Peruvian Bar and Eatery Opens in Dupont Circle

Peruvian street food and pisco sours star at Nazca Mochica, Dupont Circle’s newest bar and eatery. The forthcoming restaurant officially opened its downstairs bar at 1633 P Street NW last night.

While diners munched on made-to-order ceviche and steamed buns filled with pork belly, bartenders were busy slinging pisco and yuzu sours.

The bar and restaurant is a collaboration between Houston chef Roberto Castre and co-owners Robert Preston and Walter Lopez.

Preston, who lived in Dupont Circle for 16 years, said the neighborhood is “rich, fertile ground” for D.C.’s growing Peruvian restaurant scene.

“We want to educate people that Peruvian food is more than just pollo a la brasa,” Preston said. “It has so much more to offer, with its Chinese and Japanese influences.”

When fully opened later this month, the bar and restaurant will span both floors of the building on P Street.

“As we start expanding our dishes, [diners] will be able to see more, particularly when we open the second floor,” Preston added.

Preston said the bar will also soon begin serving brunch at 10 a.m.

“Mimosas, some Peruvian breakfast and lunch style sandwiches, a couple egg dishes,” he said. “We haven’t quite finalized it.”

Nazca Mochica is open from 5-11 p.m. daily.