African Eatery Peri Peri Coming to La Jolla

La Jolla will welcome another new restaurant this summer. Peri Peri, a South African restaurant, will open at 909 Prospect Street in August.

Peri Peri is both the name of a fiery pepper that lends its name to a spicy dish and a cooking method popularized in Mozambique, said restaurateur William Sussman, a South African native. Sussman has made a name for himself in the San Diego restaurant industry with restaurants including Kalahari Café downtown.

“South Africa has a broader cuisine than most realize,” said Sussman. “There are typical ingredients, but prepared in ways that are different, and with flavors that are new and aromatic.”

Menu items include Prawns Peri Peri, which is flame-grilled prawns, shell on with butter, lemon, course salt and Peri Peri sauce (peri chili peppers, garlic, lemon and other secret ingredients that Sussman won't give up). Two more menu items Sussman anticipates being patron favorites are the lam burger; Bobotie, which is ground beef casserole flavored with cumin, coriander, turmeric, cloves, apricots, raisins and almonds, baked with a savory custard topping and Jasmine rice, and Sosaties, which is grilled skewered lamb marinated in a mild curry, apricot and chutney sauce over Jasmine rice.

“This is just a concept I’m confident La Jollans will embrace,” said Sussman. “Ethnic dining continues to grow in popularity and Peri Peri brings an experience unlike no other.”

Abel Gutierrez, the former chef of Amaya at the Grand Del Mar, will serve as the executive chef.

The restaurant, in the former space, will have three large community tables and the bar area will have a lounge feel, according to a Peri Peri spokeswoman. She said the main dining area will seat 74 and outside another 56 guest can enjoy food, drink and people watching from the upstairs patio overlooking Prospect Street.

Sussman said La Jolla was the perfect location for Peri Peri because it is the epicenter of the South African community in San Diego and because of the “vibrant scene that always has something going on.”

Address: 909 Prospect St., La Jolla, CA 92037

Web: periperilajolla.com/

Facebook: facebook.com/PeriPeriLaJolla

Twitter: @PeriPeriLaJolla

Menu: periperilajolla.com/menu

Meals: Lunch, dinner, appetizers

Hours: 11 a.m. to midnight

Seating: Both indoor and outdoor

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