Crandall's Peruvian Bistro in Madison

Just like Peru. I had the lomo saltado, stirfried beef, onions and tomatoes over french fries with rice on the side. So good. Their Pisco sour is amazing. Love this place, and the wait staff is very professional and kind.

Empanadas were excellent! Food was very good. Wine was great!!! Crandalls catered our wedding 20 years ago, they still got it

The Aguadito de Pollo and beef empanadas are both the best Ive ever had. The food overall has a much fresher taste and more refined flavors than typical dishes elsewhere.

The food is well-made and delicious, and the portions are very generous! However, the day we went, it was loud and hot and the service was very slow. Admittedly, we went at a weird time, and the leftovers were certainly tasty!

Really delicious Peruvian food. They’ve got a great selection that’s very different from what you usually find around Madison. I had the ceviche clásico, which was absolutely delicious. Highly recommend the yuquitas and chica morada as well. Very unique flavors. The atmosphere is quiet and cozy and the service is great.

I would give this place a 4.5. The food was real good, but I wish they served bread with ají verde or at least offer it on the menu. Ill be back next time Im in town. Oh also, the server was really good!

We were never greeted. There were several open dirty tables. Sat down hoping to get acknowledged, after five minutes and several passes by waitresses we were asked to move because we were sitting at a broken booth. We moved and sat for another ten minutes and several more passes from the waitresses without any further acknowledgement. Another two top came in after us and were served waters and began receiving service and we didnt get so much as a glance from the waitresses. The menu looked great! Too bad we didnt get opportunity to try it since we got tired of being ignored.

I like Crandalls. They have very good ceviche, a great atmosphere, and fast service. Good brunch menu in addition to regular offerings. Excellent & affordable spot for a date or a group gathering. Down from 5 because Ive often found the food to not be very hot when it came out, and because the chicharron & tamales are on the dry side.

Service was excellent. Server made great recommendations without being pushy, was attentive, and friendly. Food was absolutely amazing. Had chicken empanada which was great, jalea which was outstanding, chaufa de quinoa and pescado a lo macho, both which were probably the best dishes weve had in Madison in the past two years. Our server recommended pisco sours which we hadnt had prior, and they were also outstanding.

We ended up here while out looking for a place to eat. They original plan took us somewhere where they didnt have many tables and not enough chairs for all of us. So off we went. We passed this place on our way to the original destination... Decided to go back and give it a try. We were glad we did. The service was very personable. The portions were very generous, and the food was good. We were not disappointed. Give them a try.

Empanadas were awesome, great dipping sauce. I also had classic ceviche, spicy and limey. Delicious. Also started with a pisco sour, a Peruvian classic drink. Wonderful meal. I’ll be back.

Good food but not open on Monday as Google map said. Nor was there any sign saying if they are closed Mondays or a note explaining if theyll be open for dinner on what days

Went there Saturday night and being Peruvian enjoyed the authenticity, taste and service. So far I have been there 3 times and loved it each time. I recommend everyone stop by!

We enjoyed a generous and delicious pasta dish with shrimp for our entree and tasty empanadas as an appetizer. A wonderful cup of Peruvian coffee followed. We will definitely dine here again!

I reluctantly went because gyros were on my mind. Our food was awesome. Beef and seafood were the best protein as the menu calls them. Take a chance and try it!

The waitress did just fine.We ordered 4 meals that were supposed to have avocado. None of our dishes came out with avocado. We realized about halfway through our meals so we inquired about it. The message we received from the manager was that avocados were too expensive and that wed get 15 cents off per plate on the bill. The waitress asked if that was okay and frankly at the time we had better things to do than debate the merits of getting a 1% bill discount for missing one of the most delicious ingredients because they avocados "too expensive".When the check came I still wrote in a tip of around 18% while I was on autopilot and after a couple minutes realized that they charge automatic gratuity of 18% on groups of 4+. Ive never seen automatic gratuity on groups less than 6 before, so I guiltily scribbled out the tip since it was already there. I left kind of feeling bad about scribbling it out. I suggest going elsewhere.

The Peruvian food here is delicious and very close to many of the traditional and favorite foods we found in Lima and Cuzco. The jalea and empanadas are both excellent.

Very nice place, the best part pf the meal was the appetizer "yucas fritas" with the huancaína sauce, I really love it. And you also have to try the "chicha morada" drink, really good.

Food was good and the service was fantastic! There were many things on the menu that I wanted to try, so Ill definitely be returning.

Saturday 6/2/18 5pm. While the service was fine, the food was mediocre and most unbelievably, they were out of 4 out of 4 wines we ordered! The ambiance of the restaurant was not what was advertised on the web site either. No linen table cloths as pictured, just slightly grubby looking tables pushed very close to a grubby looking window looking out on a grubby state street. Never again.

Made a reservation for a large group with our server for a Tuesday, called to confirm the day of and they stated they are not open Tuesdays. The server had taken our reservation (on a napkinwhen we visited the restaurant, made no mention that they are closed Tuesdays and said we were all set. Please be more wary than us when making a reservation to ensure that they are actually open, because apparently their own staff is not equipped with that information.

Came here with my fiancé to try something new, and I’m so glad we did! The food is sooo good and the service was amazing! Highly recommend coming here to try something new!

Everything was delicious - appetizers, main course, dessert. Was delighted to get a cup of perfect coffee with the key lime pie.

I cannot stress enough how bad the food was at this place... by far is no where near authentic, their pollo a la braza had no seasoning. It tasted like your rotisserie chicken from the corner store, just plain. Their hucaina sauce tasted like nacho cheese. Im sorry, I didnt know I order nachos...lol. Bad service and it was expensive for crapy food . Think twice before eating here . If you dont know what authentic Peruvian food is supposed to taste like then maybe you cant tell the huge difference. My recommendation is stay away from this place.

Very good ceviche, although I wish there was less corn/lettuce and more ceviche. Quality was very high and everything was delicious. Prices were a little high, but thats expected for good ceviche.We went early so everything was very fast and the servers were awesome.

I hardly make this type of post about a local latino restaurant. However, we were trying to enjoy a good dinner tonight with my family in a restaurant well known in Madison (with many, many awards-not that it really mattersafter a few hard days in the hospital. But we have one of those pretty bad experiences that I need to share. I was done with my dinner and my son was almost done with his and my husband didnt get his dinner yet! Nobody explained (until I was done with my dinnerthat they made a mistake with his order. All of this after we waited for 25 minutes to get our order of drinks...so disappointed 😰...the prices of this restaurant indicate a different level of service and food. Some restaurants are overrated! By the way...we paid the whole bill for this dinner (no offer to take something off due to wait etc). We were also surprised with the rule that even for a group of 4 (it might be something only a few restaurants dothey charge you the automatic 18% gratuity in your bill. I guess, its a good policy for the servers!

A long time Madison staple that sort of turned into a Peruvian restaurant while keeping some of the traditional menu items (fried fish). Food was decent, very large portions, but prices arent line with the quality of service or food.

My wife & I went to Crandalls Peruvian Bistro for lunch. This was not a cheap, fast food lunch; my dish cost $14. I have higher expectations then. Our food looked good & tasted good.I ordered the ceviche mixto. This included calamari, mahi mahi, mussels & shrimp served on fresh greens, with hominy & a slice of sweet potato on each side. Nice presentation, too. The seafood was tender, & the bright citric flavor (from lime?was a high note with every bite. Combined with a little oil, the citric flavor made the greens more interesting, too. The hominy & sweet potato were very mild in flavor, which actually paired well with the stronger flavor of the seafood. The ceviche included some fresh onion, along with a couple tiny pieces of a red pepper. Given the heat of the pepper, Im guessing it was habanero; jalapeno & serrano dont wake me up like this. If you dont like spice, watch out for those little red guys.I dont remember the name of the dish my wife ordered. It was shredded chicken in a bright yellow sauce, mounded over a slice of potato & next to a mound of rice. Looked a lot like a curry. We thought the color came from turmeric, maybe with some cumin. Her portion was very large, & she couldnt finish. This provided my "post-meal bonus." Im not sure how to describe the flavor; it was not spicy, just very pleasant. I would even call it "comfort food."The interior was pretty simple. Decorations on the walls were visually interesting. Tablecloths, cloth napkins, comfortable seating.And now for a couple minor negatives: My wife ordered Peruvian coffee. I tasted it & was disappointed with its weak, bland taste. However, Im pretty picky about my coffee. The waitress was very personable, but she was a bit slow & forgetful.While I would gladly have the ceviche mixto again, I also hope to try some of their other menu items.

The food was horrible. I ordered Arroz Chaufa with chicken, the first time the rice and chicken was totally burned so smell gross, then they made it again but this time the chicken was cook but it was disgusting spoiled, the taste of that chicken was so gross I vomit. I ask the host to smelled and he almost vomit too. Half hour later after I am so stomach sick, my lips are swelling and tingle. If you want to stay healthy stay away from that place.

This has been my go to place for breakfast lately. The restaurant has great food and great music as well. I usually sit with the same server because of their very personable and polite attitude. If its not too busy we usually chat in Spanish and I have even learned little things about Peruvian culture. The food always comes out hot too. Try everything!

Crandalls had an amazing breakfast!!! Peruvian coffee, bacon omelette and pork tamal made for a good start to our day! Highly recommend them for breakfast if you are looking for good food, good service and an atmosphere where you can hear the table conversation. Well be back next time we visit Madison!!!

Food was good but not worth the 45 minute wait from ordering to eating. The place wasnt packed, there were several open tables. We watched as others who arrived after us were served their food before we were. Our server was nice enough but it seemed like this was her first job. They really need a second restroom, the entire time we were here there was someone in there and someone waiting to go. Will not come back.

After visiting Peru for 2 weeks, I was eager to try this restaurants take on traditional Peruvian dishes. Overall everything was pretty good, and tasted similar if not the same as things I had on my trip. I had a chinese fusion dish, and my friend ordered the ceviche. It was a little more citrusy than what I had, and a little much for my tastes, but he loved it.The tables and chairs outside werent the most up-kept and there are many uneven tables, but that didnt bother us much.Pretty good place to try out at least once!

Great food, friendly service, beautiful atmosphere, fair pricing. If you are looking to spend around $15-20 for great food in a moderately formal but yet comfortable atmosphere, this is the place. The menu options are reasonably portioned, fresh and varied. I had the Ceviche Clasico and it was one of the best fish plates Ive ever had! Also, the coffee was amazing!

What a place for brunch!!Cozy and intimate with a great view of State Street - Crandalls makes for an awesome brunch spot on Saturdays or Sundays. We had walked past the place dozens of times, never stopping in. A few weekends ago, we did - and weve been back twice since!The coffee is truly excellent. Extremely smooth, no bitterness, and not overpowering. We were told that its an organic Peruvian coffee; regardless of what it is, its really delicious. Expect to drink 3-4 cups while there.The brunch menu is fairly Americanized, with a few Peruvian accents. The omelets seem more like folded frittatas - a bit more browned than Id normally prefer, but the eggs remain fluffy and the ingredients are fresh and flavorful.Love that they include lightly dressed greens on the side.Service is a bit on the relaxed side. There are times where you might sit for a bit, but youll never feel neglected or forgotten. Seems as though they give you plenty of time to chat and enjoy your visit.There are a ton of places to eat in this area; Crandalls is near the top. Given the long lines at a nearby place, youd be foolish to wait there when this gem is located just a few hundred yards away. Give it a try!

Good food but not great service

I went during restaurant week and had a three course meal of a seafood soup, seafood paella, and tres leches rice pudding. The dessert and soup were both good enough to order again, but the paella was pretty bland. It was worth a try during restaurant week.

came for brunch and had the scramble and chicaron which was great tasting besides slightly unsalted. the business could really use another server or 3 because the only server there certainly had her plate full. will come back in the future to see if dinner is as good as other reviews claim

The fries. The fries were the best my fiance and I have ever had. The paella was so flavorful and the Peruvian beer was a treat. Service was good..

Based on the previous reviews, I may have been lucky with my experience in this restaurant -- three times in a row. I trust online reviewers enough not to dismiss the earlier bad reviews, but every time Ive gone into Crandalls everyone Ive been with was surprised with the quality and diversity of the food. The service is sometimes slow and the attention to detail was hit-and-miss, but the balance and combinations of flavors was refreshing compared to the self-conscious, competitive hipster restaurants, or the sometimes predictable ethnic cuisine that Madison has to offer (not to complain -- I love it all....). It has become a new favorite for us...

Bummer, I really wanted to like this restaurant but they just fell short in a number of ways. Dined there during an afternoon they were moderately full, but not packed or busy. Service was friendly but slow and not really paying much attention. Ordered vegitarian dinners and all but one were filled with meat. When I brought this to the attention of the server, he just said "well, the kitchen must have made a mistake" and walked away. Paid for the whole meal without being able to eat most of it. Cant recommend and will be looking for another S. American dining option.

Seafood Paella definitely the best thing on their menu. The ceviche was also delicious but be sure to have a lime palette if you choose to get it. They dont skimp on the flavors.

The pork chop sandwich haunts my dreams, it was so delicious. I apologize I forgot the name, but its basically a pork chop sandwich with sweet potato fries and some kind of pesto inside. My mouth is watering thinking about it. Great service too.

Awesome food and great service, I love the Pollo a la brassa. so much chicken for a great price. The chaufa de Quinoa is awesome too. Make sure to try their homemade sriacha sauce!

Ive never had Peruvian food, and I really enjoyed the food here. The service is a little slow, but I blame the management. There was one server seating people, serving all the tables, and doing all the bussing! He was hustling, and was pleasant and helpful despite the circumstances.

We dined outside (the weather was temperateand while the outdoor seating area initially seemed a bit cramped (tables and chairs had been moved for larger groups to gather around two joined tableswe were able to fix that pretty easily. Service was good - everything (ordering, food arrival, check deliveryproceeded at a reasonable rate, and our water glasses never went empty. Drinks were brought out soon after ordering, as well (glasses of wine - mixed drinks seemed to take a bit longer, but thats understandable. Our water glasses never went empty - it was everything we wanted as far as good dinner service.The food was excellent in every way. I had the pollo a la brasa (1/4 chicken- extremely affordable for the volume of food, and delicious besides (I really enjoyed the spicy cilantro sauce! The chicken was tender and very easy to pull from the bone, and the fries were excellent - crispy and well seasoned (not too greasy or too salty.)My husband ordered the Lomo Saltado (with steakand even though my dish was delicious, I was a bit jealous of his choice - the meat was tender and had an excellent grilled flavor (as did the vegetables that came with it. We moved to the Madison area recently and have enjoyed learning the culinary scene - but this meal (and the Lomo Saltado in particlarwas the best weve had in the city - and will continue to stand out as one of the best dishes either of us has ever had.Would absolutely recommend, and will definitely be taking family/friends from out of town when they come to visit.

I am not attempting to slander the restaurant; but the owners of this restaurant do not pay their employees. Myself and three other servers/cooks that I know of are owed hundreds of dollars in bounced checks that the owners continue to refuse to pay.They have even filed false W2 forms saying that they have payed in order to avoid paying taxes on unpaid wages. Unfortunate and unethical business practices.

The worst restaurant ever. It took an hour to get the order and 2 hours to get the main course. Food was bad. Corn in ceviche mix wasnt cooked at all.

We happened on Crandalls Peruvian Restaurant while we were in town for a conference. We never have had Peruvian food and we are so glad we had dinner there. It was some of the very best, tasty food we have ever experienced. We had the Classic Ceviche that was beautifully plated and was amazing. The chicken soup - outstanding and a meal in itself. Our entre was the lamb dish, Seco de Cordero - also outstanding. The food and wine list is very affordable. Service was impeccable. Everyone needs to try this restaurant. We will be coming back. Loved it!

I say its the #1 for fish fry in WISCONSIN! you can just taste the delicious fish!! for me i trust crandalls because other places fish fry changes and sometimes the fish tastes bad and the coleslaw and tartar sauce are not fresh and the potatoes were bagged. but at crandalls it ALWAYS tastes the same and so good!!!! the coleslaw is so good and red potatoes are so good!cant wait to go this friday!