The East Bay's best new restaurant wins over diners with dedication to the details

“All the pieces matter.”

That’s what model-building, detail-oriented Baltimore police detective Lester Freamon said in HBO’s “The Wire.” It’s true in criminal investigations, and perhaps even more salient for restaurants. Good food only goes so far if the service is shoddy, and a poorly balanced drink can sour a meal in an instant.

Nosh readers cast their votes prior to Thanksgiving, and the results of the 2025 Nosh Awards are in. Visit Nosh every day from now until Dec. 12 to see a new award announced each day. Congratulations to all the winners!

At Lucuma, all the pieces — the friendly staff, delightful decor, eye-catching drinks, and menu featuring atypical Peruvian dishes — add up to the 2025 Nosh Awards winner for Best New Restaurant.

“This restaurant has everything, the best drinks and food, especially the ceviches, and the service is excellent. Highly recommended, you’ll enjoy it and won’t regret it,” wrote one voter.

“The whole restaurant is a vibe! Food, drinks, design & customer service,” chimed a Lucuma voter.

“We had a great experience in the restaurant. The ambiance is gorgeous and the food was delicious. The service is top notch and the prices are reasonable. We’ll be back soon for sure. Highly recommended,” echoed another voter.

Partners Garrett Morris and Renzo Roca opened Lucuma in Downtown Oakland in late July, following a whirlwind five months that included redesigning the interior themselves, developing the menus and training the staff.

“We wanted to create a space that is different from other Peruvian restaurants, where we served dishes other restaurants don’t serve. We wanted to make something unique where people will sit at a specific table and be able to focus or admire a certain part of the restaurant,” Roca told Nosh earlier this year.

Anticuchos de corazón, or beef hearts, are a signature dish at Pervian restaurant Lucuma in Oakland. Credit: Florence Middleton for East Bay Nosh

Roca, the former general manager at the now-closed Peruvian restaurant Piqueo’s in Bernal Heights, manages the front-of-house. Morris, who’s worked as a residential remodeling project manager, runs the bar and back-of-house. Roca is Peruvian, but Morris is the cook, and learned about Peruvian cuisine from Roca’s family.

Voters highlighted the Peruvian cuisine, several of them saying it was the best they had experienced.

“The best Peruvian restaurant I have ever been too. The best Causa ever,” wrote voter Robin Dean of Oakland.

“By far the best and most authentic Peruvian restaurant in the East Bay!” commented Malla Hadley of Oakland.

“Excelente comida, excelente servicio, un establecimiento espectacular. Recomendado 100% para visitar.” [Excellent food, excellent service, a spectacular establishment. 100% recommended for a visit], commented one Nosh voter in Spanish.

One of the most popular cocktails at Lucuma, the Agua Perfecta, is made with lime, basil, botanicals and a choice of vodka or gin. Credit: Florence Middleton for East Bay Nosh

1700 Franklin St., Oakland; www.lucumakitchen.com

Hours: Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Roca and Morris, also completely transformed the space, which was formerly a branch of Wise Sons deli. There’s a handmade straw octopus hanging above the bar, a quipu suspended like a jellyfish, blue kit-kat tiles. Nosh contributor Cecilia Seiter compared it to an “underwater dreamscape where the Pisco punch is free-flowing.”

“Tiny yet beautiful space, we ordered about five items from the menu and there was not one item we wouldn’t order again … phenomenal! Drinks were just as good as they looked!” commented an awards voter.

“Absolutely beautiful and unique decor, delicious menu, fresh fancy take on Peruvian cuisine,” wrote Rose of Berkeley.

“The food, service, ambiance are all top-notch. Best dinner I’ve had in Oakland in years,” another voter said.

No matter where you sit at Lucuma, the decorations provide lots to take in. Credit: Florence Middleton for East Bay Nosh

Bang-for-the-buck was also mentioned by voters, who found Lucuma also delivered on that final piece of the restaurant puzzle.

“Every dish was outstanding — flavorful and so well presented. Nice variety of mocktails. Staff extremely well trained and just nice. Very cool and welcoming vibe. I left the restaurant feeling that the prices were quite fair based on the quality. Recently, I have not felt that at a good percentage of the restaurants we have gone to,” wrote voter Mike O’Brien of Oakland.

Crazy Block Cheesecakes, Daytrip Counter, Jaji, Oken, and Sirene were the other nominees in the Best New Restaurant category.

The East Bay’s best new restaurant wins over diners with dedication to the details

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