[Invite] – click here
The Grill Peri Peri has replaced the previous restaurant Ladz back in June last year. From the outside it blends into the Mill Road backdrop a little too well. My first thought was how it was going to stand out from the fierce competition on this iconic street, especially since it sells a lot of food already widely available in the area (such as pizza and burgers).
I was pleased to be invited by Usman, the face of Grill Peri Peri, to learn a bit more about the restaurant and see how he is going to utilise his twelve years of experience in the trade to make this a foodie favourite.
The restaurant consultant has a PHD in chemistry and is fascinated about the science behind food. He looks to use a lot of his knowledge to compliment the food scientifically. Naturally, this made me curious, as this isn’t something you hear very often from a chef or business owner.
Was this how Grill Peri Peri was going to set itself apart from the others?
I was really looking forward to finding out!
Upon entering, you’ll notice that the place is unrecognisable from its days as Ladz. It’s more open, colourful, and incredibly clean. There is a patio garden in the back with heaters and seating so you can even have a shisha without having to worry about the weather. It’s a fun place to be that would be great for families or couples alike.
♿ disabled toilets available
🅿️ Free parking at Gwydir Street car park after 18:00 and a few parking spaces behind the restaurant for customers
Milkshakes
We started off with one of their milkshakes. The milkshake itself was modest and rather polite to look at but inside lies the science!
The team at Grill Peri Peri have invested in a high end milkshake machine that uses sonification to produce a milkshake that is smaller on a particle level. This in turn improves the quality of ice cream by making it velvety smooth while also keeping it cold for longer. In fact, it is supposed to keep the milkshake cold and structurally sound for up to one hour after being made, making it perfect for delivery.
We decided to put this to the test by taking one back to my wife. Since we live about an hour away (door to door) she was able to confirm that this was indeed the case!
Mocktails
They take great pride in their mocktails at Grill Peri Peri. They are claimed to be made with precision with a real attention to detail. I would certainly agree that they were very well presented and came with a refreshing and complex flavour. Pictured above is the Surf On The Beach, which is made from orange, peach, and passion fruit. I was also very fond of their Virgin Mojito. I didn’t get many photos of the mocktails, so click here for a video I made.
Lamb Chops
We started off with their portion of three lamb chops. These bad boys were thick cut and juicy (exactly as they should be!).
Each chop had an attractive grilled char mark with a colourful salad that popped off the side. Even the sky blue plate helps concoct a vibrant plate adding fun and beauty to the dish.
They weren’t dry by any stretch of the imagination but I felt like they needed something extra. I recommend using some of Grill Peri Peri’s delicious sauces but I’ll talk more about those later.
Pro tip:
Even though the lamb chops were very nice in their own right, my personal recommendation is to order this absolute gem of a dish – the Messy Lamb Chops. These are a special off-the-menu creation by Usman himself and come covered in garlic mayo, pickles, caramelised onions, and an assortment of other goodies.
This is messy fun at its very best, mostly credited to the incredible garlic sauce. It also solves the question of that added extra required with the regular lamb chops above.
These are off-menu, so don’t forget to order them if you plan on visiting. For me, they were one of the highlights of the evening!
Pizza
Their signature peri peri is stone baked and comes with a 12″ base, tomato sauce, peri chicken, peppers, red onion, and peri sauce. I was always pleased to see jalapenos on there for that extra fiery kick. I wouldn’t say it was overly spicy, which I suppose makes it more accessible for customers, but the pizza ticked all the right boxes in terms of flavour.
The base was nice and crispy with a soft fluffy centre. It was brought to life by a layer of Algerian sauce that added a colourful and delicious flavour. The garlic sauce (a thin texture with a punchy garlic flavour) also complimented it incredibly well by pouring it on each slice.
I was quickly learning that the sauces are one of the things that sets Grill Peri Peri apart.
Chicken
I was given a small sample of chicken, ranging from wings to legs. Each with a different example of the flavours they offer. I was excited to see lemon and herb on there as it is one of my favourites, as well as some extra spicy chicken.
The lemon chicken was the stand out favourite for me. Never in my life have I had such a thick layer of lemon sauce before. Historically, I have found lemon chicken to have quite a thin glaze but this was significantly bolder and was almost like a thin paste. I loved it, though some may find it a little rich. It is clearly one for people who love strong flavour!
The chicken itself was big, juicy, with a deep chicken taste and grilled perfectly. I didn’t catch where they sourced their chicken from but it was quality.
Smash burgers
Smash burgers are everywhere ATM and I must admit, my first impression of the ones at Grill Peri Peri were not overly inspiring. There was nothing wrong with them, of course, but they just looked very ordinary. That, however, changed once I bit into it. Excuse the cliche but the burger melted in my mouth the moment I took the first bite. It really took me by surprise how tender it was and may be one of the softest burgers I have ever had.
Apparently, this was down to the science behind the way they make their patties and grind it down to a much smaller particle level and reconstruct it.
This was also another example of how their sauces really shine throughout my experience tonight with the burger sauce jumping out of the flavour of the burger and onto my pallet.
The chips were thick-cut and covered in an incredibly fine habanero chilli that really made a big difference to the flavour. The chips were chunky, crispy, with fluffy insides that were perfect for dipping in their range of sauces.
The sauces
As I have previously mentioned in this review, it is the sauces that have jumped out at me throughout my experience at Grill Peri Peri this evening. Each sauce is freshly prepared every day and takes a staggering two hours to make. No wonder tasting their selections was like getting a slap around the face in flavour.
The star of the show was the chilli mint sauce. This deep red and very rich sauce was incredible and complimented nearly everything it touched. I found myself picking at this constantly throughout my experience.
The garlic and herb sauce was also a superb contender and was the same sauce included on the Messy Lamb Chops above. Usman uses pickle garlic for that extra punch and it really works.
A healthier side
I have no problem scoffing pizza, burgers, and chicken for dinner but some of you might be looking for something healthier. Grill Peri Peri has a versatile menu and offers more than just the usual takeaway dishes: it also includes rice, mashed potatoes, and salad. No, this isn’t just something thrown on the menu to appease the health nut when being dragged out for a meal. Real time and effort has been taken in preparing these dishes, with the mash being hand-made, a lot of time being put into the presentation of the salad, and the rice taking four hours to make. I really enjoyed all three with the salad being especially impressive and fresh.
Conclusion
There is much more to Grill Peri Peri than meets the eye.
From the outside, it struggles to pop in a street already saturated with takeaways and restaurants but what makes Grill Peri Peri stand out is the details.
So much thought, time, and pride has been put into every dish, with a noticeable difference in taste as a result. Everything here is done well with nothing leaving me feeling flat or uninspired.
Grill Peri Peri has a menu with great range with something for everyone. Everything discussed tonight was only scratching the surface of what’s available on the menu but there lies the question: With all the great places on Mill Road, why should you choose Grill Peri Peri?
Well, that depends. Grill Peri Peri offers great value, with competitively priced dishes (that are all good quality), with sharing platter deals, a kids menu, and heck, even a valentine’s deal coming soon. This is going to be perfect for a group of friends or a family who aren’t entirely sure what they want (or can’t agree on anything), so just want to go somewhere they know will do everything well.
If you are a foodie, looking for the best pizza or smash burger, you won’t be disappointed by anything you have here but there are going to be specialist restaurants that will do a specific thing slightly better.
But one thing I will say, is that having a diverse menu like this all done to a top quality is a real achievement.
Thanks for reading!
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