Metamorphosis... not always for the better.

I have been waiting to eat at Limon since it reopened a month or two ago. The restaurant experienced some damage and had to close for a what seemed like a year for some renovations. The waitress said that the hotel (or apartment) above the restaurant caught on fire.

This past week, EO came to visit all the way from D.C. I'd like to think that she was here to see me, but I just happened to be a lucky casualty. I suggested we go to the Mission and where better to eat than in the delectable 16th and Valencia corridor. As always, I was running a little late, so EO started on some pitchers of sangria. Though not as good as the sangrias from Amada, the sangrias at Limon definitely left me wanting more.

This time around, I felt that the food at Limon lacked a little bit of soul. It was good, but not as good as I remembered. All in all I thought that this was a great meal, but I think I might just stick to its sister restaurant (Limon Rotisserie) for an everyday meal or head up to Cebicheria La Mar for a fancy night out. MmmmMmmm I am thinking about that Pollo a la Brasa already! The worst part of my meal was what I didn't have. The Cebiche de Camarones which used to come in a perfectly seasoned crema de rocoto was no longer on the menu!

The missing sidewalk aside, the place looks nice. I am a bigger fan of how it used to look, but decor is still nice. Now there are too many colors on the walls or the tiles or whatever they were. I liked the exclusive use of greens, yellows and browns that use to create a warmth in the room. If I remember correctly, there are sprinkles of blues and too much use of cold materials like glass. Oh well, you can't have everything...

Empanadas

Cebiche Limon

Sweet Potato Fries

Pargo Rojo

Pollo Latino

Lomo Saltado

Limon 3.5/5

When It's Cold Outside

Winter is here. I can't believe that it is raining already. Perhaps this will be the beginning of a very good snowboarding season. Speaking of the recent craziness that we call weather, I am here to tell you about Old Mandarin, a hidden gem of a restaurant, that is located out in the hinterlands of the Sunset District of San Francisco. When SL and I went, we must have been the only two people in the entire restaurant. It is far enough (anything past 21st ave. is far) so that most people don't go unless they make an event out of it. So, if you go, and you should, you really do feel like it's your own!

Old Mandarin is an Islamic Chinese restaurant that is home to some of the best Chinese lamb dishes I have ever had. When its cold outside and fog lingers in the air, Old Mandarin is the place to be. We didn't get a hot pot, or the food network worthy la si ni. Instead SL and I ordered the braised lamb ribs, the beef scallion pancakes, and the beef stew noodle soup. All of these dishes were divine. Words cannot describe how these three simple dishes were perfect for our night out. The pancakes were flaky and flavorful. The ribs were so tender the meat was barely clinging on to the bone. Ack, I am getting hungry writing about this.

I am definitely going back! I hope it is soon! Winter is upon us and I need some food that will warm my soul!

Beef Scallion Pancake

Beef Stew Noodle Soup

Braised Lamb Riblets

Old Mandarin 4.5/5