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, the company has expanded to the UK.
Let 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 contribute to the overall feeling of warmth, wellbeing and happiness.
This is a family restaurant, the relaxed atmosphere allowing you not to feel embarrassed about licking your fingers,
as there will inevitably be a fair amount of finger licking going on during the meal.
Upon entering , you get a menu and a table number, and orders are placed at the counter, immediately cutting down on the time you way for your food. The food is then delivered at your table.
THE FOOD:
Flame grilled peri-peri chicken is the main dish offered. They specialise in whole, half or quarter chicken, basted in either mild, hot or very hot peri-peri. (Please note that they mean exactly what they say – hot is exactly that – HOT!) For those with a sensitive palate there is also a lemon & herb alternative.
There is however, a variety of other exciting and tasty additions such as fresh filleted chicken breast burgers, prego steak rolls (for those who don’t feel like chicken), chicken livers, Portuguese salads and coleslaw salads. They also serve chips with most dishes, and believe me, the chips are decent, old-style chips like mom used to make.
What impressed me was their willingness to accommodate the customer’s every wish. I like my chips extra crispy, my partner not, and they gave us exactly what we ordered. She got her chips house style, and mine was golden brown and extra crispy.
The chicken itself looks delicious. The skin is crispy and golden brown, dripping with sauce. The meat is very soft, almost falling from the bone, but moist and full of flavour. (this is where the finger licking part comes in).
Browsing the menu, I was impressed to see the vegetarian alternative. Veggie burger or veggie pita, but also organic veggie burger and pita – something you don’t often see at mainstream franchise outlets. (I haven’t had one of these yet, as it would be like asking for vanilla ice cream in an ice cream shop with 50 flavours).
The desert menu had the standard favourites, the ice creams and chocolate mousse, but also something they call Nata, Portuguese coconut tarts and crunchy lemon pudding. I had the Nata, which turned out to be a light and fluffy pastry filled with creamy custard. It is not too rich or heavy, and rounded off my meal perfectly.
Softdrinks are bottomless, and especially handy when you are working on a very hot peri-peri chicken. The also have the usual other hot and cold drinks. The wine list was impressive for a chicken outlet, with a wide variety of white and red to choose from.
THE SERVICE:
The service is friendly, fast and efficient. Placing your order at the counter is an efficient way to cut down on waiting for your food. We all know what it is like waiting for the waitress to serve a table, especially when the restaurant is busy. The staff was at all times friendly, and as I said earlier, they accommodate difficult and finicky customers, like myself, with a smile.
AFFORDABILITY:
I found the prices quite affordable. Bottomless softdrinks at 1-40 is a bargain in any language. Half a chicken and 2 side-dishes came to 6-95. Deserts range between 1-50 (ice cream) to 2-25 (chocolate mousse). My date had a Mediterranean salad with crispy chicken strips for 4-95, and a glass of white wine for 3-10. Our meal, drinks and deserts came to under 20 pounds.
WHERE TO FIND NANDOS:
Check out their website for a Nandos in your area. There are 78 Nandos outlets in the UK, most of them situated in Greater London. Find your outlet in Camden, Kingston, Sheppards Bush, Uxbridge, Putney, Earls Court, Camberwell, Brixton, Richmond, Staines and Wimbledon amongst others. Outlets in other cities include Reading, Slough and Bristol in the South, Birmingham and Nottingham in the Midlands, Leads and Manchester in the North. Their website gives a complete map to any of their restaurants, anywhere in the country, which is a great help if you don’t know where to find one close to you.
OTHER NANDOS PRODUCTS
Nandos sell all of their sauces to the public, so you too can make their delicious chicken at home. They have an online link to ordering any of their products.
ABOUT THE COMPANY:
I always do a bit of research when writing a review, and I found the Nandos history interesting. It started out as a small take away outlet in Johannesburg, called Chickenland, run by a Portuguese gentleman named Fernandez. He used his father’s Portuguese recipe for his chicken, and in no time the news of the delicious chicken spread to such an extend that an investor, Robbie Brozin, contacted Fernandez. The idea was simple – good food, solid business principles. The rest, as they say, is history.
Nandos currently has 180 South African outlets, 78 in the UK, a growing number in Australia and Canada, and they are exporting their delicious sauces to USA.
NANDOS ONLINE:
Nados has two major websites – www.nandos.co.uk and www.nandos.co.za. Both sites are very entertaining and humorous, true to Nandos tradition. The South African site has a lot more information on the company and where it started. If you are at all interested, check them out. It is also a good idea to go through the menu before you venture to the restaurant.
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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 !!!
jedimastergray73 23.09.2009 (23.09.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Nandos Peri Peri Chips
Nov 25th, 2001
exceptional by (4%):
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