Famished Girl
Limon, The Mission
I can’t decide what keeps me coming back to Limon: the excellent food or the red-wine sangria. And now, there’s something else to add to the list of things to love about this place: the cool new(ish) space.
When the Castillo family opened their Peruvian restaurant in 2002, it was the size of a large walk-in closet. Clearly, the packed eatery — easily detected by the crowds gathered outside of its doors — needed more space. And in late 2004, they moved into bigger and much more stylish digs on Valencia.
Thankfully, the food is just as good as it always has been. (They also retained the chartreuse and tangerine color scheme.) Start off with a couple of tapas, or small plates. Although it’s hard to pick favorites, mine are the hongos (sauteed mushrooms) and tartara de atun (ahi). I haven’t had a bad dish here, so for the entree, it really just depends on whether you’re in the mood for meat, poultry, seafood or a plate of veggies. But whatever you do, during some point in the meal, order one of the ceviches. And, of course, some sangria.
Finish off the meal in true Peruvian style with the tres leches de coco, a coconut cake served with coconut rum sauce, pineapple compote and toasted coconut shavings.
Reservations for dinner are highly recommended here. Even though the new space seats more than double the old, it still fills up. At least now, rather than shivering out on the street, there’s a sleek and comfy lounge to hang out in if you have to wait for a table. You can take in the hipster scene before you take in a fabulous meal.
Limon
524 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 252-0918
