El Tambo in Ossining

[Jim Leff]

El Tambo 57 Croton Ave (next to the library), Ossining. 432-7493.

this one tripped my "looks good" radar big-time. I got a menu (full array of staunch Peruvian faves) and looked around (bustling, professional, and diner-ish in the way that even really good Peruvian places can seem diner-ish), but I didn't try a bite, and there's nada on the Internets.

Anyone ever try it?

BTW, finally tried Los Abuelos in Ossining, a board favorite (which is why I was too full to eat at El Tambo). I need to try more, but my huerache de carnitas was a solid "B". The meat didn't sing. Very warm service, though, and the horchata's surprisingly good. Overall impression was: real good for Westchester, definitely authentic, but not really top quality. For top quality, hit Casa Villa in Stamford http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/792434

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Los Abuelos
38 N Highland Ave, Ossining, NY 10562

[Marge]

Finally made it here for lunch. We shared a mixed seafood ceviche which was excellent. We also had the lunch special, which today was a delicious lentil soup, unlike any I've ever had, and shredded chicken in a yellow cream sauce--I have no idea what was in it, but it was very different and tasty. We had wanted the rotisserie chicken, but were told it is only made on weekends. My only complaint is, once again, the erratic hours of operation. We arrived after noon for lunch, and were told that food wouldn't be ready for another half hour. It was worth waiting for, but I still find it annoying that if a restaurant advertises their opening time at 11am, they should be open and ready for service at 11am, and they should certainly be ready for full service by noon.....

[Marge]

Tried to get here twice now, and twice they've been closed with no explanation--anyone know if they are still in business??

[Elisa515]

We had a great dinner there on Friday (Aug. 17) night. Were you possibly there on Saturday? The chef had a singing engagement that night, so I wondered if they might close.

I've eaten there twice now for dinner and expect to go back soon. The first time, we had mixed seafood cerviche and the pork-stuff plantains. I'd definitely skip the latter but can totally recommend the former.

The second time, we had the salad of corn, tomatoes and red onion (and mayb peppers? can't remember); fried sweet plantains, a soup special that was a creamy corn chowder with white cheese, mixed seafood in a spicy sauce, and tilapia fried rice. Each dish was terrific, although we could easily have ordered much less. The fried rice leftovers fed two more meal portions at home later that weekend. My husband also had a milk smoothie made with a S. American fruit that whose name I don't remember (if anyone wants to know what it was, I'll ask and provide its name)--it was light and delicious.

[Marge]

Sounds wonderful! Actually we tried going for lunch last Friday and yesterday...the website and sign on the door says they open at 1030, but both days after 1130 they were closed--a little annoying...We like to have wine with weekend dinner, I see they do not have a bar, do you know if they allow byob? Thanks!

[Elisa515]

I would have been annoyed about that too. All I can tell you is that it was open at dinnertime on Friday.

I didn't see anyone with wine or beer when we were there (all the tables were filled), but since they don't sell either, I imagine you'd be finding bringing your own.

[Maryld]

Most Peruvian restaurants feature some sort of dessert or drink with lucuma fruit. I'm curious to know if that was it.

[Elisa515]

The fruit in his drink was "maracuya," which he remembered enjoying when he was an exchange student in Brazil. There were several other exotic fruit choices for smoothies, which could be made with or without milk.

[Maryld]

Aha--passion fruit, which is called parchita in Venezuela which is where I first had it. I guess it's one of those "You say tomato..." moments. Whatever you call it, it's a wonderful flavor.

[netchef]

Oh thanks. I'll Google that to discover the Latin/common name for 'Maracuya'.
Singapore, Malaysia and that belt too throw up some kinky fruit which would work magic in a smoothie. Time to pull out the blender.

[netchef]

I found pictures on the web of Maracuya and it looks very much like passion fruit to me though there was one which had a reddish looking casing.

Dead on. This food site http://latinamericancook.blogspot.in/... says:
ENGLISH NAME: Passion Fruit

LOCAL NAMES: Maracuya, Parchita (venezuela), Parcha (Puerto Rico), Maracuja (Brazil), Pasionaria (Paraguay), Granadilla

[netchef]

gosh it looks like a PEACH!

[Maryld]

I would love to to buy fresh ones locally, but have not been able to find a source.

[netchef]

I think with its waxy skin, passion fruit (Maracuya, Parchita) should travel. Must be someone importing it from Mexico?? In fact, the more wrinkled, the better the flavour.

[Marge]

Someone posted the website/menu for El Tambo--why was it removed?? Anyone have any recent experience eating here? Thanks.

[jeremyhfisher]

Went to El Tambo for dinner last night. Ordered marranitas (fried pork wrapped in green plantain mash and then fried), choros a la chalaca (Peruvian-style mussels), and lomo saltado (steak, french fries, tomatoes and onions), with chicha morada (sweet purple corn beverage) to drink. I only managed to snap photos of the choros and the chicha before my phone died.

The choros were outstanding. Eight knife-and-fork-size mussels, perfectly cooked, dressed with lime and topped with a dice of corn, tomato, red pepper, onion and cilantro. Lomo saltado tasty but unexceptional. Marranitas totally skippable. The chicha morada was very sweet and could pass for jamaica (hibiscus).

Next time I'd go for the jalea (fried seafood platter), which looked excellent, and what I'm sure is a killer ceviche.

[Jim Leff]

Thanks for the report! Never had marrinitas. If chibcha tasted like Jamaica, does that mean low-cinnamon?

[jeremyhfisher]

Yeah, no detectable cinnamon flavor whatsoever.

[Jim Leff]

I can't remember if that means mountain or city. Any Peruvians out there?

I've never had exceptional lomo saltado. OTOH, even so-so lomo saltado is pretty great. Stir fries with french fries? No-brainer.

[vinouspleasure]

I was recently in the library for a play and saw it as well, I was tempted to walk in there and look at the menu. there are a couple of other places in ossining that I've been meaning to try, maybe we can split them up among board members and report back. btw, have you tried cidade yet? it's wonderful.

[Jim Leff]

I tried to hit Cidade, but they close earlier than their posted hours on Sundays, dammit.

What else you got in Ossining on the to-try list? That's what Chowhound's for!

[vinouspleasure]

- docas is a must try for fresh, whole grilled fish, clams are good too
- quimbaya for empanadas, ask for the fresh salsa
- Churrasqueira Ribatejo for chicken, clams and whole fish
- A lot of people like wobble cafe, I find it a little too precious
- Goldfish has some great dinner price fix dinner deals during the week but we haven't gotten there yet.
- ctown (down the road from the peruvian restaurant) is a great shopping experience and offers a great selection to serve ossining's diverse community.

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Churrasqueira Ribatejo
39 Spring St, Ossining, NY 10562

[cloverose]

We've always been very happy with the seafood at Goldfish and yes, the prix fixe dinners are a good deal. Plus, they usually have gift certificates available at restaurant.com which makes it a very good deal.

[Elisa515]

Goldfish is today's Westchester Groupon, too.

[MisterBill2]

But I don't think that the Groupon or restaurant.com can be used with the prix fixe dinners, can they?