#FtLionAwards 2021 Grill of the Year shortlist
After the #FtLionAwards 2021 Best Main of the Year (proudly sponsored by the hugely impressive, family-run restaurant in east London’s Forest Gate, Kicthen 37), we continue with Best Grill of the Year.
As with every year, you have the chance of voting for your favourite on our Instagram and Facebook pages. We want you to either: 1) vote for the following nominees, or 2) let us know both your favourite drink and the place you had it, all on our Facebook and/or Instagram pages.
COLONEL SAAB
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Located in London’s Holborn, Colonel Saab – FtLion’s second restaurant this year to be rated a perfect 5/5 – already has a beverage and a main up for an award. This time round, they served us their Noor Mahal Chicken Tikka which turned out to be dreamily tender, with the tandoor-singed exterior providing the optimum level of smokiness.
But the joy of this dish was the way in which the salty-tanginess of the yoghurt based marinade was blissfully countered by the mint sauce, which itself, ensured some required heat. Sophisticated flavours all the way.
E. MONO
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If you’re a long time kebab connoisseur, then you’ll have heard of award-winning E. Mono in Kentish Town whose Mix Grill was made famous by renowned food critic Giles Coren.
With mixed lamb and chicken shawarma, lamb and chicken shish, a lamb kofte kebab, and plenty of freshly cut salad too to help make your way through this plate, this was a wholesome dish.
The stronger part of this meat platter was the chicken and the lamb shish, which were succulent and juicy, with the mix shawarma arguably the best thing. With plenty of taste, we were searching for little scraps across the plate by the end of it all.
FLAMIN MANGAL
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Flamin Mangal has the distinction of being arguably Peckham’s oldest Turkish restaurant and perhaps the only fully Halal Turkish restaurant in the area.
With two types of fragrant rice and spiced bulgar, plenty of colourful fresh salad, and thick succulent chops, adana, as well as chicken and lamb shish, all exquisitely marinate, this was a delicious assortment of freshly barbecued meat.
HERITAGE
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With a starter and a main already up, Heritage in London Dulwich, which also earned 5/5, served us Heritage Lamb Chops which were coated in a yoghurt-based one, with enough heat, smoky goodness, a hint of sweetness, and the added quality of texture, to make these an addictive eat.
As for the French-trimmed, double-bone chops themselves, then these turned out ultra soft and tender, with a sexy pink interior.
MASALCHI
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Double Michelin Chef Atul Kochhar’s Masalchi in London Wembley doesn’t just have a main in for the running, but now has this gorgeously made Miyaji Sheekhwale in with a chance.
We still recall the unforgettable deep smoky aroma that defined these kebabs. In addition to being expertly spiced, they also boasted that perfect balance between tender softness and chewy goodness. Masterfully done.
THE SHAHI NAN
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If you know, you know! The legendary and original Pakistani kebab house, The Shahi Nan was reviewed as part of FtLion’s historical coverage of its history in Southall, west London.
Resting atop a crispy tandoor naan were a trio of those generationally celebrated kababs which boasted that smoky-charred goodness all Shahi Nan addicts have come to love over the decades. These were tender while still being robust enough to hold up till the very end, despite being drenched in their famous chilli sauce, which elicited such nostalgic memories of old.
Being strong and tangy, with a salty edge to it, this was strong enough without having to ask for more, allowing us to enjoy that juicy, meaty taste and aroma.
