Peruvian restaurant in Concord now offering small, rotating menu with a homey feel

If you’re looking for some comfort food in these troubled times, John Marquez at Lima in Concord has it covered.

After closing for three days to regroup, the Peruvian restaurant reopened March 20 with a rotating menu of three-course meals for pickup and limited delivery.

“I’ve worked in fine dining since I was 17, from the French Laundry to New York and Las Vegas. This is more my family’s kind of food,” chef/owner Marquez said of Lima. “I wanted to do something like my grandma’s style comfort food that I know and love.”

Through Sunday, April 5, the restaurant will feature slow-simmered pork, roasted Peruvian chicken and a ribeye. Each meal comes with side dishes, pineapple-coconut bread pudding and a beer or soft drink – all for $19.

The restaurant is open noon-7 p.m. daily. Marquez is keeping customers informed about new menu items through emails and posts on Facebook and Instagram.

All the staff is still in place, on a rotating schedule. “It’s whatever I can give them cuz right now it’s really slow,” said Marquez, who says much of the 3½-year-old restaurant’s business is normally generated from foot traffic around Todos Santos Plaza.

“Two Saturdays ago, it was very busy – so Friday/Saturday are a lot busier,” he noted. “During the week, it’s about a quarter amount of sales, with half to three-quarters on weekends.”

Lima is located in Todos Santos Plaza at 2151 Salvio Street, Suite I, Concord, CA. The phone number is (925) 309-7774. Visit their website at limaconcord.com