I think the first time I tried piri piri chicken was just a few years ago in London at a hugely…read morepopular chain, Nando's. It's rotisserie chicken doused with a spicy hot sauce so what's not to like? I knew it was a Portuguese-originated dish, so I looked for a place famous for it. Here on a Sunday evening, there was quite a queue extending up the cobblestone alley, so I realized this must be the place.
Although it was at least thirty people deep, it didn't take more than twenty minutes for Jamie W and me to secure a table upstairs. It was a homestyle dining room set-up that hovered between cozy and crowded depending on the fluctuating volume level. Interestingly all the servers were male, and while ours was the most junior, he consciously followed the behavior of his veteran brethren.
There was no question about our main course, the 13,5€ Frango Assado No Espeto (Roast Chicken on the Spit) (Photo 7). It was tender and succulent enough albeit a bit under seasoned, all the more reason to pour a liberal dose of the piri piri sauce (Photo 8). Our sides were simple but shareable, the 3,2€ Batata Fritta (French Fries) (Photo 9) and the 4,3€ Salada Mista (Mixed Salad) (Photo 10).
Both were fine, though we really wanted to try their Cream Spinach. They were already out of it in the kitchen. We were quite satisfied nonetheless, and their service pretty much worked like clockwork. Jamie and I agreed we'd definitely come back if the passion for poultry strikes us on a return trip to Lisbon. In the meanwhile, I'll just do a run to Costco, buy a rotisserie chicken, and dream of Portugal.
FOOD - 4 stars...succulent poultry with a unique spicy kick
AMBIANCE - 4 stars...like an old-fashioned dining room in a Portuguese home
SERVICE - 4.5 stars...they move quickly and courteously
TOTAL - 4 stars...a Lisbon institution worth checking out
RELATED - Exploring Lisbon? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/zcHSccvAc9