LLAMASODA

(An audio version of the article starring my disgusting voice is available!)

A haven for ravenous carnivores in the ever-trendy Jhamsikhel, Grill Me offers a variety of grilled items, ranging from chicken to trout to even duck, as well as standard fares such as sandwiches and salads.

Famished and in dire need of meat, especially huge, juicy cuts at that, Grill Me in Jhamsikhel and its Asian BBQ Pork Ribs were the only answer to our problem, so we headed there right after we checked out of our suite at the Terraces (read about our stay here!). We parked our car (after all the torture it endured, the poor thing deserved a little respite. Curious? Again, read about it here!!) at the guest parking space and headed to the restaurant on the second floor.

Variety seemed to be the objective with the decor, as you had the uppermost floor with a light, airy cafe-like vibe. In contrast, the downstairs main area had a pretty eclectic style, with influences from classic American diners to quirky hipster cafes. I felt it could’ve been executed better, especially with the Cotton Hill counter, which was right in the middle of the area and felt very out of place and somewhat distracting.

As we were pretty parched, the first thing we ordered as soon as we were seated at our table was the Mint Lemonade (Rs. 250?… For some reason, I didn’t note down the price for this one. Please let me know if you guys get the current price!). While it certainly did quench our thirst, the mint lemonade was a little disappointing as it had a somewhat diluted taste and lacked the sweetness and tartness one would normally find in a lemonade.

We then ordered the Asian BBQ Pork Rib Platter (Rs. 2600), the sole reason we drove from Lakhuri Bhanjyang to Jhamsikhel, so that, alongside the praises given by both my sister and brother, my expectations were pretty high. I’m glad to say they were indeed met, as the ribs were absolutely delicious! The meat was tender and came apart easily, while the Asian-inspired BBQ sauce was sublime and balanced the sweetness and the heat. We devoured the ribs like a pack of wild animals, and I’m sure you’ll do the same!

Next up was the Grilled Prawn (Rs. 580), which was perfectly grilled and came in with the shells already peeled off (a bonus for people with clumsy fingers like mine). The lovely garlic and the choice of spices used for the seasoning brought a very Thai-like flavor to the prawns, which we very much enjoyed.

My brother ordered the Chicken Quesadilla (Rs. 600) as his main, and one order came with four quesadillas and a side of fries. I was offered one to try, which I, of course, accepted gladly because my stomach is a bottomless pit I would have more items to review for my lovely two readers (with me being one of said readers and the other probably my mother).

An awful attempt at humor aside, the filling was pretty generous, almost to the point of tearing the flour tortilla, which was great. Still, unfortunately, the quesadilla felt a little too bland without the sauce, and the fries were a tad too salty for my liking. It was alright, but I wouldn’t recommend the quesadillas, especially with the amount it is priced at.

My main dish of choice was the Grilled Chicken Breast with Mushroom Sauce (Rs. 800), which arrived at the table just as I was done with my quesadilla. The chicken breast was adequately grilled and had a lovely juiciness, while the mushroom sauce was rich but lacking in flavor. The vegetables on the side were so-so, but the mashed potatoes were excellent and had a thick and somewhat chunky consistency, which I enjoyed. I even slathered it on the chicken breast like a spread, which was pretty delicious!

Although I was beginning to feel a little full, I still had some room for dessert (whoever said that there’s a separate stomach dedicated solely to dessert is absolutely correct). Their menu featured various interesting treats, making it hard to pick only one. Sadly, none of their signature desserts were available on the day of our visit, so I went ahead with the classic Chocolate Brownie with Ice Cream (Rs. 275). The brownie wasn’t too overwhelmingly sweet, and as it was served warm and had a delightful chewiness, it was amazing when paired with the ice cream.

If you’d call yourself a meat-lover, Grill Me is definitely a place I’d recommend to get your fix, as the portions are pretty sizable compared to most similarly-priced restaurants. Various types of meat are available to suit your preferences (and all are grilled to perfection). We will certainly come by again, even if it’s just for the Asian BBQ Pork Ribs!

Let me know if you hit up Grillme and tried the Asian BBQ Pork Rib Platter!

(This article was originally written on the 8th of November, 2021)

Grill Me

• 📍Arun Thapa Chowk, Sanepa, Lalitpur (अरुण थापा चोक, सानेपा, ललितपुर)
• 🕘 10:00AM – 10:00PM every day (make sure to check availability during religious holidays)
• ☎️ +9779808380064
• 🌐 Facebook, Instagram, grillme2011@gmail.com

[20/02/2023: Minor grammatical adjustments made + I finally gave in to Grammarly Pro©]