Perron, Illovo Junction - Meh...Mexican

This little restaurant has created such a hype since opening; it’s literally been on everyone’s lips (so to speak).  I set out to investigate with the help of some friends for a Book club evening, I was also doing sober September at that time, so therefore I know my opinion is definitely not influenced by anything else than my 5 senses.

The good:

Great ambience, colourful with a touch of Mexico, without being over the top. We were seated immediately, and a friendly waiter over second later.  Prices are very reasonable.

The barman has a heavy had when it comes to cocktails, and this might fall in the good or bad category depending on personal taste; and if you like drinking clean rum on the rocks. My virgin mojito won the cocktail round…

The menu has a fair variety of salads and nibbles - the jalapeño poppers were yummy, and probably the most generous portion of Gauc I’ve ever seen served with nachos. Followed by mains, consisting of about 12 bundled groups of fresh ingredients to stuff your quesadillas and taco’s with, but in all honesty a burrito is a burrito is a burrito (which, for those of you who don’t know, is in essence actually a soft version of a taco).

The bad:  

Portion size – all the portions are extremely small, and this explains the reasonable prices… I do not mind ordering tapas style and sharing at all, I rather fancy it, as you get to taste a lot more than one or two dishes. And this is exactly what you get, a taste that is all.

I’m trying to think really hard of any place where I have seen smaller mains, but nothing comes to mind. For example I have never been able to eat a quesadilla by myself ( thank heavens for that! ) and I don’t advise you to try this at home – but here, I could have easily put away 3 full ones, and probably still have space for dessert, keeping in mind that this is after having had little nibbles to start. Think of a normal tramezzini – now downscale by about a quarter of the size, and there you have the size of Perron’s quesadillas.

Flavour wise, I expected more, a lot more. Mushroom, spicy re-fried beans, lamb? Who knows.

Service - our friendly waiter was very attentive for the first 15min, and then went MIA.

The ugly: 

Nothing much to say here. Nothing horrifyingly bad, unfortunately also nothing exceptionally good.  Just, well average. A Mexican native might spit some Tequila in Perron's eye... 

Tips: 

Go here for a first date – heavy handed cocktails, small portions and not expensive, everyone wins. Avoid if you are hungry, or looking for authentic spicy Mexican food.  The hype? I don’t get it.  It is possible that the locals are just so happy that the previous old fart of a restaurant closed down.

I’ll go to Perron again, perhaps on a Saturday afternoon for a boozy lunch with and jugs of margaritas. 

Happy hump-day!

Until we eat again...