Port of Peri Peri — Restaurant in Villa Park

This was our first experience with The Port of Peri Peri when we dined-in on July 29th, 2022 at around 7pm and we were NOT impressed with the service or the restaurant for the dine-in experience. The restaurant had about 1 other family dining at the time.

First off…watch your step going into the building as there is a step up as you enter (this really should have some yellow caution tape so people notice). One of our members slightly tripped on this step.

Upon entering the building there was nobody at the front counter to welcome us in and as a new customer we were looking around trying to find menus. Eventually we the menus taped to the top of the front counter and started reviewing what we want. If you’ve had Peri Peri chicken before…it’s a very similar menu to other restaurants in the area, which is fine. A staff member eventually came to the front counter to take our order, but was not very helpful. Not a “welcome in…is this your first time dining with us? Do you have questions about anything on the menu?” conversation. Just stood there waiting for us to give him our order. Again, as a new customer…this isn’t welcoming AT ALL. He seemed more annoyed to be there than anything.

Once we placed our order…we found a table to sit at and waited for our food. The table was a bit sticky and there was food on the seats that we needed to brush off. It was almost as if someone wiped down the table and didn’t catch the food in their hand…they just wiped it off the table letting it land on the chairs and the floor. When looking at the floors there was a fair amount of food (some larger pieces of chicken) on them as if they hadn’t been swept in a while. When looking at the windows/glass door, it looks like they hadn’t been washed in forever either. It doesn’t really affect our dining experience…but it makes you question how clean things are in the kitchen. And honestly…there was only 1 other family dining. This place wasn’t busy…the staff member that took our order could be sweeping and cleaning areas while waiting for our food to be prepared.

When our food was finished, the employee that took our order delivered it to our table. Again, it felt like he was more annoyed than anything. He put the food on our table without saying anything and walked away. No “is there anything else you need?” or “does everything look okay?”…he just didn’t care. This is TERRIBLE customer service from the first person your diners see and interface with.

The food was pretty good. We had the lemon & herb chicken, fries, peri peri rice, and perimayo corn. Again, no complains about the food…it was all very good.

Overall, it’s disappointing the terrible service and the dirty restaurant overshadows the food so much. I don’t anticipate dining here in the future. And honestly, with other Peri Peri chicken options in the area, I don’t see why I wouldn’t just order from them if I don’t want to dine in somewhere. Most of these issues are really just staffing issues. If you get some well trained staff that cares about the customer experience and keeping the place clean…I could honestly see more people...

Service could be better. Food could be cheaper.

Update 12/20/18. 1 star experience. Came today for lunch at 1pm. Ordered one spinach wrap at 1.05pm. food did not arrive until 1:20pm so I went to inquire about my order. This 15-minute delay was just the beginning of my lunch issue. Turns out they made the mistake of making it hard to go order and placed it in foil on the side. so they unwrapped it and cut it up and put a little toothpick on it and gave it to me after saying a very unauthentic sorry from the lady had at the cashier. I sat down and started eating it... Immediately I realized that the spinach tortilla has grill marks but the grill marks are not golden burn rather almost burnt. Definitely made the wrap smell and taste burnt. so I took the order to them and said I cannot continue eating this because it smells burnt. They took it back and workers in the back made faces while they made a new one. I was regretting giving it to them because when they made those faces I felt like they might spit in my food without me seeing. Anyways I got the second wrap at 1:26pm. Super hungry so I bit into it. Same exact issue not a difference at all. I couldn't believe that the workers when make the mistake again. Those grill marks taste and smell like burnt bread. Ruined the whole wrap taste for me. I really did not have the patience to wait for another one or to complain again. The marinade for Porto's peri peri chicken might be 5 stars but clumsy and unprofessional service coupled with unapologetic mistakes made my experience nothing more than one star. I will attach pictures (wrap with receipt in pic is the 1st one and 2nd wrap is shown zoomed in). They really need to work on their service demeanor and attitude. And should visit places like IDOF to learn how to heat wraps without making then smell and taste burnt. I had heard a couple of similar stories in terms of customer service from my friend but I never experienced it...

Originally had given 5 stars but changing it to 1 would have given 0 if given the option. This happen 2 months ago but at that time was so upset did not want to write a negative review in anger but now got some time to put in this horrible experience So apparently they take catering orders and need to be informed 24-48 hours. Had a in-office traning for staff on a Sunday and wanted a halal place, called them 2 days before on Friday and discussed the catering menu and options, spoke with a girl she transfered me to someone who said she is in charge of catering. Asked if they would deliver was replied yes but only when ordered through grub hub checked grub hub no option for catering- whatever called back and said I will pick up. Placed the order for 15 ppl wanted to pay over the phone but informed I can pay at time of delivery, ok no issues told her I will pick the order by 12PM Sunday. Reached to pick up the food at 12pm on Sunday---- surprise surprise the place is closed!! Tried calling no answer about 10 mins later see someone inside and after some banging on the door the person comes and says they are not open yet, explained have a catering order he says he has no idea, then checks the order book or something and says yes the order is there but since they are opening it will be a few hours to make it!! I had 15 hungry staff members, ended up calling a few places and Mr. Broast was able to rescue me with 20-25 mins to get the order ready. Why would say yes at the first place when they know they open late in Sunday So if Porto's Peri Peri is running a bussines and advertise taking catering orders you have a very long way all I can say is Desi management at...