Lemon Tree Restaurant

I used to work in the neighborhood a few years ago but never thought to stop by this place. Last weekend I had a chance to visit as some friends organized a get-together in the place. We arrived at about 7pm and the place already looked full. Parking was very difficult to find -there seems to be enough spaces for a restaurant this size but the lot was already almost full. There must be some other business in the building that needs parking at night. The food was just okay but the ambience and the service were great. The music went from a DJ playing the audience favorites to sometimes him holding the mike and singing for us. Most of the diners were Latin and one group seemed to be composed of very fun and lively middle-Eastern people, so the music was salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, vallenatos, with some fan favorites Arabic music from the 1990s and 2000s thrown into the mix. There was a lot of dancing going on. Now, back to the food. A quick survey among our party showed mixed reactions to the food. Some thought it was good. Mine (fish and shrimp in parsley sauce) felt a bit bland. Another friend ordered breaded seafood and she was separating all the bread from her food because she felt that "it came from a can". My wife had the weirdest reaction. She ordered the beef tenderloin in mushroom sauce and halfway through her plate she lost her voice! It was as if an allergic reaction just stopped her vocal chords in their track!!! She stopped eating and after about 15-20 minutes her voice slowly came back. (The beef was also tough to eat and drowned in too much sauce. It was visually unappealing.) Our server was very attentive. She checked on us every few minutes and the orders were correctly filled. The bill however includes a 20% "service charge" (also known as a "tip"), so keep that in mind when you pay your check. All in all, it was an enjoyable visit. Except for the food, of course, which, because it is a restaurant, seems to be an important factor to keep in mind. Alcohol is BYOB. We did not order any desserts. The final bill was about $25-28 per person, including the above mentioned service charge.

I was graced into this establishment with the utmost comfort feeling. I am not Peruvian in any way but I am a Connoisseur when it come down to it. We were brought chips and dip, when I tell you this is the best chip and dip that has ever graced my tastebuds with such a strong presence. Now the beautiful waiter her name is started with a d, she is an absolute Angel, she explained everything to us and made sure we were comfortable. Now for the start of the show THE RICE, the rice will… I don’t even have words, it will kill you because it that good send you to heaven and come back down to take another bite. I thank god a luck for finding this hidden gem. I will be back that for sure. If you want to try something new I strongly urge you TRY THISSSSSS it will not disappoint. May god bless this restaurant and it’s workers-Trinny M

What an amazing experience! The food was absolutely delicious. It was authentic Peruvian. I had never had such an amazing ceviche in my life! We also had the fried calamari and it was out of this world. The plates are very generous and the service was outstanding. Out waitress was extremely kind and took great care of us. We enjoyed the live music and the festive ambiance. We finished with some decadent desserts, including the passion fruit cheesecake and an alfajor. They were homemade and so fresh! Oh, and this place is BYOB! We loved pairing our food with some white wine we brought. We will be definitely coming back!!!

I have been eating here for years, it is a good reminder of my 6 years in Peru. Food is not like what I used to eat in Peru but it is an excellent “approximation”. I had fish with carpers, always very good. And my Peruvian friend had a ceviche, very fresh and tasteful according to him. I will always return…