Lim’s is a bit of an institution in Glenelg as it’s been around for over 37 years. Hanging on the wall behind the counter area are some autographed photos of celebrities that have dined here, however, that’s no surprise considering they have been here for so long. The menu offers a decent selection of classic Chinese style dishes, with nothing hasn’t been seen before.

The decor is neat and well presented, and the lanterns hanging from the ceiling add a traditional touch. Located on a nice corner position, there is plenty of natural light that flows through it’s frontages. The restaurant is nice and spacious and can easily seat 50.

For lunch, we ordered a main each and some Fried Rice to share. The dishes came out after a 15 minute wait and were nicely presented.

The Fried Rice was very well cooked. The rice had nice individual grains with a slight burnt flavour. There was good variation with the ingredients which made the dish nice and colourful.

The Malaysian Roast Duck was exactly as described by the staff member. The duck wasn’t roasted as you would expect, but instead was braised with a very subtle flavoured sauce.

The Crispy Chicken with Spicy Sauce was a bit better than the duck in my opinion. Some chicken portions were over cooked while other pieces were tender and succulent. Once again the sauce was very mild in flavour and could have done with a bit more heat.

The staff were friendly and welcoming, and the service was good. Drinks arrived promptly, we were asked how our meals were and plates were cleared as we finished. The atmosphere was relaxed as we were the only ones there, but the staff member indicated that the only reason they open for lunch is because the chef needs to prepare for the evening session.

I think the pricing at this place is a tad expensive for lunch and average for what you would pay for dinner. Keeping in mind this restaurant has won awards over the years, so this may be their justification. The Fried Rice was $6.20, Malaysian Roast Duck $22.90 and Crispy Chicken with Spicy Sauce $19.90. The serving sizes were a bit small, and the mains were a bit average, although the presentation and the quality of the ingredients used were very good.

For a restaurant that has been around for so long, they’re obviously doing something right. While I’m in no rush to come back to this place, I would perhaps order something different on my next visit.

WHERE: Shop 1, 8 Partridge St, Glenelg