Situated by two Mexican taco eateries on Western Avenue, Rosa de Lima ventures a little further south, offering passersby a taste of the South American cuisine. A Peruvian restaurant turning out traditional dishes straight from the country's capital city, Lima, this Bucktown eatery serves a diverse bill of fare with affordable prices.

Drawing on the staples of Peruvian cooking – potatoes, corn, seafood, peppers – Rosa de Lima features a colorful menu of chicken, beef and seafood dishes dotted with plantains, yucca and rice. Starters like palta rellena de camarones (an avocado stuffed with shrimp salad and mayo, $8.50) and causa de pollo (mashed potatoes with yellow pepper cream stuffed with chicken, $9) will warm up your appetite before you dig into one of the many hearty entrees. Find authentic Lima creations like the bistec a lo pobre (fried steak served with eggs, fried plantains and rice, $13) and aji de gallina (shredded chicken in a walnut sauce with boiled potatoes and rice, $12).

The dish of choice, however, is pollo a las brasas completo (whole roasted chicken), which you can have on your plate for $10.50. Add a side of tostones (fried green plantains) for $2.50 and you'll be happy as a clam. The restaurant also has a full bar, stirring up Peruvian cocktails made with Pisco, a South American liquor distilled from grapes. Try the Pisco sour (Pisco, lemon juice, egg white and ice) for $7.95.

Seating is plentiful here with an array of round and square tables covered in white tablecloths and red napkins. A stereo pumping out Latin music and a TV set to Telemundo will keep you entertained, as will the peculiar decor. A mural of a plaza in Lima fits in here, but the wooden pillars wrapped in Christmas garland and lights are still a head scratcher.

Average cost: $10-$20

Centerstage Reviewer: Katie Piepel