*WHAT IS NANDOS?*
Nandos is a chain of restaurants which focus on chicken dishes. Their speciality is their 'peri peri chicken' which is explained below. The overall cuisine of the restaurant is rooted in traditional portuguese dishes, although there is a little something for every palate ... Read review
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Advantages: Great food, quick service, good price Disadvantages: Some moody staff at times
...IS NANDOS?*
Nandos is a chain of restaurants which focus on chicken dishes. Their speciality is their 'peri peri chicken' which is explained below. The overall cuisine of the restaurant is rooted in traditional portuguese dishes, although there is a little something for every palate here!
*WHAT IS PIRI-PIRI CHICKEN?*
Piri-piri, peri-peri or peli-peli is the name used in the ex-sPortuguese colony of Mozambique ... ...
The food at nandos is second to none. I'm not exaggerating when I say I could eat there every day. The staple of the menu is their chicken. There are a variety of different chicken dishes available including:
Peri Peri chicken - whilst all chicken here is peri peri, you can opt to just have it on its own and not in a 'dish'. There is the option of 1/4, 1/2 or whole chicken with either lemon and herb, mild spice, medium spice ... more
*WHAT IS NANDOS?*
Nandos is a chain of restaurants which focus on chicken dishes. Their speciality is their 'peri peri chicken' which is explained below. The overall cuisine of the restaurant is rooted in traditional portuguese dishes, although there is a little something for every palate here!
*WHAT IS PIRI-PIRI CHICKEN?*
Piri-piri, peri-peri or peli-peli is the name used in the ex-sPortuguese colony of Mozambique to describe the African bird's-eye chili. It is basically the marinade used to cook the chicken in, and it comes in a variety of spices, from mild to blow the roof of your mouth off hot!
*DECOR*
The restaurants are very nicely decorated. The buildings themselves are nearly always painted white on the outside. On the inside, soft lighting and a portuguese theme rule. Lots of brown wooden decoration, green plants and a nice ambience. They have regular tables and also a certain amount of booths with comfier seats. The kitchen is very often open for all to see (always makes me more confident that a place has nothing to hide!), and a large bar usually by the door. Leather seating areas for takeaways are also available.
The atmosphere in their restaurants is really nice. It's always pretty full but noise is at a nice level and the whole place just feels chilled and relaxing.
*STAFF*
The staff are usually not authentically portuguese, although the odd one often is. They are mostly friendly and nice although at the branch in coventry I find them to a be a bit quiet and moody at times!
*FOOD OPTIONS*
The food at nandos is second to none. I'm not exaggerating when I say I could eat there every day. The staple of the menu is their chicken. There are a variety of different chicken dishes available including:
Peri Peri chicken - whilst all chicken here is peri peri, you can opt to just have it on its own and not in a 'dish'. There is the option of 1/4, 1/2 or whole chicken with either lemon and herb, mild spice, medium spice or hot spice marinade!
Chicken burgers - self explanatory
Chicken pittas - again...you can guess
Chicken salads - the salad range is pretty good.
Platters - for sharing! A variety of options with different chicken sizes and chicken wings.
For starters, there are things such as:
Pitta bread with red pepper dip Chicken wings Nut selection Olives
I don't usually have a starter myself, as I don't personally think much of the starter selection.
For vegetarians, there are bean burgers, veggie pittas, and a few other things. For a basically chicken restaurant, i think the vegetarian provision is very good. All veggie items are clearly marked on the menu and easy to find. Obviously as well there are mediterranean type salads, ceaser salads and all chicken salad comes with the option of 'no chicken!'
All meals come with a choice of either one or two sides. Two will obviously cost you more! But the selection of sides is so good that it is hard to even just pick two let alone just one!
The sides include corn on the cob (with butter, mmmmm) garlic bread, spicy rice, chips, salad etc. The sides maketh the meal, indeed.
For desserts, they have portuguese pastries, a large ice cream selection, sorbet, lemon pudding, toffee cheesecake, chocolate mousse, and the bottomless frozen yoghurt, where you get a dish and you can fill it up as many times as you want with yummy frozen yoghurt!
Drinks wise, they have a wine list, which I haven't personally partaken in, and most other standard drinks, but also the bottomless drinks, where again, you can fill you fizzy drink up as many times as you like!
*FOOD TASTE*
In a word, delicious! My personal favourite is the simple chicken with sides, medium spice. Mild is a bit bland for my taste as I like food with a bit of a kick to it, but hot truly is HOT and so if you can't handle spicy food then steer clear of it! The corn on the cob comes with delcious butter all over it. The garlic bread is amazing too, fluffy yet with a crisp base and not too much garlicy flavour (so it doesn't make you breath smell too bad!).
I find that the portions are usually just right. I feel full but not overstuffed which I always think just ruins a meal.
The desserts are nice, if a little on the small side. The bottomless frozen yoghurt is heavenly. Its creamy and comes in delicious flavours (I love the banana!) and the fact that you can keep going back for more is amazing. I go back about 6 times, to make sure I definately get my moneys worth!
Peri Peri isn't as especially odd flavour, so don't worry that it might be an aquired taste. It simply adds a little spice and herbs to otherwise plain chicken. The chicken itself is tender and tasty, and all food is served nice and hot!
*SERVICE*
When you enter nandos, you will be immediately seated by a member of staff. To order, you memorise your table number and order at the bar. You can pay with all cards in the chip and pin or with cash. The food comes amazingly quickly (about 5 minutes for a starter!) and afterwards, if you fancy any dessert, you order at at the bar again, the difference being that the desserts are kept behind the bar and so you get them handed to you immediately.
I really like paying before the meal, because that way, when the meal is done, you don't have to sit around waiting to catch a waiters eye in order to pay the bill! It's quite funny all of the times we have sat there for ages, and then remembered 'oh, we can actually just go now!'.
*COST*
Nandos is pretty cheap for what you get in my opinion. Expect to pay about a fiver for 1/4 chicken with two sides. A burger or pitta with 2 sides is about 7 pounds. Drinks are about £1 (the refillable ones) and the desserts are a few pounds each. So it's not dirt cheap but for a nice restaurant with really tasty food and a great atmosphere it's really reasonable. I'm a student and I always find the cash for Nando's!
*WHO WILL LIKE NANDOS?*
A liking for chicken is probably going to be useful, although as I have already pointed out, veggies need not think that there will be nothing for them to eat, because there is plenty.
The bottom line is that Nando's really is for everybody. Kids can order from the kids menu, and chicken is just safe enough for even fussy eating kids! Adults can enjoy the more sophisticated dishes and maybe a little vino. If you hate spicy food then the milder dishes will still be for you.
If you're on a diet, I don't think the peri peri style of cooking is particularly fatty, and there are plenty of salads and also healthy sides if you're feeling health conscious. Generally the whole menu has quite a healthy feel to it. You don't feel like you're eating junk food.
*LOCATION*
As I said, this is a chain of restaurants. They can be found in pretty much every single city centre. Look out for the white building with red writing on it, and the chicken logo is a giveaway!
Advantages: Fast, efficient, friendly service, good food, bottomless softdrinks Disadvantages: Not a household name yet
Nandos is a Portuguese-style chicken chain, specializing in flame grilled chicken and hot sauces. Not many people in the UK are familiar with the brand, but it is growing rapidly, and that is not at all surprising. What is also surprising is the fact that this chain originated in South Africa. I first came across this restaurant chain in 1998, while I was living and working in Pretoria, South Africa. I became completely addicted, and luckily for ... ...me share with you the Nandos experience: THE OUTLET:
Nandos mainly started out as a take away outlet, but it turned into a memorable dining venue. As can be expected, it is theme centered, but not overdone, just enough to make you forget for a few moments that you are in London. The ambiance is warm and inviting, with heavy, sturdy wooden tables and furniture. The décor is mainly in warm Mediterranean colours, rich yellows and oranges, that inevitably ...
Autopsy100 25.11.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Nandos
Advantages: Very tasty flame grilled chicken. Good service.Nice ambiance. Disadvantages: As yet not many outlets
Nando's, I believe, are a South African chain which serves Portuguese-style flame grilled chicken. While this group as yet has far fewer outlets than such fast food giants as McDonalds,Burger King,Pizza Hut, A & W, or KFC, its reliance on quality is very,very,impressive,and they are fast attracting quite a dedicated and loyal following.
When you dine at Nando's you place your order at the counter,pay your bill, are given a number and your order ... ...The core offering at Nando's is delicious flame grilled chicken. You can order the likes of chips-excellent too I should add- Mediterranean rice, soft rolls, and a range of beverages including beer,coca cola and mineral water. Orders can be placed for a quarter-half or full chicken and for familes there are various combo type meals,again a quarter-,half or full chicken,complete with chips,coleslaw, and drinks.
The pride and joy of Nando's are their ...
ashford 11.06.2001 (29.12.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Nandos
Advantages: Cheap, Ubiquitous, Relatively Good For You, Fun. Disadvantages: Menu can get a little samey, very hot option is really very hot!
...to take me to that Nandos place? I've never heard of it."
"Yeah let's do that ..I think there's one in Bayswater. Oh and they're building one on Gloucester Road."
"I've never been before, is it good?"
"It's a little different, but it's cheap and quick."
"Perfect."
Nandos is fast food done properly. If you have chicken cravings, Nandos is the place to satisfy your needs, and it has saved me from a dinner of pot noodles more times than I care ... ...a faceook group of ex Nandos employees where they said that they'd leave a couple of chicken pieces in the extra hot all day waiting for that show off trying to look big, and then watch him squirm! You may find that evil, personally I find it quite funny.
There's a wide array of starters including olives which are rather nice, although perhaps there's a little too much garlic. For pudding you can have a never ending amount of frozen yoghurt, which ...
HungryHungarian 18.09.2007 (20.09.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Nandos
Advantages: A great and varied selection for vegetarians Disadvantages: A shame about the chicken!
As a vegetarian a Nandos is actually not the first port of call for any of my meals as the restaurant chain specialises in chicken dishes from Portugal. Prior to becoming a vegetarian, I had visited Portugal and enjoyed Piri-Piri (or Peri-Peri) chicken, mostly because of the blends of spices and tatses. I enjoy my food with a bit of heat as I think it brings out all the flavours in a meal. I was in Covent Garden and in a bit of a hurry with a friend ... ...location (approximately £28 for two) Usually when I am in London, I avoid places like this and prefer to eat at smaller more intimate venues, but Nandos has really surprised me. If you want a surprisingly good Veggie choice...give it a go! Summary: A surprisingly good find ...
excelsior81 19.08.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Nandos
Advantages: Speedy service, amazing chicken! Disadvantages: Can feel rushed at busy times
...been to quite a few Nandos throughout the country and I can honestly say the food standard has always been excellent. How it works... -You will be shown to your table by the waiter/waitress -Then after browsing the menu, you go up and order/pay for your food (you need to make sure you tell them how hot you want it!) -You will be given a rooster table stick so the waiterwaitress knows where to serve your food -Help yourself to cutlery and legendary ... ...CocaCola, you will be given a glass at the till and is re-fillable There you have it! Simple! The great thing about Nando's is that its very quick but you don't feel rushed in the sense that you have to leave as soon as the meal has finished. It is a very relaxed atmosphere, with people of all ages. The first Nando's was launched in 1987 in South Africa. Then 5 years later Nando's came to the UK. Now it is spreading worldwide! Nando's is really for ...
CharliJade 05.03.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Nandos
Advantages: Full of flavour and perfect for sharing with the unique Nando's Peri-Peri taste. Disadvantages: They have the dangerous combination of being both moreish and pricey !!!
~~~ INTRODUCTION ~~~
Nando's is my favourite place to go out for something to eat ... and having read many online reviews about Nando's it seems like many other people agree. Having recently reviewed Nando's very own range of Peri-Peri Marinades I thought I would I would share another great Nando's product with everyone that I have only just discovered recently whilst out shopping ... Peri-Peri Chips. However, for those who are new to the Nando's taste (who didn't read my previous review) I will also include my "Rough Guide" to the Peri-Peri taste (please see below).
~~~ THE PERI-PERI TASTE: A ROUGH GUIDE ~~~
Many centuries ago Europeans were at the heart of the Age Of Discovery and it was Portuguese Explorers who first discovered the famous Spice Route to the East. Whilst visiting the Southern African Regions ...
I am addicted to eating out at Nandos but in this credit crunching times I'm trying my best to eat in more. If anyone else has this addictive problem then these sauces are a good idea to get that Nandos fix at home.
The range of sauces are the same as the ones you get in the huge bottles in a Nandos restaurant:
(Mildest first down to the spiciest)
Wild Herb
Garlic
Medium
Hot
Extra Hot
I always choose to have my meal medium heat and then add a dash of the garlic peri-peri sauce when we eat out.
When we were in Sainsburys last week, the Nandos sauces were on offer at half price but they only had the Hot or Extra Hot sauce so I braved the Hot one!
Not all supermarkets will have the whole range which is a shame, so far I haven't been able to locate any of my favourite Garlic Peri-peri sauce.
What is Nandos ...
Being a huge fan of Nando's I was pleased when they made their range of sauces available via their restaurants and selected supermarkets.
They are available in five levels of 'hotness': Wild Herb, Garlic, Medium, Hot and Extra Hot. All are available in 125 ml bottles for around £1.30. Garlic, Hot and Extra Hot are also available in 250 ml bottles for about £2.50. I've been through the whole range and personally, I use the medium and hot the most because they are more suited to my taste.
For those of you who might need this information, these sauces are all kosher and halal and are suitable for vegans and vegetarians. They are also low in calories and fat.
The sauces are not like ketchup or bbq sauces in that they are quite runny. They come in glass bottles which just need to be tipped slightly for the sauce to come out.
I've used ...
