Casa Inka, located near the corner of Warner and Newland, aims to bring to the table authentic Peruvian cuisine at a fairly decent price, and for the most part, the establishment succeeds in doing so.
Just recently, I dined at Casa Inka with a party of friends to celebrate the coming of my birthday. This offered quite a unique dining experience, and the staff was very accommodating of our plans.
The restaurant was very open and spacious, allowing us plenty of room to seat our rather large party of seven comfortably. Our server was extremely welcoming and helpful, not only providing excellent service, but also engaging in our friendly bantering when one of my friends could not pronounce one of the items on the menu.
Casa Inka definitely lived up to its claim that its chefs had mastered the art of Peruvian cuisine. The Paella was definitely the restaurant’s best dish, being absolutely delicious – rich with just the perfect degree of creamy; the rice and seafood was all brought together in a heavenly mix of herbs and spices.
Made with just as high standards, the Cau Cau de Mariscos was a beautiful blend of seafood and potatoes served warmly atop white rice. The Calamari and tartar sauce serves as a great starter or even as a good meal for someone who might not eat as much. The Saltados demonstrated the fusion of both worlds – traditional Peruvian cuisine served with rice and French fries, a combination which worked surprisingly well.
The one fallback of Casa Inka is the tipping policy. For parties of six or more, a steep 18% gratuity is automatically added to the bill, and for even larger parties, a 20% gratuity, instead of allowing patrons to tip traditionally in accordance to the quality of their service.
Casa Inka is located at 8610 Warner Avenue, near the intersection of Newland and Warner. Hours: Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m, Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m, and Sundays, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more info, call: 714-847-7555.
