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For Eliseo Figueroa, restaurant ownership is about more than just business.
The owner of Lima Taverna said his Plano restaurant is a means to share his love for the food of his native country of Peru.
“I love to be here, sharing my culture to the people,” Figueroa said. “It’s a passion for me. It’s not only a business. The business makes a profit, but the most important thing is for people to know about Peru.”
The business side, however, has not always been easy, Figueroa said.
The restaurant opened in March 2017 in a small shopping center space facing away from Plano Parkway and toward the former Macy’s at Collin Creek Mall.
But within a month of Lima Taverna’s opening, the Macy’s at the mall closed.
Today, blue partitions line the mall’s outer ring as crews work to redevelop the once-proud shopping center. Fewer cars drive on the street that runs between the restaurant and the mall, Figueroa said.
Despite these hurdles, Lima Taverna has stayed afloat through word-of-mouth, local press coverage and general interest from area residents in authentic Peruvian cuisine, Figueroa said.
The cuisine of Peru is influenced by the diverse group of world cultures that have blended there, from the indigenous Inca population to African, Asian and European immigrants.
The restaurant serves dishes ranging from marinated fish served with Peruvian sides to a stir-fry made with beef tenderloin. Rice and potatoes are served with many of the entrees.
To keep the food as authentic as possible, Figueroa imports certain essential ingredients from Peru. There is no substitute for Peruvian peppers and corn, Figueroa said, which is why he doesn’t use American substitutes.
Lima Taverna
621 W. Plano Parkway, Ste. 247
469-969-2034
www.limataverna.com
Hours: Tue.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-7 p.m., closed Mon.
