Costa Contemporary Kitchen

It isn’t always easy to get a table at Costa Contemporary Kitchen, the Peruvian restaurant near OCMA and the Segerstrom Center in Costa Mesa. The modern space is small in an elegant way, as is the menu, which includes plenty of seafood options: a purple-tinted octopus and olive appetizer that hits just the right balance of two potentially salty flavors, ceviches, an atypically bright mango and citrus white tuna tartare, and a tuna, avocado, and tortilla chip plate called Tiraditos de Pescado. There are also classic Peruvian entrees including garlic noodle variants and Lomo Saltado, typically made with beef.

We opted for a mixed version of the Saltado with still-tender filet mignon and shrimp in addition to the classic onions, fries, rice, and tomatoes, then finished on their strawberry-topped Crema Volteada, an eggy flan with caramel at the base. Everything was very good – noticably superior to other area Peruvian restaurants that closed in recent years (Renzo’s, Tacu Tacu), and a strong rival to El Cortijo Grill, here offering superior presentation and fewer menu choices.