Lima 33 - Feast Fit for a Peruvian

Being that I'm a chicken, rice and beans kind of girl, I was naturally intrigued by the a fairly new Peruvian restaurant I spotted in Little Neck called Lima 33.  Previously a sushi joint, Lima 33 came on the scene about 4 months ago and sits amongst a sea of Asian food establishments.  Lima's differentiation certainly helps it stand out, as my brother Peter and I noticed it right away, and then shortly after, perused their Yelp reviews.  A few days later, along with Fiana, we were there devouring their delicious Peruvian cuisine.

Atmosphere:
Located on a busy corner on Northern Blvd and 254th Street, Lima is accessible by car, bus or even the LIRR.  Because it's new, the decor is sleek and modern, boasting a few colorful touches such as bright pink banquettes and seat cushions.  A royal blue accent wall injects more cheeriness and elegance, along with enlarged prints, showcasing scenes from Lima.

While the kitchen isn't completely open concept, you do get a glimpse of what's cooking, especially the golden brown rotisserie chickens that are Lima's specialty.  Since they're still in the process of getting their liquor license, you can for the time being enjoy a BYOB option, so if you fancy a a little vino, make sure you stop across the street at the new Collezione Wine & Spirits. The staff will even get a bottle of wine for you, if you ask nicely.

Food:
I liked perusing Lima's classic but uncomplicated menu, making it easy to choose something quickly.  Since we were in the mood to share, we went for the appetizer special of the day as well as the Super Combinacion meal, which was big enough to share between 3-4 people.

Stuffed Plantain Appetizer - Sounding too good to pass up, we were immediately entranced by our server's description of this dish and ordered it on the spot.  Consisting of a pretty layer cake of mashed plantains, chicken salad, olive tapenade and avocados, it presented virtually all of my favorite Latin flavors.  While we liked the overall flavor profile, we agreed that it would've been preferable to serve the chicken warm, instead of in a chilled salad format.

Super Combinacion - This combination meal represented everything that I appreciate about Peruvian restaurants, and it reminded me of a similar menu item you can get at Pio Pio.  We loved that the plates just kept on coming, creating quite a feast before our eyes of a whole rotisserie chicken, rice & beans, salchipapas (little hot dogs with French fries), sweet plantains and an avocado salad.

The chicken was my favorite, boasting a beautifully golden crispy skin and an incredible amount of juiciness in both the white and dark pieces.  A close second were the sweet plantains that had a slightly sticky, sweet coating and a nice firm texture when you bit into them.  The mountain of slightly smokey salchipapas and the crispy fries didn't suck either.  Together, it was more than enough food to feed a small Peruvian village (or at least 3 hungry New Yorkers).

Service and Cost:

While our food experience surpassed expectations, the service was even more remarkable.  Not only were we greeted in a friendly fashion, every last detail of our experience was well taken care of, including the refilling of our water and wine glasses, clean silverware, and an acute attention to virtually everything.  We felt well taken care of but in such a way that was friendly and welcoming, enjoying an easy conversation with the staff.

Costs are super affordable, especially now that Lima is still BYOB.  The above mentioned hefty dinner only set us back about $57 for 3 people, which includes tax and tip!  Que bueno!

3 Mmmms

Lima 33 - 254-04 Northern Blvd, Little Neck NY 11362
718.225.4949
LIRR to Little Neck or N20 Bus

Channeling my Peruvian Side at El Anzuelo Fino

Last night was one of those fun Queens food explorations, as Meg and I headed to Jackson Heights for Peruvian cuisine.  Visiting a restaurant called El Anzuelo Fino, which specializes in seafood, we sure got our fix of it, as well as a sampling of other regional Peruvian specialties.

Atmosphere:
Being the third outpost of the original restaurant, which opened back in Peru, its Jackson Heights location sits on the busy Northern Blvd and 86th street.  Sure it's a bit of a hike from the 7 train, but if you appreciate scenic routes (aka 86th street), the walk is really pleasant and you get to enjoy a view of the beautiful, historic houses found in this neighborhood.

The restaurant itself is pretty casual and sits about 30 in the main dining room.  We noticed a large back room with additional seating, but I think this is mainly used for private parties.  Meg and I got comfortable at our table and enjoyed the laid back atmosphere and the beautiful Latin music that further helped set the scene.  I had a view of the kitchen from where I was sitting, which was nice to observe, and you can rest assured that your dishes are being prepared fresh.

Food:
Getting to sample a little bit of everything, including seafood and meat dishes, our overall experience was really diverse and interesting.  My tastebuds experienced a bevy of vibrant flavors that ranged from sour and citrusy to savory and comforting.

Ceviche de Corvina - One of the first things we tried was the ceviche, which stood out as a big highlight.  The main ingredient was corvina fish, which is pretty similar to sea bass, and therefore nice and light.  The marinade was definitely punchy and kicked things up a notch with its lime, zesty flavor.  Accompanied by a sweet potato, slivers of red onion and chunky Peruvian corn, it was a simple yet sophisticated dish that served as a good preview for things to come.

Anticuchos con Papa - Juxtaposing the seafood app with a meaty one, this one was just as delicious, and definitely fit for adventurous palates.  Anticuchos are beef hearts, which came in the form of three thin pieces that were skewered on a stick.  Accompanied by a simple potato and choclo corn, Chef Boris let the main ingredient shine.  I liked the taste of the meat very much, and it reminded me a little bit of the texture found in a good quality beef liver.

Pulpo al Olivo - Another one of my stand-out dishes of the night, this was made up of thin slices of octopus, poured over by a silky black olive sauce.  I've never had anything like this, and found the sauce both flavorful and pleasing in texture.  A bed of crunchy lettuce provided nice differentiation and a certain freshness.  The buttery avocado slices that were served on each side of the octopus further tied the dish together and gave it that Latin flavor.

Corvina al Anzuelo Fino - Our first official entree was a total hit, consisting of Corvina fish, once again, and a variety of other seafood such as shrimp and squid.  Especially excited to see the squid, I dug right in and enjoyed the delicious house creamy sauce, which made everything taste vibrant.  The Corvina shined here too, as it was flaky and perfectly cooked.

Lomo Salteado - Meg talked about this dish ever since we came in, so I was glad that we got to experience El Anzuelo's version.  Made up of bite sized pieces of sirloin, grilled onions, tomatoes and french fries, it was a hodgepodge of delight.  The beef was cooked nicely, and I especially loved the tangy sauce that served as the binder. Nothing like a Peruvian take on steak frites!

Chicha Morada - Once again, something totally new to me, chicha was introduced as a fermented drink made out of purple corn.  It's a sweet drink and looks similar to sangria, although it's a lot sweeter and cinnamoney too.  Loving the little pieces of apples that were added to the top, it was a yummy way to wash down all that Peruvian goodness.

Service and Cost:Just like its laid back, casual vibe, the service reflected this as well.  Meg and I felt comfortable and well taken care of, and appreciated the hospitality extended to us by Chef and owner, Boris Torres.  We were excited to learn about Chef Boris' deeply seated roots in this restaurant, which was started by his parents to carry on the traditions of their native country.  Since there's tons of things on the menu, don't be shy to ask the gracious staff for their recommendations, as they know their stuff.

Prices are inexpensive to moderate and include:
Appetizers - $5 - $15
Meat - $6 - $24
Seafood - $12 - $36
Combo Plates - $15 - $20

3 Mmmms

El Anzuelo Fino - 86-01 Northern Blvd, Jackson Heights NY 11372
718.426.8660
7 Train to 82nd Street/Jackson Heights
www.elanzuelofino.com

The Inkan Peruvian & Latin Cuisine Looks Awesome

Image by Diliana R

I found myself in LIC last Saturday, enjoying the funny and provocative antics of Honey Badger Burlesque.  It was quite a show, but more on that soon!  During my evening, I ran into a yummy looking Peruvian restaurant called The Inkan, which really intrigued me.  I noticed it, as I was on my way to the Chain Theater, and then lo and behold, there was a flyer for it at the theater as well.  I perused the menu and really liked what I saw.  Here's a sampling, in case you get an inkling for reasonable Latin food.  I'd love to try it soon, and if I was in the nabe during lunch time, I'd totally hit them up.  It looks so reasonable!

Appetizers:
Salchipapas - French fries with frankfurters...$5.99
Papa rellena - Stuffed potato...$6.99
Empanadas Ecuatorianas de Viento - empanadas stuffed with cheese...$1.50

Rotisserie Chicken & Ribs:
Whole chicken...$10.99
Spare ribs...$4.99

Seafood:
Camaron al Ajillo - Sauteed shrimp with garlic sauce served with white rice...$14.99
Ceviche Mixto - Mixed seafood including mussels, clams, shrimp, squid & fresh fish marinated in lemon juice; served with sweet potato and corn...$15.99
Parihuela - Rich mixed seafood soup with mussels, clams, shrimp, squid, fish and Spanish spices...$13.99
Jalea - Fried mixed seafood with onions, tomatoes, cilantro & lemon sauce...$14.99 (personal), $28.99 (family)

Meat:
Bistek Encebollado - Sirloin steak sauteed with onions & tomatoes, served with white rice & French fries...$13.99
Chuletas de Cerdo con Arroz y Habichuelas - Pork chop with rice and beans...$12.99
Mini Bandeja - Sirloin steak with white rice, beans, fried egg, sweet plantains & pork rind...$9.99
Entrana a la Parilla con Arroz Amarillo y Maduros - Grilled skirt steak with yellow rice and sweet plantains...$17.99

Sides:
Sweet plantains...$3.99
Fried yucca...$3.99
Red beans...$3.99
Green plantains...$3.99

The Inkan - 45-02 23rd Street, LIC NY 11101
718.433.4171
7 Train to Court Square
www.theinkancuisine.com