"Lomo Libre in the Sunset is a sports bar going through an identity crisis, and we don’t care which one it chooses. A line of wall-mounted TVs says it’s all about game day, but the trays of briny oysters at the entrance preview a menu of some of the city’s best Peruvian food. When the Niners are on, there’s usually a crowd here, gazing at the TVs, breaking eye contact only to take bites of tallarín saltado packed with expertly seared tenderloin and ceviche that tastes so fresh you’d think it was caught from Ocean Beach earlier that day. Find a free bar stool and follow suit, but don’t forget about those oysters you saw when you walked in—they’ll rival the mollusks at the best oysters bars in SF. photo credit: Lomo Libre photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth But just like any sports season, you’re going to have some losses. While we love the ceviches, empanadas, and the tallarín saltado, if you stray too far from the hits, you’ll end up with a subpar meal. The arroz de mariscos is a failed attempt at a paella. Somehow the tallarín's cousin, the lomo saltado, is bland. And the jalea isn’t anything to write home about. So the next time you need a place to catch the game and enjoy something more than a sad side of fries, this is your spot. Keep a glass of pisco sangria nearby for cheering—or commiserating—and be careful not to spill any of those oysters when you get excited. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Food Rundown photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Pisco While you could get a Cuzquena Dorada beer or one of the many cocktails, what you should focus on are the drinks with heavy pours of pisco. The key lime lingers after every sip of the pisco sour. And we love the refreshing tartness of the pisco sangria and Purple Rain. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Oysters These mollusks are as fresh as any you’d find at SF’s top oyster bars, but the tart mango and red onion mignonette bring the ones at Lomo Libre into a class of their own. We would come here just for these. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Ceviche Trio Leche de tigre (LDT) is going to feature heavily no matter which fresh fish you go for, but there are seven different ceviche options to try. Go for one of the combo flights to try our three favorites: the clásico with rocoto LDT, the verde with jalapeño LDT, and the nikkei with ponzu LDT. But this is a more-the-merrier situation, so don’t be shy about adding another order (or two). photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Lomo Empanadas These empanadas are the full package—flaky crust, tenderloin packed with onions and tomatoes—but the real MVP is that side of that tangy aji verde that’ll have you squirming in your seat. Once the initial high wears off, you’ll be asking if they can slather you in it. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Tallarín Saltado There’s no debate between the tallarín and the lomo saltado. The lomo saltado is bland, but the tallarín is the exact opposite. It’s super saucy and we wish it was as common as lomo saltado at Peruvian restaurants in SF. Arroz Con Mariscos A miss. The menu says they’re going for something akin to a paella, But it ends up as an unexciting, haphazard mix of seafood and overcooked rice. Skip. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Desserts We can’t decide if we like the mango cheesecake or the flan more. Either way, both are unmissable. The vanilla bean flavor comes through each fluffy bite of the flan. And the cheesecake tastes just like biting into a mango just picked from the tree." - Ricky Rodriguez
