So so close to red!! Edited some old reviews as well...got to keep making them better!
So so close to red!! Edited some old reviews as well...got to keep making them better!
Member since:09.08.2006
Reviews:71
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*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!
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!
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!
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Great review! I've never been there before, so I must make a visit.
MCFruitbat 14.09.2008 18:19
Very good review. I do love Nando's, but I do not agree with you saying it's pretty cheap. Half a chicken with two sides is now over £8 in London which I think is a bit steep. Still, I am addicted to it, so I keep going back! Please check out my Ciao Lists.
SweetTooth93 22.05.2008 19:26
Fab review. Not been into a Nando's but we do have one at our cinema complex and iv always been a little scared to try it. However after reading this i am rather tempted. xx
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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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