London, UK
Lima opened last summer, serving contemporary Peruvian cuisine in Fitzrovia. My first impression was that the interior was rather generic, but colourful pompoms and cushions brighten up the space. The menu is new and interesting, and once the food is on the table it becomes even more inviting. Neatly arranged on the plates are small portions of brightly coloured dishes, such as the asparagus with blue potato and braised octopus with pink olive sauce. We decided to share lots of starters, as it was too hard to choose. The spicy salmon with red amaranth is definitely worth a try, but I wouldn’t recommend the sea bream ceviche, as it simply tasted too fishy. As a main we shared the beef pachamanca, a dish that is traditionally cooked with hot stones in a hole in the ground in Peru, something the waiter pointed out was not a possibility in central London. Nevertheless, the beef was amazing. The cocktail list is comprised solely of Pisco drinks, a grape brandy from South America. I loved the Pisco sour with egg whites, and had to order another. The meal was refreshing in both its tastes and appearance. There was a lightness to the dishes that meant I was full and satisfied, without feeling heavy and tired. I am already looking forward to my next visit to Lima.
31 Rathbone Place, London, W1T 1JH
