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There’s something instantly inviting about Geronimo’s in Ambler. As soon as we walked into the dining room, we were greeted by an enthusiastic man wearing a “Peru” shirt who turned out to be one of the owners. Within moments, Daniel Salazar was telling us stories of the dishes he ate growing up in Lima and the inspiration behind the restaurant. That passion immediately set the tone for our visit.
Daniel and his brother Benjamin opened Geronimo’s on Ambler’s popular main street in 2021 with the goal of recreating the dishes they loved as kids. We told him about our own travels through Peru several years ago and how much we loved the food there, especially the corn and potatoes. While that may sound a little odd—they’re usually fairly basic vegetables, after all—the Peruvian varieties are especially flavorful (and there are LOTS of them). We were happy to find that many of our favorites from our travels were represented on the menu.
The dining room is bright and cheerful, with chandeliers and artwork that captures small Peruvian towns, Machu Picchu, and, of course, llamas. The space manages to be lively and comfortable at the same time.
Before we even placed our order, two complimentary treats appeared at our table. A ramekin of toasted salty corn kernels (canchitas, essentially Peruvian popcorn) was followed by warm homemade bread served with quince butter. Daniel told us he and his brother grew up eating something similar, which is why they love serving it.
It’s worth noting that Geronimo’s is a BYOB. But, if you bring a bottle of pisco, they’ll gladly make you a pisco sour or a chilcano, a mix of pisco, lime, and ginger ale that tastes a lot like alcoholic Sprite (it’s a personal favorite). You’ll need to plan ahead since there is sadly no pisco at the liquor store across the street.
Seafood features heavily in Peruvian cuisine, so we decided to lean into that for our meal. We started with conchas a la Chalaca, four scallops served on a bed of diced tomato, red onion, cilantro, and corn. The lightest sear on the scallops combined with the vegetable mixture and a whisper of lime started us off well. Next came the causas Limeñas, a composed dish that originated in Lima. The layers of potato, lime, avocado, and crab came topped with a fried shrimp which was a crunchy contrast to the otherwise creamy dish.
Next up was the centerpiece of the meal, a classic ceviche that is one of Peru’s most iconic dishes. It features a seasonal white fish (ours was sea bass) marinated in lime juice and leche de tigre for a bright punch. It’s served with red onion, cilantro, corn, and sweet potato. The hearty portion sang with citrus, and we devoured every bite. It will be a requirement on every one of our future visits.
We finished with lomo saltado, a dish that was a staple during our visit to Peru but that we haven’t eaten since. Digging into the stir fry of steak took us back to the streets of Cusco, and we couldn’t get enough of the tomatoes and sweet red onion. The accompanying French fries and rice were ideal vehicles for the saucy goodness at the bottom of the dish.
When it comes to service, a group of servers ensured that we were well taken care of, from keeping our water glasses full to explaining the unique ingredients in some of the dishes. Even though the restaurant was busy on a Saturday night, it wasn’t too loud, and the spacing of the tables meant we didn’t feel like we were sitting on top of our neighbors, which is always nice.
Overall, we enjoyed every part of our visit. Geronimo’s captures the heart of Peruvian cooking and offers a vibe where everyone feels welcomed both to indulge in good food and to learn more about the cuisine. We look forward to returning but with a bottle of pisco next time!
Geronimo’s is located at 131-A E. Butler Avenue in Ambler.