We had a great evening at Las Iguanas in West One last week. It was my book club Christmas night out, so we started with a few cocktails to get us into the swing of things. They have quite a range, including some 2 for 1 deals. Uh-oh!

Las Iguanas is a 50 strong chain serving South American food in lively restaurants. It’s also a company that clearly takes dietary requirements seriously, which is great to hear. You can download a full allergen menu from their website, but they also have a dedicated gluten free menu, which is always a delight when eating out. (They also have a special veggie/vegan menu.)

So it felt like I had plenty of choice when ordering. For starters, I went with the Nachos, with an extra topping of smoked chipotle chicken. These came with guacamole, salsa, soured cream and cheese. It was a hearty Yorkshire portion and would have definitely fed two people for a starter. I soldiered bravely through it (with a view of absorbing the alcohol from the cocktails) but I didn’t quite manage all of it – which is highly unusual for me!

For mains I ordered an interesting dish I’ve never heard of: Xinxim. Chicken and crayfish in a creamy lime and peanut sauce, with spring onion rice and green beans. A couple of others had this too, so I know that the gluten free version omits a garnish of plantain, which would have been nice, but the taste made up for this. It was a really different flavour, and I would really recommend it. Zingy from the lime, but sweetness from the peanut sauce, with soft chicken and crayfish, which go together surprisingly well.

According to the Iguanas website, where you can find the recipe, the dish is a fusion between Portuguese, African and native Latin American Indian cuisines.

Also on offer are the expected selection of chillis, some interesting curries and fish dishes, as well as a few unusual salad mains, such as the cranberry and avocado ensalada. They even have gluten free soft tacos with a variety of toppings – plenty to try out.

I didn’t have a pudding as I was completely stuffed, but there were a couple of gluten free options: mango sorbet or a creamy set coconut pudding with mixed berries and mango puree.

We had pre-ordered our food, and I was quite impressed with their organisation. The waitress remembered I was coeliac on arrival, which immediately inspires confidence. And for each meal that came out of the kitchen, the serving staff knew who it was for and with mine, that it was gluten free.

I’d definitely recommend this place and am bound to go back. It’s a fun, noisy restaurant with some really different food choices – great for groups. Las Iguanas is also in Meadowhall.

Las Iguanas, 8-9 West One,  Fitzwilliam Street, Devonshire Green, Sheffield S1 4JP