We took our annual pilgrimage to visit with Bobby and Debbie just north of Venice, Florida. Each year our get together with these longtime friends is a funtime eating orgy with a bit of embibement. Debbie gets the short end of the straw and is required to be our designated driver. She’s a saint.
This year we started with a dinner at Selva Sarasota. It’s a modern Peruvian restaurantwith lots of ceviche choices. The menu was fairly extensive but not atall intimidating. Whatever wasn’t spelled out on the menu was clarified by our server, Denis. Service was smooth throughout the meal and we had a wonderful dining experience.
Bobby and Debbie prepare for a culinary adventure.We were started out with typical Corn kernels which get dipped in cilantro sauce. I believe the tall items were fried or baked plantain chips.This was a fun amuse Bouche.We’ve been bringing this wonderful Pinot Noir to lots of restaurants this year. They had a $30 corkage fee which is alittle high, but fair when you bring a bottle of greater value.The Caesar Salad at Selva is quite unique. They chop up all the ingredients, mix them with their dressing, shape them in a tube and garnish it with cilantro and plantain chips. We all shared this salad and enjoyed it immensely. It was a very impressive presentation.Parihuella is a Peruvian style bouillabaisse.I order it whenever I see it on a menu. This one was partially puréed and filled with plenty of seafood. It was easily the best Paihella I have ever had (and I’ve had a lot.) Bobby and I both ordered it and were thrilled with our soup. The Selva Wild Ceviche was the lone dish that was somewhat underwhelming. (I may have switched this photo with the Wahoo ceviche. Probably should not admit that fact, but it’s now three days and a lot of wine later.)The dish was okay, but paled in comparison to everything else we ate.Barb ordered this Triologia: a sampler of Wild, Spicy Tuna and Maya Shrimp ceviche. It was served on wonton crisps. Her verdict: yummy!This was the Wahoo ceviche. My taste was small, but impressive. Lots of quick hands at this table.I ordered this Oyster Ceviche which may have been a special that night. It was indeed quite special. The oysters were freshly shucked and served in a limey, creamy cilantro sauce. The sweet potato was one of the 2,000 varieties of potato grown in Peru.Bobby had a yen for pork, so in an act of pure gluttony (and after fifty years of friendship, I would expect no less of him), he ordered the only entree. This dish tasted good and was beautifully put together. It proved, however, to be his dining Waterloo. So he packed it up and took it home to attack another day.Barb ordered this Tuna Tiradito. The fresh sushi grade Tuna was marinated with ginger, sesame and soy sauce assembled with cubes of fresh watermelon. Another delicious and beautiful presentation.The Short Rib Spring Roll was composed of beef short rib, red onion, manchego and mozzarella cheeses, with some balsamic pear chutney and yellow pepper aioli. I remember commenting on how lovely it looked, but then it must have flown off of the plate before I got a taste. I was informed that it was quite delicious. You snooze…you lose.I ordered two appetizers that came together. The Selva’s Crabcake was nicely made and better than most. The Jumbo Sea Scallops were encrusted with Macadamia nut pesto and finished with honey and orange infused sweet potato puree. They were absolutely delicious.
This is Denis. He was around all evening to explain all of our choices. He absolutely enhanced our dining experience.
Selva was easily the best Peruvian restaurant I’ve ever experienced. The decor was beautiful and the offerings were both delicious and unique. We were thrilled with all of the appetizers which were generously portioned. I’d recommend it highly for your next trip to Sarasota.
Another well written and accurate restaurant review. Debbie and I had a subpar meal a few years ago but it was great this time around. I am glad Josh convinced us to give it another try. For true eaters there is no better dining companion that Josh. The 4 of us had a great fun time.
Another well written and accurate restaurant review. Debbie and I had a subpar meal a few years ago but it was great this time around. I am glad Josh convinced us to give it another try. For true eaters there is no better dining companion that Josh. The 4 of us had a great fun time.
JoshEatsandDrinks 
Another well written and accurate restaurant review. Debbie and I had a subpar meal a few years ago but it was great this time around. I am glad Josh convinced us to give it another try. For true eaters there is no better dining companion that Josh. The 4 of us had a great fun time.
.
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Another well written and accurate restaurant review. Debbie and I had a subpar meal a few years ago but it was great this time around. I am glad Josh convinced us to give it another try. For true eaters there is no better dining companion that Josh. The 4 of us had a great fun time.
.
LikeLiked by 1 person