#FtLionAwards 2020 Grill of the Year shortlist
After the #FtLionAwards 2020 Best Dessert of the Year (proudly sponsored by the UK’s original Karak Chai brand and award-winning restaurant Chaiiwala®), we continue with Best Grill of the Year.
Of course, not only do you have the chance of voting for your favourite on our Instagram and Facebook pages, but you’ll also be entered into a prize draw, with three people chosen at random on 1st January 2021 to win x4 BREAKFAST VOUCHERS (sent via post) redeemable at any Chaiiwala® branch across the UK (T&C’s apply).
So we want you to either: 1) vote for the following nominees, or 2) let us know both your favourite dish and the place you had it, all on our Facebook and/or Instagram pages.
BALANS
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Balans, who have a drink, mains and a duo of desserts up for an award, put up this Steak & Two Eggs Any Way, whose quality of ingredients and precision of execution means that this too is in for the running. At the heart of it, of course, was this utterly soft and tender medium steak (so soft in fact that all we needed for cutting was a normal knife and fork) which, while being a joy to masticate in its own right, was made all the more memorable by the addition of the silky iron richness of the yolk from two beautifully poached Woodland Farm eggs.
Add to that a generous scattering of herbaceous crispy potatoes and a vibrant chimichurri dip, which provided the acidity needed to help cut through all that uber umami richness, and this was one of the dishes of the review.
E. MONO
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E. Mono, who some of you might know hit the limelight back in 2011 when food critic praised them in a Times’ news article, served us their famous Mix Grill which comprises everything the award-winning joint has to offer with mixed lamb and chicken shawarma, lamb and chicken shish, and a lamb kofte kebab. While the chicken and lamb shish were succulent and juicy, the mix shawarma was arguably the best thing on the plate. There was also plenty of freshly cut salad too to help make your way through this.
LAST STOP KEBAB
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Last Stop Kebab had some tremendous press when they first launched. Being a London double-decked bus-cum-restaurant, they served us their Last Stop Special – a huge platter of kofte, lamb shish, chicken shish, lamb doner, chicken doner, and four peices each of chicken wings, ribs and chops, along with Turkish nan bread, salad and hummus on the side. With a generous array of freshly chopped salad lightly dressed in a tangy vinaigrette, the meat was evidently fresh, marinated in a basic homemade seasoning comprising mainly of paprika, and grilled well enough to lock in the juices while providing that good layer of crispy smokey char we all yearn for. Placed atop one very large, freshly-made Turkish bread, the kebabs were nicely minced and mixed with herbs. Our favourite was undoubtedly the chunky lamb chops – being smokey, juicy and utterly succulent.
GOKYUZU
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London’s powerhouse grill restaurant Gokyuzu needs little introduction.
London’s powerhouse grill restaurant Gokyuzu needs little introduction. We received a meat platters with an enticing array piled on high atop a combo of rice and bulgur. We were unanimous over the fact that the lamb ribs were the pick of the bunch. Being expertly charred, the meat was tender enough to allow one the pleasure of enjoying its chewy, umami goodness. We were also agreed that the chicken shish, with its soft and juicy tenderness coupled with that familiar smoky aroma, was our second fave. The eight pieces of chicken wing were lightly marinated and beautifully done, while the lamb shish wasn’t quite as uniform in size as we’d have preferred resulting in some undoubtedly being more well done, as well as slightly more chewier, than the others.We also appreciated the carving of chicken and lamb doner scattered about the plate, which was a nice addition.
