Fresca, San Francisco Peruvian

I've eaten Peruvian at various class levels in Chicago and DC, but Fresca was the first one I've had that could be called a trendy place-to-be-seen kind of restaurant.

An open kitchen (with large amounts of theatrical flame probably from pisco, the national liqueur), lots of bronze colors and dark wood makes for a pleasant dining area, but it got rather loud (music was something like techno with pan flutes -- I kid you not)

About a dozen ceviche items plus another dozen appetizers make one side of the menu. Some of the ceviche was very sushi/sashimi oriented (including a maki roll and sliced fish items) with soy, ginger, etc. We had the halibut, with lots of lime (natch), fried peanuts or beans of some kind, big white kernels of corn, and red onion. Delicious, firm clean fish.

We also split a dish of mussels with a sauce made with spanish chorizo and tomato, which was bafflingly served without bread (that's the whole point of mussels, sopping up the liquor!). Tasty, but too many empties in the bowl.

For a main course, I had the Chuleton de Cerdo (pork chop). Glazed with pisco brandy, over garlicky mashed potatoes, spinach, and two crisp onion rings threaded over the chop's bone. This was perfect: juicy, flavorful and meaty.

Deserts were a warm rice pudding (soft with lots of cinnamon), and a pumpkin cheesecake (nothing too special).

It's in the Pacific Heights neighborhood, and this stretch of Fillmore appeared unsullied by Banana Republic and Starbucks, with thrift shops, boutiques and a number of good restaurants.

Fresca
2114 Fillmore
San Francisco