If you are an exhibitionist diner who likes to eat in full view of a busy shopping street, then you’re in luck with the opening of new “fast-casual” restaurant Roosters Piri Piri on Park Street. In the window, facing the pavement, is a vivid lime green seat big enough to fit six people in full view of passers-by.
Roosters Piri Piri is the latest edition to feed the hungry Park Street lunchtime crowd. A franchise operation owned by Haleema Foods, its signature filling is the nicely zingy piri piri chicken, marinated for 24 hours and then steam-cooked before being finished off in the grill in one of flavours categorised as medium, hot and extra hot.
There were big juicy chunks of chicken in the tasty wrap that I ate on Tuesday lunchtime this week, flavoured by the get-out flavour for a wuss like me of lemon and herb, and served on what looks like a slate but is actually plastic.
Other food options in a mostly South East-based chain, founded in 2003 to initially fill a gap in the market for halal fried chicken, are satays (from £1.89); pittas (£4.19 for regular and £5.69 for large); piri piri wings, strips, quarter, half, or whole chicken (£1.89 for three wings, £8.49 for the whole chicken); burgers (from £3.99); and grilled platters (from £10.99 to £31.99 for the “mega mixed platter”).
There are two options for dessert, cheesecake bites and Italian ice cream, and drinks including milkshakes, smoothies, tea and coffee, in a smart dining area (at least at lunch time) that certainly does not immediately bring fast food to mind, but with its green seating reminded me of Piccolino in Quakers Friars.
Claiming to draw inspiration from street food around the world, from Asia to Latin America, Roosters Piri Piri is certainly several cuts-above a typical fast food chain.
Roosters Piri Piri, 39 Park Street, Bristol, BS1 5NH. 0117 369 1000.
