Tambo

I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS FOR CEVICHE & EMPENADAS
The service was so POOR that the food could not make up for it.
I made a reservation for 2 one evening and not only did they seat many other people before us, some of whom where walk-​ins, but when I tried to get the manager/​owners attention to address this, they ignored me.
Eventually we were seated at a talked right next to the door so there was a constant draft. Eventually we asked to be reseated and they put us at the bar.
I have never received such horrific service in my life.
AGAIN, I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS FOR CEVICHE & EMPENADAS.

While searching for a casual restaurant that accepted reservations in Oakland, Tambo showed up in the results and the BOGO ceviche on Wednesdays caught my eye. I can’t say no to BOGO anything, but ceviche is one of my favorite things in life.
And as it turns out, Tambo’s ceviche is its strong suit. I tried four and they were all outstanding, but my favorite was hands down the salmon. They’re all so citrusy, fresh, and a bit on the spicy side. I could/​should have just ordered tons of ceviche.
Unfortunately, the restaurant was severely understaffed, with only two people manning all the tables. That led to a lot of time waiting to order and receive water, and my group had to ask for their drinks multiple times.
My friend’s Lomo Saltado was really juicy and flavorful. The biggest disappointment was my fiancé’s paella, which was doused in excess spices (aka THE spiciest paella we’ve ever had), rendering it difficult to eat. One of the most lackluster paellas we’ve had. The pineapple sangria was too sweet, and I was sad about the lack of actual fruit in the cup. Overall, the entrees/​large plates were too expensive.
With all that said, the BOGO ceviche nights are worth checking out if you’re in the area.

Before the movies, we wanted to eat something quick. We noticed that Tambo had happy hours, so we stopped by. They had all sorts of appets and drinks. So, we tried a few appets.
We tried the Rellenitas Stuffed potato — aji de gallina, microgreens, botija olive. This wasn’t that good. Very plain.
Lomito Empanada Grass fed Beef, green onions, roma tomato, and soy-​oyster reduction. This wasn’t too bad. If they had it with little less salt, it would have been perfect with a squeeze of lemon. There was lettuces, red onions, and dressing on it. With the empanada meat, it wasn’t too bad.
Causa Limena Mashed potato cake, crab, and huancaina sauce was probably my favorite appets that we had. Very interesting combination, but the potato with the crab actually blended well enough to enjoy the food.
Rating:
Food: 3
Ambience: 3.5
Service: 3
Price: 2 (expensive food)
Overall: 2
Although the average rating is 3, I would have to say the overall rating is 2. Why? Because I would rather check out other places around jack london than come back.

Good concept, poor delivery. It’s not real Peruvian. The ceviche is hit or miss. Some days it good, some really bad. This place used to be good but lately, it’s been bad. Fish and meat are spoiled most of the time. They should focus on authenticity and quality than aesthetics.
Service is ok. They do just enough to pass as ok or good.

I was looking for a good place with small plates and was excited by the menu here. It just ended up being nothing to write home about. The service was not that great — very spotty and was constantly apologizing for forgetting us. The Mixto Ceviche was OK and had some really interesting flavors, but after the first few bites, it just tasted off. I’m admitedly not the biggest ceviche fan, so it was probably more an issue with me, but end of the day — I’ve had better ceviche. Also had the Empanada Sampler (I am always down for empanadas) — some interesting flavors again, but none were off the charts to me. The most interesting was the sweet corn and cilantro empanada. Price for the ceviche wasn’t bad, but the empanadas were overpriced for the taste and portion size.

Amazing dinner!!! Tried Tambo after getting a groupon. Will definitely be back. We ordered lamb chops and empanadas sampler as appetizers. Both were delicious and satisfying portions. We shared the seafood paella as an entrée, it was excellent… flavorful and full of shrimp. Our waiter was very attentive and there was no major lag time after we ordered.

This is the Cordero App: Grass fed Lamb Chops, chutney, mint pearls, wild greens. I adore the food here and the chef’s execution is always on point! Great ambiance for a first date or just a night out with the hubby

A smaller space with a great atmosphere. Has a nice quiet, chill and romantic vibe.
We ordered:
Ceviche Sampler
Ensalada Limena
Lomo Saltado
Arroz con Mariscos
Patarashca
Everything was SO good. The trout (Patarashca) was probably my least favorite. But everything was so delicious and prepared very well. The ceviche and salad were my absolute top two.
Service was very good.
Prices are reasonable for what you get.
Very pleased.

This is a hidden gem in downtown Oakland. Every time I come the food is consistently excellent. It’s a little pricey but perfect for a special occasion. It is beautifully decorated and very clean. I always look forward to their passion fruit sangria and ceviche. This place is a must try!

I’ve been to Peru, and up and down Bolivia, and this my fellow Unilocalers, has got to be the most authentic Peruvian food I’ve had since being in the country! I was bummed they didn’t have llama (delicious), but then again, who has llama flown into the U.S. when no one really knows much about it. I was a little bummed they didn’t have more choices, but the food that I did order (fish), and corn malasadas, was AMAZING! The corn malasadas were to die for, and I can’t wait to go back and order about a dozen to go! Things were a little more pricey than I would have liked, but worth it in the end.
Also, the décor is on point. Great Peruvian paintings (not for sale). I would make reservations!

I’ve been looking for a delicious Peruvian place and I think I’ve found it!
The mixto ceviche was really fresh and tangy and I love the added touch of large corns. The beef hearts were on 2 large skewers and it was tender and juicy, cooked to perfection. We also had the Peruvian paella with seafood. Heaven!
It’s kind of on a weird street… gets empty after 5PM and full of strange drugged out people walking around.
Don’t care.
I came out of this place so happy and satisfied. This is going to be my go to place after a long day of work on Fridays.

There was a bone in the ceviche, which was severely underlimed and more like a cod carpaccio gone awry. Empanadas weren’t bad but 2 tiny ones for $ 14? The lomo soltado was ok, but def not a $ 29 dish. Sangria was fermented grape juice.
The prices for the quality were offensive. In summary: We walked to the liquor store across the street afterwards to get some chips.

Lomo Saltado really packs the salt!
I have not had Peruvian food since the last time I was in Peru in the summer of 2014. It is definitely as salty as I remember it to be. The food portion was just right, not too little and not too much. If anything may have been on the larger side. When ordering the Lomo Saltado, I highly recommend getting an additional bowl of rice. The restaurant has a good low key chill and hipster ambiance. The service was good and wasn’t too crowded when I ate there for dinner. The beef was really tender and juicy with that just perfect pink the middle.
My friend ordered the ribeye and requested medium rare, but it came out a little more on the rare side. Good thing with beef it doesn’t matter too much so he didn’t mind.
This restaurant really a hidden gem because the food is great, it’s not very packed and it has a really chill atmosphere.

I’ve been so spoiled with homemade Peruvian food, so I was a bit worried when trying Tambo, as it’s the first Peruvian restaurant I’ve ever dined at.
Food: We dined during restaurant week so the menu was fixed, unlike most restaurants that participate Tambo does not include a dessert. The app choices were abundant making it hard to decide. I opted for the ceviche clasico. A mixture of high quality and super fresh seasonal fish, cilantro, red onions, habanero and peruvian corn. The edge to this dish is the corn, it’s a game changer, literally changes the texture with the added crunch in every bite. The sauce is full of flavor and lime. I highly recommend this app. My boyfriend ordered the causa limena which I can best compare to a crabcake. It was a little ball packed with crab, egg, tomatoes, spices/​herbs, huancaina sauce and potato which held it together. So much flavor, but not enough crab in my opinion. Still a tasty appetizer. Onto the main course, my boyfriend had the Lomo Saltado. We’ve had this dish plenty of times, so our standard was a bit high. It comes with strands of high quality beef, sauteed red onions, tomatoes and green onion along with a side of a buttery white cilantro rice. The dish was okay, meat was tender, not super chewy and seasoned well. However, a few pieces were a bit burnt and I felt the dish had too much soy sauce to the point were I started feeling like I was eating a chinese beef stir-​fry. The only thing that kept it from going that far was the addition of the fries. As I mentioned, I have a high standard for this dish, so I’ll cut them some slack. My dish on the other hand could not have been better, I ordered the Arroz con Mariscos. SO MUCH YUM! I may have started to annoy my boyfriend and our friend, because every other bite I’d literally say «this is amazing.» The dish comes with an assortment of fish: shrimp, squid, mussels and clams. The seafood is bathed in a yummy aji sauce with a citrus twist. It’s laid over a bed of yellow rice with a side of lime. Very similar to paella, but in my opinion, the Peruvian rendition is a lot tastier. The rice is consistently soft, doesn’t have the crunch that paella does and the aji sauce is really what provides the magical flavor. So much sabor! I can keep raving, but it’s best you just try it!
Ambiance: Large/​open space, classy, contemporary with a very authentic flare. Very lively ambiance overall.
Service: They were busy and I know plenty of Unilocalers have complained about service, but our server was extremely courteous and friendly to us. I didn’t catch her name, but she was a hispanic woman. There were moments when she wouldn’t come over for quite a while, but she was tending to half of the restaurant and when we did get her attention, the turnaround time was wonderful and she attended us in a friendly manner. Not sure if he was the owner, but a man came over and asked us about our dining experience and he was super friendly. I also saw him serving a few tables, so it was definitely a team effort that night.
Price: Fixed menu for restaurant week, but browsing at other items not on the set menu, I think it’s reasonable. We all agreed the quality and taste was exceptional. The portions were plentiful for the price.
Overall: Authentic, fresh and delicious Peruvian food at a sensible price. This place is promising and I highly recommend it.

I usually look for restaurants I have never been to during Restaurant Week to help me find hidden gems that I normally may have passed by. Tambo ended up being my first choice as it has been awhile since I have had Peruvian cuisine and their menu sounded appetizing.
Unlike most Restaurant Week menus that are 3 courses, Tambo’s is a 2 course for $ 30 with a choice of appetizer and a choice of entrée. It was so hard deciding on what appetizer to order (the choice from the ceviche, causa, or salad categories) so I ordered the ceviche classico so that my shellfish allergic husband can have some and he ordered the quinoa salad so we could share. The ceviche was clean and delicious and would not mind coming back on their Ceviche BOGO Wednesday so I can try both next time. The quinoa salad was also good highlighted by the crunch of the corn nuts and the sweetness of the Peruvian corn kernels, but would’ve been even better with less acidity to it.
For entrees, the Aji de Gallina stewed chicken was surprisingly quite tasty but thought that it should’ve came with more rice to soak up all that delicious sauce. I got the Arroz Con Marisco which for those who have not tried Peruvian food, is similar to paella without the crunchy rice bottom. My only issue with this dish is my mussel was not open which I did not want to chance the freshness of it by eating it. Since the dish only came with 1 Mussel, I would’ve expected they would’ve been more diligent in making sure it came with an edible one.

I truly love this place. As soon as you walk in, the feeling is warm and friendly. The décor is beautiful and the space is intimate. I came with my husband and 6 year old daughter. The menu is concise, but still offers an array of choices for everyone.
The Trio Marino was cooked perfectly. The fish, which can often be over cooked, was delicate and flavorful. I didn’t try the shrimp but my husband and daughter loved it.
I had the Moche Rib Eye which was a large cut that was absolutely delicious. It was seasoned well and the chimichurri-​I wish I had asked for more! I couldn’t stop eating it! Presentation is amazing as well.
Hubby had a new addition to the menu-​I forget the name but it was a huge portion of seafood on top of organic squid ink pasta. I’ve never heard him so excited over a meal.
We really enjoyed our dinner and on top of it, the owners are incredibly sweet. From family dinners to date nights, you can’t go wrong with Tambo!

One word — ceviche. My Lomo Saltado tasted like nothing but soy sauce to me, but I forgive everything because I can’t stop thinking about that ceviche sampler. Also, the bite I had of my friend’s trout was amazing. I will definitely return and probably stick to seafood here. So good!

The food was good although it took them a little while to take our order. There were only two busy employees that weren’t chefs. Seemed undermanned with only two of them seating, busing, cleaning, taking orders, and making drinks. They brought us some complementary mini appetizer which was nice. I’m assuming it was to make up for the wait. They seemed like little fried potato balls.
The ceviche sampler was really good but the portions were small. It was really fresh tasting and the addition of the roasted nuts (I think that’s what they were) was pleasantly unique. Also what appeared to be giant pieces of corn in the ceviche were good as well.
We came in during happy hour and tried both the regular sangria and passion fruit sangria. For $ 6 a glass during happy hour it seemed a little high considering the sangria didn’t have fruit in it (I always thought fruit was an essential part of Sangria. I could be wrong. There was a super thin orange slice but I think that qualifies more as a garnish.) It was pretty much wine and juice over ice, more juice than wine.
The ceviche was great the sangria was meh but nothing else on the menu caught our attention at the time. May give it another try for a full meal and the ceviche sampler.

The surrounding area may seem a little shady but the interior décor is well done.
— Ceviche sampler: It’s a great size sampler, you get three different kinds. All delicious. If you’re here with a group, this is a must-​do.
— Empanada — lomo saltado: Quite tasty. You get two pieces. I didn’t get the lomo saltado dish so I figured I should at least try the empanada variant so I can at least try the flavor.
— Seco de cordero (lamb): The meat was very tender and there was deep flavor. However, it all seemed a little monotonous for me.
If I return, I’ll definitely try the lomo saltado.

Had two co-​workers visiting today and for lunch, we headed for Tambo. Having been here for dinner, this was my first time here for lunch and my co-​workers first foray into Peruvian cuisine.
After checking out the menu and considering their special of the day, a quinoa salad, our ordered consisted of:
— Sandwich a lo Porbre — steak, sweet plantain and topped with a fried egg with fries. You an choose a organic mix greens in lieu of the fries. A nicely season piece of savory steak that was complemented with a slice of plantain and topped with a fried egg. My sandwich was delicious!
— Sandwich de Chicharron on ACME bread — pork loin, fried yams, and fresh sarza criolla with organic spring mix. My co-​worker enjoyed her tasty sandwich.
— One-​half Peruvian rotisserie chicken with fries and side salad. For those with a bigger appetite, a nice half-​chicken with the fixin’s. My co-​worker finished his meal. I guess it was good.
Also, we were served complementary tasty yucca croquettes before our meal.
Now that I’ve experienced lunch here, I can say that Tambo is great spot for Peruvian fare for lunch or dinner in the City Center area,