When I first heard of Nando’s Peri-Peri, I thought it was a small restaurant chain in the United States. After a quick Google search, I found out it is not only national but it is INTERNATIONAL. Headquartered in London, Nando’s has over 1,000 restaurants in 23 countries. Seriously, they’re a big deal. I was ecstatic when I got the opportunity to try Nando’s right here in Laurel, Maryland because apparently, they’re Peri-Peri chicken has been A1 since day 1.
Nando’s Peri-Peri
Starters
I visited Nando’s on a Friday night with my niece aka photographer 🙂 and we were amazed by not only the beautiful decor but friendly staff. We were seated by the location’s manager, Jorge, who suggested the Hummus with Peri-Peri Drizzle and pita chunks. Now, I’m not a fan of hummus nor have I ever been but Jorge assured me the Peri-Peri Drizzle, a tangy Peri-Peri infused oil, will give it the kick and flavor it needs to win me over. He was right, the drizzle did indeed give the hummus lots of flavor but I’m still not a fan of hummus. If hummus is your thing, then I highly suggest you try this appetizer. The warm pita chunks were delicious. I couldn’t finish them in one setting so I made sure to pack them up and take them home.
We also tried the Peri-Peri wings – 6 wings flame grilled based on your choice of hotness. Medium was a bit too spicy for me but my niece loved them.
Entrees
We both had the Boneless Chicken Thighs. I chose 3 sides (it normally comes with 2) the Portuguese Rice, Peri-Peri Chips (fries), and Garlic Bread.
When I tell you the garlic bread was prepared by Jesus himself (or Mary or Joseph or somebody wayyy up there)…it was ah-may-zing! After the first bite, I knew I had to take a freshly prepared one home. Yes, I kid you not, it was THAT good. The Portuguese Rice – a spicy, yellow rice with seasoning you can see – added a great touch to the thighs.
My niece wanted to only try sides “they couldn’t mess up.” I persuaded her to try something other than fries so she could give her honest opinion to the manager should she not like that particular item. She tried the Red Skin Mashed Potato and she absolutely loved it. When I asked her how it tasted she replied, “It’s so good! I didn’t expect it to have any seasoning. I planned to ask you to pass me the salt but I don’t need it.” She also loved the garlic bread.
Desserts
For dessert, I had the Four High Carrot Cake and I must say, the cream cheese icing was the perfect topping to the cake. The cake was moist and the raisins were fresh. The slice was HUGE – that’s a good thing.
My niece had Chocolate Spoon Cake. She thought it was way too chocolatey. I told her that cake is probably for real deal chocolate lovers. The Chocolate Spoon Cake is a melt in your mouth while you drift away to chocolate heaven type of cake. It has layers of whipped chocolate between the cake.
Drinks
I had a red wine Sangria with fresh fruits and my niece enjoyed their bottomless soda selections. I think it’s so convenient how the drink refills are free AND they give customers the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of drinks at the dispenser.
Service
Because I was hosted by the restaurant, I didn’t have to place my order at the register. Normally, customers would be seated with a menu, place their orders at the register, and pay at the counter. It’s a very independent service where the customers are not completely dependent on staff. You’d get your own napkins, utensils, drinks, sauces, and any other condiments needed.
The staff was kind and I even received a personal welcome by a celebrity impersonator named Nas. If you stop by the Laurel, Maryland location he may be Jay-Z or one of the members of Migos (it depends on the day).
If you have to stay connected online, you’ll be happy to know Nando’s offers free wifi and this location, in particular, has free parking.
All In All
I would DEFINITELY recommend Nando’s Peri-Peri to any and everyone.
Check out Nando’s Peri-Peri online and see if they’re located in your area. If they are, stop in and grab lunch or dinner and come back and tell me all about your dining experience.
Note: Though I was hosted by Nando’s, all opinions are my own.
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