L'eau Vive de Peru / Centro / French-ish Food

[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]L'EAU VIVE DE PERU
Jiron Ucayali 370, Central Lima
Across form Palacio Torre Tagle
427-5612
Open daily for Lunch & Dinner, except Sundays & Holidays.



OK, so smack dab in the middle of Lima Centro is a really old Monastery. Not so you'd be able to tell from the street, other than a small sign, you'd have no clue.

It's almost like going to a speakeasy... you knock on the door, it opens a crack, and you say that you have a reservation for dinner. Inside, the place is beautiful: lots of old wood, high ceilings, tilework... it's just gorgeous.

The restaurant itself is French-based, as is the nunnery. They women all live, pray, cook and serve there. I asked once, and they told me that there were ten women living there. The proceeds from the restaurant go to keep the place running. At least I think that's what they told me.

Anyway, the service is good, the nuns are nice, the food is good and not too expensive. I've been there a few times, and we have ordered all types of food, and no one has left disappointed.

From a recent visit, here is [/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]the Onion Soup, Steak au Poivre, Chicken Breast, another steak plate, and a Creama Volteada (basically, flan). I remember eating (and enjoying) a whole trout there on a different visit.




To top it all off, at the end of the evening, the sisters get together and sing Ave Maria for the diners. On my early visits, there was a nun who played the guitar; this last time, the background music was piped in. The women stand in different spots in the room so that their voices echo off the the very high, arched, ceilings. I'm not a big fan of Ave Maria-type music, but it is a nice experience. There's a youtube video of the nuns singing, if you do a search.

As a bonus, hardly anyone you speak to in Lima will have heard of this place, so you will score big points taking a date here. Just make sure that she dresses appropriately for the location.

Taxis do not have a problem finding the address when you go there. You may have to walk a block or so to get a cab home. The streets will be fairly empty after dinner, but it won't be too late at night, and you are very close to the Plaza de Armas, so safety shouldn't be an issue.
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It's a date!

(Warning: It takes more than dinner to get me to put out!)

 

A full meal (without wine) should run from 40 to 60 soles.

 

For lunch, yes.

For dinner, not necessary, but they seem to like it when I call.