Causa

Causa is a Michelin-starred Peruvian tasting-menu restaurant that transports diners to Lima with every plate.

How to use Causa

1. Book a table online; places go quickly, especially for the evening sittings.
2. Arrive a few minutes early to enjoy a pisco sour at the bar and meet the friendly team.
3. Settle in for the fixed-price tasting line-up; menus change often, so let the staff guide your choices.
4. Pair each course with the suggested drinks, from crisp Cusqueña beer to Amazonian infusions.
5. Finish with the dessert flight, then give feedback on any extras such as the tea service.

First impressions and highlights

Advantages

• Atmosphere feels like Miraflores on a Friday night: bright colours, woven art, and gentle Latin playlists immediately reminded us of spots we loved in Peru.
• Service that never slips: staff hovered at the ideal distance, topping up water without breaking conversation and mixing cocktails with Ernesto’s trademark smile.
• Sea-focused dishes sing: ultra-fresh ceviche arrived in icy bowls, while a tiradito course re-imagined the classic with smoky aji amarillo.
• Pisco programme worth the visit alone: the bar crew shakes balanced sours and keeps rarer bottles for tables willing to explore.
• Thoughtful extras: imported Cusqueña, warm hand-towels, and detailed explanations of each causa layer made the evening feel personal.

Drawbacks

• Tasting-menu only: friends who just want a quick chaufa will need to choose the sister room, Amazonia, downstairs.
• The tea caddy lets the side down: for a year we have mentioned the flimsy cardboard box; loose-leaf service would match the rest of the standard.
• Handkerchief-sized napkins divide opinion: some of us liked their generous cut, others found them bulky and less soft than expected.
• Price creeps up with pairings: while the set menu feels fair for the quality, wine or pisco flights push the bill into special-occasion territory.

After several visits we still look forward to the next round of causas, and even with a couple of quirks—chiefly that underwhelming tea presentation—this bright corner of DC remains our go-to for coastal Peruvian cooking backed by genuine warmth.