Not your average Chinese-American restaurant

Griffin Trayford, Lead Reporter 12/16/2011

American food and traditional Chinese cuisine. Opened in 1933 by the industrious Peter Lim, the restaurant has continued a family tradition of great food compounded by truly exquisite and friendly service.

Walking into the diner off Market Street (it's the building with the big neon sign) it becomes apparent that the main dining area is not the room immediately adjacent to the entrance. Tiled floors and plastic upholstery give the appearance of a 1950's eating establishment, but not a particularly hygienic one. It's only after the hostess on duty ushers you into the next room that you see the splendor of the aging landmark. Large Chinese landscapes and tapestries adorn the walls and the booths are a deep, rich red. As you pensively sift through the contents of the rather copious menu one of the proprietors, Pat Lee, will amicably make herself at home in your booth and make idle chit-chat as you make a decision. She seems to know everybody that takes a seat on a highly personal level; a mark of service that genuinely makes a difference.

The menu at Lim's has a satisfactory amount of variety. Want a good old cheeseburger? You've got it. How about some Egg Fu Yung? That'll work. Both? Of course. Everything is reasonably priced as well; very rarely does an entree exceed ten dollars in price, perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner on a budget.

I chose to munch on a combination of Vegetable Chow Mein, Sweet and Sour Chicken, and Egg fried Rice. The amount of food you are presented with is truly formidable. There was absolutely no certainty in my mind that I would be able to consume the feast before me. After the first bite, however, those doubts disapparated faster than Lucius Malfoy in a room full of Aurors.

The rice was slightly dry, but that is where my qualms end. The Chow Mein noodles were soft, succulent, and not unmanageably long, a personal peeve of mine. The vegetables included with the noodles were steamed to absolute perfection, while the smooth sauce of the Sweet & Sour Chicken juxtaposed nicely with the crunchiness of the aforementioned chicken.

I would recommend Lim's Cafe to anybody that takes great joy in eating large quantities of food. Not only is the food spectacular, the service is phenomenally friendly and accommodating, making the decision to go back extremely easy.