Skip to main content

Nando's Peri-Peri

This fast-food chain comes from South Africa and is more than one would think.  Upscale interiors make the various establishments look like full-service restaurants.  Known for their chicken, everything here is covered in "Peri-Peri" sauce which has varying degrees of fire and a nice undertone of sweetness.  Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Nut Free and Lactose Free selections are all highlighted on the menu and yes, there are some good choices for vegetarians.  On this particular visit I got the Veggie Burger and selected the garlic bread as my side.  The garlic bread was incredibly good.  Baked on bread which bears some relationship to the Hawaiian style soft rolls, it was toasted to perfection and "replete" with garlic and flavor.  Maybe not the best choice for the calorie conscious it is definitely one of those things worth splurging on if not eaten too often.  The burger was well cooked and one of the better veggie burgers I have had -- not dry or mushy or spongy.  Served on more of the Hawaiian style bread it had a cloying flavor on its own, even though the taste was enhanced by the pre-requisite Peri-Peri sauce.  The accompanying tomato and arugula tasted farm-fresh and the chili jam and yogurt sauce made for a great combo.  The only problem with the burger was that it kept slipping out of the bun.  I eventually just got a fork and ate it off the plate.  You have your choice of "heat" on the Peri-Peri sauce.  I went for middle of the road but will up it next time (yes, there will be a next time).  Those who really really like the stuff (which I understand) can up-the-ante with a hotter sauce, as they are available in ketchup-like containers near the silverware and napkins.  They do have salads and I may go that direction next time as I was quite full with my carb load on this trip.  But I will get the garlic bread again.  And the Peri-Peri sauce.  Great "fast food" option.

Fast Food Chicken Joint from South Africa
Multiple Locations
https://www.nandosperiperi.com/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

RASA

The popular grain bowl trend gets a twist with this Indian-inspired takeout bowl place.  Same concept -- a base, greens, toppings, etc., but the options are mostly Indian inspired and the majority of offerings are vegetarian (although not vegan, given the heavy use of Ghee in cooking).  My take is mixed.  Some of the items were outstanding, some less so.  I got the Lemon Tumeric Rice, which was delightful.  Fresh and tangy, with a little bite, it was one of the best rice dishes I've ever tried.  On top of this I got the Tofu/Cauliflower protein.  It was half and half.  The cauliflower was perfectly roasted, the roasted onions delightful, and the nuts were a beautiful added crunch.  The tofu, however, was watery, and the green and red peppers well past prime.  Next, I added sauteed spinach, which was incredibly bland, and the peanut sesame sauce, which was "okay" but forgettable.  I didn't do additional toppings, although there were plenty.  I did get two of the mini s
Post a Comment
Read more

First Watch

Meant to invite some family members here but a friend beat me to the punch.  We compromised and went together.  Unfortunately, this is a place where it looks better than it is.  Across the board.  The funky design scheme makes it an echo chamber and, with the pumping music, very loud.  Conversation was difficult.  The menu is covered in glossy photos and descriptions of the food but ... I started with the Morning Meditation Fresh Juice, a pretty blend of citrus and beet.  Or I tried to.  Took three reminders to the waiter and when it finally arrived, halfway into the meal, it was 90% ice and 10% juice.  My companions opted for coffee.  It was ice cold.  Another long wait (about 20 minutes) to get new coffee -- and included a reminder to staff that they wanted fresh cups as well.  I ordered the Vegetarian Quinoa Bowl, which was described as having up to 12 ingredients.  It had three.  The quinoa, an egg, maybe two teeny slices of tomato past its prime.  It wasn't hot or cold, just r
Post a Comment
Read more

Mezeh

With this new version of a middle-eastern inspired "bowl/pita/wrap" meal the Ballston Mezeh has a lot to praise and a few things it could do better. On the plus side is a ton of options.  For a base they move beyond the simple rice or greens selections to specific greens options/mixes and then they have three kinds of rice (including Riced Cauliflower with Bulgar Wheat for the Keto crowd).  After that there are two different protein options for veggies -- Falafel and Veggie Kofta.  I selected the Kofta just so that I could have something new ... and loved it.  But you aren't done there.  You can choose up to 12 toppings (TWELVE) out of 27.  Then there are the dressings.  Again, the choices are overwhelming with eight -- each sounds amazing.  I went with the Spicy Mango and was not disappointed.  I ordered a bowl and still got a nice big slice of warm pita which was just yummy. The challenge however, is that the bowl I ordered online wasn't really full.  There were lot
Post a Comment
Read more