Here are my Lima Picks:

Huaca Pucllana:  Sit outside near the ruins for one of the most spectacular dining experiences one could have.   There are traditional dishes like ceviche, beef hearts and cuy as well as fishes and meats.   I enjoy the crab claws as an appetizer and my favorite fish dish is the Amazon Paiche - try finding that at a local fishmonger in the US!.   The meats are rich with plenty of beef and chicken dishes.  Keep an eye out for celebrities like Bill Clinton.  We often go here on our small group tours to Peru and Machu Picchu.

Astrid & Gaston:  Where can someone go and have a meal from one of the most acclaimed restaurants in the world for less than $75, and lunch less than $50?   Prepare to spend a few hours here feasting on the tasting menu of fusion-style dishes by chef Gaston Acurio.  Again, it is full of traditional Peruvian plates mixed in with modern cooking.   Check out the upstairs wine "cellar".  It's rated one of the Top 50 restaurants in the world, but priced for the 99% of us.  

Here are my Cusco Picks:

ChiCha:  Another Gaston Acurio creation.   It's hip, it's modern, and it is good.  We dined on ceviche, fish with salsa, ravioli and osso bucco, and finished up with bitter chocolates.  All for about $30 each.

El Monasterio:  It can be pricey for dinner, but I enjoy lunch here at the Illariy Restaurant, sitting out in the square courtyard amid the Spanish garden.  This is the place to try an alpaca buger but start off with one of the cold soups or fresh salads.  The service is out of this world and  the setting is serene and beautiful.   Experience what it is to be a billionaire at Applebee prices.

For more Peru info, see www.travelingprofessor.com.