Isiah Christie 
Hole-in-the-wall restaurants are fun to discover, and Belleville just had another join the club. Tucked away on a quiet residential road is Warique (which literally translates to “hole in the wall”), a new Peruvian restaurant from Belleville native Chef Roberto Carnero and his business partner Chef Luis Blasini. The restaurant, located at 165 Garden Avenue, is an equal display of Roberto’s Peruvian roots and his Jersey upbringing, expressed mostly through the rich, unique flavors of every dish. On a street comprised of mostly houses, Warique fits right in: it feels like home. Keep reading to learn about Warique, a new Peruvian restaurant in Belleville, New Jersey.
About Warique
Warique is a recently opened Peruvian restaurant in Belleville. Warique stays true to the idea of “huarique” — a Peruvian word referring to a smaller, hidden restaurant founded on family recipes and community closeness.
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The restaurant’s lead chefs are Roberto Carnero and Luis Blasini, who have four decades of experience in the New Jersey and New York culinary circuits. The two have since achieved their dream of running a restaurant centered around family, connections, and culture with Warique.
Chef Roberto grew up in Belleville, and though he has an impressive resume consisting of fine dining establishments, he always knew he wanted to serve the community that raised him. Warique is that ethos materialized: a small, inviting space where every dish is prepared with detail and care. The restaurant seats about 30 people, with an open-kitchen concept in the back right of the room. Roberto says the layout is intentional: it holds him and his staff accountable, an omnipresent reminder of who this is all for.
What’s on the Menu
Warique’s menu is simple yet substantial, with each item being carefully curated to represent the heritage and traditions of Peruvian cuisine.
During our recent visit, we let Chef Roberto take the wheel, guiding us through his favorite dishes on the menu. We started with Pulpo Al Olivo (an octopus dish) and Aji De Gallina Croquetas, both of which were packed with flavor for “small” dishes. MG pro-tip: even if you’re typically fish-avoidant, try the octopus!
For mains, we had Chupe Camaron Risotto (a shrimp risotto dish) and El Lomo (beef loin, onions, tomatoes, and french fries). We wiped our plates clean, soaking up the flavors that at once felt so familiar and brand new.
The best thing about our dinner, though, was the evident passion from Chef Roberto and Chef Luis Blasini. Every bite told a story of the past and the future, honoring traditional Peruvian cuisine with new, modern takes. These recipes were passed down through generations and reimagined to fit the new world: both desserts we had, for example, came directly from the chefs’ families.
Warique is open from 4PM to 9PM Wednesday through Friday, and 12PM to 9PM on Saturday and Sunday. To book a reservation, visit the website here.
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