WASHINGTON, D.C.

A window on Peruvian cuisine in the nation’s capital
Peruvian cuisine is having an extended moment, and now D.C.’s power set has a compelling spot to enjoy the fare right in Dupont Circle. Housed in a two-story space with a ceviche lounge (Mochica) downstairs and a sparely furnished restaurant (Nazca) upstairs, Nazca Mochica is welcoming the capital’s lobbyists, consultants and politicians for its tight but expertly prepared menu. There’s chicken sautéed with rice in chifa sauce, ginger and scallions; chicken in lomo saltado sauce; and a bounty of seafood in a peanut and turmeric sauce. Appetizers include lime-marinated seasonal fish, a quinoa and kiwicha salad with Peruvian corn (shown above) and sashimi-style fish. Don’t forget dessert: There aren’t many choices, but the housemade gelato and alfajores, traditional Peruvian cookies with dulce de leche, are worth lingering over.
Contact: 1633 P St., 202.733.3170, nazcamochica.com
Cost: $15 for main courses; $18 for three-course lunch special
The Classics: the Monocle, the Oval Room, the Palm