Grilled chicken done right at Caravela

• Name + address: Caravela, 3712 Innes Rd.

• Diet: Meat, Seafood, modest vegetarian

• Appetizers: $7-$21

• Mains: $25-$47

• Wheelchair accessibility:Yes

• Licensed: Yes

• Website: www.caravelarestaurante.ca

We humans are funny in many ways. For example – we’re always surprised by “how time flies”. I was reminded about how long it had been since I first reviewed the Portuguese restaurant Caravela, when another Portuguese restaurant opened in nearby Blackburn Hamlet.

So I thought I would do a small side-by-side comparison. Of course, there would be similarities in the dishes offered but I also decided on these visits to take in a little of that famous Piri Piri chicken.

I began at Caravela with a few appetizers of seafood chowder, rissóis de camarão (shrimp fritters) and grilled calamari. 

The seafood chowder had been thickened with potato and was liberally peppered with fish, shrimp, scallop and surimi (imitation crab). It was unadorned and would have had more eye appeal with a sprinkling of chopped parsley or chive.

It was a good-tasting chowder but had a little too much surimi which, when heated, gives off a stronger and sweeter character that dominated all other flavours.

The rissóis de camarão were perfect however. I find it too easy to finish an entire plate only to be left wanting more. 

These little fried dumplings were filled with shrimp and a luxurious and savoury bechamel with the occasional pop of sweet onion. An ideal snack with a glass of Vinho Verde.

The grilled calamari at Caravela is always first-rate and they do one of my favourite versions of the squid. 

On this day owner Fernando Diniz was in the kitchen and he proved a deft hand at interpreting the menu. The squid, while delicious and tender, was a little underseasoned and felt more poached than grilled.

It was my first time trying their chicken, and as I had ordered a half-bird, I was told it would take approximately 30-40 minutes to prepare. Perfect. Chicken prepped to order.

It arrived piping hot giving off those appetite-inducing rotisserie chicken aromas and came with a side of rice and a salad.

The rice was mildly seasoned and fairly standard while the salad was very fresh, crisp and dressed in a light citrus and olive oil dressing.

I immediately tucked into the leg of the chicken and found the meat coming off the bone without effort. Every mouthful was moist, beautifully flavourful and steaming hot. The skin was brittle and delicate and added a textural contrast to the leg meat. 

It was perfectly grilled and in terms of flavour, it proved to be a bird of quality. It was my oversight however that made the experience a little less ideal: I’d neglected to ask for a spicier version. I was missing that extra kick and the accompanying Piri Piri sauce proved just too mild for this palate.

It was satisfying to end on a high note however and Caravela remains a place where you can rely on freshness and a skilled Portuguese kitchen.