When I eat chicken, I’m one of those people who pick the skin off. More often than not, the taste of it does not make the fat count worth it for me. But this all changes when it comes time to settle down with a grilled chicken from Romados.

Romados is nothing new to Montrealers, so this will be a short and sweet intro for the two or three people who haven’t yet enjoyed a bird from the Portuguese grill. Of all the Portuguese grills in the area, Romados offers up the best bird. It’s grilled over charcoal, and then basted with sauce (always ask for the spicy bird, it gets coated with a fantastic and not-very-spicy sauce of distinctive spices). This is what makes the skin such a rich pleasure, and completely worth every fatty calorie. The meat itself is tender, and its juices taste like spices and charcoal, full of smoky BBQ goodness. The white meat is moist, and the dark meat just falls away from the bone.

The lineup inside is often quite long, so I recommend calling ahead and placing your order. An hour ahead of time seems to work just fine, and then you get to walk to the front of the line and pick up the goods. I like to have my chicken cut up for me, which makes it easier to share (one bird will definitely feed two people, and is probably better if you have three or four people to eat it).

You’re welcome to eat there, but I prefer bringing it home. The last time I did, my personal chef prepared a garlic mayo and a green salad to accompany the chicken. With a few pickles on the side, this becomes and fast and easy way to feast at home. And at about $10 for a full chicken, it’s cheap too.

Also a bakery, Romados offers the quintessential side dish for Portuguese chicken: cornbread! Dense and flavourful, this bread has a crispy crust and an almost sticky interior, and is great for mopping up the chicken juices or for making chicken sandwiches with the leftovers the next day. It seems Romados sells out of their cornbread often enough, but it really is a staple of the meal. Also available are a good variety of desserts, so if you want to keep the meal “traditional,” get yourself some Portuguese custards as a mellow way to end the meal.

Rotisserie Romados
115, Rachel Est
(514) 849-1803