Cafe Cusco
234 E Commercial St, Springfield, MO, 65803
Cafe Cusco Menu
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Address :
234 E Commercial St
Springfield, MO, 65803 - Phone (314) 690-5774
- Website https://cafecusco.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Brunch, Dinner, Dessert
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Liliana B.
We just had an awesome lunch at Cuzco Café! It was amazing! The Pisco Sour was prepared to perfection. Then I had Chupe, I had not had it for quite a while and it was delicious. My husband had the 'Pork/Rice/ Peruvian seasoned dish and also was amazing! Our stop in this wonderful restaurant, was well worth it, on our way back from Florida to Lawrence KS. We were fortunate to be hosted by Ryan, who could not have been more professional and nice! Hope this place would be closer to KS... We will be there very often!!!
(5)Tia L.
Cafe cusco came highly recommended by a lot of friends. Being new to Springfield, I'm always open to try a new restaurant out. It is beautiful... The decor is stunning I will admit. The backstory plainly displayed on their menu (a touch that I love) is whimsical and cute as well. But to put it simply... Their food simply is not that good. The rice was dried out as well as their tortillas and their was not a kid friendly option at all to their menu. Which may or may not interest other food goers.
(2)Melissa R.
Friendly staff; everyone ordered and enjoyed their meal. however, I found the tilapia to have a almost dusty taste so I would personally avoid the tilapia dishes. Chicken and steak dishes were phenomenal! Esp. Chicken para Rayos & the loma saltado! Ps get the coconut tres leche dessert! But very authentic since we've been to Peru;) Ambiance is very fun and loved the live classical guitar with dinner.
(4)Maninder C.
Good tasty food. Probably not authentic Peruvian but Peruvian inspired. Was better than average. Ambience and service was excellent. We tried trout and Loma saltado, and both were acceptable. It is just a feeling that it was not authentic, the way usual vegetables were added ( lots of red bell peppers, tomatoes, onions and olives in trout dish, similar stuff in Loma saltado). The rice was not cooked properly and was dry.
(4)Cody M.
What an amazing little experience! Cafe Cusco is great! My wife and I stopped in here on our date night and I am glad we did. Our waiter was very prepared and prompt. He explained the intricate, I say intricate because to my non Peruvian experienced palette it was overwhelming, menu very professionally and gave us wonderful advice that my wife and I both took. The food was absolutely amazing. My wife and I both ordered the Loma Saltado which is dangerous in my opinion for both to order the same thing at a new restaurant but we were both grateful that we did. I ate my entire entrée which isn't typically my thing. That just goes to show how wonderful it tasted. I can't wait to take my wife back to this beautiful little place!
(5)Gill S.
Considering Ive never had a real Peruvian cuisine experience (I'm not counting Tineo since I only ordered sandwich), I wasn't sure what to expect. There are plenty ingredients they use that Ive had before, but never in combination. First off, this place has a wonderful atmosphere! I personally enjoy the ground level to the balcony level, but to each their own. The waiting staff is quite friendly and are helpful when it comes to recommendations. I started of with the fried guacamole, and then had the puca picante with pork as my entree. My friend ordered the tamale. Its labeled under an appetizer, but it you eat small meals, then this can easily be an entree. The fried guacamole was certainly different. The mango sauce that they used was a little weird for my taste. My friend really liked it, but I thought the mango was a little too sweet. The batter they used was very light and was certainly not state fair deep fried. The puca picante I had was also quite an experience. Its hard for me to compare it to anything I've had, but I enjoyed it. The mixture of peanuts, pork, spinach, potatoes, and honey all worked quite well together. I would say I wish the potato slices were half the size, since it was hard getting all the ingredients in one bite, but that's a minor issue. My friend's tamale was quite moist and had a good flavor. We both wished there was a little spice added to it, but oh well. This is quite a cultural gem in Springfield. I would have never imagined eating Peruvian food in this town. If you're in the mood for something different, come here!
(4)Erin M.
Excellent addition to C-Street. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I loved the ceviche and had an excellent cocktail. I ate upstairs and had a great view of C-Street, but would like to enjoy downstairs with the beautiful decorations and craftsmanship!
(4)Michael J.
I came here for lunch with my parents on our way back to Kansas City from Branson. They were celebrating their birthdays and we decided upon this restaurant after the raving reviews on Yelp. True enough, this little gem lives up to its hype. First of all, the service was fantastic. Unike a lot of other reviewers, I'm not a stickler on service as long as the food is good. But it's always a bonus when your server gives good recommendations. She was polite, friendly and very helpful. She recommended the Aji de Gallina (which was fantastic!) and the Escebeche Wahoo (very tasty!). We also got the ceviche starter and a soup. Overall, the food was absolutely delicious and really captures the essence of Peruvian cuisine - a fusion of different spices and cooking method from their diverse culture. To top it off, the owner and his mother came by our table during the end of the meal and spoke with my parents. They even gave us a complimentary tres leches as a birthday treat! Yes, it was delicious!! I would highly recommend this place because, let's be honest, how often does one get to eat authentic Peruvian cuisine in Missouri??
(5)Alexis M.
Wow I can't even begin to say how incredible this place is! My husband and I stopped in here for the first time last night on date night. Our waiter was super nice and he was very knowledgeable about the items on the menu and had great recommendations. I had actually never had Peruvian food and the waiter gave us a bunch of options of traditional peruvian dishes he thought were outstanding and some other options that would be more familiar to American cuisine if you didn't want to jump right in to the full-fledged Peruvian stuff. My hubby and I both ordered the Lomo Saltado and it came out steaming hot and fresh. The first words out of my mouth after tasting were "Wow!!" Out of this world amazing. I highly recommend it! They also had a house made "hot sauce" that seemed more oil based. I don't typically like hot sauce and i ate a good amount of this stuff! It had a tolerable heat and just a bit of sweetness. I can't wait to go back. Writing this review is making me hungry. If you haven't checked it out, you're missing out!!
(5)Robert H.
Well I went back again. Thought I would give it another shot. I was more disappointed than the first time. You just get the idea that the food is super pretentious and that they're trying too hard to make it good. Nothing tastes the way you would want it to. The steak was over seasoned and everything is extremely over seasoned, and I love seasoning , but they take it to the next level. If you want extremely overpriced pretentious food this is your place
(2)Kelly P.
Love, love, LOVE Cafe Cusco!!!! Excellent food and excellent service. Visited for lunch and enjoyed a raspberry tea with my meal and enjoyed some acoustic music.
(5)Jason D.
just been there once. food was good, but nothing to write home about. I don't feel like the food was worth the price we paid. I probably wouldn't go back unless friends wanted to go.
(3)Jon T.
I'm a vegetarian, and the menu had multiple vegan/veggie options that sounded amazing. I effortlessly convinced my wife and mom to order vegetarian meals too, specifically so I could try more than one meal. I ordered the Puca Picante, my wife had a Sweet Potato Noodle Stir-fry, and mom ate the Pesto Peruano. My dad, the carnivore, had the Mama's Drunk Goat platter and was happy too! For the sake of brevity, I'm just going to skip the part where I tell you that the food, drinks (Raspberry moonshine? yes, please!), decorations, and vibe were perfect. Where they really excelled, the point that impressed me the most, was how well they dealt with my screaming, laughing, dancing, drink-spilling, food-tossing, 20-month-old daughter. They were friendly and helpful enough to make a potentially stressful situation quite effortless (in comparison to the average controlled explosion that is a meal for a less-than-2-year-old.) Now, before I make the staff of this wonderful establishment hate me, please don't descend upon Cafe Cusco with your bus load of snot-nosed toddlers. As far as I could tell, we were the only group there with a vociferous micro-person. So, go here, relax, eat a deliciously perfect meal, and just thank your lucky stars if we aren't there with our happy little monster.
(5)Julian T.
What do you want rated? * Great staff and owner interaction with patrons? * Relaxing atmosphere that is only accented by its history? * Comparable prices to chain restaurants but without the cookie-cutter taste and quickly cooled food? * Authentic dishes that are as delicious to the eyes as to the stomach? Wow! Each of these points are made even with our late evening visit on a Wednesday. The dishes were fresh and stayed warm during our meal. They were still having patrons come in as we left at 8:00 and were making cozy spots to sit away from the doorway. We had the Black Olive Trout and the Pollo Oliva. I can't wait to try some of the other suggestions!
(5)Aaron V.
I really like Cafe Cusco. Springfield is lucky to have a high quality restaurant that offers a huge selection of Peruvian style dishes. The Lomo Saltado and Ceviche Tacos are my favorites. I dig the iced Yerba Maté as well. The upstairs is nice for groups or private parties.
(5)Charlie D.
Don't miss this place! Great food, great service and lovely ambiance! We loved this place.
(5)Fawn R.
I have only just visited Cafe Cusco for the first time, but I know it won't be the last! What an amazing place with an incredible menu! Cafe Cusco is beautiful to look at on the inside and the outside. You'll know you're in a special place when you arrive. The menu is full of items you won't find anywhere else in Springfield, and likely, anywhere else in MO. Our server, JJ, was very nice and helped explain the wide array of unfamiliar things on the menu. When I ordered a hot green tea, he brought me a whole handsome wooden box of flavors to choose from. I had the black bean burger and the sweet potato fries, both of which were unlike anything else I've ever eaten. Next time I'll be back with an emptier stomach so I can eat more!
(5)D P.
My wife Julia, a true life Peruvian from Huaral, and I visited this wonderful cafe late one evening last month. We were so happy with everything!!! Give them a chance to please you and your someone special soon. We might see you there! Sgt.Major Phillips U.S.M.C.retired
(5)Melissa T.
Been to Cafe Cusco a few times, and each time it was pretty good. But today, I went there for lunch with my husband. It was simply delicious. The fritas appetizer is excellent (I second Molly R's assertion that those are the best sweet potato fries ever), and my entree (Trout with Basil Aioli salad) was great, although a little too heavy in the aioli. The husband had the goat burger, and with his first bite, the egg oozed all over everything. That to me is one of the most perfect aspects of eating something with egg. The burger was delicious, and he said his side salad was great too. On top of that, our server was kind, friendly, and very helpful. I find servers who insert themselves into the meal (as if they're part of the party) annoying, and our server did not hit that point. He was excellent. Given that I've had some mixed experiences (last time I went there, the server was weird and the shrimp caprese salad is just okay; time before that, the black bean quinoa burger was good but not outstanding), I think 4 stars is an appropriate rating. Cafe Cusco serves as an excellent and more exciting food option for Commercial Street and Springfield in general.
(4)Alisha O.
Wow, can't say enough good things about this place! I'm in town for meetings and they catered for us yesterday -- it was SO good, and Joe was great to work with. We had salads, soups, and the foccacia, and everyone raved about it. We especially loved the crawfish soup and the jungle nut salad. So much so that I just called Joe up again to cater tomorrow, and once again he was so friendly and accommodating. We're trying out the butifarra and oliva sandwiches, and quinoa burgers, and have to have more of that jungle salad! (I may also head in for dinner ... it's all that good!). I'll update after but wanted to rave about it now! Thanks Joe and Cafe Cusco!
(5)Becky M.
Yelp helped me find Cafe Cusco while in Springfield on business. I went for take-out, so this review is not based on eat-in. I had the goat burger and agree with the other reviews that sing its praises. It is a hearty portion too, so order it hungry. The burger was nicely seasoned and cooked well. It was dense and a bit hard to bite into, but that was solved by cutting it in half. I appreciate the option of a gluten-free bun. The fries had a seasoning on them that I liked and they were steak fries, which is always a plus to me. A happy camper was me for a meal-on -the-go.
(4)Ryan S.
Excellent food. Ordered the black bean quinoa burger. The avocado spread was outstanding. The service is friendly and attentive. A good place for date night or dinner with the family; kids included.
(5)Cindy M.
So glad we finally visited. Very busy for a weekday evening. Food was fresh and very tasty. The staff was excellent. Will definitely be back.
(5)Kavin B.
Cusco is simply amazing. The food is to die for (try the rabbit)! The service is so friendly! Cusco is one of my favorite restaurants ever!
(5)Scott W.
Absolutely love it! An interesting Peruvian flare and menu. Think ceviche, Wahoo, rabbit, goat, limo saltado, to wet your appetite. Ask to be seated up stairs in The Summit Lounge where you can hover over Commercial Street. This is a Springfield gem you will not want to miss.. bon appetit!
(5)Michael S.
Food is good, but not so good that I would rave over it, and just a little pricey. I might go back if friends wanted to go, but wouldn't be my first choice.
(3)Don And Donna W.
Exceptionally good food! My wife and I had lunch here and we really enjoyed everything except our dessert, which was a brownie that was rather bland. However, we will definitely be back!
(4)April W.
I really enjoyed this place. It's great for either family dining or a romantic date. I loved the unique flavors and the staff was attentive and helpful. Great food at a good price. I look forward to dining again there soon!
(5)Ellen H.
Not quite sure what everybody raves about . Ok, the building and the decor are amazing. I loved the stained glass and the original wood details. But I'm not sure how that goes with the whole Peruvian theme. In my opinion, save yourself the trouble and get Nelly's Peruvian food. At least it'll taste good and be authentic. We got the 3 potato fries. All of them very overfried in old oil and the accompanying aioli mayo was bland. The ceviche was horrendous. It lacked the lime flavor that allows the fish to ferment and was mostly inedible. The arroz con pollo was ok but nothing to rave about. I ordered the trout but for some reason the clueless waitress thought that it was the sandwich variety so I had to sit there and watch the rest of the table eat while they took their time making the dish I initially ordered. The final insult came when I ordered the Pisco Sour and mentioned to the bartender that it didn't taste right and wasn't foamy. He replied that they were out of egg whites. Umm, ok?! So why would you charge the full amount for a drink that is missing one of its key ingredients? These people need to go back to the drawing board and really look at their recipes and their preparation methods because right now, this place is as far from authentic as Springfield is from Peru.
(2)Jay O.
We've only been there once but I think it's already my new favorite restaurant in Springfield! The menu is authentic and the food is delicious. The owner and our waiter, Dennis, were exceptional hosts. Lots of fun drinks and unlike most cocktail menus, there are more than a few mixed drinks that guys will enjoy. Now if only they'd put anticuchos back on the menu. Oh, and the rice pudding was amazing!
(5)Mark G.
Great place to dine at reasonable prices! Loved it!
(5)Khulan D.
I have eaten here literally every week at least once a week since the place opened. There is nothing on the menu over $20, and most meals are less than $15. The portions are great. So I don't get the people here that say it's expensive. The food is very fresh, full of flavor. It's Peruvian food, not Mexican, so don't be confused. The atmosphere is great and for a restaurant in its first year it's kept almost all it's staff since day one. Every time I come here I'm treated great, everyone is chill, smiling, awesome Spanish guitar music. I've been working my way through the menu but I alway seem to crave their jalea appetizer and I'm newly addicted to their lucuma cheesecake. I also can't get enough of their coffee. The owner told me he brings it in from one plantation in Brazil and roasts it locally. This is not a fast food restaurant, so don't expect $5 meals, but for the atmosphere and quality it's the best deal in town. Honestly I think any bad review on here is a competitor or someone just having a bad day. I'm sure like any place you could have a bad experience, but I find it hard to believe when I literally come here all the time. I bring friends, coworkers. They all love it. Go check it out. I think you will love it!
(5)Peter H.
Cafe custco is an absolute must. I just had my WEDDING REHEARSAL DINNER here for 30+ people of my closest friends and family. Let me just say that everything was beyond my expectations. The owner is wonderful and doesn't absolutely stupendous job with his management staff. If you're looking to reserve a large area, they have a wonderful upstairs that they set-aside for your party. The owner is extremely reasonable with pricing and definitely caters to your needs. If it speaks for itself, and I think the other yelp reviews does it excellent justice. I will say that even for feeding a party of over 30 the food could not have been better and was just as good as if I had a party of four. Overall, the management, service, atmosphere, and food were well beyond my expectations! I would highly recommend this to anyone in the Springfield area, regardless of whether or not you have a private party or would just like to go to somewhere with a fun, relaxing, unique atmosphere and enjoy excellent food.
(5)Jaimee G.
I had high hopes, but this place is BAD. We had the fried avocado appetizer which has zero flavor. My boyfriend had the crawfish bisque - it was basically lukewarm water with some chunks of something unidentifiable and a few pieces of rice...and, again, NO flavor. I had arroz con polo that was decent but bland. He had a pasta dish. We watched them take a bowl of pasta out of the fridge to heat up. Really??? Pasta takes 8 minutes to cook fresh! Unfortunately, the meal was gross from beginning to end. I felt totally and completely ripped off - the prices are high, but the food is definitely not reflective of those prices.
(1)a b.
The black bean quinoa burger is outstanding - I have been a vegetarian for decades and this burger is head and shoulders above the schlock most places call a vegetarian option. The service was good (albeit a tad clingy for my taste), and the building is beautiful. My husband was very pleased with his dish as well.
(4)Elton D.
Very intimate atmosphere and amazing food. Beautiful building as well. Happy to find a place like this while on a business trip.
(5)Snoot B.
The ambiance is great and the servers extra nice. Food took a long time to come but was interesting and delish. I got the black olive trout, but tasted my brothers vegetarian burger and it was moist and wonderfully tasty. Will probably get the burger next time for myself. They have a good kids menu as well.
(4)Dianna S.
My husband and I planned a weekend visit to Springfield for my 40th birthday, but I was in charge of choosing restaurants. I consulted the 417 Magazine for their Best Of list, and Cafe Cusco was on there for one of the best new restaurants. Always eager to discover why, I knew instantly this would be our first stop. First of all, the ambiance is definitely exotic. Dark wood, pretty chandeliers and, what I am assuming, Peruvian music sets the scene for what I considered one of the best meals of the weekend. Walking in, you know you aren't getting a hamburger and fries, and that's one thing I loved about this place. Their menu is pretty big, and it was hard to settle on what I wanted. So many things sounded amazing. I finally went with the Chicken and Mushroom Pesto Rotini. I wasn't sure how Peruvian this menu item was, but it just sounded so delicious. And was I right! The portion was huge, and the flavors packed a punch. It was garlicky, savory, pesto-y, and I had to force myself to stop eating. Literally had to smash my napkin in it so I would leave it alone. I had a busy day ahead of me, and zero interest in feeling stuffed and miserable. Other menu items I considered was the Sweet Potato Noodle Stir Fry, Lomo Saltado (noted as a Peruvian favorite) and the Shrimp Huacatay. Actually I could insert the whole menu here. They really had an impressive list of great sounding food. My husband had the Chicharron sandwich, which was fried pork topped with sweet potato fries, salsa, and their golf sauce (a ketchup, mayo, and worcestershire concoction). He said the pork was slightly dry, but the flavors went together very well so it certainly wasn't indelible. He is also a very picky eater, so what he may consider dry, normal people might consider perfect. We will definitely come back to Cafe Cusco on another Springfield trip. After this experience, how can we not? There's a veggie bean and quinoa soup with my name on it.
(4)Nathan Q.
This was my first trip to Cafe Cusco, and it has become a new favorite in town. The food was delicious, and the service was friendly and quick. I had the Chicken Aji Verde which was great and inexpensive for a sit down lunch. If you like Latin food this is a great place to try.
(5)Jackson B.
Cafe Cusco is a quaint little Peruvian cafe on commercial street. A lot of work went into restoring the building and it really paid off. The food is always very fresh and the service is always above par. I like to sit in the window seat and watch the cars drive by.
(5)Carlos V.
Awesome food! Great service. Had the fried avocado's and the chicken para rayos and was extremely happy!
(5)Beth O.
Loved the ceviche tacos the pisco sour (drink) was fantastic!! Servers friendly and fast. Only down side is not much else to do in this area. Kind of a ghost town.. On Sunday anyway.
(4)Richie B.
Hands down, my favorite place to eat in town! I could go on & on about all the delectable dishes me & my friends have enjoyed, or the wonderfully welcoming servers & staff, or wax agog over the eclectically warm atmosphere of the decor... Or I could skip right to the chase by spilling he beans about the menu item I am currently completely gaga over -- Chupe Grande de Mariscos !! I have never in my life been to enthused over a bowl of soup... It's big, it's beautiful, it's tasty and filling! Simply calling it a seafood bisque with a fried egg on top doesn't nearly do it justice, actually mere words cannot adequately describe the nearly perfectly choreographed assemblage of seasonings and fresh ingredients that almost magically arrives to the table. This hearty concoction looks almost too pretty to dive into and yet somehow still levitates as if by subconscious impulse alone, one delectable spoonful at a time.
(5)Traci M.
We stopped here for lunch on our travels from Branson area to Kansas City. We were greeted by Claire, who we came to find out was one of the owners, (her son Joe being the other). There was a live musician, (as opposed to a dead one) playing soft guitar music and the place was packed for lunch. Claire led us to a booth adorned with carved wood on the backs and above which felt like a little room. Ryan waited on us and educated us about the menu and local beer selections. We ordered a jungle fruit and nut salad with added shrimp on top and the Chicken Ocopa. These are traditional Peruvian dishes as is the entire menu. The meals exceeded our expectations - rich with flavor and quality ingredients. This was truly a delightful find. I am not quick to give 5 stars but this is well deserving.
(5)Haydie S.
The venue design was colorful and unique. The drinks were one of a kind and mixed perfectly. The food was definitely different. We had the drunken goat and fryer rabbit. It wasn't very savory. I could just not like Peruvian food though. I highly suggest drinking a ginger caipirinha!
(4)Charles G.
Let me preface this review by saying that I genuinely wanted this place to be five stars. Based on the other Yelp reviews and what I had personally been told, I came expecting nothing short of greatness - and perhaps that's why I was disappointed. Make no mistake, the environment and ambiance were AWESOME, inside and out. This is an undeniably cool restaurant concept with a really compelling story behind it, but the food was aggressively mediocre. I had the tilapia, which came in a commendably massive serving, but was a bit heavy on the coconut oil and otherwise lacking in real flavor. The quinoa side had a more complex taste, but ultimately couldn't compensate for the fish itself. I realize my experience is an exception to the otherwise glowing rule among reviews here, which tempts me to give Cafe Cusco another shot, but as of tonight, I just can't justify anything more than three stars.
(3)Jill F.
Cafe Cusco has some of the very best food in Springfield. I go there with friends. I take friends there for special occasions. I love the Sweet Potatoes Noodle Stir Fried Chicken. I highly recommend this wonderful restaurant to everyone any dayof the week !
(5)Daniel D.
EXCELLENT food and service. Flavors I've never tried and good lunch prices. Portions were not too big which is great for lunch. No nap necessary even after a couple brews.
(5)Daniel S.
How often can you say, "I went to Springfield, MO, to get me some good Peruvian food"? We decided to be adventurous and it paid off big time! The flavor combinations seem odd on paper, but they came out great. I would recommend a trip downtown (old downtown?) to try this place out. The only exception was that the seafood dip took several different types of seafood and blended them together into a chip dip. In the end, the flavor was a "bland fishy" that didn't have any other flavors to round it out. The other frustration was just limited parking, but if you're used to parking in any downtown area, you'll pull it off.
(4)Elena T.
Food was excellent and service attentive. Got the goat burger and bf got the chicken rojo with sweet potato fries. They make their own hot sauce, which is again, excellent.
(5)Tosha L.
Great food, and nice gluten free options. The mango sorbet was amazing too. Definitely recommend!
(5)Janet D.
Outrageously delicious Peruvian food. We parked on the big side street beside the restaurant. Just walking to the door was a treat. There are a smattering of tiles in the sidewalk that served as a signal that these people pay attention to detail. Along that sidewalk there is lighting from pretty little eco-friendly lamps. If I were taking business people to this restaurant on a company tab, I believe that walkway would be a favorable sign to them. Food --- My roasted lamb was perfect. My fellow dinner ordered something like steak tacos, I think. I don't know for sure. They aren't named that on the menu. Decor --- The booths probably are not original to the restaurant, but they are attractive and roomy. There is a large, glorious old wooden bar. It could be 100 years old; who knows. Tables versus booths --- They may have tables upstairs. For me, I like the option of booths. I tire of tables in full view of every single other diner within a 15-foot radius, whether we are in town or traveling beyond the Ozarks. Quiet --- Sometimes when we eat out, I sense that bored or nosey people nearby are overhearing our conversation. Sitting in a booth prevented this. Cafe Cusco somehow has the right balance. Not quiet as a library. Not loud like a frat house. Sheesh -- it must be hard to run a great restaurant, given the whole aspect of sound itself... Somehow some restaurants in our big little city are getting the whole dining thing right. Cafe Cusco is one of them. LUNCH?! I only gave 4 stars because the dish I ordered was $17. A relative tells me the lunch menu is more budget friendly.
(4)Joab N.
Been to Peru 3 times and this place is on par with the real thing. Delicious and I'll make frequent visits to this place. Staff was great, atmosphere great and pisco sour was even better
(5)Kate S.
My boyfriend and I met a couple of our Friends here for dinner and none of us had been here before. We were a mixture of "can't eat beef," "can't eat gluten," "I'll eat anything," and "I'm a vegetarian" visiting this restaurant for the first time. We ordered the Fried Guacamole and the Seafood dip appetizers. None of us really cared for either of those choices and would not order them again. I cannot remember the names of the entrees that we ordered, but we all ordered different dinners and we all tasted the four that was ordered. The beef dish/potato dish was the least favorite by all of us as it was very salty and the flavoring was so strong that you couldn't taste anything but the salty overpowering taste. My favorite was the chicken dish that had stewed tomatoes and spinach in a yellow creamy sauce served over rice. Our waitress was friendly and it is a cozy, quaint little restaurant with a cool feel & decor. Wine was good, but the mixed drinkers did not like their drinks. Restrooms were clean. I can see where parking on the street could be a bit of a walk, depending upon when you are there. Prices were average.
(3)Rebecca A.
Wowza! A hidden gem in the city of Springfield. Yelpers are on point with this selection. Loved the fried guac, chupe de rio, bean quinoa soup, and sweet potato noodle stir fry. Yum!!! I definitely recommend this place. #Vegan/vegetarianfriendly
(5)Shan A.
Lots of vegetarian option, the portion sizes are decent and the decor and atmosphere is very nice. Great romantic place to take a special someone. I spent $12 on vegetarian spaghetti but did not include any side so the prices for some dishes are a bit much.
(4)Austin S.
BBQ pacho and Beef heart appetizer was fresh and interesting. Ton of food and great atmosphere. Staff was excellent as weel. Would definitely come back.
(5)Shane A.
After posting my initial review. The owner said that she had a word with her staff member. And she was kind enough to give us a refund. That is excellent customer service, and I will be back simply because of that action. Taking pride in one's business is top notch, but taking care of the customer should always be above that.
(4)George G.
We wish we could have tried everything on the menu as it all looked good! The food we did order was awesome!!!
(5)Holly A.
Was hoping for better. The customer service could be a little better. Sometimes when you aren't a greedy business, you will save a customer from never coming back by just being more understanding and humble. I ordered something that made me sick and felt that it wasn't handled the best way it could have been. We go to many restaurants and would have probably tried it again and went with something a little more "safe" but we probably won't now.
(4)Jessica B.
Cafe Cusco was really delicious! Had their black bean quinoa burger with sweet potato fries. To veganize it, ask for no avocado spread, and do fresh avocado instead. Best vegan burger I've had! Definitely will be back.
(5)Jen M.
Visiting from out of town, we were looking for a fresh, local restaurant for lunch. We walked in and out of a few little places on commercial street, not quite finding what we were looking for with each place...until we stumbled upon Cafe Cusco. Inside the restaurant is a cozy, charming and exotic feel. The wait staff was attentive and friendly. The food was some of the most incredible food I have ever tasted. Coming from a family that is in the restaurant business, food and flavor are what I'm after. My fiance and I tried their soups and a few of their menu items. Speaking from a true foodie, you will not be disappointed with Cafe Cusco. Delish!
(5)Robert M.
This is a great find! We ate here two nights ago and we're back again tonight! I had Chicken Para Rayos and my wife had Lomo Saltado both were really great!! This is rapidly becoming my favorite Restaurant in Springfield!!!
(5)Marti D.
Awesome food and environment! Lomo Saltaldo, BBQ, and Paras Rayos, highly recommend them all. Save room for dessert!! This might be my new favorite in Springfield!!
(5)Diane K.
Great little restaurant! Beautiful ambiance, great service, and delicious food. We shared the goat burger with sweet potato fries and two ceviche tacos. Craft cocktails look great and are reasonably priced. Did not have anything this time, but have on past visits. Only thing is that the sweet potato fries are a small up-charge. No issue and they are a perfect compliment to the goal burger, but the wait staff should bring that to your attention when suggesting. Just a pet peeve of mine. Keep up the great job and we will be back often. Perfect portions that are satisfying but do not make you feel stuffed.
(5)Tiff D.
After hearing a lot of buzz around town decided to get some take out. Enjoyed a cocktail with fresh ingredients while waiting. Lots of great options for glutton free and whole food people. The food is amazing, brought home to husband and he raved too. My daughter loved the sweet potato noodles and pork. We can't wait to go back soon!!!
(5)C M.
LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! Exceptional food, rarely found in Springfield, and they are open on Sundays! Great service, warm atmosphere, and fresh delectables! Share this gem with your out of town guests for a pleasant surprise.
(5)Jeffrey Z.
Another great add to the growing C-Street. First of all.. A restaurant that carries all local and Missouri beers is on my A list. They carry Mothers and even the Boulevard Smokehouse series, (sixth glass, tank 7 etc) kudos. That a lone will keep me coming back. Then the food, it was amazing. You must enjoy spices, that's where most of the flavor is. I loved it. The ambiance for a date night was perfect. I will be back. If you've never had Peruvian food, here is the place to get you started. You must try it once!
(5)Jessa C.
Definitely stopping here whenever we're driving through Springfield. We're from Texas, so it won't be often, but we'll make a point to come back whenever possible. Food is absolutely delicious (it's NOT spicy, but full of flavor). Dennis was our server - good with kids and knew what he was talking about.
(5)Ashley M.
First of all, I am very happy that Cafe Cusco is in town, because I love international food and like having more options. I have only been there once so far; here are my thoughts on it: It's almost worth going there just for the ambiance. My husband and I went there on a cold, blustery, winter night, and as soon as we stepped in the door we felt like we were in a tropical paradise. I liked all the food I tried while there. However, ordering was difficult because I am not familiar with ANY Peruvian dishes. I like trying new things, but if I had known more about the dishes, I probably would have chosen differently. Which brings me to my next comment.... I wish I had known that the ceviche is raw fish. Like I said before, I am not familiar with Peruvian food. I like Mexican ceviche, so that's more or less what I was expecting when I ordered it as an appetizer, and my husband ordered ceviche tacos for his entree because he DOESN'T like trying new things as much and thought it would be a "safe" choice. So he basically ended up with nothing but raw fish for dinner. We don't have a problem with eating raw fish, and the ceviche WAS delicious, but...you have to REALLY like raw fish to want to eat two whole platefuls of it and nothing else for dinner, lol. I'm just saying, some fair warning for the uneducated would be nice. :) And maybe some kind of side dish to go with the ceviche tacos.... I had the goat stew...can't remember the Peruvian name for it. I liked it quite a bit; it just tasted like a hearty vegetable beef stew. The only thing that has kept me from going back is that most of the entrees are kinda pricey. I am sure it's because many of the ingredients are hard to come by locally, but as much as I would love to go back and try more of the things on the menu, I just can't afford to spend $15-20 per person for a meal very often (or ever...we used a Groupon when we went). If it was just me, I would probably eat there sometimes and just order tamales (which are one of the cheaper items on the menu), but my husband is a hearty eater and I am usually with him when we go out. We have been wanting to go back and have drinks and appetizers in their upstairs lounge sometime, though. It is very pretty and classy-looking, and I hope to enjoy it sometime soon.
(4)Joe O.
great food, great service. Its a hidden gem here in Springfield. It is like you left Springfield and took a trip to peru. All I can say is wow. The rabbit is amazing as well as the local fed steak as well. There is nothing that I have eaten there that I do not like.
(5)Kim W.
We LOVED this restaurant. My husband and I chose this restaurant while visiting Springfield and we were so glad we did. We asked for recommendations from the waitress and she proved to be quite knowledgeable. We enjoyed everything we had (one beef dish and a fish dish) and even bought some of their hot sauce to bring home. We will definitely visit again next time we are in Springfield.
(5)Sam S.
Loved the atmosphere the staff was amazing super friendly knew the menu inside and out when I tried to order an expensive drink our waiter explained what was in it and helped me choose something more toy taste our appetizer was the fried guacamole it was great I cannot remember the name of the entries we ordered but they were flat out delicious we sat next to the kitchen and it didnt look like you could go wrong with anything ordered to sum it up best meal we have had at a restaurant in Springfield in a long time.
(4)Dorcel L.
Yes, Yes AND Yes! I was lucky enough to wonder into Cafe Cusco totally by accident. I was looking for a place to have lunch, that didn't offer only sandwiches, not to pricey and potentially offering a gluten free menu. We were in the middle of Springfield, Mo, it was the middle of the week and the middle of the day, so I wasn't too hopeful. But how fortunate for me! Before I get to the food, I recall driving by and thinking to myself that as soon as we park, I'm going to make sure I walk back and visit that place! The outside looks like a cafe straight out of the movies! The drapery decorating the door, flowed to the light breeze blowing on this warm August day, just made to feel like you had to enter. The view looking inside from the window was comfortable and inviting. Walking in, the overall ambiance and decor of the walls, tables, booths, and bar area made it difficult to choose where to sit. I knew I was just visiting the area and honestly walking in I wanted to sit and experience each section. But we had to choose one table so my husband and I choose a table near one of the big windows. So now on to the food! The menu was very simple, but pleasing. It offered a little of everything. Remember, it was the middle of the afternoon, so I wasn't seeking a heavy meal. There was a variety of appetizers and lunch offerings of Peruvian flavored, vegan and gluten free meals. I was excited and wanted a taste of everything. I apologies, I can't recall what we ate, because its taken me a few months to write this review but the experience is still very fresh in my mind, fond memories of a wonderful eating experience. I do remember that the food was tasteful, fresh and just plain delicious! Generally, my husband pays more attention to prices and he was happy to see that all this ambiance wasn't going to cost him an arm and leg. I don't fuss over the menu prices, only the check if the overall experience and food is bad. But this is not the case for Cafe Cusco. The customer service at Cafe Cusco was wonderful; again, it was quiet, around 2 to 3PM and a weekday. The waiter took time to address how the meals were prepared, ingredients, as I expressed some difficulty in deciding what to eat. I was excited and wanted to try everything. The waiter explained the overall history of the restaurant and how it came to be in this out of way place in the middle of Springfield Missouri. Don't worry, he wasn't too talkative, I inquired. If you are in the area, please make Café Cusco one of your places to eat. I most certainly will visit them again. I know it will be well worth it.
(4)Zach J.
Love this place. I love coming here with friends (or even by myself) to just have dinner and a drink or two (or three lol). The ambient atmosphere up in The Summit Lounge is perfect for an after-work relaxation time. I've already recommended this place to friends. Even had family from out of town drive up to eat here and left satisfied. Kudos to Team Cafe Cusco!!
(5)Amber P.
There are no words that can do this place justice! There are so many delicious options. Gluten free options are clearly marked on the menu. All of the food is fresh, the service is excellent. The ambiance is perfect for a business lunch or a cozy date. We eat here at least once a month.
(5)Dante L.
Im not one of those guys that goes dolling out 5 stars like its going out of style. In fact I have given very few and tend to be a negative person about food. BUT............................ This is what Springfield needs, Great food, solid wait staff, and food variety, oh God in heaven the food variety - and not a burger or fry on the menu!!!!! Ok they had fries, but still so happy Cafe Cusco is here. I do my food reviews on three things: Food, Service, Atmosphere, Price. Thats four things, but i dont feel like hitting the backspace key that many times or using the mouse to correct the statement. On we go! Food: Perfect. I mean this, it was perfect. Variety ive mentioned. Rabbit? when was the last time you spent your lunch break enjoying Rabbit? I had the Rabbit (eluded to above) with peanut sauce. So freaking good. Anyone who has had rabbit before knows you have to work a little to get the meal, but I didnt mind one bit. Cooked so well i ordered the same meal to take home for my wife, who would have castrated me if i didnt bring her home some since this was my first visit and i didnt go with her.............. the couch hasnt been that bad, but i digress. My meal came with rice I imagine made by the gods......... of rice...... the gods of rice, or rice gods................it was good. I kept looking at the menu and laughing; i love places that have names of their dishes that they know the common demographic wouldn't know. so Cafe Cusco does you a solid and spells out what each meal is under the words you have never heard of so you dont sound like a idiot when you order and are not thrown off when you get your meal. So for those of you with that 8th grade education-you're good to order with confidence here. Atmosphere: Comfortable, lots of the coveted booth space. semi private and lots of parking on the street so never a far walk. Ok so my one nit pick is this, i had this weird pillow thing behind me that kept falling, and i was comfortable but somewhat thrown off that this kept happening. Nothing more to say about it, just bolt the damn thing down. Service: so kind, so so kind. The service may not have been that of the tower club, but they were everything i look for in a good food place. Kind, attentive, knowledgeable about what you are going to have on your plate not just repeating what the specials are. Every staff knows the menu and you can tell takes ownership of what they serve. Price: Great, none of that "you get what you pay for" bull! The prices were good, real good as in this place is my new spot good! I like when places have appropriate prices for meals and dont gouge you because their food isnt sold anywhere else in Springfield. And its not, this menu is only found at Cusco and its triumphant! Great prices, bring the family and dont feel the pinch of kitschy, leave a good tip because they know their craft and go back again and again. Thank you Cafe Cusco for opening your doors! See you soon.
(5)Mary P.
The rice with seafood (Arooz con Mariscos, i think) and fish sandwich (forgot menu name) along with their special house sauce (made with serrano chilis) are awesome. The many fresh flavors are brought out in each bite! You can taste the freshness. Also had the bisque soup but not that impressed as the other offerings. Cool decor, nice atmosphere and attention to detail.
(5)Dale B.
What an awesome place. We had lunch ay Cafe Cusco and it was awesome. The decor is amazing. The food is wonderful. Make sure you ask for their special salsa. They make it there and its fantastic. The owner and the staff are passionate and friendly. We love that. Also check out The Summit upstairs. Its so cool. We need to get back there for cocktails next time in Springfield. Very sexy place for you fellas looking for a place to take your lady.
(5)Grace P.
Food was excellent. I have to say the staff was incredibly awkward. My boyfriend and I are an interracial couple and we felt as if the staff treated us poorly as if we couldn't afford the food. One man literally sat behind the sea shell walls staring at my boyfriend and I as if he had never seen a black and white couple before. It made for an awkward eating experience. The owner may consider hiring new staff, since Peru is a pretty ethnically diverse place. Overall, staff sucks. Food is good. Wont come back. Not worth being treated poorly
(5)Beth B.
Wow! What a great find while visiting Springfield. I had vegetarian tamales and friend had the goat burger. The masa on my tamale was delicious! One of the best that I have had. My friend loved her goat burger too. Apparently they grind their own meat, which is really great so they know exactly what is in it. I also really loved the feel of the place. Great decor, very friendly staff! Wish I had another day in Springfield just to eat here again!
(5)Shelly D.
Food was fantastic and the service quick. The waitress was spot on in suggesting dishes - since we were first timers. Cafe Cusco was unique and cozy and will most certainly be back!
(5)Molly R.
I came here for a whirlwind lunch with some old friends on a rainy Saturday recently. I had heard so-so things about Café Cusco before coming here, but as is my preferred way of discovering new places, I wanted to formulate my own opinion and I'm glad I did. Five of us came in to a completely deserted restaurant around 11 a.m. and were instantly treated with prompt, personable service. I ordered coffee, which our waiter was proud to tell us was Brazilian (at least, I'm 90% certain he said Brazil); either way, it was delicious. Keep on that Brazilian coffee grind, Café Cusco (see what I did there? 'Grind'? Ha, ha. Okay, moving on.) For lunch, I ordered what seems to be their best dish, based on other reviews: the black bean quinoa burger. I almost ordered the Goat Sancuchon (goat burger), which came complete with a fried egg, melted queso, and potato straws (just feed me that on my deathbed, alright?) but my healthy mindset kicked in and I went with the veggie option instead. I'm not complaining, because the burger was delicious. Wonderfully patty-like despite the presence of quinoa, appropriately spicy, and still texturally meaty. I loved it. The bun was also more of a French-inspired dinner roll, which I got on board with after the first bite. They do this dish well, that's for sure. However, one thing I did not much care for was the salad that I chose as a side. I thought the salad's structure was a little lacking - just a few sparse tomatoes and lettuce - and the dressing was really, really not my thing. I can't recall based on Café Cusco's menu what dressing I had, but I can describe it as thick, gloppy, and ultra-sweet. I won't say it sucked because I'm no expert on Peruvian salad dressing (for all I know, I turned my nose up at the best darn Peruvian dressing out there), but it just wasn't my thing. It was a little flavor-intense for a burger that was also flavor-intense, so something lighter would have pleased my palate more. I was especially sad given that I chose not to order sweet potato fries as my side (I don't like sweet potatoes, generally) but I stole one off a friend's plate and they were AWESOME. They were the best sweet potato fries I've ever had, and I've attempted them many times. I think the reviewer who said they weren't very good earlier just had a bad batch; either that, or they swapped recipes. Who knows, but they nailed when we were there. Like I mentioned, friend #1 ordered the goat burger and said it was delicious; friend #2 ordered the quinoa burger, like me; and friends #3 and #4 split the Butifarra (pork loin sandwich) and loved it. No complaints all around, apart from my secret longing for some balsamic vinaigrette. After hearing the featured dessert, some kind of nut-infused cheesecake, we pulled a Jay Gatsby and recklessly declared they bring us a dessert menu. We proceeded to drop a few extra dollars on said cheesecake, which was worth it, as well as a truly delicious blueberry and espresso crumble that I actually couldn't finish despite my ability to inhale dessert even when I'm at the point of explosion. The sauce, a creamy, blueberry mixture, was to die for. Maybe I just had a really genuine experience here, but apart from my disdain over the salad dressing thing (which, disclaimer, is not a deal breaker for me), I thought Café Cusco was great. The price was a little high for a lunch time soirée, though, so that's definitely going to keep me from coming back often, especially given that I had ordered one of the cheapest menu items. Edit: Forgot to add my final note, which is that the décor and general aesthetic is amazing. That is all.
(4)Clifford G.
First time here and loved it. I got the black bean burger and my wife got the goat burger. It was fantastic and definitely highly recommend.
(5)Ricki H.
The environment is good. Good for groups or romantic dinner. Service is great - friendly and warm. Food is ok - not authentic enough. Flavors are on the bland side. I had ceviche, articucho and chupe de rio. They are all typical peruvian food, but none of them impressed me. It's not that they are bad but just not memorable. They are editable. To me anyways. Ceviche doesn't come with roasted peruvian popcorn. It's good that the acidity not too overwhelming but not enough flavors. May be more herbs and garlic. Articucho definitely not marinated enough. It's good grilled beef but it's not great articucho. The soup actually is the highlight of the meal. If you never had peruvian food before, then you should check out this place. It's decent. I may be a bit tough on criticizing the food because I had lived with Peruvians who came from Lima for more than 5 years and they cooked all the time. Moreover I live in a city that has more access to Latino food ingredients. Enjoy! It's a decent place.
(3)D H.
Mediocre at best. Fish was dry and sauce was sweet like cheap Chinese sweet and sour. Caprihina was good. Duck was salty . The menu is intriguing but the actual dish did not deliver. Maybe there are really good dishes on the menu, but we ordered two staff favorites. We won't be back.
(3)Kevin S.
I tre here while passing through Springfield. What an awesome surprise. Had the chupe del rio and wahoo eschebeche. Both were wonderful. They also have an outstanding beer selection with several local beers. Check this place out!
(5)Jorge N.
Not that there's a bunch of comp, but they have the best Ceviche in the SGF area. It has an intimate atmosphere, which makes it a perfect date location. Service is fast and friendly. Highly recommend Cafe Cusco.
(4)Eric A.
All the food was fantastic. Definately recommend eating here. If they still have the cheese cake, go for a slice of that
(5)Jessica G.
I had an absolutely lovely experience here. From the moment I stepped into the restaurant, I was impressed. Beautiful decor, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and DELICIOUS food. We loved the fact that virtually everything they offer - from coffee to entrees to their delicious desserts - are made with local ingredients. Cafe Cusco is a unique and wonderful addition to Springfield's restaurant scene! I'm excited to go and check out their upstairs Summit Lounge, where they've got White River, Piney River, AND Mothers brews a-flowin'!
(5)Jenn S.
My first experience with Cafe Cusco was the 2nd day they opened - and I was absolutely blown away! The service was great, the place is beautiful, but maybe most of all the black bean quinoa burger I had was AMAZING. Springfield don't miss a chance to come to Cafe Cusco. And after your done with your nom-nom meal walk around beautiful C-Street. This place makes Springfield cooler.
(5)Matthew G.
Fresh. Every dish I've tried at Cafe Cusco has had a uniquely clean and refreshing taste, from the civeche to the black bean and quinoa burger. I love their commitment to alternative diets, offering both vegan and gluten-free options. I was also pleasantly surprised to find some decent Boulevard beers from their Smokestack Series amongst their otherwise bland beer selection. The atmosphere is stellar. The music and the decor set a fancy yet comfortable environment. The mix of bright colors and white accents set against dark wood booths and floors deliver an appealing contrast. My only complaint was a relatively uninformed staff. I'm sure that new restaurants always present a number of challenges for new servers. Learning a new menu can't be easy--particularly when that menu consists of fairly exotic foods. But the servers at Cusco were repeatedly and overly apologetic for their lack of knowledge. Overall, Cafe Cusco is
(4)Mark M.
My wife grew up in Ecuador so I knew she could rate how authentic this place was. One thing people forget to understand is a restaurant can only be as authentic as the available ingredients in the area. With that in mind, my wife thought the place was very true to making common Andean foods for being in Springfield MO. I can't rate the authenticity of it, but the cotija cheese sticks are downright heavenly. I've also really enjoyed their crawfish soup and goat burger. I haven't ordered the rabbit, but friends at the table who did, said it was well worth the price of it. The fritas appetizer with 3 kinds of fries is good. I think though we would have preferred it more if it was just yucca. We are coming to the place for foods we cannot get elsewhere and we can get regular potato and sweet potato fries anywhere. Overall, the food is very good. It's more on the pricey side for the area, but it's great for lunch or special occasions. If cost is the issue for you, they often have a groupon offer available.
(4)