Outdoors With A Grehla

I’m blinded leaving Canary Wharf tube, forced to shade my eyes in order to avoid some embarrassing collisions. Even faced away from the sun, I still seem blind to my friend who’s apparently already here but no-where to be seen. A girl beside me, suffering from the same problem, laughs listening in to our confused phone call as we try to guide each other to the same spot. Finally united and already lost, we bask in the freakishly hot English weather as a helpful policeman gives us directions, warning us against The Gun’s steak.

Approaching The Gun, its Docklands location and initial outside appearance is surprisingly deceptive. Set amid what appears to be a dismal-looking housing estate, industrial area and building site, the interior of The Gun is tastefully decorated and true to its namesake with plenty of antique firearms on display. Today, however, its outside, is what’s important and entering through a side gate, we’re met by a fantastic waterfront view of the Millennium Dome.

The kind of summer day London rarely sees, the weather is perfect for the annual launch of The Gun’s outdoor Portuguese restaurant, A Grehla (aptly translated as ‘grill’) A mixed crowd join this yearly celebration of the start of the summer and today all guests really can strip down and soak up some sun. Outside seating, an open restaurant and continuously replenished drinks – who could ask for more?

Visibly straight from the grill, a selection of Portuguese Algarve barbecue foods are brought round, including chorizo; sardine pate; spicy chilli and garlic king prawns, piri piri chicken, bread-crumbed salt cod croquettes, spoonfuls of deep-fried cheese and salsa, tomato gazpacho, Valencian Spanish sea-food and chorizo paella, vegetable kebabs and beef kebabs.

Next to me one of The Gun’s distributors, recommends his favourite dish but there’s no rush because there seems to be a constant supply of both food and drink. He’s travelled two hours from near Coventry to be here but others have had lesser journeys – an Irish guy boldly claiming to have coined the phrase ‘Happy Days’ lives around the corner and as a Gun regular managed to secure an invite.

If the sun and never-ending supply of Pimms, Super Bock beer and red/white wine isn’t enough to get you feeling summery, A Grehla’s accompanying Portuguese band will, playing traditional instruments like a Flamenco Spanish Cajon drum.

I’m tickled by the relaxed mood and amusingly named Gun toilets (Emma and Horatio) and as the sun goes down, nearly ready to leave. Having sampled everything except what appears to be a shot of prawn smoothie, I’m keen to try the full set before calling it a night. I spot a tray of little pink-filled glasses and finish off the night with the much anticipated tomato gazpacho.

A Grelha
151 South Lambeth Road
Docklands
SW8 1XN

Tel: 020 7735 9764