Those of you who keep your eyes on the Michelin lists will know that a couple of years ago a Peruvian restaurant in London, LIMA, won a Michelin star, the first of its genre to do so. I’ve visited, it’s great. I wasn’t aware though that they had a more casual branch called LIMA Floral over in Covent Garden doing South American style brunches, lunches and dinners, with a trendy downstairs pisco bar. Perhaps this is because pisco hasn’t been on my radar until recently. Regardless, when the opportunity arose to head down and try out their new bar menu, I leapt at it.
Pisco is a type of colourless brandy made in Peru and Chile out of grapes. Flavour wise, I found it like a cross between vodka and tequila and slightly fruitier than both. LIMA Floral have a whole bar full of different types, many of which they are infusing themselves with various flavours. Being an utter pisco virgin, I played it safe and ordered from their Peruvian classics section, sampling the Chilcanos Clasico of luna pisco, lime and ginger ale, and their Classic Pisco Sour. Refreshing is the word. Both were the sort of drinks I’d yearn for on a hot day looking out over somewhere pretty.
I also tried their bar food menu of piqueos (small Peruvian sharing dishes). They’re doing a deal for £15 for 2 piqueos and a cocktail so it seemed rude not to. Peruvian food is seeped in its country’s history. In it you see influences from the indigenous populations such as the Inca, alongside the various nations who immigrated into or invaded it, such as European, Asian and West African. Expect corn, chili peppers, roots, tubers and lots of fish.
We tried their braised octopus with olive oil potatoes and chorizo, followed by jumbo prawns crusted in Andean cereal. LIMA is known for its artistic, pretty as a picture, plating and LIMA Floral stays true to form. Wonderful use of colour.
Their tuna tartare was interesting. It is served atop of tall little cylinders of yellow potato causa with coriander and lime. It’s strange eating cold potato and something I’ve only experienced with Peruvian dishes. Not unpleasant, just different.
I also tried their Peruvian style sandwiches which were a great treat. I feel like all I write about at the moment is sandwiches but London does seem to do them well…. LIMA Floral’s King Crab one melted away in washes of delicious crabby wonderfulness. Not the smoothest food sentence I’ve ever written but the dish provokes both ineloquence and gobbling.
LIMA Floral gave me a great introduction to pisco. I feel I’ll be seeing a lot more of it. I also enjoyed the bar itself and its dishes; it provides a bit of an alternative to my usual Friday night thing of tapas and vino with the girls. Recommended.
