome and the food is all that and a bag of chips. Â When hanging out on East Colfax this is across the parking lot from the Post Office.
Give it a go you won't be disappointed!
Heavenly, this place is what dreams are made of!
I can't stop thinking of my delicious experiences here! Lucky us, this little bit of Peruvian magic has descended upon Denver! First off, there is a yelp deal online and if you check in you can get 10% off. But, I insist on paying full price because this place is worth it!
I have tried 6 dishes and a few drinks and all were so ridiculously amazing that the English language can't describe them adequately! Wow, these people know what they are doing. I suggest getting an appetizer / drink during happy hour. But whatever you order it will be great, you can bet on that. I loved the avocado and shrimp salad as well as the pescado with cilantro, among other menu items. As this is my first Peruvian cuisine experience, I wasn't sure what to expect. They have good explanations on the menu and will answer any questions you may have. They specialize in sea food, but have other options as well. The secret is in their spices - they know how to make everything work together perfectly.
The service is friendly and helpful. The ambiance is warm and makes you feel like you have skipped the country. I hope it gets more popular, because this place deserves it! I can't wait to return and sample even more items on the menu. I have to find some others who are willing to go with me and then cycle through them until I have tried it all!
The prices are a little high for Cap Hill, but it seriously feels like an exotic vacation destination! This place would be great to meet and have a drink at the bar, have a group enjoy a meal, or have a lovely date night. Read the other reviews if you must, there are a lot of filtered ones too. Whatever you do, don't hesitate to try this place out. You will not regret it!
Holy Moses, Mary and Joseph! This place is the bomb diggity! Â I'm not sure where I have been or why I haven't heard of this place, but holy crap is it good! Â
I had the awesome opportunity to go last Friday and had a wonderful date night with my lady. Â The ambiance is very charming with high ceilings, dark colors and traditional Peruvian artwork on the walls. Â Along with this we had the pleasure of listening to a man playing beautiful music on his guitar during our dinner(not sure if this is a regular thing or just happened to be this occasion). Â
As for the food, Whoa! Â I don't think I've ever had Peruvian food in the past, but I surely will again in the near future. Â Everything we ate was amazing! Â From the presentation to the spiciness to the overall flavor everything was perfection. Â We started with the Papa Rellena(see the picture) this is amazing get it! Â Next I had a seafood and rice dish; the name escapes me, but boom another delicious entree! My lady had the Shrimp and Avocado salad and again she dang near licked plate clean. Â Three for three that can't be better! Along with the delicious dinner the drinks were interesting and tasty. Â Overall the meal could not have been more enjoyable. Â I highly recommend anyone looking for a great date to hit them up. Â
We didn't need a reservation for Friday night this time, but I would imagine this will change when more people realize what they're missing!
Alright Alright you guys posted that I should try this place and I was pretty skeptical knowing some Peruvian people myself (and not being huge on fish) but we figured what the heck why not give it a try. BEST choice ever. Seriously I've never been so in love with a place that makes fish before. So we got the Pollo Causa with Avacado because people here said it was good -YES it was - I could eat that every day I think. We also got This chicken in cream sauce thing with quial egg on it and that was so good and the rice that came with it was amazing. We ate everything dispite being so full. The place was pretty empty for a Saturday afternoon but they hadn't opened too long before we got there so I chalked it up to that. I hope they stay open. Parking is a pain in the ass but this place is so worth the walk
Review Source:I am not really given to gushing about new restaurants but gush I must. Â The lady friend and I have lunch out every Thursday and I try to pick some place new and different. Â Today, based largely on Julio's recommendation, we tried Taita and loved it. Â I mean seriously LOVED it.
Before today what I knew about Peruvian food was their penchant for eating small household pets (guinea pigs) courtesy of an Anthony Bourdain episode. Â So, I cast a suspicious eye on this place but they totally won me over.
The place is lovely - they've done a very nice job and the staff (Jazmine) was totally friendly and helpful because we really didn't have a clue what to order. Â Parking does suck though especially during the day - I'm guessing you can park in the Post Office lot at night.
We started with Pisco Sours and theirs' could become a dangerous obsession - excellent, although handcrafted, so they take a little time to arrive - $9 each which I would normally consider a little pricey but SO worth it. Â Served with the most delicious toasted, salted corn kernels you will ever taste - serious bar snacks.
Shared a couple of appetizers and one entree. Â Not sure how to describe the Pollo Causa with avocado ($7) - kind of like a little square of chicken/avocado shepherd's pie. Â That doesn't do it justice though because it was truly divine. Â Sampled their classic Ceviche ($11) and it was every bit as good - picante, tangy perfection. Â The shared entree was the Pollo Salteado which was the most tender, flavorful braised chicken ever, served with perfectly cooked rice and a spicy potato salad. Â Apparently, Peruvians are big on starch - works for me when it is this flavorful. Â Portions are very generous by the way - we could have made lunch just on the appetizers alone.
So, a truly outstanding lunch for $50ish plus a generous tip for our fantastic server. Â Worth every penny and they've earned a spot on our regular rotation if they manage to stay open for lunch. Â We were the only table in the place. Â Hope they're doing better at night. Â
I seldom say that you must go anywhere but I'm saying you definitely want to try this place. Â Fantastico!!!
I can only review their food as I got take out, but their white fish is *amazing*! Â I'm surprised the place never seems to be busy, their food is reasonably priced (though $15-20 for an entree is maybe toward the high end in Cap Hill) and quite good. I will definitely eat here again.
Review Source:Swanky decor, great atmosphere and excellent food. This is the best pisco sour I've had outside of Peru. I highly recommend the ceviche and the lomo, both were great. We went on a Friday night and it was not very busy but once this place is discovered I think it will start to get packed. I will definitely be back with more people in tow.
Review Source:I've long been a fan of the culinary melange that is Peruvian food. Taita did a good job of showing how random can be delicious.
I was the only one eating, so I sat at the bar with a couple of friends. Instantly we were served the best free bar food I've ever encountered: Conchas, which are corn kernals toasted to the point of crispy deliciousness and then lightly salted with some oil.
While my friends enjoyed drinks from Taita's small but well-appointed bar, I ordered aji de gallina which is shredded chicken served in a creamy pepper sauce with Parmesan, rice and a hard-boiled quail egg. A random assortment of foods that managed to work very well together. It included these wonderful little crispy strings made of something (Parmesan perhaps?) that really brought it to another level.
They had an extensive cocktail menu that I didn't try, though I saw the bartender make a few and that makes me want to come back just for that. The bartender was also our server and did a great job doing that casual bartender/customer conversation that is just as much of an art as making a good martini is. Â
It's too bad that Taita was so quiet on a Friday night. Definitely a great little Peruvian joint tucked away off of Colfax.
We discovered this place through short mention in local Uptown Paper. Â It is within walking distance so decided to avail ourselves of this. It is difficult to locate, next to Tooleys Bar. The sign is difficult to read or my eyes failing as get older. And yes parking is at a premium in area as several excellent restaurants/bars within one block.
The atmosphere is very nice, an understated elegance. The bar serves only micro brewed beers which was huge benefit to me. But the bar seems to be full service.
Our waitress was very attentive. The food was delicious, very fresh. The filet mignon, Frijoles con Seco , was excellent. My companion had Sudado de Pescado. The amount of fish was surprising. She also enjoyed her meal. We will go back for sure.
My only problem was the dinner plate. The plate is beautiful, shaped like leaf. But the edges were uneven. So being used to cutting meat and then placing knife down unlike my European companion, the knife kept falling off. Truly only on second beer but it was for me a struggle to get knife placed so did not slip. It was almost comical.
Plan on spending $50 for dinner,  drinks and tip. Yet  the quality of the dinner made seem inexpensive. What is bad or terrible meal you have to pay for in any amount.
I wasn't exactly sure what Peruvian food entailed so it's awesome to have this restaurant at our doorstep. Â I've only been here once so far but I'm looking forward to going back for their happy hour. Went there mainly for drinks and apps. Â Had the heart of palm salad-very fresh and tasty. As well as the Papa Rellena (potato stuffed with minced sirloin and salsa criolla). Really flavorful food and the service was awesome. Â Oh and Becky makes a mean pisco sour amongst other drinks!
Review Source:My first time trying Peruvian food...SO thankful that it was at Taita. Friendly staff, gorgeous decor, nice variety of latin music (Aventura and Jennifer Lopez...can't go wrong!), and amazing food. We got to meet the owners and they are just fantastic people with a passion for Peruvian culture and cuisine.
Between the 3 of us ladies, we had:
APPETIZERS:
1. Novandina Camarones
2. Cocktail de Camarones
MAIN ENTREES:
3. Frijoles con Seco
4. Tiradito de Aji Amaillo
5. Orgia Caliente
DESSERT:
6. Choco flan w/ ice cream
DRINKS:
7. Sangria Red
8. Sangria White
EVERY THING was delicious. But I especially loved the Orgia caliente with shrimp, scallops, and halibut...the sauce was tangy and spicy.
Only downside was parking was a bit scarce on a Saturday night...but definitely worth the walk.
MUST TRY! MUST TRY! MUST TRY! MUST TRY! MUST TRY! MUST TRY! MUST TRY!
Went to Taita on the second day after opening.
Great neighborhood restaurant!
Chef José Aparicio did wonders in that kitchen.
Started with yummy Pisco Sour cocktail.
We were two couples so we got to try different things.
Appetizers: fish nuggets with Huancaina sauce: right amount of cheese and
good combination with the Peruvian yellow chili. We had a ceviche and a tiradito.
Both good but especially the tiradito was great!
Now to the main dishes: Lomo saltado, wow! Beef tenderloin smoky cooked in a delicious sauce of onions, tomato and vinegar. My husband had the fish of the day, halibut in a bed of garbanzo purée and subtle pesto type sauce, excellent!
Friends had the typical Ajà de gallina (hen or chicken dish) super flavorful combo of
shredded meat on a milk sauce - dish was very tasteful. The last dish was some sort of seafood orgy which was good but a bit too spicy for my taste (I don't eat too spicy so not the chef's fault)
Extremely fair prices if you consider the freshness and the high quality
of the ingredients. Wine bottle, a good Chilean Carmenere, excellently priced.
Now, why 4 and not 5 stars?
We waited quite a bit to get our food.
They just opened so i guess they need to get a bit more organized in the kitchen and floor.
A suggestion for the wait, please bring out some Cancha (Peruvian toasted corn) and/or typical yucca or plantain chips.
Will come back and I'm sure once things get rolling, the good experience will be complete!
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