Restaurant Review: Bobe’s Kitchen

The only kosher certified restaurant in Peru, Bobe’s Kitchen, located in San Isidro, leaves guests with a sensation of nourishment and nostalgia.

Open since late 2018, Bobe’s Kitchen takes its name from the Yiddish (the Jewish language of central and Eastern Europe) word “bobe,” meaning  grandma. Here at Bobe’s Kitchen you immediately feel a welcoming and hospitable vibe—just as you would in your grandmother’s kitchen.

Two of the key figures at Bobe’s Kitchen are Saul Kaplivsky, the general manager, and Monica Rujman, the head chef. Both of these personable, hard-working people are a major component of the heart and soul behind Bobe’s Kitchen. Saul sat down with us to discuss the food and concept at Bobe’s. We also enjoyed a tour of their expansive two-story 500 meters (4,500 square foot) premises. We were impressed by the pristine cleanliness of their various kitchens and areas.  

What I really enjoyed about Bobe’s Kitchen is that everything is homemade and most items from scratch. They use authentic ingredients. The food served here is ethnic cuisine from Central Europe and a bit of Middle Eastern fare, as well as kosher-certified food, European style pastries, and many vegetarian options. Finally, there’s a place I can go to enjoy the Middle Eastern dishes that I enjoy.

You can also find a wide variety of different dishes from quiches, focaccia, pizzas, pastas, hamburgers, fish, salads, sandwiches, ice cream and a wide variety of desserts. There are several breakfast options as well and all breakfast items are available all day. The menus are in Spanish and English.

Bobe’s Kitchen is the only restaurant in Peru with kosher certification. In order for a kitchen to be kosher, a long list of rules and regulations must be followed. These rules stem from the Jewish religion and follow the laws of the Torah which stipulate many of the rules including the type of animals, the humane method of slaughter, which parts of the animal are used, as well as how it is cleaned and stored. The kosher rules also guarantee food safety and adhere to strict sanitary conditions in their kitchens, which is a plus, especially for people concerned about their health and possible food poisoning.

Listed on the menus and in various areas of the restaurant, you will see the (L) for “Lácteo” with blue labeling which indicates that the item contains dairy products, and (P) for “Parve” with green labeling which indicates the product contains no meat or dairy. Quite frankly, I did not realize we did not eat any meat during this visit until later, probably because all the food was quite satisfying.

We began with the highly satisfying Cebollas Caramelizadas Quiche (S/18), a flavor-packed caramelized onion quiche which was accompanied by a small green salad with a creamy balsamic dressing. This quiche was so delicious I purchased one to bring home to share for lunch the next day. There are six quiche options on the menu.

We enjoyed the Varenikes de Papa a la Antigua (S/29). I found these similar in texture and flavor to pierogies (from Poland). Varenikes originate from Eastern Europe, primarily the Ukraine. This was one of my favorite dishes. Varenikes are prepared with dough, then boiled in water and are traditionally stuffed with a delicious mixture of mashed potatoes and seasoned onions. The 10 varenikes we sampled were filled with potato and served in a black sartén pan and accented with a generous amount of caramelized onions and a side of sour cream. Other varenike options available at Bobe’s are filled with: artichoke, mushrooms, corn, spinach & ricotta, and pumpkin with their accompanying sauces.

Next to arrive at our table was the Falafel King (S/39). This is an ideal dish to share.  If you enjoy Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food, you won’t be disappointed. There was a wonderful assortment of eight different dishes served in separate bowls such as hummus (spread made with chickpeas, olive oil, sesame paste, lime juice, cumin and salt), eggplant, pickled onion and carrot, coleslaw, Israeli salad, zucchini mixture, matbuja (mixture of roasted red bell peppers, tomatoes, olive oil and garlic), and of course, falafel (a combination of chickpeas, garlic, and spices that are formed into croquettes and cooked until crispy). The platter was accompanied by warm pita bread.

I was excited to sample the Lox & Cream Cheese Bagel (S/26). This sandwich had a toasted bagel which arrived with several slices of excellent smoked salmon, a generous smear of cream cheese, and a slice of onion with a sprig of fresh dill. Ours was accompanied by coleslaw and slices of pickle. Highly satisfying! The bagels are pretty decent, but not perfect. I have yet to find a perfect bagel in Lima in my 12 years here.

We thoroughly enjoyed the hearty Israeli dish, Shakshuka (S/25), prepared with a slow-cooked stew of tomatoes, bell peppers, and onions along with two poached eggs served in a black cast iron skillet. The options available are classic, cheese, eggplant, mushrooms or spinach. We opted for the cheese, but next time I will try the eggplant. Served with hummus and pita bread. This can be enjoyed for breakfast or at any time.

We adored the Jala Champignon Sandwich (S/24), a gloriously decadent sandwich prepared with a generous amount of kosher Edam cheese and sautéed mushrooms on thick-sliced challah bread. This sandwich was lightly grilled. Challah bread, for me, can elevate any dish. It’s the perfect bread to also use for French toast.

We moved onto the much-anticipated desserts and began with their Plunder, which looked like a giant cinnamon roll but was actually a dessert with caramelized apple, pecans, cinnamon and honey.

Next up arrived a platter of an assortment of their cookies as well as seven different artisanal chocolates. There is a varied selection of chocolates (pecan praline, nougatine, coconut, almonds, rum with raisins, almond berry, etc.) and truffles (champagne, Cointreau, belga, whisky, amaretto, etc.) available at Bobe’s Kitchen. Most are prepared with Belgian and Italian ingredients. The chocolates were premium quality, which was no surprise once we heard Saul previously was a chocolatier in San Isidro for many years. The chocolates at Bobe’s Kitchen are an excellent gift option and are available in various gift boxes.

One of the “star” desserts was the Cheesecake Gianduja (S/. 21), an absolute joy to devour. Plenty of cream cheese was used in the preparation as well as chocolate and hazelnuts. Decadent, very moist and creamy! In my opinion, one of the top cheesecakes I have eaten in Lima.

The last dessert we sampled was the Florentina (S/. 14), quite possibly one of my new favorite cookies. One side is covered in dark chocolate and the other side has shredded almonds, raisins and honey.

When I returned on a Sunday a few days later with my husband, we shared and enjoyed the lox and bagel. We also shared the Falafel Platter (S/. 29), and the Cranberry Almond Spinach Salad (S/. 29). There was plenty of spinach and lettuce, plus sliced almonds, dried cranberries, avocado, and Parmesan cheese. We felt the salad would have benefited by using more sliced avocado. The honey mustard dressing elevated the salad for me. They should bottle this dressing and sell it. They offer six other salads on their menu. For our desserts we enjoyed the Tarta de Manzana y Avena (S/. 18), basically an apple crumble. I enjoyed the Blintzes de Queso (S/. 22), two crepes generously filled with a sweet ricotta cheese and then rolled. A side of fruit jam and sour cream accompanied this dish. It was quite filling, rich, and satisfying.

Bobe’s Kitchen has several weekly promotions. They also offer full-service catering.

In their refrigerated and frozen section you can find their hummus, baba ganoush, kosher pickles, varenikes, and much more. I purchased several items for carry out during both my visits to Bobe’s Kitchen, including kosher pickles, varenikes, Challah bread, Frida’s Strudel, the Florentina cookie, and anise cookies. We also bought the Kuchen de Canela (special cinnamon bread with pecans and raisins). We discovered at home that it makes a decadent version of French toast.

I observed several customers knew the names of the staff when they entered. Repeat customers are always a good sign. Bobe’s Kitchen serves quality comfort food in a genuinely friendly atmosphere.

Bobe’s Kitchen

Av. Juan Antonio Pezet 1472, San Isidro

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Phone: 291-9484
Delivery available

Hours:  CLOSED SATURDAY
Sunday-Thursday: 8am-10:30pm
Friday: 8am-5pm
Capacity: 50 people
Street parking

Breakfast menu:  S/. 5-25
Salads:  S/. 26-29
Sandwiches:  S/. 18-34
Pizzas:  S/. 21-29
Quichés:  S/. 18-19
Bourekas (empanadas):  S/. 10-12
Varenikes:  S/. 29-32
Middle Eastern dishes:  S/. 25-39
Chicken:  S/. 26-34
Hamburgers:  S/. 32-37
Starters:  S/. 25-39
Main dishes:  S/. 45-49
Desserts/Cookies:  S/. 9-21
Chocolates/Assorted Bon Bons:  S/. 15, 100 grams
S/. 30, 200 grams
S/. 45, 300 grams
S/. 75, 500 grams

Ice cream/Sundaes:  S/. 8-24
Coffee beverages:  S/. 5-14
Teas/Infusions:  S/. 7
Beverages (water, soda, juice):  S/. 6-13
Beer:  S/. 10-12
Wine:  by glass:  S/. 27-29
bottle: S/. 99-110
Cocktails:  S/. 24-30

Cover photo: Bobe’s Kitchen Facebook