We pulled into the strip mall where Embarcadero 41’s Pembroke Pines outpost lives.

It’s a small and cozy one with soft lighting, warm wood tones, and comfortable seating that’s perfect for a relaxing visit. It doesn’t feel like a sprawling restaurant; it feels like someplace someone invited you to for a special night out. From the moment you enter, the staff greet you like neighbors returning home.

Let me tell you how it goes from there, because once you read about what’s available and the setting, I’m sure you’ll want to experience it for yourself.

A Little Backstory

Embarcadero 41 arrived in the U.S. in 2018 with one mission: to bring Peruvian and Nikkei flavors into a space that felt personal and warm. Even during the toughest stretch of the pandemic, the team forged ahead: by 2020 they opened in Sunrise, and over the next few years expanded to Coral Springs, Boca Raton, and finally has a location, which we visited, at Pembroke Pines, which opened in December 2023. And, most recently, a new location opened in Fort Lauderdale’s vibrant Las Olas.

Their mission is clear: this is not just a restaurant but it’s one meant to be a flavor-journey with heart in every location that one visits.

What You’ll Experience

When you dine here, you’re not just eating, but you just might be traveling. The service is intentional: attentive without being overbearing, guiding you when needed, and the recommendations given work with your own tastes and what you wish to try out as well.

While you’re there, you can start with appetizers such as octopus marinated in anticuchera sauce with crispy corn, or fried yuca dipped into creamy huancaína. But it’s the ceviche and sushi that truly stands out, and I was impressed with how the ceviche stuck to its classic recipes that made it a delight to try out, and how the sushi was inventive and delicious.

The restaurant offers a trio of ceviches, each one different, from citrus to spice. And they’re all delicious.

The mixed seafood ceviche, layered with shrimp, fish, and calamari, is bracing and pure.

Meanwhile, the sushi is a playful twist: shrimp tempura rolled with avocado and topped with thin slices of fish and sauce, or a roll layered with steak over a shrimp-avocado base.

Main dishes include seafood rice, rich with white wine and parmesan, beef flamed with pisco and soy, or risotto laced with rocoto chili and topped with juicy steak. The dishes are hearty, and I left the restaurant with my own takeout for lunch the next day.

For dessert, go for their delicate spiral cookie filled with manjar and Nutella, served with ice cream, which is crunchy, sweet, and light enough to end your visit on a high note.

An Impressive Wine List

The wine list is a curated, including crisp whites, bring a refreshing edge to ceviche. There are also bold reds anchor heartier dishes, and a few unexpected picks encourage you to explore beyond the familiar.

A bright Sauvignon Blanc, which we enjoyed during our visit, goes perfect with citrus-heavy seafood, while bold Spanish reds work with beef and risotto. It’s the kind of list that turns a meal into a pairing experience where you learn as much as you enjoy indulging on a glass of wine that’s different from anything else that you might have had before.

Why Their Ceviche & Sushi Stand Out

Ceviche is classic and delicious here. The key is the balance between acid, texture, brine and spice. The trio of ceviches, as mentioned, gives you a little tour of Peru, each one showing off a different side of the tradition.

Their sushi leans into fusion and is full of personality. Standouts include rolls topped with ceviche sauce or finished with a topping of steak. The results of these dishes are fresh, clean flavors that make sense together, and a dining experience that feels authentic.

In a cozy space, with servers who know your pace (not rushing, not neglecting), Embarcadero 41 proves that they are as authentic as they inventive and offer a fun, and well-curated, dining experience.

Embarcadero 41 Pembroke Pines is located at 12632 Pines Blvd, Pembroke Pines, FL 33027. Visit embarcadero41.us for menus, hours, and more.