Welcome to Piri Piri! Our restaurant pays homage to the Bairro Alto district in Lisbon, a traditional working class neighborhood that became the bohemian heart of the city, where artists and writers, as well as urbane hipsters gather with friends for fantastic food and vibrant nightlife.
In Portuguese, Piri Piri means “pepper pepper,” and we specialize in dishes with our signature Piri Piri sauce such as our Churrasqueira Chicken. We partner with local farms and vendors to use only the freshest meat, seafood, and vegetables, and we offer an extensive selection of Portuguese wines and liquors. Located in Nolita, our neighborhood restaurant is designed in traditional Portuguese azulejos (ceramic tiles) with a warm and inviting atmosphere. We look forward to your visit. Saúde!
Ahmad Cookman graduated from The Culinary Institute of America in New York. He has extensive experience in Portuguese and Spanish cuisine, spending 6 months in Lisbon under the tutelage of renowned chef Jose Avillez. His favorite dishes include his signature piri piri sauce, such as his Churrasqueira Chicken.
Allan Brandy is a professional sommelier with a Level 4 Diploma from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, “one of the world’s leading providers of wine education”. He enjoys introducing people to the wines of Portugal, especially vintage port wines.
Cathy Cakes was formerly an actress appearing in a number of critically-acclaimed short films until she traveled to Paris and fell in love with pastries. She enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu and graduated with a Diplome de Patisserie. She is known for her Pasteles de nata, a traditional Portuguese egg tart pastry.
Loo graduated from Cornell University’s hospitality management program. She oversees the event planning of the restaurant. If you’re interested in hosting a birthday or corporate party at Piri Piri, please send your request to events@piripirinyc.com.
Alicia Sellers, a graduate of NYU and former Global Marketing Manager, left her corporate job to open a Portuguese restaurant after her Iberian travels. Inspired by her culinary experiences through her favorite Lisbon neighborhood, Bairro Alto, she opened Piri Piri in 2015, a place where locals and visitors alike could enjoy great traditional Portuguese food and drink in a warm and vibrant setting.