Peruvian Delights at El Inka Grill
When it comes to strip malls, The Marketplace at Dr. Phillips is one of the Orlando’s best. Alongside big brand anchors like HomeGoods and Publix, you’ll find multiple beauty outlets (Ulta, two nail salons and a day spa), practical tenants (dry cleaner, pool supply store, etc.) and even a small community theater.
The Marketplace is also home to a stunning variety of restaurants, from Italian fine dining and Korean barbecue to tacos and ramen. As you work your way through the many options here, El Inka Grill is worthy of a visit.
As soon as my husband Steve and I were seated, I could hear fluent Spanish being spoken at most of the tables. Always a good sign when you’re eating Latin cuisine.
El Inka Grill doesn’t disappoint. Delivering on its promise of “exciting flavors from the Land of the Incas,” the award-winning restaurant offers authentic Peruvian fare. In addition to a dozen different ceviches and several variations on traditional potato purée (causa), the multi-page menu features a variety of seafood, beef and chicken dishes.
We shared the Conchas a La Parmesana, which our waitress advised would take at least 25 minutes to prepare. Definitely worth the wait. The scallops on the half shell are cooked with butter and white wine, then topped with melted, slightly browned parmesan cheese. Decadent without being too heavy.
For our mains, we both had skirt steak. I chose the Churrasco served with Peruvian Pesto linguini. Steve opted for Churrasco a Lo Pobre, served with sweet plantains, fries and white rice topped with a fried egg. The steak was charbroiled to perfection, tender and delicious.
When it came time for dessert, there was only one choice for me – Alfajores. Along with Peru, this traditional confection can be found in (among other places) Spain, Uruguay, Chile and Argentina. I first tried it on a trip to Buenos Aires twenty years ago. El Inka’s take on the Alfajore lived up to my Argentinian experience. A plate-sized, flaky sweet cookie stuffed with a creamy caramel filling (Manjar blanco) and dusted with powdered sugar. I left no crumb behind here.
During our meal, the restaurant quickly filled up. Even with three large parties and nearly every table spoken for, our waitress was attentive and smiling. I’m looking forward to going back. We still have several pages of the menu to eat our way through.
