Chicago Peruvian Restaurant 'Via Lima' Opens Tuesday Serving Ceviche, Pisco

NORTH CENTER — The wait for Via Lima is over, with the Peruvian restaurant set to open Tuesday.

Owner Eni Cadena is bringing updated versions of her home country's cuisine to North Center, with a menu divided into groupings of dishes representative of the European, Asian and African influences on Peruvian cooking.

^{Via Lima brings Peruvian cuisine to North Center. [DNAinfo/Patty Wetli]}

Signature items include ceviches (marinated raw fish), lomo saltado (stir-fried beef tenderloin) and aji de gallina (chili pepper chicken). Rocoto and panca peppers flavor a number of entrees and choclo, large-kernel Peruvian corn, is a key ingredient in several dishes.

^{Ceviche, marinated raw fish. [Via Lima]}

The cocktail menu features a dozen drinks made with pisco, a traditional South American brandy.

Cadena purchased the storefront at 4024 N. Lincoln Ave. in 2011 with plans to turn the former dollar store into a gift shop. She scrapped that idea after a visit to Peru led her to change gears.

Hours for Via Lima are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Weekend brunch will be served 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 

^{Causitas (whippped potato cakes) with shrimp. [Via Lima]}

^{Via Lima's 80-seat dining room. [Via Lima]}

 

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