The manager of a newly opened takeaway with a low food hygiene rating said I should try one of the most popular dishes to see what I think. Of course, I could not refuse.
I had visited Grillish on Mansfield Road in Nottingham city centre to speak to the owner or manager about their hygiene rating of 1. Management of food safety was rated 'major improvement necessary', cleanliness and condition of facilities and building was rated 'improvement necessary' and hygienic food handling was rated 'very good'.
When the manager arrived, he invited me into the shop to see what it was like for myself, and to speak in more detail. He told me he learned from what he was told by the inspector, and that missing paperwork and some work taking place on the premises is why the low rating was given, highlighting the 'very good' food handling rating.
READ MORE: Nottingham city centre takeaway given hygiene rating of 1 over paperwork and premises says manager
I go in and see that it's evident it's still starting up (it did open a few months ago) as parts of it are still being renovated, but that there's a wide selection of food available on its menu, all grilled. After finding out more about the rating, Mr Khan offers me a portion of BBQ chicken wings and chips to try.
This usually costs £5.50 - not too bad. As Mr Khan had only just opened up the shop for the day, I ended up being his first 'customer' so to speak.
Therefore I waited patiently while everything was fired up to cook my pleasantly unexpected dinner. Mr Khan was lovely throughout, chatting with me and telling me more about the new takeaway, although he did reveal a secret about his fries when he took a bag of them out of the freezer that's behind the counter.
A colleague of his came over and asked if I wanted fried onions with the meal, which I of course accepted. He smiled back and said: "Good choice." He knows.
Once it was cooked, it was wrapped and kept warm for me, and handed over in a white plastic bag. I thanked them, said my goodbyes and headed back to my car to get home and try it out.
One thing I noticed driving home - it smelled incredible. The BBQ smell filled the air in my car throughout the journey.
I get home, unwrap the box and open it. My first thought is that it didn't look too bad.
It kept its heat well too, and the wings were placed on top of the chips with the onion on top of that. I tried a chip first, and it was what you'd expect from the freezer.
I then tried one of the five wings, and I have to say the BBQ sauce on the wings was really tasty. There was a lot of flavour and the chicken was nicely cooked, it wasn't rough or chewy at all.
The fried red onions with the wings and chips was a welcome addition, and I'm glad I opted for these. I'm a sucker for onions, and these hit the spot.
As I worked my way through the wings, more and more chips were revealed with BBQ sauce from the wings on, and these were tasty, that BBQ sauce being the standout to this meal. A fork was provided, but if you're not eating wings with your fingers, you're not doing it right.
The portion size is decent too, as I start to feel full the closer I get to finishing. Once the last wing and chip are consumed, I sit back and reflect that all in all, it was tasty.
I have to say, I'm not too sure about the chips being frozen, but the wings and onions stood out. But it's not that expensive and I feel suitably full.
All in all, when everything is taken into account, it's not a bad meal at all. Given that Mr Khan said a lot of customers come in after 1am, I can see why they would go there and get a decent meal after a night out.
READ NEXT:
- West Bridgford street food restaurant gets food hygiene rating of 0 and is 'closed'
- West Bridgford bar manager says food hygiene rating of 1 due to 'unfortunate timing'
- Nottingham restaurant manager 'very upset' and 'surprised' at food hygiene rating of 0
- Mansfield takeaway owner 'not happy at all' over food hygiene rating of 1
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