AZU Peruvian Cuisine in Baltimore: Ceviche and Rotisserie in Fed Hill

AZU is a casual Peruvian restaurant in Federal Hill that specializes in ceviche, grilled proteins, and rotisserie chicken, with a small bar and seating for roughly 50 people across counter and table space. It sits between more formal Latin American options and casual taquerias, filling a specific role: weeknight dinners or quick lunches where the focus is on Peru's primary cooking methods rather than a broad pan-Latin menu.

What AZU actually serves

The menu centers on ceviche in three to four varieties (raw fish cured in lime juice and served with seafood stock, sweet potato, and corn), grilled fish and octopus, and whole rotisserie chickens sold by the quarter or half with rice and beans. Appetizers include causa, a layered potato terrine with avocado and protein, and anticuchos (marinated grilled heart skewers). The cooking is straightforward: acid, smoke, and salt as primary tools rather than complex sauces. Pisco sours appear on the drinks list. The kitchen does not accommodate pescatarian requests in the rotisserie section; the wood-fired grill and ceviche counter work cleanly for non-meat eaters, but the restaurant is designed around proteins.

Menu, pricing, and what to order

Ceviche runs $14 to $18 per bowl depending on protein. A quarter rotisserie chicken with two sides costs approximately $16; a half bird is $28. Grilled fish and octopus entrees sit in the $22 to $26 range. The ceviche is the essential order for a first visit; if the kitchen executes the acid balance and the fish is clean, it signals whether the sourcing and technique matter here. Rotisserie chicken is a secondary test of seasoning and doneness. The anticuchos are properly charred and acid-forward, and the causa is a useful vegetable-heavy opener if you want to stretch the meal.

How AZU compares to other Peruvian options in Baltimore

Baltimore has no other dedicated Peruvian restaurant at AZU's price and casual scale. Altura, a fine-dining establishment in Canton, serves Peruvian-influenced cuisine as one part of a broader Latin American tasting menu; expect $120 to $150 per person and a three-hour commitment. For ceviche and rotisserie at lower price and without reservation requirements, AZU is the only option. For straightforward Latin American grilled proteins and rice bowls, Puerta Vieja (Argentinian) in Federal Hill and Chipotle's competitor fast-casual chains offer rotisserie or grilled meat, but neither focuses on Peruvian technique or sources rotisserie as the anchor of the menu. AZU's choice to build the menu around ceviche and whole-bird rotisserie means you are choosing Peru specifically, not a generic Latin American dinner.

Who suits and who does not

AZU works well for diners seeking ceviche without a cocktail-bar price tag, families wanting rotisserie chicken without a fast-food chain, and people curious about Peruvian cooking on a weeknight budget. It does not suit groups requiring complex vegetarian or pescatarian modifications; the kitchen's speed comes from repetition of a narrow set of dishes, and special requests slow service. It is not a date-night destination if you expect tableside ceremony or a wine list. It suits walk-ins and lunch orders better than reservations, though the restaurant does take them.

What to expect on a first visit

You arrive and are seated quickly at a counter or table. The menu is brief, and the server expects you to know whether you want ceviche, rotisserie, or grilled fish. Ordering is faster than at full-service restaurants; expect food in 10 to 15 minutes for ceviche or rotisserie. The space is warm and compact, with open kitchen sightlines so you can watch the rotisserie spin. Pisco sours are mixed to order. Dessert is limited or absent, so plan to eat and leave within 45 minutes to an hour.

Hours, parking, and logistics

AZU is open Tuesday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and closed Sunday and Monday (verify current hours when planning). It is located on Charles Street in Federal Hill, where street parking is free after 10 p.m. on weekdays but metered during business hours; the Horseshoe Casino parking garage is two blocks away. No private lot. Cash and card accepted.

AZU fills a gap in Baltimore's restaurant map: ceviche and rotisserie chicken done with discipline and speed, without the markup of fine dining or the anonymity of a chain. If you eat Peruvian food, you should know this place.