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The moment I set eyes on Penwortham’s newest eatery African Village on Instagram, I knew I had to visit. So, a week after they opened the doors earlier this month, Gluten Free Jess and I went along.
As always, Jess had messaged ahead to check for gluten free options and was told that apparently most of the menu was gluten free and to call for more information. It didn’t fill her with much confidence but being intolerant rather than allergic, she was happy to give it a go. Upon trying to book we were told we could just turn up.
Twas a quiet Thursday night and there was one other table taken when we arrived. We waited a while for someone to appear before taking a seat at our chosen table, receiving some menus, and admiring the decorative zebras. A lack of lemonade, I ended up with a can of Rio as a mixer for my pink gin and Jess was the designated driver so just had a Rio. Rio, Rio, I want a Rio and I want one now… that’s how I wanted to order my drink, you’ll be glad to know I didn’t. There was some initial shock when the price beside the gin was £55, however that was for the bottle. Phew. Although the bar was not yet fully stocked, the drinks menu has a variety of African beers and bitters, spirits, champagne, and soft drinks. My pink gin and Rio tasted like Opal Fruits… Result.
The menu immediately gave an authentic vibe, but we were a little scared to go for the Goat Head or the Cow’s Foot in the Á la Carte section and the other two options were quite pricey, so we decided on a couple of appetisers, a soup dish, a rice dish, and sides to share. The appetisers were also quite expensive, so we wondered if it was a cultural menu difference that confused us.
With the help of the friendly waiter, we chose the Asun/Peppered Goat Meat (£12.99), Egusi with Beef and Poundo (£11.99), Prawn Fried Rice with added Chicken (£14.99) and Plantain (£5). We did want some Yam Chips, but they were unavailable. Jess double-checked for any gluten content but after some googling, we were interested to find that a lot of flours such as yam and cassava are used, meaning the doughy sides that accompany some dishes and soups are gluten free. The waiter also confirmed this after speaking to the chef.
The flavour of the Goat Meat was just wow, extremely tasty but a second or two later the chillis kicked in and blew my head off. I could only manage four pieces whilst Jess, who can take the heat more than me, managed seven. I really wanted to eat more because it was absolutely delicious, but my mouth and face were on fire.
The Egusi left us a little puzzled as we could taste fish and the more we ate it, the fishier it got. We checked with the waiter because the menu didn’t mention it had fish in and he said it did contain fish and they were looking at some menu changes to make fish an added option. We were still confused as to why it did include fish and the flavour was rather overwhelming so we couldn’t finish it but the beef that came with it was really good, we could’ve done with another piece.
We both really enjoyed the Prawn Fried Rice with Chicken and as with the meat in the other dishes, the chicken had a wonderful spicy flavour. The meats had been moreish, and I feel they could be a bit more generous with the portions, especially with some of the prices on the menu. The side of Plantain was divine and cooked to perfection.
I asked for a takeaway box for the goat meat so my husband could try it. He is usually okay with spicy food, but his face said it all as he cried “it’s hotter than the sun”.
At £56.47, we thought it was a bit pricey and some of the portion sizes could’ve been bigger, especially the cuts of meat. The menu, although authentic, needs some work with prices, descriptions, and allergies but as with new openings, there can be some initial teething problems. The service was extremely friendly and the food, despite the chillies and unexpected fish, was worth going for and I’ll definitely be back. They told me they’ll hold off on the chilli’s next time… good idea.
There were no desserts available that night, but I did notice a weekend menu of Shawarma and Puff Puff, the latter being a dessert, so I think I’ll try that combo next time. The thought of the meat without the chilli also makes me want to go back and try more of the daring dishes on the menu. If you do have an allergy, please do check every individual dish with them and let them know your specific allergy before ordering. I’m really hoping for the place to succeed as it’s a fantastic addition to Penwortham and Preston, just a few teething issues to iron out.
How does Goat’s Head or Cow’s Foot sound? Comment below if you’ve tried African Village.
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