What’s on offer?
Roosters Piri Piri, a UK franchise with nearly 40 locations, has operated for 30 years. Brothers Dylan and Luke Higgins run the Irish franchise, which began a decade ago in Douglas, Cork. A Limerick branch followed in 2022, then the Milltown location – run by Luke – opened in August 2023.
Roosters Piri Piri specialises in grilled-to-order chicken, meat and vegetarian dishes. Their chicken – sourced from Shannon Vale Foods in Clonakilty (not free range), with fillets and tenders from the Netherlands – is marinated for 24 hours, steam cooked and basted in African- and Portuguese-inspired piri piri flavours. Sauces range from lemon and herb to extra hot.
Appetisers include satays, wings and hummus; grilled meats range from full chicken and wings to beef steak; mains feature burgers, buns, wraps and pitta; while salads offer both meat and vegetarian options.
What did we order?
Half a piri piri chicken (hot), beef steak (extra hot, rare), piri piri fries, and halloumi and watermelon salad (extra hot).
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How was the service?
Very efficient. Ordering online was straightforward and the order was ready on time for pick-up.
Was the food nice?
The chicken was a generous portion and very tasty, with well-charred skin, juicy meat and medium spice that packed a kick. The main drawback is that it’s not free range, which is typical for most takeaways. The 8oz sirloin beef steak came as ordered, charred outside and rare inside, which was impressive. The hot piri piri sauce complemented it well.
The piri piri fries, sprinkled with chilli sauce, were unremarkable and slightly cooler than the rest of the food, though improved at home with a quick blast in the air fryer.
The halloumi and watermelon salad was disappointing. The five pieces of halloumi had a good char but were “styrofoamy”. Minimal watermelon let the salad down, it was fleshed out with a huge amount of lettuce. Peppers, mixed seeds and basil added texture, while the lime juice dressing built heat from the spice. The salad had potential but fell short.
What about the packaging?
Everything is compostable, so major brownie points on that. Delivered in a paper bag and cardboard containers.
What did it cost?
€52.79 for dinner for three people: Chicken (half), €11.95; beef steak €21.95; piri piri fries, €4.45; and halloumi and watermelon salad, €13.45; plus €0.99 service charge.
Where does it deliver?
Milltown, Dublin, 12pm-9pm, Sun-Thur; and 12pm-10pm Fri-Sat. Deliveroo and Just Eat within a 5km radius.
Cork 12pm-11pm daily; and Limerick is 12pm-10pm daily.
Would I order it again?
Yes. I am hesitant when the chicken isn’t free range, but it’s practically impossible to get free range with takeaways. The steak exceeded my expectations.
