Bites Nearby: Cholo's Kitchen

You could stand on a corner and look around until a restaurant sign draws you in. But we've got a better idea. Each week, New Rochelle Patch picks a great restaurant either in town or nearby that is worth checking out.

Here's this week's choice:

Many people enjoy eating at family-run establishments for the personal attention they often receive, original atmosphere that usually accompanies the ethnicity of the food and of course the menu itself. When visiting Cholo's Kitchen in New Rochelle, you get all three.

Since opening in 2006, Cholo's has been churning out Peruvian cuisine, prepared by the owner's mother Elizabeth DaSilva and her son Gino.

Coming from Peru, the DaSilva family have brought northern Peruvian style dining to New Rochelle and Gino has worked hard to bring his experience, along with his first restaurant that he used to own in Peru, to America.

"Probably the best thing that has happened to the New Rochelle restaurant scene in years! I have to tell you like it is... Cholos has amazing food, awesome ambiance, great service, huge portions and incredibly understated prices!"

That was just one of the many positive reviews that can be found about Cholo's on yelp.com.

The woman continued: "I have found myself here two times in one week. I recommend their seafood soups, which are more like stews, rice and all. Two cheers to this neighborhood joint."

They have an extensive menu, with dozens of items to choose from just with appetizers and soups alone. Their entrees begin at $15, and there is even a vegetarian section of the menu where you can simply get a rice and beans dish or a veggie burger in a tangy sauce over fries.

Some of the chef specials are interesting, too, such as the Pulpo al Olivo which is warm Octopus topped with a cool blended olive sauce and served with sweet potato fries.

You can also order a glass of wine and/or finish off your meal with a fresh fruit smoothie. Either way, people seems to have taken a liking to this Peruvian restaurant.

This review also came in from Yelp.com:

"My friend and I split a Papa Rellena (fried mashed potatoes stuffed with beef and olive). It was about the size of a softball and was fantastic. It came with a little marinated onion and cilantro salad which was a great compliment to the the Papa Rellena. Then we got a salad with goat cheese and grilled chicken. Everything was delicious."

Another customer from urbanspoon.com joked that the "Food is excellent, prices great, service superb. Hope no one else finds this place—it's a jewel."

Well, the word is certainly out about Cholo's Kitchen, conveniently located in downtown New Rochelle at 4 Lawton St.

Contact them at 914-235-0094 for reservations or visit them at Choloskitchen.com.