Santa Grelha / Holly Grill is a small grill spot in Santa Maria serving well-cooked piri-piri chicken, meats and fish. It often fills up and the pace can be slow. Menu on a wall board, slightly pricey wine. Book ahead and don’t rush
When you smell the charcoal before you see the sign
Santa Grelha is the kind of place that doesn’t need a flashy front. You notice it first: that grill smell, tables filling up at night, and the steady background hum of people waiting their turn. It’s in Santa Maria, not far from the main drag, and it keeps coming up whenever someone asks where to eat meat or fish properly.
You don’t usually end up here by accident. More often, you come because someone already came… and came back.
A small grill place that takes itself seriously
This isn’t a big or elegant restaurant. It’s a compact grill spot, with the menu written on a board, a lively atmosphere, and a very clear focus: grilled food, no unnecessary tricks. Meat, piri-piri chicken, fish, the occasional bit of seafood, and not much else.
It works best for people who want real grill flavour, a decent cooking point, and minimal fuss. It’s not the place for fast or cheap eating, and it doesn’t pretend to be.
Where the grill leads
There’s a strong consensus on one thing: the food is usually well cooked. The grilled chicken shows up again and again as a favourite, along with grilled meats and fish. Tuna, when it’s available, often gets praise for its texture and flavour. Sides are simple, doing their job without trying to steal the spotlight.
One point also comes up repeatedly: portions aren’t huge. They’re fair, but if you arrive expecting a plate that overflows, you might leave wishing it had been a little more generous.
Price-wise, it’s not one of the cheapest places in Santa Maria. Some people find it fair for the quality, others feel it runs high — especially on wine, where comparisons with other spots don’t always favour it.
This is a waiting kind of place
If there’s one thing to accept from the start, it’s the pace. Santa Grelha isn’t fast. It isn’t trying to be. When it’s busy —and it often is— waiting is part of the deal. Some people take it in stride; others find it maddening.
Staff are generally described as friendly and efficient. The vibe is lively, sometimes loud, and you can tell the place has its own momentum, especially in the evenings.
And then there’s the owner.
The human factor
The owner is very present. For many, he’s warm, attentive, multilingual, and clearly invested in what happens in the room. For others, he’s too central. Some comments mention bossy moments or staff being corrected in front of customers, which can dent the atmosphere.
It’s not the dominant story, but it shows up often enough to mention. Santa Grelha is at its best when everything flows; when there’s tension, you notice it quickly.
What helps you enjoy it
Coming with time and no rush changes everything. Booking is a good idea, especially at night. Assume the menu is on the wall and can change. And set expectations: you’re paying for well-grilled food, not speed or silence.
A place with personality, for better and for worse
Santa Grelha is one of those restaurants that doesn’t leave you neutral. When it clicks, you’ll return. When it doesn’t, you probably won’t. The grill is strong, the product is cared for, and the personality is very much present.
It’s not a neutral place, and it doesn’t try to be. In Santa Maria, that —for many people— is part of the appeal.
No middle ground here: either you adapt to the pace… or the pace runs you over.
