NYC Restaurants

With restaurants like Patria, Coco Roco and
Pio Pio making Peruvian popular, you can add yet another spot to your list.

Punto Fijo, in Jackson Heights, has set up shop on Northern Boulevard just blocks away from Pio Pio and there appears to be some sibling rivalry at play. One of the co-owners, I'm told, is the brother of Augusto Yallaco, who opened Pio Pio in Queens before branching out into Manhattan.

But while Pio Pio has gained a reputation for
its delicious Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken, Punto Fijo is putting more of an emphasis on other traditional dishes. The menu features several types of ceviche as well as lomos saltado, a stir-fry made with steak, french fries and onions. My Peruvian friends tell me the anticuchos, flame broiled slices of marinated beef heart, are among the best in the city.

The portions at Punto Fijo are large and the prices are low with most dishes coming in under $10. That makes it popular with families and also a bit noisy.