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Celeste

$31 to $50

Peruvian

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 11, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 28 times today

Neighborhood gem
Great for creative cocktails
Good for special occasions

It’ll be hard to find a restaurant as welcoming and lovely as Celeste. The Union Square spot feels like a party hosted by your very cool artsy friends, who just happen to make the best ceviche in town. Every dish here is tantalizing—throw in pisco-heavy drinks and a psychedelic cumbia playlist, and you’re in for the very best of Andean culture.
Recently included in The New York Times Best restaurants in Boston, Chef JuanMa and co-owner Maria Rondeau have been nominated for James Beard Best New Restaurant Semi-Finalist, Esquire's Best Restaurants in America, and Eater's Best Restaurant in Boston.

Why they're an Icon

From the OpenTable editors: Somerville has stellar Peruvian restaurants, but Celeste has always stood out from the crowd; Eater Boston named it restaurant of the year when it opened in 2018. That's because chef and owner JuanMa Calderon is recreating the recipes he learned from his mother and grandmother in a cozy and sleek space that will make you feel like you're eating in Calderon and his partner Maria Rondeau's home. You can expect some of the best ceviches in the city, the Andean stew carapulcra with pork and chicken, and colorful cocktails that celebrate Peruvian spirits and drinks like pisco and chicha.

Dining areas

Additional information

Location
21 Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143-2933
Phone number
(617) 616-5319
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Peruvian, Home cooking, Seafood
Hours of operation
Dinner Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
None

seco de cordero con frijoles $28.00
cilantro lamb stew + creamed canary beans with rice
sudado de pescado o berenjena
steamed fish or eggplant Peruvian-Chinese style with rice
- -$26.00
- -$23.00
locro (+ pescado frito + 7) $23.00
black mint. squash, Java beans + potato stew with rice
camar6n al ajillo$27.00
shrimp scampi Peruvian style with rice
scallops con pasta a la huancaina $29.00
seared scallops with fresh squid ink fettuccine + huancaina
lomo saltado$28.00
stir-fried sirloin beef (8oz), tomato, onion, soy with rice
tacu tacu a lo macho (o de verduras) (+ pescado frito +7)
carapulcra $26.00
/neon stew with potato, chicken, pork, peanuts + Porto with rice

SIDE

frijoles canarios** $6.00
creamed canary beans

DESSERTS

suspiro limei'lo / dulce de leche custard $12.00
suspiro limei'lo / dulce de leche custard (gf,d) mousse de lucuma / lucuma: Peruvian native tree fruit $11.00

gf option: please inform your server to make necessary adjustments/ gt: gluten free / g: gluten / d: dairy / v: vegan /veg: vegetarian

* consuming raw meats. poultry, seafood, shellfish may increase risk of foodborne illness before placing order, please Inform your server of any food allergies

please note: 20% gratuity applied to tables of four or more

please note: 3% kitchen appreciation fee applied to checks. graclas for your support

What 60 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.8Service
4.5Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Celeste offers "best Peruvian food," with standout dishes like ceviche, black squid ink pasta with scallops, and tacu tacu. The cocktails are "great," and the service is "attentive." Set in an intimate, industrial space, it's a "must try" for authentic flavors and a remarkable dining experience.

60 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
Greater Boston3 reviews
4.0
Dined on March 1, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The drinks were outstanding. The food was good not great. For two of us drinks, apps, entree and one dessert $200 with tip. Service was very good. I had no idea the restaurant only seats 20. If you’re seated at the bar as we were every time someone comes or goes the Arctic air blasts you.
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G
Gustavo VIP
Greater Boston11 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Best Peruvian food in town, great cocktails as well.
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R
Rebecca VIP
Greater Boston91 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 22, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Does not disappoint. Fabulous food and delightful service in a neighborhood storefront restaurant. We love Celeste!
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P
Pablo
Greater Boston7 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 12, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This is hands down my favorite restaurant in New England, and easily one of the top 3 restaurants I’ve ever been to, period. From the cocktails to the ceviche, you know you’ll have a great start to your meal. The black squid ink pasta with scallops, and tacu tacu with seared fish are two incredible main dishes. The service is great and the venue is intimate. This is a must try restaurant!
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M
Monique
Washington DC2 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 11, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Lovely dinner at Celeste. Just what I was craving.
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D
Donald
Greater Boston22 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The menu is unique. I especially like the tomato and avacado causas, Scallops with squid ink fetuccini, and Tacu Tacu. The Peruvian beer is very flavorful. Unfortunately, we didn;t have room for dessert.
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R
Rae VIP
Greater Boston5 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 7, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Never had Peruvian food before and this made me LOVE it. Can’t wait to try more unique dishes!!
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g
glenn
Cleveland18 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Delicious Peruvian food— took us back to the culinary excellence of Lima
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J
Julia
Pittsburgh6 reviews
5.0
Dined on January 29, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This was the best ceviche I’ve ever had! Plus the margarita was refreshing and the tacu-tacu was absolutely delicious. Would definitely recommend!
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M
Melanie
Washington DC10 reviews
5.0
Dined on January 19, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This is our favorite restaurant in the greater Boston area. Amazing!
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FAQs

Celeste is rated 4.8 stars by 60 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 11, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 28 times today

21 Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143-2933

Dining areas

Additional information

Phone number
(617) 616-5319
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Peruvian, Home cooking, Seafood
Hours of operation
Dinner Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
None

Celeste

Make a reservation

Why they're an Icon

Dining areas

Additional information

DEL MAR

ceviche de blue cod* $21.00

ceviche mixed seafood (blue cod, squid and shrimp)*$22.00

ceviche de palm and artichoke hearts$18.00

ceviche de shrimp y mango with maracuya infusion $19.00

APPETIZER SPECIALS

pupusa de camar6n y queso + camarones$16.00

yuquitas rellenas de verduras* $15.00

CAUSAS / spicy potato terrine

causa de avocado and tomato $15.00

causa de tuna tartare*** $18.00

causa de shrimp $16.00

SALADS

arugula salad with salsa criolla (lime, onion, tomato)$12.00

arugula salad with lime/parmesan$13.00

ENTREES

seco de cordero con frijoles $28.00

sudado de pescado o berenjena

locro (+ pescado frito + 7) $23.00

camar6n al ajillo$27.00

scallops con pasta a la huancaina $29.00

lomo saltado$28.00

tacu tacu a lo macho (o de verduras) (+ pescado frito +7)

carapulcra $26.00

SIDE

frijoles canarios** $6.00

DESSERTS

suspiro limei'lo / dulce de leche custard $12.00

suspiro limei'lo / dulce de leche custard (gf,d) mousse de lucuma / lucuma: Peruvian native tree fruit $11.00

gf option: please inform your server to make necessary adjustments/ gt: gluten free / g: gluten / d: dairy / v: vegan /veg: vegetarian

* consuming raw meats. poultry, seafood, shellfish may increase risk of foodborne illness before placing order, please Inform your server of any food allergies

please note: 20% gratuity applied to tables of four or more

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

How is Celeste restaurant rated?

Is Celeste currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information