Very strange LP recommendations Our top choices

We are more than surprised by the choice of restaurants that the Lonely Planet lists in its latest Peru edition. Why would they waste page after page for describing typical tourist haunts that charge prices that are simply grotesque in a country where you can get an excellent meal for 3-6 Soles/ 1-2 USD.
Except for Lima and Arequipa, where there are wealthy enough Peruvians the places mentioned in the LP are only frequented by tourists. Only once, in Arequipa we followed an LP recommendation for typical Arequipeno food and treated ourselves to LOS GUISOS AREQUIPENOS. Since it is way outside the city no tourist bothered to go to this pricy but excellent restaurant, but lots of Peruvians. Expect to pay 100 soles for 2 persons, entradas, main course, one alcoholic drink, water, plus tip.

At this point I would also recommend our discovery in Cusco: CAFE AMARU, right off Plaza de Armas, on Plateros 325, It offers a “as much as you can eat” breakfast for 8,5 Soles. It is not a buffet but you can reorder, tea, café, eggs, juice, bread as often as you want, not the muesli though. Actually the café right next to it offers the same deal, I forgot the name, but you climb up the same stairs, at the top for one you turn right, for the other left.

If you want to enjoy a good dinner for 10 Soles among a happy, young crowd, go to the Loki Backpacker Hostel. They offer a different dinner every evening, you previously need to sign up for it and then line up with the gang and enjoy it in their lively and cozy bar.

In Aguas Calientes! we had the best budget meal ever in Peru for 10 Soles at INTI HOUSE, right on the restaurant lane going up to the thermal bath. Free garlic bread with salsas, heavenly. Always aks for the menu!

Also in terms of accommodation we have to say that the best places we stayed (Hotel Tambo Viejo in Arequipa and Hospedaje Buganvilla in Urubamba and Hotel Fuentes in La Paz) we found either by walking around or through other travelers recommendations but not through the LP book. On other occasions the Thorntree has been tremendously helpful.