Nando’s PERi-PERi
1403 S Main Chapel Way, Gambrills, MD, 21054
Nando’s PERi-PERi Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Gambrills for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Gambrills for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Gambrills for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
1403 S Main Chapel Way
Gambrills, MD, 21054 - Phone (443) 302-6225
- Website https://www.nandosperiperi.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
- Mon : 11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Ben Z.
Great place for quality grilled chicken. Pea mash is awesome.
(5)David W.
Where do I start, I know with one word... DELICIOUS! I thought Chipotle had the formula for good healthy food delivered fast. Nando's takes it up a notch with great dining ambience and the frozen yogurt that is like a small part of heaven. I recommend absolutely everything and please do yourself a favor and chase it down with their signature formulary Sangria!
(5)Jarrod F.
First of, the restaurant itself was beautiful. This was my first time in a Nando's and I was pleasantly surprised by the colorful and tasteful decor. Very high waulity. Unfortunately, decor aside, Nando's leaves much to be desired... I ordered the 1/2 chicken (lime seasoning) with fries and peas. My lady ordered the Mediterranean salad with chicken (she got 3 stripes) and the other couple we were with got the wings, garlic bread and harvest salad? with chicken. Everything was just OK... nothing at all made me want to jump up and say YAY I'm coming back for more! This was really just a glorified rotisserie chicken joint and that was the biggest letdown. The menu is just chicken, salads and sandwiches. I was hoping for something a bit more Portuguese, South African or whatever national cuisine this restaurant pretends to serve. Other little things like charging $0.15 cents for salt on my fries really irked me. I mean who the hell charges for salt?!! I also didn't like the whole order at the counter thing because we got our food a good 10 minutes before the other couple got there's and we ordered at the same time. Again, the decor rocks.... the employees were great and the fries were actually really awesome. Besides that, I can buy a rotisserie chicken on my own and pay a fraction of the price. The sauce bottles were a great concept but it just didn't do it for me.
(3)SL F.
I've visited this PERi-PERi location often as it's near my home, and unfortunately it seems like my experience goes down one step with each visit. One time I actually (OK, I can't prove it, but I'm about 85% sure) had food poisoning from perhaps an old cut of chicken they served me when I went there one late night to eat dinner. My last order, which was takeout (hot wings and fries) just sucked all around. The chicken was dried out and there wasn't really anything hot about it nor did it seem like anything was on it, the fries were limp and lukewarm, and overall it was just a very discomforting meal; I think I winded up just fixing something else I had in my kitchen. I don't think I will visit this particular location anymore. Not worth the price.
(2)Angela T.
Worthless. The hostess is rude. Tried to seat us at a filthy table. We've been here before. Super slow and order comes out with huge lags in between. Not worth a visit.
(1)C K.
Great wings (plainish and add your own sauce) and fries. However, I will say Lima has more flavorful chicken hands down and you get a lot more for your money. Format is a little strange with the half service, half do it yourself, but whatever. Probably could see myself returning like once a year, but not often. Nothing special to really write home about. P.S. While I was there a customer came back and said they didn't receive their order of rice in the takeout bag. The cashier said he was sure it was in there and proceeded to argue with the guy. Seriously? Who would come back with a kid in tow to argue about a $3 side item??? DO BETTER Nando's! Bad service will get you nowhere!
(2)Alexander W.
No line, quick food, polite staff ... a win! Ordered: the chicken livers with macho peas, 1/2 chicken woth rice, and a pitcher of Sangria. The chicken livers were perfectly cooked and spicy. The 1/2 chicken had a good flavor too (I am partial to the chicken livers) The chicken liver order could be bigger for the money, but the flavor made up for the lack of size. The location is fairly new, much nicer than the Silver Spring MD locarion.
(4)Vidal D.
Second vist. Chicken wasn't as good. Not crispy. Not as much flavor. Still decent, but not as good as it was last visit. There was a rush of customers, maybe they rushed things. Don't rush. Cook the chicken perfectly please. Oh yeah they changed their happy hour....shorter now - 4-6 Sun-Thurs. Geez....people that work aren't going to make that....boo ... oh yeah and no more $5 pitchers of sangria - 1/2 price - full price is a steep $16
(4)Cee G.
For a fast food chain, the food was pretty good. I got the 1/4 thigh meal with the mashed peas and the seasonal cucumber salad. I did the medium hot chicken and it was not flavorful enough until I put the Garlic and Herb Peri Peri sauce on it. I wish you got more chicken for the price. Much of the chicken was bone. The atmosphere was pretty and loved the music. I might go back, but wouldn't go out of my way to do so.
(4)Bryan L.
My go to place for good food. There are plenty of great dishes to choose from. They also give 20% discount to military.
(4)Rae M.
I personally think that this place is a bit overrated. It's an okay place to stop in and grab some food, but...put it like this, I wouldn't rush back. Came in on a Saturday afternoon and was immediately greeted by the host. He explained to us that you take the menu to your table and then go place the your order and they bring your food out to you when it's done. Why? It seems a little bassackwards (get it? ha!) if you ask me. Why can't the servers who walk around asking if you need anything like sauces, refills, etc; take your order for you? Just seems like it's an inconvenience for the customer. We ordered the platter of wings, 1/2 mango and lime, 1/2 lemon and herb, with fries and Portuguese rice as our sides and a order of garlic bread. The rice was bland, the garlic bread was delicious, the fries were okay, but a bit salty and most of our wings weren't even cooked fully. I had to tell the server that our wings weren't fully cooked. He took them back and said they would put them back on the grill. Again, why? Bring us out some new wings. Well, they didn't and when the wings came back, they were burnt to a crisp. The server came back to ask if everything was fine and we told him that they were now burnt, his response, "but everything else is fine, right?" as he walked away. SIGH! The manager came over to check on us and she was very apologetic and let us know she was going to make us another batch. She literally went in the kitchen herself to prepare the wings. We appreciated her customer service and how she worked hard to correct the issue. By the time the wings reached our table, they were piping hot and fully cooked. So much time had elapsed that we weren't even hungry anymore. We had filled up on the sides and the pitchers of Verde Sangria! The sangria was really good! I could come back for that alone. So even with the snafu's that we had with our under cooked wings, other than the garlic bread and sangria, nothing that I ate really stood out to me. It was just okay. My wings were pretty bland, the prices seemed a bit too steep for what you were receiving and the fact that it took 2 tries to actually cook the chicken at the proper temperature was a big red flag for me. I guess the only reason I'm giving them 3 stars is because of the sangria and garlic bread. Other than that, I wasn't impressed.
(3)Alyssa M.
Just ok. Not well seasoned... just bland. It was inedible tho. Over priced. Self serve. You order at counter and you are on your own after that... for the cost... I want service included. Wasn't really a fan. Won't be back.
(2)Sharon C.
Located in the Waugh Chapel area, Nando's Peri Peri was just what I needed to abandon my KFC & Tabasco habits. I ordered the Peri-Peri wings and Peri chips. Food came out promptly and full of flame broiled goodness. Upon arrival I mentioned that this was my first time dining here. I was encouraged to dine in & I'm glad I did. The entire place is clean & airy. I can appreciate the hand washing station to remind all the dirty birds to wash their hands before delving into the deliciousness waiting. I'll be back. ...with friends so I can sample more of the menu items.
(4)Erica C.
I tried Nando's twice when it first opened at Waugh Chapel. The restaurant had great reviews so after my initial experience being underwhelming, I attempted to create some chemistry between myself and Nando's by trying it again. I was disappointed the second time, so I never went back. Last week my husband and I began making better choices because our diet was awful. We were out running Saturday errands with our kid and decided to grab dinner. My husband suggested Nando's and after I rolled my eyes ten times, I reluctantly agreed. We decided to dine in, so you order your food and pay at the register and they bring it to you. We ordered the large wing dinner with mashed potatoes and corn. It took awhile to get to us but it was sizzling when it did! The chicken wings were roasted brilliantly, they were crispy on the outside and tender inside. They had the perfect amount of kick! The mashed potatoes were thick and flavorful, and the corn was sweet and salty. My daughter got the grilled cheese and French fries. I probably would not get her the grilled cheese again as the bread was extremely hard but the fries were perfection. My family was happy and we will return again! Sometimes you have to give a place time and space...I'm glad that upon my return to Nando's...we had the spark I was looking for!
(4)Susan M.
Good but not great, compared to the Nando's in Gaithersburg. The fries were warm but not fresh and the chicken in my wrap was on the cold side.
(3)Brea S.
The only reason I am giving this restaurant 2 stars is because of the staff they were so nice and always checking on us. The food and the price I wish I could give a negative. My friend recommend the place I never wanted to go because I would look at the menu and think this is so overpriced especially compared to limas or Sardi's. I gave it a try worst mistake ever. I got the 6 wings and a Caesar salad it cost 10 I didnt even get a drink. My fried got her food she ordered a half of chicken and rice we ordered at the same time. It took 20 min for my food to arrive after hers and i had to ask the waitress about it. When it came out disappointment was an understatement. The wings were the side of my fingers and burnt the salad was all the nasty hard pieces and hardly any dressing or cheese. I go the hot and mango sauce could hardly taste them on my wings. Now the good part was the staff i told them it was bad they apologized asked if i wanted some more salad. but i was like i don't want more nasty dry lettuce. And they guy was like yes our wings are small sorry. I told my friend even if she treated me i probably would never come back here again. If you want good Peruvian Chicken and you money's work drive to laurel or Bowie and go to Lima's or Sardis best chicken I ever had and the sides, they almost put too much food on our plate plus the price is great.
(1)Elizabeth S.
The staff is outstanding - friendly without being saccharine or fake. The chicken is terrific and the rice is super tasty. Love the option for different marinades on the chicken, as well as different sauces. The spice level on some options is too aggressive and overwhelms, but I like mild spice, so personal preference. My only complaint is that the cold slaw dressing is too heavy - need a much lighter hand. Overall, a great place to eat.
(4)Danielle L.
Ok.. So i have been here (this location) at least 8 times. For some reason I get the same ole' thang. I mean dont get me wrong....... I always enjoy it, but I usually end looking around and thinking next time I am ordering something different. So I did just that. I got the country salad with chicken . Mmmmmm so fresh and tasty. I added medium chicken to my salad. This was the perfect option since Im trying to watch what a eat, and usually here I opt for rice and garlic bread (which is not the best option if you are hoping the scale goes down) But this was filling .. the lettuce was crisp and fresh and of course the chicken was great. Ive never had a issue with service the staff is always friendly and helpful.
(4)K B.
The chicken is good and flavorful. I thought the mango lime was a little spicy and not very mango flavored but good nonetheless. The country salad is good. Prices are good and overall it is a comparatively inexpensive restaurant since you order at the counter and get your own drinks. Also they offer a 20% military discount.
(4)Vanessa R.
I've loved Nando's before they came to the U.S., I was stationed in England and it was my absolute favorite restaurant. When I found it here I was so happy, I've been to the Arundel Mills location 4x in the last month. I found this location by accident but I was hungry so I stopped by. This location had NOTHING the Arundel Mills location. I wasn't greeted, the food wasn't seasoned, my pita was 60% bread to 20% chicken and 20% vegetables. The cucumber salad that I fell in love with at the other location tasted like nothing here. I wondered why it was so empty and I figured it out pretty quickly.
(2)Crystal H.
I have been wondering about this place ever since I feel in love with Lima's in Bowie! I know that Lima's is Peruvian and Nando's is Portugese, but I've heard very good things about thier chicken! So on the suggestion of a friend, I went on in! I definitely get the chain feeling walking inside, but thought, it should be alright! I ordered the quarter chicken and the fries! However, I didn't like that I had to pay for the salt or the mayo,but whatever, it is what it is! I thought the chicken was alright! It was dryer than I thought it would be! Not as flavorful either! But whatever! If I wanted the flavor profile adjusted it could have been. I'm just not into spicy food that much so I played it safe with plain or perhaps mild chicken! Next time, I will try another seasoning cause this lacked a lot to be desired! It wasn't bad, I just wasn't impressed! I did find their prices to be a little big much for what they are serving, but that's just my opinion! Not too sure if I will go back anytime soon, but it wasn't the worst thing I've ever had! But I will make better choices!
(3)Usagi T.
Boring. Uneventful. Flavorless Chicken. Sorry, I know a ton of people will disagree and no disrespect to anyone else's taste buds but to each their own. For the price they charge, they ought to be ashamed. Nando's is simply another overhyped, American chain restaurant with a phenomenal marketing team. I came in on a Groupon, and if I hadn't, this would be a one star review. We ordered a leg & thigh, breast & wing and wings order and shared everything between the 2 of us. For sides we went with fries and macho peas. The macho peas were 4 stars, unique, minty, very fresh tasting and delicious they were oddly my favorite part of the meal. The fries were basic, no...less than basic. Oh, and if you want to fries salted, they charge you. Wtf? It's only .15 but still. Don't insult us, just wrap it in the cost if the fries. Aye... Moving on to the main course, the chicken. Dry, small and no flavor without the sauces. I suppose Nando's concept may primary be based strictly on their sauces since they have so many. One of our orders we got plain with sauce on the side, specifically to see how the chicken tasted on its own. Yuk. Plain...like bad banquet food. Ok, let's try the order that came with the sauce on it. It was ok. But it tasted like the sauce sits on the outside of plain, boring, dry chicken and doesn't really penetrate. The best way I discovered to eat Nando's in fact was to simply dip the chicken in the sauce. As for the sauces, 4 stars. This is the only other thing Nando's does pretty well besides the peas. I tried every flavor in the restaurant while we waited for our food, and I'd agree it is a unique and nice little selection. I don't think the "spicy" sauces though are spicy at all. I guess you can take my review with a grain of salt. I don't eat much American food, and typically eat very seasoned, spicy dishes on a regular basis. I'm accustomed to marinated meats (when I do eat meat...slowly becoming less and less again). So this just doesn't cut it for me. Perhaps it's a cultural difference. As far as this particular location, the service was all right. Good looking staff, semi friendly but not overly. They weren't helpful when I told them it was my first time there, didn't offer suggestions or anything. My Izzy beverage was opened before it was handed to me, which was unfortunate as I specifically told them I ordered it to take home. Oh well. Overall, I'll come pick up some sauces to include in my at home condiment selection, however I don't intend to eat here again. The peas are easily duplicated at home.
(2)Angie J.
Delicious, flavorful chicken! I always order the 1/4 leg and thigh (medium) with the Spanish rice and Chunky Portuguese Medley. My husband is crazy about their garlic bread. Service is friendly and fast.
(5)Katie B.
Some people may be partial to the flavors that Nandos serves up, but I however absolutely love this selection of cuisine! I first tried Nandos when I studied abroad in the united kingdom, and I was extremely excited to find their restaurants here after some years. Nandos is Portuguese inspired food, so it tends to be very spicy. If spice is not for you, then be sure to order to order the lemon and like flavored items that just offer a great seasoning. I promise you that Nandos will not disappoint, but do be prepared for lots and lots of chicken inspired menu items. I personally love ordering the pitas, but no item on the menu will disappoint. This location is fairly new, and it is very tastefully furnished. Now go enjoy your Peri Peri!
(5)Jeneen C.
Had lunch at Peri Peri located in the Waugh Chapel Towne Centre. Great location and lots of stores and a movie theater. We were seated very quickly upon entering. If you haven't been to Nando's Peri Peri let me give you a briefing-- you look over the menu and decide what you would like to order, go up to the register, place your order and pay. Afterwards you make your way over to the self serve drink station, silverware and napkins. Return to your seat and then your food is brought out to you. Different right?! Back to the food, the chicken is moist , tender and you order it however spicy you'd like. As far as the sides;all starch didn't see anything green except the salads. Sides: garlic bread, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, rice and fries. I had the 1/4 white meat chicken with mashed potatoes and garlic bread. Also had a sangria-premade and delicious!
(3)Lauren A.
I love Nando's. I always get the same item (grilled chicked breast, medium sauce) with garlic bread or their amazing mashed potatoes. Service is quick, prices are reasonable (about $10-15 per meal), and the atmosphere is exciting and colorful. I even brought my daughters here a couple weeks ago and they loved their chicken kids meals as well. The set-up of the place is easy to figure out; sit down, go up to the front ad order when you know what you want, get your drink/napkins/silverware/and whatever sauce you want, and wait at your table for the food. This location is great because there's so much to offer in the shopping center. The one in the Annapolis Mall is also great, with the inside being a little more aesthetically pleasing, and generally less crowded.
(4)Shari L.
Love this place the best thing on the menu is the butternut squash! The flavors burst in your mouth! ! The mango lime chicken is tasty cooked perfectly! To top it off is yummy sangria! One of my favorite places!
(4)Jon W.
The good: the food was Outstanding! The best we've had here or at any Nando's since we've started patronizing the establishment. For this reason they get 2 stars instead of 1. The bad: My wife and I drove for an hour to get here, dealt with driving considerably more time to get a parking space, then had to deal with one of the 4 Cardinal sins of the restaurant world. Thou Shalt Not Be Rude To Patrons. I stood in line waiting to be served while the cashier had a complaint session with her gf at work. Only when she was finished did she ask if she could help me. And so on and so on and so on. It continued to get worse but I have to say that the food changed my mood considerably. As much as we like it, if we have the same expedience with the wait staff next time we come then we won't return. Restaurant Cardinal Sins 2, 3 and 4? Thou Shalt Not Be Rude To Patrons, Thou Shalt Not Be Rude To Patrons and Thou Shalt Not Be Rude To Patrons.
(2)Art T.
I was stoked when this opened in Waugh Chapel. I had been to the location in the Annapolis Mall once, having the urge to try something a little different. I was expecting something South American perhaps, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found out it was more Northwest African! The chicken is good, very good. Admittedly, it can be a tad overcooked, but I've never had anything too dry or at all burnt. Also, the base chicken can pack a tiny bit of heat even, so if you're anything like my immediate family (LOL), then you probably want to stay away. I generally go with one of the mild sauces and add from there with the plethora of bottles they have available for post-chicken-to-table seasoning. The sides are quite enjoyable, as well. Don't be afraid to try those peas. Believe me, they'll make you think twice about peas. The garlic bread is soft, crunchy, very flavorful, and nicely seasoned. Shout-outs to the corn and slaw, as well; both very delicious accompaniments. I love the decor in here, too. Very nautical in a far Western Europe/African way. Fun, but not pretentious. Colorful, but not obnoxious. Great balance of scenery and light. Overall, this place is a win. Very happy to have it next door. Maybe the chicken will keep getting better, we'll see. But, definitely worth the four stars, close to a fifth. Oh yum.
(4)Nee J.
LOVE IT! The food is awesome. We have gon' like 10 times already since they opened. We always get the platter--10 medium wings, 2 corn-on-the-cobs, garlic bread, and a caesar salad. This is more than enough for my hubby and I. The service is always fast and courteous. When we go in it's always getting the food to-go--we like to sit and laugh at the people get intimate with the drink machine. This Nando's has the do-it-yourself drink machine and there is only ONE! So when the parents let the kiddies fix their own drinks it slows the line down or you get the childish adult who wants to mix 10 different drinks together! I have tried the rice (wasn't a fan) and their sauces (chicken is seasoned very well so they're not needed to me).
(5)Nancy A.
Take out order - food missing from the order AGAIN for the second time in a few weeks. I love the food. Really a shame they can't get it together.
(1)Vaidehi M.
I have been to Nando's several times and I love the peri-peri chicken they serve. However as compared to other locations the staff at Waugh Chapel is just okay. There was no line at the register and I still waited there for 10 mins for them to take my order, the staff just stood there chatting. I love Nando's and I will choose a different location whenever I crave for peri-peri chicken.
(3)G.I. J.
Their ac is out. The whole restaurant is hot as sauna. The management seems don't mind. But if I was the manager the least I can do is open all the doors let the air flow a bit. Or bring some complementary cold beverage to customer who sit in. It's the gesture that matters. Waitresses are inexperienced and naive high schoolers. Kind of rude. Reminded me of those Abercrombie wearing snobs.
(1)Angela R.
I was suspicious before I even walked in there, but my husband wanted to try something new. As it turned out my gut feeling was right. We've ordered two appetizers to share and it was ridiculous how small the portions were. Before you think I am a fatty, I am definitely not (size 8) but I love to eat and I love my meals to be generous. The main course Flame-Grilled Chicken promised to be succulent (full of juice) but it was hard as a rock and again it was a portion as small as you would give to a child that doesn't want to eat. The hyped up Peri Peri sauce is really nothing special. They make you pay for all the extras, like mayo or a pineapple in your wrap. Maybe you wont spend much if you go to this place, but you will also still be hungry when you leave it. I would never go there again.
(1)John W.
I wanted to try something new and the ambiance first caught my attention. I realized that the story of how it was founded in south africa was bullshit. The company just does those things so there is a story behind your chicken, or the place you eat. The portions were small almost 4 dollars for some olives is insane. My chicken wrap was a bit over priced. All the food tasted good, the service was confusing. I am not going back anytime soon. My wife did not think so highly of the place, though i do not see them staying around to long when they give you almost nothing for what you pay. Basically it is a fancy fast food joint.
(2)Hoyt H.
I was a fan of Nando's in the UK, and I'm glad to see they're expanding in the US. Every Nando's I've been to has been consistently tasty. Ordering is done pub-style, where your table has a number, and you order at a counter. They bring your food out to your table when its ready. I usually get the butterflied chicken breast, with a side of fries (with perinaise) and/or peas. You can select how spicy you want your chicken to be, which is helpful when in a group. I really like the peas side, since they add a bit of mint. There are also a wide variety of sauces available to take to your table, if you need to add even more flavor. This Waugh Chapel location is convenient for those pre-wegmans food stops :) Definitely recommended.
(4)Marjorie M.
I had the flame grilled chicken with the Macho Peas and Portuguese Rice. I also split some Peri Peri wings with half with Lemon & Herb seasoning and Mango & Lime for the other half. The wings were very tasty. There was some heat with the Mango & Lime, but both were very good. The chicken was delicious. Very tender and full of taste. The Macho Peas was something I have never tasted anything like before. The mint at first took some getting used to, but then I couldn't get enough. That was my favorite by far. The Portuguese Rice was undercooked and not anything that wow'ed me. Who knows if that was just the state of the rice on that night, but I'll probably opt to get something else next time. Overall, I would definitely go back. The atmosphere was vibrant and energetic. The selection of sauces was fantastic. So many options... so many parties in your mouth.
(4)Sam M.
Don't be fooled by the rustic decor, Nando's is just an Americanized corporate slow-fast-food chain (think noodles & co or panera). The chicken is really underwhelming, especially if you've been to Sardi's or any of the hundreds of other charcoal chicken joints that have been popping up. You get more flavorful chicken at Popeyes. All of the sides and sauces are totally bland. Chicken portions are small. The service is fine for being a fast food hybrid, but ordering is confusing. I'm not sure why they even bothered having a hostess to seat you. The only thing i appreciated was the availability of mixed olives as an appetizer and their selection of a few half-decent beers available in bottles. Also, their prices are ridiculously jacked up for the quality of food, and I can only imagine that it is due to the lavish interior design. I shudder when I think of all of that beautiful reclaimed wood being wasted.
(1)Tim D.
This place has a bunch of choices for those that like chicken. You can choose from breasts, leg & thigh, wing & breast, etc. There are a lot of sauces available to put on the chicken they present to you. Dishes here are served a la carte and you'll want to pick out at least one side. Perhaps three for two people is the right answer. We've had a good number of them and we like the macho peas (rugged pea mash with whole peas, parsley, mint and chili) or the fries/chips. But they charge you another 15 cents for their special salt... And that brings me to why this place can't be given more than three stars from me. Their food is just not worth what they charge for it. For two people, it's at least 25 dollars with (soft) drinks -- they do have a fancy coke fountain though. This place is a little bit awkward too since you're greeted by a hostess/host and then you are given a table...but then you walk to the counter and order (and pay too much)...and then another/separate person brings the food to you...and then you leave confused and bewildered thinking: where did my money go and why did so many people have to help me?
(3)Daniel T.
After my previous visit, I contacted Nando's management in D.C. about the incident. They were very concerned and gave me the explanation, "All chickens are not created equal". lol. They stated that the staff on duty should have noticed all the servings were very small and should have been replaced. They sent me a coupon for a free family meal. My family went and the food was excellent, and the portions were healthy. Thanks Nando for being responsive and very professional. Good management is what keeps businesses thriving, even after a bad experience. Danny
(5)Gee L.
Very delicious. The butterflied grilled chicken breast was moist and very tasty. I highly recommend that you try it at least once. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Doug S.
There is something just electric about this place. The staff is attentive and patient; especially since the ordering system is a little bit different. Now, it's counter service but you have to remember the number of your table when you order. Again, not a big deal unless you have consistent brain farts like I tend to do. You know those times when that six year old walking with you has been talking incessantly about absolutely nothing and your mind has drifted off to... Oh look sparkly sparkly.. Yea you get it. So first let's talk about their chicken. It's been brined then thrown onto a superhot grill, seared on both sides and served fresh to the table. To be honest I haven't had a bad piece of chicken there yet. But wait, there's more... Corn, corn on the cob grilled and brought to the table that I smother with butter and devour. Juicy, sweet, crisp, crunchy, and delectable are just a few words I would use to describe it. The mashed potato's are probably the best I've ever eaten that weren't prepared by my wife or memaw. Simply put I have not gone wrong with anything I've eaten and will continue hitting them up 1-2 times per month. Finally, you have to ask for it but they have a generous military discount that brings them firmly into the "I'll eat here over so-called fast food every time".
(4)Kevin B.
Frequented a few times and consistently good service and quality of food. Great tasting. Portions could be a little more substantial for what you pay but ok. I enjoy the Sangria very much! Hit it on Happy Hour and get 1/2 price pitchers! Bathrooms are typically clean and well stocked.
(4)Michael H.
Love love love the chicken, also try their mashed peas. Delicious. Definitely cant skip out on their frozen yogurts either, really helps with the heat. Reasonably priced...oh! Also, the hummus...great with the peri peri sauce swirled in. Not five stars for a few reasons. Entering is a bit confusing, as if a hostess seats you...but then you get up to go to the register and place your order. A bit backwards if you ask me...there isn't a server to take your order which normally is expected if youre greeted and sat down at a table. again, with a few other places. Only one of those create-your-flavor-coke machines. Gets a little annoying waiting in line to refill if theres people in front that like to try every single button.
(4)Steph H.
Nando's, where have you been all my life? Seriously. This is my go-to restaurant for a quick & tasty inexpensive meal...and they also serve beer and wine! SCORE!! I generally order the same thing every time I go...the chicken breast wrap, which is served with fresh green leaf lettuce, peppery sweet chilli jam and tangy yogurt sauce, and then I douse it in Nando's wild herb hot sauce. It is so good, and pretty big, as well. If I'm really hungry, I will add a couple of sides. I've tried them all...my absolute faves are the Peri-Peri nuts, macho peas with parsley, mint & chili (a little strange but very tasty) and the butternut squash and grilled corn with onions, dried cranberries, fresh cilantro and chili. The food always tastes the same and never disappoints, unlike some of the other restaurants close by. If you're sick of paying $13+ for a subpar salad down the street, try Nando's. Your tastebuds and wallet will thank you.
(4)Giang L.
The one star is for the lack of service. Now let me preface this and say that I frequent Nando's pretty often. Once we arrived to this particular establishment today (8/17/13), it was busy. So I picked an open table and had the hostess seat us. Once seated and decided what to eat, I went to order, no problems. They even honored my request for all dark meat chicken with my full platter. As we sat down and waited for our food, we got most of our order within 15 minutes. Not bad considering how busy they were. They said my order of corn was being cooked and would take 5 minutes max, "Okay that's fine", I said. Upon inspection of our food, we ended up getting breast and thighs in our order. No big deal, we were hungry and didn't mind it at all. As we ate, my side order of corn never came even after the server came by to make sure our meal was ok. Mid way through our meal, the manager came by and apologized as our order was mixed up. She asked if we wanted to have the chicken breast replaced with legs, I said thats fine if it wasn't a problem. So, off she went with the chicken breast. After 20 minutes, I told the manager that I was still missing my side order of corn and that the chicken had not come out yet. She said it would be right out. Another 15 minutes my blood was boiling.... I seriously wanted to go up to the manager and rip her a new one at this point, but with my bf there, I had to simmer my rage. So in total, 35 minutes to finally get the rest of the correct order. But the really messed up part of this ordeal was, the manager never came back to apologize for the inconvenience it caused. Not even eye contact. She avoided the area we were seated in, all together. As for the location of this place, it's closer to where we live now and certainly is more convenient. But would I go back? Probably not. The lack of responsibility of this particular manager really upset me. And that is saying something because I really love Nando's food...
(1)B V.
Nando's is my family's go-to place to eat at the Waugh Chapel Town Center. When we aren't sure of what we have a taste for we always end up choosing Nando's. Wonderful place to eat! Great entrees and sides. The Sangria is the best around! The food is always served with a smile. The hostess, Maeton serves us quite frequently. She and the rest of the staff are very accommodating and friendly.
(5)James S.
First time at Nando's today. Butterfly chicken breast, medium, garlic bread, and a pitcher of Sangria. All was excellent. Served as a proper portion, do not feel over stuffed when finished. It is an excellent choice if you are running low carb.
(4)Tiffany S.
Out of the three Nando's in the DC/MD area I've been to, this is the first one I didn't LOVE. I recently moved up to MD, and was ecstatic to have a Nando's within 20 miles of my house. I had previously driven 3 hours to eat the DC 17th & M Nando's with my little sister because I love Nando's so much. It's hard to make me love peri-peri any less, truly. All this in mind: I found the customer service at this Nando's to be highly lacking. We were greeted promptly, seated outside, and came back in to order. Particularly from my cashier, Destiny. I always order the Chicken wrap, medium with double chicken and two sides. After this, who ever is taking my order is always asks, "Would you like cheese or pineapple on that wrap?" and what my sides will be. While the cashier took my sides, (delicious mashed potatoes & bread) she did not ask if I wanted cheese or pineapple. So when I made a point after completing my order to say, 'May I have the cheese on my wrap' - she proceeded to argue with me about what kind of cheese I wanted. I have never been asked any cheesy questions before (pun intended) so I was confused and did my best to explain that I simply ask for cheese it appears, generally shredded. She was not kind about this. Clearly cheese is serious business at this Nando's. Cheese attitude or not, my food was delicious. I did laugh that inside my wrap was large slice of cheese. I also love that this Nando's has Honest Tea.
(3)Scott M.
Best chicken chain in the DC area.
(4)James C.
This place is the sorriest, least-busy Nando's Peri Peri that I've patronized. The food was okay but It felt dead and slow which made me wonder how fresh the side order were. nice location but it's huge and un-fill-able.
(3)Michael G.
I used to love Nandos... until they changed their menu. My girlfriend and I ate there about once/month. Went back tonight and noticed they changed their menu. I love their wings, to me they're the most flavorful, the most surface area for the size, to maximize seasoning, Nandos used to have wing options, as a meal with sides, 3 wings, 5 wings, etc. Now they only offer 12 wings with 1 or 2 sides, and a "wing" used to be both wing pieces, now a "wing" is a drummie only. Still roughly the same price though, so basically Nandos has doubled the price of their wings. I doubt I'll go back. It's a shame, I really used to like it there.
(2)Madelyn R.
The staff at Nando's has always been very friendly and polite with us. We always think we will be in and out faster than we are, for some reason. I usually get a wrap. How long does that take? Food was very... okay, which is kind of a theme for this review. We've been here a few times and each time has been okay. The wraps are really heavy on the lettuce and light on the chicken, when that's kind of backwards because their claim to fame is their amazing chicken, right? I actually took this one apart and removed a lot of the lettuce. The chicken was okay, from what I could tell. The sangria was okay. The rest of my party said their meals were okay. The parking was okay. If you can't get parallel out front, there's parking in the shopping center behind the strip. It's just a very all-around okay experience.
(3)Natalie F.
So I love Nandos especially this one until today. I work right next store to Nandos and normally will order the mushroom side to put on top of my salads I make from home. So I placed an order. One side of mushroom and a coffee. First I have to stand and wait while two girls try to figure out the machine and then they hand me my mushrooms expect it's a third of the size it's suppose to be. When I asked I was told they ran out today sorry. So I asked for a refund. The manager comes out and says "you find out what you're worth when you return from vacatio and that they had to send someone to the grocery store. So he refunds me and then throws it out! All around a bad experience. It's not my fault you were on vacation and that your staff can't place orders. Not to mention you allowed a customer to order something you were out of and then wasted it! That's the last time I order anything from Nandos ever!
(2)Jason D.
Pretty good food. I got a chicken breast for lunch...it looked kind of lonely sitting there on the plate all by itself, but tasted really good. I ordered spicy and it was pretty hot by American standards. I was a little upset with the "Portuguese" roll I ordered as a side thinking it would be some great, hand-made, exotic bread. It was just a hard dinner roll -- a SINGLE hard dinner roll -- that you can buy at any grocery store. The worst part? I paid $2.50 for it. Avoid the Portuguese roll.
(3)Jamie H.
So glad to have a chance to attend the soft opening at the newest Nando's & to be able to speak with the Operation's Manager about the upcoming happenings & potential openings! My husband and I are regulars at the Annapolis location but so excited to have one closer to our house. David had the butterfly chicken in Medium (heat) w/ red skin mashed potatoes & a side mixed green salad. I always like the butternut squash & couscous salad and this time I tried out the Lemon & Herb seasoned chicken which was delicious. If you like flavor in your food & don't mind a little heat, Nando's is right for you. I can't wait to see what the future holds for this location in the new section of Waugh Chapel.
(5)Joyce C.
Wanted to try something new in the area, so we stopped here in the food mecca center of Crofton. Got greeted and seated right away. Host didn't ask if this was our first visit, just gave us the menus and left. After waiting some time to be greeted by our server, we figured out there really are no "servers" here. We made our choice, poorly I'll say, and went to place it. Ordered the 10 medium chicken wings and one side & two drinks. Total was $26.00. The wings were small. It was more like an appetizer. We figured each wing cost us about $1 each. Huh? We really were expecting larger wings for the price. The taste was good though. The staff was friendly but not at all helpful. My tip for newcomers to this place is to study the menu before going.
(3)Sean G.
I've been to this location quite a few times, having spotted their sign on the back of the building when I was shopping at Wegman's. I had heard about Nando's from some European folks, and decided it was worth checking out. I was not disappointed! I like spicy food as a rule, and I'm a sucker for well cooked chicken, so this was a no-brainer menu for me. I have stuck with the butterfly chicken, done medium or hot, both of them are good, but I think I prefer the medium heat so I can dab it with hot or extra hot sauce on the side. The mashed potatoes are great, the garlic bread is awesome too. I would like if they offered a liquid sugar (agave maybe?) for their iced tea, but that's really the only complaint I have at all. I would probably eat here three times a week if it was closer to where I live!
(4)Somany Q.
I like the location and the decor. Staff was helpful. This was my first time, so I ordered the wings and got them in different flavors. Medium, Mango Lime and Lemon Herb. All three flavors were pretty tasty. Call me a wimp if you want, but I know that I would not enjoy the hot flavor. I also had the corn, cole slaw and mashed potatoes; none of these were anything to write home about, and I will likely just not order any sides here in the future. To recap this review; chicken wings are good, sides are just okay.
(4)Kaj W.
Growing up in London, Nandos was and is like McDonalds. So it's has been really nice having Nandos closer to home, the food is always nice at all the Nandos in DMV how can you go wrong with Portuguese food!!! Never!! the customer service is always good the atmosphere is really good and kid friendly for my screaming 1year old. I def visit Nandos every fortnight and u will recommend all to try and all the PeriPeri sauce are from lemon herb to extra hot so if you feel like being adventurous you can def try some home Pili Pili as the say in East Africa. Love me some Nandos
(5)Brittany W.
I love Nando's. I don't love the name. They had to paint on the wall how you say it. In case you're wondering they only sell chicken and some various sides. That being said, their food is phenomenal and the way their service is set up is awesome. Here's the deal: First of all, they marinate their chicken for 24 hours in some "secret sauce." When you walk in they will ask you if you'd like to sit or carry out. If you sit they will give you a table number. Either way, you will get up to order from the counter. Choose your spice level for your chicken - you'll do this regardless of what you order. Spicy food doesn't agree with me and I always get lemon and herb - it's delicious and has just a hint of spice. Choose your sides or anything else you want. Ask for a Nando's loyalty card. Every time you spend a certain amount of money you'll get a signature from the staff, and you get free stuff like olives along the way to a free meal (you have to get something like 15 signatures for this). Get some extra sauces with their little containers. You'll want it, trust me. Plus it's FREE! If you carried out, just hang out on the benches. They'll call your name when your food is ready. If you are dining in they will bring your food to you. If you forgot something or are still hungry a waitress will come over and ask if you need anything else. They'll put in the order for you. Even though I love Nando's and frequent here once or twice a week their wait time can be ridiculous. Several times I have waited 45 minutes for my food. The staff is very generous but a tad pushy in their sales. If you do take out, CHECK YOUR BAGS. Seriously, open containers to check your stuff. They generally get something wrong. One last thing. Get the chocolate spoon cake. There's no spoons in it, but it is TO DIE FOR!
(4)David H.
I had the butterfly chicken in Medium (heat) w/ red skin mashed potatoes & a side mixed green salad. was fantastic. I can not wait to go back. this has great location awesome ambiance and as always the Food is out of this world.. if you have not tried Nando's yet this is a must try... if you are OK with chicken, hummus that kind of food this is a place you must stop at. i guarantee you that you will not be disappointed.
(5)Erin W.
Delicious/ good quality chicken! Their food and service is very consistent. I really enjoy the variety of sauces they offer-there seems to be something for everyone. My favorite sides are the mashed potatoes, and the cole slaw. My only complaint is that if you want a healthier vegetable side, the are all over 3$. I'd be nice if there was at least one or two more healthier sides available for the price of the cheaper sides.
(4)Paul B.
Nando's food is great - delicious, brightly spiced and reliable. We go there a lot but we have noticed that the servers are a bit slow/lazy at times - while it doesn't usually, on a few occasions it's taken a long long time for our food to come out and when it did it had obviously been left under the heat lamps. Try the halloumi and the heavenly chicken breast salad. And the chicken livers. And be careful and don't be all macho-y about the heat you order.
(4)DIllon M.
So my buddy and I were going to see the new Oz movie at the Regal theatres at Waugh Chapel for a 1pm show, we arrived early to have lunch at the Fuji hibachi place but they weren't open and we needed to hurry, so we reluctantly decided to stop at Nando's. I say reluctant because I'm not big on big chain joints because to me the food at these places tends to cater to the general population, meaning, no flavor. And just as I thought, the same goes for this particular establishment. I didn't mind having to go up to the counter with my order, I suppose they're are trying to be different, although i think that's a unnecessary stretch. I WILL say the prices weren't bad. I ordered corn on the cob, their so-called "portuguese" rice and with great skepticism, a veggie burger. I think this place is really just an expensive advertising campaign for their various sauces because that's all the staff kept pushing on us. It was about noon, on March 10th. We were two of about 6 people in the place. There were more staff standing around the registers than there were patrons, never a good sign. Their labor costs were sky high THAT day. I will say the staff were friendly, they kept tabs on us to make sure we had what we needed and the restaurant was clean and the bathroom was clean. But ya don't go to supposedly great eating joints for that, you go for the food. I was HIGHLY disappointed. The veggie burger appeared to be your run-of-the-mill frozen veggie patty, probably nuked, I didn't see any actual chopped veggies in it. A good veggie burger has bits and chunks of chopped veggies, rice sometimes, or chopped beans. This veggie burger and the boring ice burg lettuce and tomato included along with the mild hot sauce was "meh" at best. It wasn't bad but it didn't wow me either. The corn on the cob was bland, no flavor, even after I put a little butter on it. And the so-called "portuguese" rice, which I was expecting to have alot of unique flavors, was bland. Presentation was just so-so as well, again, not bad but didn't wow either. My bud ordered a chicken wrap I think. He too was not wowwed at all. And he's a big guy with a big appetite, and anytime HE doesn't enjoy a meal, than something is really wrong! The music was cool but WAY too loud for just a few people inside. I was very disappointed with my meal overall and my buddy and I definitely scratched this place off our "must go to again" list.
(2)Mr J.
Consistently delicious and reasonably priced...a rare tasty chain restaurant. Very good sauces, fresh vegetables, and a great family friendly atmosphere.
(4)Ruth C.
So, the place is beautiful, staff friendly but the price for the portions are outrageous. The food tastes good but I am just not sure why the prices per portion of the wings are so high. They offer a self serve counter but bring out the food. They have a self serve Coke machine, which is great, but only 1 machine. We could see that being a problem if the place was busy. Loved the fried cheese and is the only reason we would go back.
(3)Lisa W.
I went to Nando's Peri Peri for the first time this week for lunch. When you go in, they seat you then you have to go up and order and pay at the cashier. Then you get your drinks and when your food is ready, they bring it out for you. The decor is really cool and funky. The bathroom stalls are made of wood, which is really neat. Definitely liked the look of the place. I had high expectations for this place because I know they have other locations that get good reviews. I ordered the 1/4 chicken, well my friend ordered it and ordered the white meat rather than the dark, which was what I had wanted. But that's ok, I ate it anyway. I ordered it with the medium sauce and it was plenty spicy! My lunch mates ordered the milder sauce. For the side, I ordered the mashed potatoes. The potatoes were really good. The chicken was smaller than I expected and I was really hungry so that was disappointing but now I know so I'll be prepared next time and probably order an extra side dish. The biggest problem was that the chicken was over-cooked and dry. They do provide extra sauce to dip it in so that helped with the dryness. One of my lunchmates ordered the 1/2 chicken and no side because he didn't like the selection and thought the 1/2 chicken would be plenty of food. His was really small too and he said it was like a little chickie. We all thought that the cost for the value was high; you'd expect if you're paying $13.50 for a lunch (with drink), that you'd go away full, but that wasn't the case. It may be a new person or something that cooked it too long, not sure. Both of our meals were over-cooked. I am hoping that this isn't the norm but don't really know since I haven't been to a Nando's before. Overall I would have to say it was just ok. I may come back after they've been there awhile and try it again and see if there is any improvement.
(2)Meagan L.
I've dined in several times since my first review. This place has become a favorite. The food is awesome, the dining area is always clean, and the service is pleasant.
(5)Ben Z.
Great place for quality grilled chicken. Pea mash is awesome.
(5)Sheila s.
I have been to Nando's Peri Peri in Annapolis many times so I am very familiar with the menu. Over time the Nando's in Annapolis has been slowly going down in terms of quality, it was a smart idea to make one in the new shopping center. It is hard for me to find any negatives with my dining experience at Nando's in Gambrills. I decided to take my cousin to this location for his first Nando's experience which he enjoyed. The ambiance was definitely above par for a chain restaurant. Very clean and organized. This location hasn't been open for very long so it would be a surprise to me if it wasn't clean. The decorations were simple but not boring. Overall the establishment looks welcoming. Staff was attentive and polite. We were approached by numerous employees who made sure our food was cooked properly and if we had any complains. Employees behind the register were very polite( you have to order at the counter btw), the line was moving a little slow but a cashier apologized and explained that they were closing down a register. No snobby teens working here! I ordered the hummus as an appetizer, very good. Usually hummus from most restaurants is salty and has no real flavor, Nando's hummus was full of flavor and there was a good amount of it. It also comes with a slightly hot sauce for anyone that wants a little kick. I ordered a half chicken (lemon herb) with fries and mashed potatoes for my entree. Chicken was moist and flavorful. Fries were crisped to perfection (no salt added which I enjoyed). The mashed potatoes were very rich. For two meals it was about 40 dollars, 40 dollars well spent.
(4)Thea L.
Best roasted chicken ever. Make sure to get the peas and garlic bread as sides. The hummus is also out of this world.
(5)Karina O.
So... first time to Nando's. Heard great things about it and I was excited. We did a group TAKE OUT order for work, and I ordered a 1/4 chicken, leg & thigh which cost $4.95 not including tax. It came back and I was excited to get to eating (it smelled great). I opened the box and was greatly disappointed - the piece of leg/thigh I got was probably 3" wide by 6" long (yes, including both the leg AND thigh, like maybe a pigeon or cornish hen size). Unfortunately, I couldn't take a picture of it to share with everyone, but my advice is DON'T DO TAKE OUT - especially if all you're ordering is a 1/4 chicken. I'm guessing any "small pieces" they have get put in take out orders because it's hard to complain (and do anything about it) once you get your food to wherever you're eating (in our case, it is a 20 minute drive to/from Nando's). I gave it 2 stars because the taste was great - but I surely did NOT pay $5 for that size chicken piece, where I could get a WHOLE chicken at Costco (or a 2-piece chicken meal at KFC) for that price. Sure, it's not the same as Nando's seasoned chicken - but I definitely would've felt like I actually had a whole dinner meal with the other options. I'll also add to this review that we were missing several items from our entire order - so that really sucked for each of the folks who got gipped. On the other hand, the Mucho Peas side dish was delicious.
(2)Mary H.
VERY good! It's kinda wierd to pay before they serve you but the char grilled chicken makes up for it. And the two of us only came to $25.
(4)C K.
Great wings (plainish and add your own sauce) and fries. However, I will say Lima has more flavorful chicken hands down and you get a lot more for your money. Format is a little strange with the half service, half do it yourself, but whatever. Probably could see myself returning like once a year, but not often. Nothing special to really write home about. P.S. While I was there a customer came back and said they didn't receive their order of rice in the takeout bag. The cashier said he was sure it was in there and proceeded to argue with the guy. Seriously? Who would come back with a kid in tow to argue about a $3 side item??? DO BETTER Nando's! Bad service will get you nowhere!
(2)Cee G.
For a fast food chain, the food was pretty good. I got the 1/4 thigh meal with the mashed peas and the seasonal cucumber salad. I did the medium hot chicken and it was not flavorful enough until I put the Garlic and Herb Peri Peri sauce on it. I wish you got more chicken for the price. Much of the chicken was bone. The atmosphere was pretty and loved the music. I might go back, but wouldn't go out of my way to do so.
(4)G.I. J.
Their ac is out. The whole restaurant is hot as sauna. The management seems don't mind. But if I was the manager the least I can do is open all the doors let the air flow a bit. Or bring some complementary cold beverage to customer who sit in. It's the gesture that matters. Waitresses are inexperienced and naive high schoolers. Kind of rude. Reminded me of those Abercrombie wearing snobs.
(1)Nee J.
LOVE IT! The food is awesome. We have gon' like 10 times already since they opened. We always get the platter--10 medium wings, 2 corn-on-the-cobs, garlic bread, and a caesar salad. This is more than enough for my hubby and I. The service is always fast and courteous. When we go in it's always getting the food to-go--we like to sit and laugh at the people get intimate with the drink machine. This Nando's has the do-it-yourself drink machine and there is only ONE! So when the parents let the kiddies fix their own drinks it slows the line down or you get the childish adult who wants to mix 10 different drinks together! I have tried the rice (wasn't a fan) and their sauces (chicken is seasoned very well so they're not needed to me).
(5)Nancy A.
Take out order - food missing from the order AGAIN for the second time in a few weeks. I love the food. Really a shame they can't get it together.
(1)James S.
First time at Nando's today. Butterfly chicken breast, medium, garlic bread, and a pitcher of Sangria. All was excellent. Served as a proper portion, do not feel over stuffed when finished. It is an excellent choice if you are running low carb.
(4)Sam M.
Don't be fooled by the rustic decor, Nando's is just an Americanized corporate slow-fast-food chain (think noodles & co or panera). The chicken is really underwhelming, especially if you've been to Sardi's or any of the hundreds of other charcoal chicken joints that have been popping up. You get more flavorful chicken at Popeyes. All of the sides and sauces are totally bland. Chicken portions are small. The service is fine for being a fast food hybrid, but ordering is confusing. I'm not sure why they even bothered having a hostess to seat you. The only thing i appreciated was the availability of mixed olives as an appetizer and their selection of a few half-decent beers available in bottles. Also, their prices are ridiculously jacked up for the quality of food, and I can only imagine that it is due to the lavish interior design. I shudder when I think of all of that beautiful reclaimed wood being wasted.
(1)Tim D.
This place has a bunch of choices for those that like chicken. You can choose from breasts, leg & thigh, wing & breast, etc. There are a lot of sauces available to put on the chicken they present to you. Dishes here are served a la carte and you'll want to pick out at least one side. Perhaps three for two people is the right answer. We've had a good number of them and we like the macho peas (rugged pea mash with whole peas, parsley, mint and chili) or the fries/chips. But they charge you another 15 cents for their special salt... And that brings me to why this place can't be given more than three stars from me. Their food is just not worth what they charge for it. For two people, it's at least 25 dollars with (soft) drinks -- they do have a fancy coke fountain though. This place is a little bit awkward too since you're greeted by a hostess/host and then you are given a table...but then you walk to the counter and order (and pay too much)...and then another/separate person brings the food to you...and then you leave confused and bewildered thinking: where did my money go and why did so many people have to help me?
(3)Bryan L.
My go to place for good food. There are plenty of great dishes to choose from. They also give 20% discount to military.
(4)Elizabeth S.
The staff is outstanding - friendly without being saccharine or fake. The chicken is terrific and the rice is super tasty. Love the option for different marinades on the chicken, as well as different sauces. The spice level on some options is too aggressive and overwhelms, but I like mild spice, so personal preference. My only complaint is that the cold slaw dressing is too heavy - need a much lighter hand. Overall, a great place to eat.
(4)Alexander W.
No line, quick food, polite staff ... a win! Ordered: the chicken livers with macho peas, 1/2 chicken woth rice, and a pitcher of Sangria. The chicken livers were perfectly cooked and spicy. The 1/2 chicken had a good flavor too (I am partial to the chicken livers) The chicken liver order could be bigger for the money, but the flavor made up for the lack of size. The location is fairly new, much nicer than the Silver Spring MD locarion.
(4)Rae M.
I personally think that this place is a bit overrated. It's an okay place to stop in and grab some food, but...put it like this, I wouldn't rush back. Came in on a Saturday afternoon and was immediately greeted by the host. He explained to us that you take the menu to your table and then go place the your order and they bring your food out to you when it's done. Why? It seems a little bassackwards (get it? ha!) if you ask me. Why can't the servers who walk around asking if you need anything like sauces, refills, etc; take your order for you? Just seems like it's an inconvenience for the customer. We ordered the platter of wings, 1/2 mango and lime, 1/2 lemon and herb, with fries and Portuguese rice as our sides and a order of garlic bread. The rice was bland, the garlic bread was delicious, the fries were okay, but a bit salty and most of our wings weren't even cooked fully. I had to tell the server that our wings weren't fully cooked. He took them back and said they would put them back on the grill. Again, why? Bring us out some new wings. Well, they didn't and when the wings came back, they were burnt to a crisp. The server came back to ask if everything was fine and we told him that they were now burnt, his response, "but everything else is fine, right?" as he walked away. SIGH! The manager came over to check on us and she was very apologetic and let us know she was going to make us another batch. She literally went in the kitchen herself to prepare the wings. We appreciated her customer service and how she worked hard to correct the issue. By the time the wings reached our table, they were piping hot and fully cooked. So much time had elapsed that we weren't even hungry anymore. We had filled up on the sides and the pitchers of Verde Sangria! The sangria was really good! I could come back for that alone. So even with the snafu's that we had with our under cooked wings, other than the garlic bread and sangria, nothing that I ate really stood out to me. It was just okay. My wings were pretty bland, the prices seemed a bit too steep for what you were receiving and the fact that it took 2 tries to actually cook the chicken at the proper temperature was a big red flag for me. I guess the only reason I'm giving them 3 stars is because of the sangria and garlic bread. Other than that, I wasn't impressed.
(3)Alyssa M.
Just ok. Not well seasoned... just bland. It was inedible tho. Over priced. Self serve. You order at counter and you are on your own after that... for the cost... I want service included. Wasn't really a fan. Won't be back.
(2)Sharon C.
Located in the Waugh Chapel area, Nando's Peri Peri was just what I needed to abandon my KFC & Tabasco habits. I ordered the Peri-Peri wings and Peri chips. Food came out promptly and full of flame broiled goodness. Upon arrival I mentioned that this was my first time dining here. I was encouraged to dine in & I'm glad I did. The entire place is clean & airy. I can appreciate the hand washing station to remind all the dirty birds to wash their hands before delving into the deliciousness waiting. I'll be back. ...with friends so I can sample more of the menu items.
(4)Erica C.
I tried Nando's twice when it first opened at Waugh Chapel. The restaurant had great reviews so after my initial experience being underwhelming, I attempted to create some chemistry between myself and Nando's by trying it again. I was disappointed the second time, so I never went back. Last week my husband and I began making better choices because our diet was awful. We were out running Saturday errands with our kid and decided to grab dinner. My husband suggested Nando's and after I rolled my eyes ten times, I reluctantly agreed. We decided to dine in, so you order your food and pay at the register and they bring it to you. We ordered the large wing dinner with mashed potatoes and corn. It took awhile to get to us but it was sizzling when it did! The chicken wings were roasted brilliantly, they were crispy on the outside and tender inside. They had the perfect amount of kick! The mashed potatoes were thick and flavorful, and the corn was sweet and salty. My daughter got the grilled cheese and French fries. I probably would not get her the grilled cheese again as the bread was extremely hard but the fries were perfection. My family was happy and we will return again! Sometimes you have to give a place time and space...I'm glad that upon my return to Nando's...we had the spark I was looking for!
(4)Susan M.
Good but not great, compared to the Nando's in Gaithersburg. The fries were warm but not fresh and the chicken in my wrap was on the cold side.
(3)Brea S.
The only reason I am giving this restaurant 2 stars is because of the staff they were so nice and always checking on us. The food and the price I wish I could give a negative. My friend recommend the place I never wanted to go because I would look at the menu and think this is so overpriced especially compared to limas or Sardi's. I gave it a try worst mistake ever. I got the 6 wings and a Caesar salad it cost 10 I didnt even get a drink. My fried got her food she ordered a half of chicken and rice we ordered at the same time. It took 20 min for my food to arrive after hers and i had to ask the waitress about it. When it came out disappointment was an understatement. The wings were the side of my fingers and burnt the salad was all the nasty hard pieces and hardly any dressing or cheese. I go the hot and mango sauce could hardly taste them on my wings. Now the good part was the staff i told them it was bad they apologized asked if i wanted some more salad. but i was like i don't want more nasty dry lettuce. And they guy was like yes our wings are small sorry. I told my friend even if she treated me i probably would never come back here again. If you want good Peruvian Chicken and you money's work drive to laurel or Bowie and go to Lima's or Sardis best chicken I ever had and the sides, they almost put too much food on our plate plus the price is great.
(1)Vidal D.
Second vist. Chicken wasn't as good. Not crispy. Not as much flavor. Still decent, but not as good as it was last visit. There was a rush of customers, maybe they rushed things. Don't rush. Cook the chicken perfectly please. Oh yeah they changed their happy hour....shorter now - 4-6 Sun-Thurs. Geez....people that work aren't going to make that....boo ... oh yeah and no more $5 pitchers of sangria - 1/2 price - full price is a steep $16
(4)Danielle L.
Ok.. So i have been here (this location) at least 8 times. For some reason I get the same ole' thang. I mean dont get me wrong....... I always enjoy it, but I usually end looking around and thinking next time I am ordering something different. So I did just that. I got the country salad with chicken . Mmmmmm so fresh and tasty. I added medium chicken to my salad. This was the perfect option since Im trying to watch what a eat, and usually here I opt for rice and garlic bread (which is not the best option if you are hoping the scale goes down) But this was filling .. the lettuce was crisp and fresh and of course the chicken was great. Ive never had a issue with service the staff is always friendly and helpful.
(4)K B.
The chicken is good and flavorful. I thought the mango lime was a little spicy and not very mango flavored but good nonetheless. The country salad is good. Prices are good and overall it is a comparatively inexpensive restaurant since you order at the counter and get your own drinks. Also they offer a 20% military discount.
(4)Vanessa R.
I've loved Nando's before they came to the U.S., I was stationed in England and it was my absolute favorite restaurant. When I found it here I was so happy, I've been to the Arundel Mills location 4x in the last month. I found this location by accident but I was hungry so I stopped by. This location had NOTHING the Arundel Mills location. I wasn't greeted, the food wasn't seasoned, my pita was 60% bread to 20% chicken and 20% vegetables. The cucumber salad that I fell in love with at the other location tasted like nothing here. I wondered why it was so empty and I figured it out pretty quickly.
(2)Lisa W.
I went to Nando's Peri Peri for the first time this week for lunch. When you go in, they seat you then you have to go up and order and pay at the cashier. Then you get your drinks and when your food is ready, they bring it out for you. The decor is really cool and funky. The bathroom stalls are made of wood, which is really neat. Definitely liked the look of the place. I had high expectations for this place because I know they have other locations that get good reviews. I ordered the 1/4 chicken, well my friend ordered it and ordered the white meat rather than the dark, which was what I had wanted. But that's ok, I ate it anyway. I ordered it with the medium sauce and it was plenty spicy! My lunch mates ordered the milder sauce. For the side, I ordered the mashed potatoes. The potatoes were really good. The chicken was smaller than I expected and I was really hungry so that was disappointing but now I know so I'll be prepared next time and probably order an extra side dish. The biggest problem was that the chicken was over-cooked and dry. They do provide extra sauce to dip it in so that helped with the dryness. One of my lunchmates ordered the 1/2 chicken and no side because he didn't like the selection and thought the 1/2 chicken would be plenty of food. His was really small too and he said it was like a little chickie. We all thought that the cost for the value was high; you'd expect if you're paying $13.50 for a lunch (with drink), that you'd go away full, but that wasn't the case. It may be a new person or something that cooked it too long, not sure. Both of our meals were over-cooked. I am hoping that this isn't the norm but don't really know since I haven't been to a Nando's before. Overall I would have to say it was just ok. I may come back after they've been there awhile and try it again and see if there is any improvement.
(2)Meagan L.
I've dined in several times since my first review. This place has become a favorite. The food is awesome, the dining area is always clean, and the service is pleasant.
(5)Kaj W.
Growing up in London, Nandos was and is like McDonalds. So it's has been really nice having Nandos closer to home, the food is always nice at all the Nandos in DMV how can you go wrong with Portuguese food!!! Never!! the customer service is always good the atmosphere is really good and kid friendly for my screaming 1year old. I def visit Nandos every fortnight and u will recommend all to try and all the PeriPeri sauce are from lemon herb to extra hot so if you feel like being adventurous you can def try some home Pili Pili as the say in East Africa. Love me some Nandos
(5)Brittany W.
I love Nando's. I don't love the name. They had to paint on the wall how you say it. In case you're wondering they only sell chicken and some various sides. That being said, their food is phenomenal and the way their service is set up is awesome. Here's the deal: First of all, they marinate their chicken for 24 hours in some "secret sauce." When you walk in they will ask you if you'd like to sit or carry out. If you sit they will give you a table number. Either way, you will get up to order from the counter. Choose your spice level for your chicken - you'll do this regardless of what you order. Spicy food doesn't agree with me and I always get lemon and herb - it's delicious and has just a hint of spice. Choose your sides or anything else you want. Ask for a Nando's loyalty card. Every time you spend a certain amount of money you'll get a signature from the staff, and you get free stuff like olives along the way to a free meal (you have to get something like 15 signatures for this). Get some extra sauces with their little containers. You'll want it, trust me. Plus it's FREE! If you carried out, just hang out on the benches. They'll call your name when your food is ready. If you are dining in they will bring your food to you. If you forgot something or are still hungry a waitress will come over and ask if you need anything else. They'll put in the order for you. Even though I love Nando's and frequent here once or twice a week their wait time can be ridiculous. Several times I have waited 45 minutes for my food. The staff is very generous but a tad pushy in their sales. If you do take out, CHECK YOUR BAGS. Seriously, open containers to check your stuff. They generally get something wrong. One last thing. Get the chocolate spoon cake. There's no spoons in it, but it is TO DIE FOR!
(4)David H.
I had the butterfly chicken in Medium (heat) w/ red skin mashed potatoes & a side mixed green salad. was fantastic. I can not wait to go back. this has great location awesome ambiance and as always the Food is out of this world.. if you have not tried Nando's yet this is a must try... if you are OK with chicken, hummus that kind of food this is a place you must stop at. i guarantee you that you will not be disappointed.
(5)Erin W.
Delicious/ good quality chicken! Their food and service is very consistent. I really enjoy the variety of sauces they offer-there seems to be something for everyone. My favorite sides are the mashed potatoes, and the cole slaw. My only complaint is that if you want a healthier vegetable side, the are all over 3$. I'd be nice if there was at least one or two more healthier sides available for the price of the cheaper sides.
(4)Paul B.
Nando's food is great - delicious, brightly spiced and reliable. We go there a lot but we have noticed that the servers are a bit slow/lazy at times - while it doesn't usually, on a few occasions it's taken a long long time for our food to come out and when it did it had obviously been left under the heat lamps. Try the halloumi and the heavenly chicken breast salad. And the chicken livers. And be careful and don't be all macho-y about the heat you order.
(4)Ruth C.
So, the place is beautiful, staff friendly but the price for the portions are outrageous. The food tastes good but I am just not sure why the prices per portion of the wings are so high. They offer a self serve counter but bring out the food. They have a self serve Coke machine, which is great, but only 1 machine. We could see that being a problem if the place was busy. Loved the fried cheese and is the only reason we would go back.
(3)DIllon M.
So my buddy and I were going to see the new Oz movie at the Regal theatres at Waugh Chapel for a 1pm show, we arrived early to have lunch at the Fuji hibachi place but they weren't open and we needed to hurry, so we reluctantly decided to stop at Nando's. I say reluctant because I'm not big on big chain joints because to me the food at these places tends to cater to the general population, meaning, no flavor. And just as I thought, the same goes for this particular establishment. I didn't mind having to go up to the counter with my order, I suppose they're are trying to be different, although i think that's a unnecessary stretch. I WILL say the prices weren't bad. I ordered corn on the cob, their so-called "portuguese" rice and with great skepticism, a veggie burger. I think this place is really just an expensive advertising campaign for their various sauces because that's all the staff kept pushing on us. It was about noon, on March 10th. We were two of about 6 people in the place. There were more staff standing around the registers than there were patrons, never a good sign. Their labor costs were sky high THAT day. I will say the staff were friendly, they kept tabs on us to make sure we had what we needed and the restaurant was clean and the bathroom was clean. But ya don't go to supposedly great eating joints for that, you go for the food. I was HIGHLY disappointed. The veggie burger appeared to be your run-of-the-mill frozen veggie patty, probably nuked, I didn't see any actual chopped veggies in it. A good veggie burger has bits and chunks of chopped veggies, rice sometimes, or chopped beans. This veggie burger and the boring ice burg lettuce and tomato included along with the mild hot sauce was "meh" at best. It wasn't bad but it didn't wow me either. The corn on the cob was bland, no flavor, even after I put a little butter on it. And the so-called "portuguese" rice, which I was expecting to have alot of unique flavors, was bland. Presentation was just so-so as well, again, not bad but didn't wow either. My bud ordered a chicken wrap I think. He too was not wowwed at all. And he's a big guy with a big appetite, and anytime HE doesn't enjoy a meal, than something is really wrong! The music was cool but WAY too loud for just a few people inside. I was very disappointed with my meal overall and my buddy and I definitely scratched this place off our "must go to again" list.
(2)Nancy A.
Take out order - food missing from the order AGAIN for the second time in a few weeks. I love the food. Really a shame they can't get it together.
(1)Madelyn R.
The staff at Nando's has always been very friendly and polite with us. We always think we will be in and out faster than we are, for some reason. I usually get a wrap. How long does that take? Food was very... okay, which is kind of a theme for this review. We've been here a few times and each time has been okay. The wraps are really heavy on the lettuce and light on the chicken, when that's kind of backwards because their claim to fame is their amazing chicken, right? I actually took this one apart and removed a lot of the lettuce. The chicken was okay, from what I could tell. The sangria was okay. The rest of my party said their meals were okay. The parking was okay. If you can't get parallel out front, there's parking in the shopping center behind the strip. It's just a very all-around okay experience.
(3)Michael G.
I used to love Nandos... until they changed their menu. My girlfriend and I ate there about once/month. Went back tonight and noticed they changed their menu. I love their wings, to me they're the most flavorful, the most surface area for the size, to maximize seasoning, Nandos used to have wing options, as a meal with sides, 3 wings, 5 wings, etc. Now they only offer 12 wings with 1 or 2 sides, and a "wing" used to be both wing pieces, now a "wing" is a drummie only. Still roughly the same price though, so basically Nandos has doubled the price of their wings. I doubt I'll go back. It's a shame, I really used to like it there.
(2)Sean G.
I've been to this location quite a few times, having spotted their sign on the back of the building when I was shopping at Wegman's. I had heard about Nando's from some European folks, and decided it was worth checking out. I was not disappointed! I like spicy food as a rule, and I'm a sucker for well cooked chicken, so this was a no-brainer menu for me. I have stuck with the butterfly chicken, done medium or hot, both of them are good, but I think I prefer the medium heat so I can dab it with hot or extra hot sauce on the side. The mashed potatoes are great, the garlic bread is awesome too. I would like if they offered a liquid sugar (agave maybe?) for their iced tea, but that's really the only complaint I have at all. I would probably eat here three times a week if it was closer to where I live!
(4)Somany Q.
I like the location and the decor. Staff was helpful. This was my first time, so I ordered the wings and got them in different flavors. Medium, Mango Lime and Lemon Herb. All three flavors were pretty tasty. Call me a wimp if you want, but I know that I would not enjoy the hot flavor. I also had the corn, cole slaw and mashed potatoes; none of these were anything to write home about, and I will likely just not order any sides here in the future. To recap this review; chicken wings are good, sides are just okay.
(4)Kaj W.
Growing up in London, Nandos was and is like McDonalds. So it's has been really nice having Nandos closer to home, the food is always nice at all the Nandos in DMV how can you go wrong with Portuguese food!!! Never!! the customer service is always good the atmosphere is really good and kid friendly for my screaming 1year old. I def visit Nandos every fortnight and u will recommend all to try and all the PeriPeri sauce are from lemon herb to extra hot so if you feel like being adventurous you can def try some home Pili Pili as the say in East Africa. Love me some Nandos
(5)Mr J.
Consistently delicious and reasonably priced...a rare tasty chain restaurant. Very good sauces, fresh vegetables, and a great family friendly atmosphere.
(4)Brittany W.
I love Nando's. I don't love the name. They had to paint on the wall how you say it. In case you're wondering they only sell chicken and some various sides. That being said, their food is phenomenal and the way their service is set up is awesome. Here's the deal: First of all, they marinate their chicken for 24 hours in some "secret sauce." When you walk in they will ask you if you'd like to sit or carry out. If you sit they will give you a table number. Either way, you will get up to order from the counter. Choose your spice level for your chicken - you'll do this regardless of what you order. Spicy food doesn't agree with me and I always get lemon and herb - it's delicious and has just a hint of spice. Choose your sides or anything else you want. Ask for a Nando's loyalty card. Every time you spend a certain amount of money you'll get a signature from the staff, and you get free stuff like olives along the way to a free meal (you have to get something like 15 signatures for this). Get some extra sauces with their little containers. You'll want it, trust me. Plus it's FREE! If you carried out, just hang out on the benches. They'll call your name when your food is ready. If you are dining in they will bring your food to you. If you forgot something or are still hungry a waitress will come over and ask if you need anything else. They'll put in the order for you. Even though I love Nando's and frequent here once or twice a week their wait time can be ridiculous. Several times I have waited 45 minutes for my food. The staff is very generous but a tad pushy in their sales. If you do take out, CHECK YOUR BAGS. Seriously, open containers to check your stuff. They generally get something wrong. One last thing. Get the chocolate spoon cake. There's no spoons in it, but it is TO DIE FOR!
(4)Erin W.
Delicious/ good quality chicken! Their food and service is very consistent. I really enjoy the variety of sauces they offer-there seems to be something for everyone. My favorite sides are the mashed potatoes, and the cole slaw. My only complaint is that if you want a healthier vegetable side, the are all over 3$. I'd be nice if there was at least one or two more healthier sides available for the price of the cheaper sides.
(4)Paul B.
Nando's food is great - delicious, brightly spiced and reliable. We go there a lot but we have noticed that the servers are a bit slow/lazy at times - while it doesn't usually, on a few occasions it's taken a long long time for our food to come out and when it did it had obviously been left under the heat lamps. Try the halloumi and the heavenly chicken breast salad. And the chicken livers. And be careful and don't be all macho-y about the heat you order.
(4)DIllon M.
So my buddy and I were going to see the new Oz movie at the Regal theatres at Waugh Chapel for a 1pm show, we arrived early to have lunch at the Fuji hibachi place but they weren't open and we needed to hurry, so we reluctantly decided to stop at Nando's. I say reluctant because I'm not big on big chain joints because to me the food at these places tends to cater to the general population, meaning, no flavor. And just as I thought, the same goes for this particular establishment. I didn't mind having to go up to the counter with my order, I suppose they're are trying to be different, although i think that's a unnecessary stretch. I WILL say the prices weren't bad. I ordered corn on the cob, their so-called "portuguese" rice and with great skepticism, a veggie burger. I think this place is really just an expensive advertising campaign for their various sauces because that's all the staff kept pushing on us. It was about noon, on March 10th. We were two of about 6 people in the place. There were more staff standing around the registers than there were patrons, never a good sign. Their labor costs were sky high THAT day. I will say the staff were friendly, they kept tabs on us to make sure we had what we needed and the restaurant was clean and the bathroom was clean. But ya don't go to supposedly great eating joints for that, you go for the food. I was HIGHLY disappointed. The veggie burger appeared to be your run-of-the-mill frozen veggie patty, probably nuked, I didn't see any actual chopped veggies in it. A good veggie burger has bits and chunks of chopped veggies, rice sometimes, or chopped beans. This veggie burger and the boring ice burg lettuce and tomato included along with the mild hot sauce was "meh" at best. It wasn't bad but it didn't wow me either. The corn on the cob was bland, no flavor, even after I put a little butter on it. And the so-called "portuguese" rice, which I was expecting to have alot of unique flavors, was bland. Presentation was just so-so as well, again, not bad but didn't wow either. My bud ordered a chicken wrap I think. He too was not wowwed at all. And he's a big guy with a big appetite, and anytime HE doesn't enjoy a meal, than something is really wrong! The music was cool but WAY too loud for just a few people inside. I was very disappointed with my meal overall and my buddy and I definitely scratched this place off our "must go to again" list.
(2)Ruth C.
So, the place is beautiful, staff friendly but the price for the portions are outrageous. The food tastes good but I am just not sure why the prices per portion of the wings are so high. They offer a self serve counter but bring out the food. They have a self serve Coke machine, which is great, but only 1 machine. We could see that being a problem if the place was busy. Loved the fried cheese and is the only reason we would go back.
(3)David H.
I had the butterfly chicken in Medium (heat) w/ red skin mashed potatoes & a side mixed green salad. was fantastic. I can not wait to go back. this has great location awesome ambiance and as always the Food is out of this world.. if you have not tried Nando's yet this is a must try... if you are OK with chicken, hummus that kind of food this is a place you must stop at. i guarantee you that you will not be disappointed.
(5)Lisa W.
I went to Nando's Peri Peri for the first time this week for lunch. When you go in, they seat you then you have to go up and order and pay at the cashier. Then you get your drinks and when your food is ready, they bring it out for you. The decor is really cool and funky. The bathroom stalls are made of wood, which is really neat. Definitely liked the look of the place. I had high expectations for this place because I know they have other locations that get good reviews. I ordered the 1/4 chicken, well my friend ordered it and ordered the white meat rather than the dark, which was what I had wanted. But that's ok, I ate it anyway. I ordered it with the medium sauce and it was plenty spicy! My lunch mates ordered the milder sauce. For the side, I ordered the mashed potatoes. The potatoes were really good. The chicken was smaller than I expected and I was really hungry so that was disappointing but now I know so I'll be prepared next time and probably order an extra side dish. The biggest problem was that the chicken was over-cooked and dry. They do provide extra sauce to dip it in so that helped with the dryness. One of my lunchmates ordered the 1/2 chicken and no side because he didn't like the selection and thought the 1/2 chicken would be plenty of food. His was really small too and he said it was like a little chickie. We all thought that the cost for the value was high; you'd expect if you're paying $13.50 for a lunch (with drink), that you'd go away full, but that wasn't the case. It may be a new person or something that cooked it too long, not sure. Both of our meals were over-cooked. I am hoping that this isn't the norm but don't really know since I haven't been to a Nando's before. Overall I would have to say it was just ok. I may come back after they've been there awhile and try it again and see if there is any improvement.
(2)Meagan L.
I've dined in several times since my first review. This place has become a favorite. The food is awesome, the dining area is always clean, and the service is pleasant.
(5)Ben Z.
Great place for quality grilled chicken. Pea mash is awesome.
(5)Sheila s.
I have been to Nando's Peri Peri in Annapolis many times so I am very familiar with the menu. Over time the Nando's in Annapolis has been slowly going down in terms of quality, it was a smart idea to make one in the new shopping center. It is hard for me to find any negatives with my dining experience at Nando's in Gambrills. I decided to take my cousin to this location for his first Nando's experience which he enjoyed. The ambiance was definitely above par for a chain restaurant. Very clean and organized. This location hasn't been open for very long so it would be a surprise to me if it wasn't clean. The decorations were simple but not boring. Overall the establishment looks welcoming. Staff was attentive and polite. We were approached by numerous employees who made sure our food was cooked properly and if we had any complains. Employees behind the register were very polite( you have to order at the counter btw), the line was moving a little slow but a cashier apologized and explained that they were closing down a register. No snobby teens working here! I ordered the hummus as an appetizer, very good. Usually hummus from most restaurants is salty and has no real flavor, Nando's hummus was full of flavor and there was a good amount of it. It also comes with a slightly hot sauce for anyone that wants a little kick. I ordered a half chicken (lemon herb) with fries and mashed potatoes for my entree. Chicken was moist and flavorful. Fries were crisped to perfection (no salt added which I enjoyed). The mashed potatoes were very rich. For two meals it was about 40 dollars, 40 dollars well spent.
(4)Thea L.
Best roasted chicken ever. Make sure to get the peas and garlic bread as sides. The hummus is also out of this world.
(5)Karina O.
So... first time to Nando's. Heard great things about it and I was excited. We did a group TAKE OUT order for work, and I ordered a 1/4 chicken, leg & thigh which cost $4.95 not including tax. It came back and I was excited to get to eating (it smelled great). I opened the box and was greatly disappointed - the piece of leg/thigh I got was probably 3" wide by 6" long (yes, including both the leg AND thigh, like maybe a pigeon or cornish hen size). Unfortunately, I couldn't take a picture of it to share with everyone, but my advice is DON'T DO TAKE OUT - especially if all you're ordering is a 1/4 chicken. I'm guessing any "small pieces" they have get put in take out orders because it's hard to complain (and do anything about it) once you get your food to wherever you're eating (in our case, it is a 20 minute drive to/from Nando's). I gave it 2 stars because the taste was great - but I surely did NOT pay $5 for that size chicken piece, where I could get a WHOLE chicken at Costco (or a 2-piece chicken meal at KFC) for that price. Sure, it's not the same as Nando's seasoned chicken - but I definitely would've felt like I actually had a whole dinner meal with the other options. I'll also add to this review that we were missing several items from our entire order - so that really sucked for each of the folks who got gipped. On the other hand, the Mucho Peas side dish was delicious.
(2)Mary H.
VERY good! It's kinda wierd to pay before they serve you but the char grilled chicken makes up for it. And the two of us only came to $25.
(4)Marjorie M.
I had the flame grilled chicken with the Macho Peas and Portuguese Rice. I also split some Peri Peri wings with half with Lemon & Herb seasoning and Mango & Lime for the other half. The wings were very tasty. There was some heat with the Mango & Lime, but both were very good. The chicken was delicious. Very tender and full of taste. The Macho Peas was something I have never tasted anything like before. The mint at first took some getting used to, but then I couldn't get enough. That was my favorite by far. The Portuguese Rice was undercooked and not anything that wow'ed me. Who knows if that was just the state of the rice on that night, but I'll probably opt to get something else next time. Overall, I would definitely go back. The atmosphere was vibrant and energetic. The selection of sauces was fantastic. So many options... so many parties in your mouth.
(4)G.I. J.
Their ac is out. The whole restaurant is hot as sauna. The management seems don't mind. But if I was the manager the least I can do is open all the doors let the air flow a bit. Or bring some complementary cold beverage to customer who sit in. It's the gesture that matters. Waitresses are inexperienced and naive high schoolers. Kind of rude. Reminded me of those Abercrombie wearing snobs.
(1)James S.
First time at Nando's today. Butterfly chicken breast, medium, garlic bread, and a pitcher of Sangria. All was excellent. Served as a proper portion, do not feel over stuffed when finished. It is an excellent choice if you are running low carb.
(4)Sam M.
Don't be fooled by the rustic decor, Nando's is just an Americanized corporate slow-fast-food chain (think noodles & co or panera). The chicken is really underwhelming, especially if you've been to Sardi's or any of the hundreds of other charcoal chicken joints that have been popping up. You get more flavorful chicken at Popeyes. All of the sides and sauces are totally bland. Chicken portions are small. The service is fine for being a fast food hybrid, but ordering is confusing. I'm not sure why they even bothered having a hostess to seat you. The only thing i appreciated was the availability of mixed olives as an appetizer and their selection of a few half-decent beers available in bottles. Also, their prices are ridiculously jacked up for the quality of food, and I can only imagine that it is due to the lavish interior design. I shudder when I think of all of that beautiful reclaimed wood being wasted.
(1)Kevin B.
Frequented a few times and consistently good service and quality of food. Great tasting. Portions could be a little more substantial for what you pay but ok. I enjoy the Sangria very much! Hit it on Happy Hour and get 1/2 price pitchers! Bathrooms are typically clean and well stocked.
(4)Jeneen C.
Had lunch at Peri Peri located in the Waugh Chapel Towne Centre. Great location and lots of stores and a movie theater. We were seated very quickly upon entering. If you haven't been to Nando's Peri Peri let me give you a briefing-- you look over the menu and decide what you would like to order, go up to the register, place your order and pay. Afterwards you make your way over to the self serve drink station, silverware and napkins. Return to your seat and then your food is brought out to you. Different right?! Back to the food, the chicken is moist , tender and you order it however spicy you'd like. As far as the sides;all starch didn't see anything green except the salads. Sides: garlic bread, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, rice and fries. I had the 1/4 white meat chicken with mashed potatoes and garlic bread. Also had a sangria-premade and delicious!
(3)Lauren A.
I love Nando's. I always get the same item (grilled chicked breast, medium sauce) with garlic bread or their amazing mashed potatoes. Service is quick, prices are reasonable (about $10-15 per meal), and the atmosphere is exciting and colorful. I even brought my daughters here a couple weeks ago and they loved their chicken kids meals as well. The set-up of the place is easy to figure out; sit down, go up to the front ad order when you know what you want, get your drink/napkins/silverware/and whatever sauce you want, and wait at your table for the food. This location is great because there's so much to offer in the shopping center. The one in the Annapolis Mall is also great, with the inside being a little more aesthetically pleasing, and generally less crowded.
(4)Shari L.
Love this place the best thing on the menu is the butternut squash! The flavors burst in your mouth! ! The mango lime chicken is tasty cooked perfectly! To top it off is yummy sangria! One of my favorite places!
(4)Vaidehi M.
I have been to Nando's several times and I love the peri-peri chicken they serve. However as compared to other locations the staff at Waugh Chapel is just okay. There was no line at the register and I still waited there for 10 mins for them to take my order, the staff just stood there chatting. I love Nando's and I will choose a different location whenever I crave for peri-peri chicken.
(3)Jon W.
The good: the food was Outstanding! The best we've had here or at any Nando's since we've started patronizing the establishment. For this reason they get 2 stars instead of 1. The bad: My wife and I drove for an hour to get here, dealt with driving considerably more time to get a parking space, then had to deal with one of the 4 Cardinal sins of the restaurant world. Thou Shalt Not Be Rude To Patrons. I stood in line waiting to be served while the cashier had a complaint session with her gf at work. Only when she was finished did she ask if she could help me. And so on and so on and so on. It continued to get worse but I have to say that the food changed my mood considerably. As much as we like it, if we have the same expedience with the wait staff next time we come then we won't return. Restaurant Cardinal Sins 2, 3 and 4? Thou Shalt Not Be Rude To Patrons, Thou Shalt Not Be Rude To Patrons and Thou Shalt Not Be Rude To Patrons.
(2)Crystal H.
I have been wondering about this place ever since I feel in love with Lima's in Bowie! I know that Lima's is Peruvian and Nando's is Portugese, but I've heard very good things about thier chicken! So on the suggestion of a friend, I went on in! I definitely get the chain feeling walking inside, but thought, it should be alright! I ordered the quarter chicken and the fries! However, I didn't like that I had to pay for the salt or the mayo,but whatever, it is what it is! I thought the chicken was alright! It was dryer than I thought it would be! Not as flavorful either! But whatever! If I wanted the flavor profile adjusted it could have been. I'm just not into spicy food that much so I played it safe with plain or perhaps mild chicken! Next time, I will try another seasoning cause this lacked a lot to be desired! It wasn't bad, I just wasn't impressed! I did find their prices to be a little big much for what they are serving, but that's just my opinion! Not too sure if I will go back anytime soon, but it wasn't the worst thing I've ever had! But I will make better choices!
(3)David W.
Where do I start, I know with one word... DELICIOUS! I thought Chipotle had the formula for good healthy food delivered fast. Nando's takes it up a notch with great dining ambience and the frozen yogurt that is like a small part of heaven. I recommend absolutely everything and please do yourself a favor and chase it down with their signature formulary Sangria!
(5)Jarrod F.
First of, the restaurant itself was beautiful. This was my first time in a Nando's and I was pleasantly surprised by the colorful and tasteful decor. Very high waulity. Unfortunately, decor aside, Nando's leaves much to be desired... I ordered the 1/2 chicken (lime seasoning) with fries and peas. My lady ordered the Mediterranean salad with chicken (she got 3 stripes) and the other couple we were with got the wings, garlic bread and harvest salad? with chicken. Everything was just OK... nothing at all made me want to jump up and say YAY I'm coming back for more! This was really just a glorified rotisserie chicken joint and that was the biggest letdown. The menu is just chicken, salads and sandwiches. I was hoping for something a bit more Portuguese, South African or whatever national cuisine this restaurant pretends to serve. Other little things like charging $0.15 cents for salt on my fries really irked me. I mean who the hell charges for salt?!! I also didn't like the whole order at the counter thing because we got our food a good 10 minutes before the other couple got there's and we ordered at the same time. Again, the decor rocks.... the employees were great and the fries were actually really awesome. Besides that, I can buy a rotisserie chicken on my own and pay a fraction of the price. The sauce bottles were a great concept but it just didn't do it for me.
(3)SL F.
I've visited this PERi-PERi location often as it's near my home, and unfortunately it seems like my experience goes down one step with each visit. One time I actually (OK, I can't prove it, but I'm about 85% sure) had food poisoning from perhaps an old cut of chicken they served me when I went there one late night to eat dinner. My last order, which was takeout (hot wings and fries) just sucked all around. The chicken was dried out and there wasn't really anything hot about it nor did it seem like anything was on it, the fries were limp and lukewarm, and overall it was just a very discomforting meal; I think I winded up just fixing something else I had in my kitchen. I don't think I will visit this particular location anymore. Not worth the price.
(2)Angela T.
Worthless. The hostess is rude. Tried to seat us at a filthy table. We've been here before. Super slow and order comes out with huge lags in between. Not worth a visit.
(1)Usagi T.
Boring. Uneventful. Flavorless Chicken. Sorry, I know a ton of people will disagree and no disrespect to anyone else's taste buds but to each their own. For the price they charge, they ought to be ashamed. Nando's is simply another overhyped, American chain restaurant with a phenomenal marketing team. I came in on a Groupon, and if I hadn't, this would be a one star review. We ordered a leg & thigh, breast & wing and wings order and shared everything between the 2 of us. For sides we went with fries and macho peas. The macho peas were 4 stars, unique, minty, very fresh tasting and delicious they were oddly my favorite part of the meal. The fries were basic, no...less than basic. Oh, and if you want to fries salted, they charge you. Wtf? It's only .15 but still. Don't insult us, just wrap it in the cost if the fries. Aye... Moving on to the main course, the chicken. Dry, small and no flavor without the sauces. I suppose Nando's concept may primary be based strictly on their sauces since they have so many. One of our orders we got plain with sauce on the side, specifically to see how the chicken tasted on its own. Yuk. Plain...like bad banquet food. Ok, let's try the order that came with the sauce on it. It was ok. But it tasted like the sauce sits on the outside of plain, boring, dry chicken and doesn't really penetrate. The best way I discovered to eat Nando's in fact was to simply dip the chicken in the sauce. As for the sauces, 4 stars. This is the only other thing Nando's does pretty well besides the peas. I tried every flavor in the restaurant while we waited for our food, and I'd agree it is a unique and nice little selection. I don't think the "spicy" sauces though are spicy at all. I guess you can take my review with a grain of salt. I don't eat much American food, and typically eat very seasoned, spicy dishes on a regular basis. I'm accustomed to marinated meats (when I do eat meat...slowly becoming less and less again). So this just doesn't cut it for me. Perhaps it's a cultural difference. As far as this particular location, the service was all right. Good looking staff, semi friendly but not overly. They weren't helpful when I told them it was my first time there, didn't offer suggestions or anything. My Izzy beverage was opened before it was handed to me, which was unfortunate as I specifically told them I ordered it to take home. Oh well. Overall, I'll come pick up some sauces to include in my at home condiment selection, however I don't intend to eat here again. The peas are easily duplicated at home.
(2)Angie J.
Delicious, flavorful chicken! I always order the 1/4 leg and thigh (medium) with the Spanish rice and Chunky Portuguese Medley. My husband is crazy about their garlic bread. Service is friendly and fast.
(5)Katie B.
Some people may be partial to the flavors that Nandos serves up, but I however absolutely love this selection of cuisine! I first tried Nandos when I studied abroad in the united kingdom, and I was extremely excited to find their restaurants here after some years. Nandos is Portuguese inspired food, so it tends to be very spicy. If spice is not for you, then be sure to order to order the lemon and like flavored items that just offer a great seasoning. I promise you that Nandos will not disappoint, but do be prepared for lots and lots of chicken inspired menu items. I personally love ordering the pitas, but no item on the menu will disappoint. This location is fairly new, and it is very tastefully furnished. Now go enjoy your Peri Peri!
(5)Art T.
I was stoked when this opened in Waugh Chapel. I had been to the location in the Annapolis Mall once, having the urge to try something a little different. I was expecting something South American perhaps, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found out it was more Northwest African! The chicken is good, very good. Admittedly, it can be a tad overcooked, but I've never had anything too dry or at all burnt. Also, the base chicken can pack a tiny bit of heat even, so if you're anything like my immediate family (LOL), then you probably want to stay away. I generally go with one of the mild sauces and add from there with the plethora of bottles they have available for post-chicken-to-table seasoning. The sides are quite enjoyable, as well. Don't be afraid to try those peas. Believe me, they'll make you think twice about peas. The garlic bread is soft, crunchy, very flavorful, and nicely seasoned. Shout-outs to the corn and slaw, as well; both very delicious accompaniments. I love the decor in here, too. Very nautical in a far Western Europe/African way. Fun, but not pretentious. Colorful, but not obnoxious. Great balance of scenery and light. Overall, this place is a win. Very happy to have it next door. Maybe the chicken will keep getting better, we'll see. But, definitely worth the four stars, close to a fifth. Oh yum.
(4)Angela R.
I was suspicious before I even walked in there, but my husband wanted to try something new. As it turned out my gut feeling was right. We've ordered two appetizers to share and it was ridiculous how small the portions were. Before you think I am a fatty, I am definitely not (size 8) but I love to eat and I love my meals to be generous. The main course Flame-Grilled Chicken promised to be succulent (full of juice) but it was hard as a rock and again it was a portion as small as you would give to a child that doesn't want to eat. The hyped up Peri Peri sauce is really nothing special. They make you pay for all the extras, like mayo or a pineapple in your wrap. Maybe you wont spend much if you go to this place, but you will also still be hungry when you leave it. I would never go there again.
(1)John W.
I wanted to try something new and the ambiance first caught my attention. I realized that the story of how it was founded in south africa was bullshit. The company just does those things so there is a story behind your chicken, or the place you eat. The portions were small almost 4 dollars for some olives is insane. My chicken wrap was a bit over priced. All the food tasted good, the service was confusing. I am not going back anytime soon. My wife did not think so highly of the place, though i do not see them staying around to long when they give you almost nothing for what you pay. Basically it is a fancy fast food joint.
(2)Hoyt H.
I was a fan of Nando's in the UK, and I'm glad to see they're expanding in the US. Every Nando's I've been to has been consistently tasty. Ordering is done pub-style, where your table has a number, and you order at a counter. They bring your food out to your table when its ready. I usually get the butterflied chicken breast, with a side of fries (with perinaise) and/or peas. You can select how spicy you want your chicken to be, which is helpful when in a group. I really like the peas side, since they add a bit of mint. There are also a wide variety of sauces available to take to your table, if you need to add even more flavor. This Waugh Chapel location is convenient for those pre-wegmans food stops :) Definitely recommended.
(4)Marjorie M.
I had the flame grilled chicken with the Macho Peas and Portuguese Rice. I also split some Peri Peri wings with half with Lemon & Herb seasoning and Mango & Lime for the other half. The wings were very tasty. There was some heat with the Mango & Lime, but both were very good. The chicken was delicious. Very tender and full of taste. The Macho Peas was something I have never tasted anything like before. The mint at first took some getting used to, but then I couldn't get enough. That was my favorite by far. The Portuguese Rice was undercooked and not anything that wow'ed me. Who knows if that was just the state of the rice on that night, but I'll probably opt to get something else next time. Overall, I would definitely go back. The atmosphere was vibrant and energetic. The selection of sauces was fantastic. So many options... so many parties in your mouth.
(4)Gee L.
Very delicious. The butterflied grilled chicken breast was moist and very tasty. I highly recommend that you try it at least once. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Doug S.
There is something just electric about this place. The staff is attentive and patient; especially since the ordering system is a little bit different. Now, it's counter service but you have to remember the number of your table when you order. Again, not a big deal unless you have consistent brain farts like I tend to do. You know those times when that six year old walking with you has been talking incessantly about absolutely nothing and your mind has drifted off to... Oh look sparkly sparkly.. Yea you get it. So first let's talk about their chicken. It's been brined then thrown onto a superhot grill, seared on both sides and served fresh to the table. To be honest I haven't had a bad piece of chicken there yet. But wait, there's more... Corn, corn on the cob grilled and brought to the table that I smother with butter and devour. Juicy, sweet, crisp, crunchy, and delectable are just a few words I would use to describe it. The mashed potato's are probably the best I've ever eaten that weren't prepared by my wife or memaw. Simply put I have not gone wrong with anything I've eaten and will continue hitting them up 1-2 times per month. Finally, you have to ask for it but they have a generous military discount that brings them firmly into the "I'll eat here over so-called fast food every time".
(4)Kevin B.
Frequented a few times and consistently good service and quality of food. Great tasting. Portions could be a little more substantial for what you pay but ok. I enjoy the Sangria very much! Hit it on Happy Hour and get 1/2 price pitchers! Bathrooms are typically clean and well stocked.
(4)Michael H.
Love love love the chicken, also try their mashed peas. Delicious. Definitely cant skip out on their frozen yogurts either, really helps with the heat. Reasonably priced...oh! Also, the hummus...great with the peri peri sauce swirled in. Not five stars for a few reasons. Entering is a bit confusing, as if a hostess seats you...but then you get up to go to the register and place your order. A bit backwards if you ask me...there isn't a server to take your order which normally is expected if youre greeted and sat down at a table. again, with a few other places. Only one of those create-your-flavor-coke machines. Gets a little annoying waiting in line to refill if theres people in front that like to try every single button.
(4)Steph H.
Nando's, where have you been all my life? Seriously. This is my go-to restaurant for a quick & tasty inexpensive meal...and they also serve beer and wine! SCORE!! I generally order the same thing every time I go...the chicken breast wrap, which is served with fresh green leaf lettuce, peppery sweet chilli jam and tangy yogurt sauce, and then I douse it in Nando's wild herb hot sauce. It is so good, and pretty big, as well. If I'm really hungry, I will add a couple of sides. I've tried them all...my absolute faves are the Peri-Peri nuts, macho peas with parsley, mint & chili (a little strange but very tasty) and the butternut squash and grilled corn with onions, dried cranberries, fresh cilantro and chili. The food always tastes the same and never disappoints, unlike some of the other restaurants close by. If you're sick of paying $13+ for a subpar salad down the street, try Nando's. Your tastebuds and wallet will thank you.
(4)Giang L.
The one star is for the lack of service. Now let me preface this and say that I frequent Nando's pretty often. Once we arrived to this particular establishment today (8/17/13), it was busy. So I picked an open table and had the hostess seat us. Once seated and decided what to eat, I went to order, no problems. They even honored my request for all dark meat chicken with my full platter. As we sat down and waited for our food, we got most of our order within 15 minutes. Not bad considering how busy they were. They said my order of corn was being cooked and would take 5 minutes max, "Okay that's fine", I said. Upon inspection of our food, we ended up getting breast and thighs in our order. No big deal, we were hungry and didn't mind it at all. As we ate, my side order of corn never came even after the server came by to make sure our meal was ok. Mid way through our meal, the manager came by and apologized as our order was mixed up. She asked if we wanted to have the chicken breast replaced with legs, I said thats fine if it wasn't a problem. So, off she went with the chicken breast. After 20 minutes, I told the manager that I was still missing my side order of corn and that the chicken had not come out yet. She said it would be right out. Another 15 minutes my blood was boiling.... I seriously wanted to go up to the manager and rip her a new one at this point, but with my bf there, I had to simmer my rage. So in total, 35 minutes to finally get the rest of the correct order. But the really messed up part of this ordeal was, the manager never came back to apologize for the inconvenience it caused. Not even eye contact. She avoided the area we were seated in, all together. As for the location of this place, it's closer to where we live now and certainly is more convenient. But would I go back? Probably not. The lack of responsibility of this particular manager really upset me. And that is saying something because I really love Nando's food...
(1)B V.
Nando's is my family's go-to place to eat at the Waugh Chapel Town Center. When we aren't sure of what we have a taste for we always end up choosing Nando's. Wonderful place to eat! Great entrees and sides. The Sangria is the best around! The food is always served with a smile. The hostess, Maeton serves us quite frequently. She and the rest of the staff are very accommodating and friendly.
(5)Tiffany S.
Out of the three Nando's in the DC/MD area I've been to, this is the first one I didn't LOVE. I recently moved up to MD, and was ecstatic to have a Nando's within 20 miles of my house. I had previously driven 3 hours to eat the DC 17th & M Nando's with my little sister because I love Nando's so much. It's hard to make me love peri-peri any less, truly. All this in mind: I found the customer service at this Nando's to be highly lacking. We were greeted promptly, seated outside, and came back in to order. Particularly from my cashier, Destiny. I always order the Chicken wrap, medium with double chicken and two sides. After this, who ever is taking my order is always asks, "Would you like cheese or pineapple on that wrap?" and what my sides will be. While the cashier took my sides, (delicious mashed potatoes & bread) she did not ask if I wanted cheese or pineapple. So when I made a point after completing my order to say, 'May I have the cheese on my wrap' - she proceeded to argue with me about what kind of cheese I wanted. I have never been asked any cheesy questions before (pun intended) so I was confused and did my best to explain that I simply ask for cheese it appears, generally shredded. She was not kind about this. Clearly cheese is serious business at this Nando's. Cheese attitude or not, my food was delicious. I did laugh that inside my wrap was large slice of cheese. I also love that this Nando's has Honest Tea.
(3)Scott M.
Best chicken chain in the DC area.
(4)James C.
This place is the sorriest, least-busy Nando's Peri Peri that I've patronized. The food was okay but It felt dead and slow which made me wonder how fresh the side order were. nice location but it's huge and un-fill-able.
(3)Michael G.
I used to love Nandos... until they changed their menu. My girlfriend and I ate there about once/month. Went back tonight and noticed they changed their menu. I love their wings, to me they're the most flavorful, the most surface area for the size, to maximize seasoning, Nandos used to have wing options, as a meal with sides, 3 wings, 5 wings, etc. Now they only offer 12 wings with 1 or 2 sides, and a "wing" used to be both wing pieces, now a "wing" is a drummie only. Still roughly the same price though, so basically Nandos has doubled the price of their wings. I doubt I'll go back. It's a shame, I really used to like it there.
(2)Daniel T.
After my previous visit, I contacted Nando's management in D.C. about the incident. They were very concerned and gave me the explanation, "All chickens are not created equal". lol. They stated that the staff on duty should have noticed all the servings were very small and should have been replaced. They sent me a coupon for a free family meal. My family went and the food was excellent, and the portions were healthy. Thanks Nando for being responsive and very professional. Good management is what keeps businesses thriving, even after a bad experience. Danny
(5)Madelyn R.
The staff at Nando's has always been very friendly and polite with us. We always think we will be in and out faster than we are, for some reason. I usually get a wrap. How long does that take? Food was very... okay, which is kind of a theme for this review. We've been here a few times and each time has been okay. The wraps are really heavy on the lettuce and light on the chicken, when that's kind of backwards because their claim to fame is their amazing chicken, right? I actually took this one apart and removed a lot of the lettuce. The chicken was okay, from what I could tell. The sangria was okay. The rest of my party said their meals were okay. The parking was okay. If you can't get parallel out front, there's parking in the shopping center behind the strip. It's just a very all-around okay experience.
(3)Natalie F.
So I love Nandos especially this one until today. I work right next store to Nandos and normally will order the mushroom side to put on top of my salads I make from home. So I placed an order. One side of mushroom and a coffee. First I have to stand and wait while two girls try to figure out the machine and then they hand me my mushrooms expect it's a third of the size it's suppose to be. When I asked I was told they ran out today sorry. So I asked for a refund. The manager comes out and says "you find out what you're worth when you return from vacatio and that they had to send someone to the grocery store. So he refunds me and then throws it out! All around a bad experience. It's not my fault you were on vacation and that your staff can't place orders. Not to mention you allowed a customer to order something you were out of and then wasted it! That's the last time I order anything from Nandos ever!
(2)Jason D.
Pretty good food. I got a chicken breast for lunch...it looked kind of lonely sitting there on the plate all by itself, but tasted really good. I ordered spicy and it was pretty hot by American standards. I was a little upset with the "Portuguese" roll I ordered as a side thinking it would be some great, hand-made, exotic bread. It was just a hard dinner roll -- a SINGLE hard dinner roll -- that you can buy at any grocery store. The worst part? I paid $2.50 for it. Avoid the Portuguese roll.
(3)Jamie H.
So glad to have a chance to attend the soft opening at the newest Nando's & to be able to speak with the Operation's Manager about the upcoming happenings & potential openings! My husband and I are regulars at the Annapolis location but so excited to have one closer to our house. David had the butterfly chicken in Medium (heat) w/ red skin mashed potatoes & a side mixed green salad. I always like the butternut squash & couscous salad and this time I tried out the Lemon & Herb seasoned chicken which was delicious. If you like flavor in your food & don't mind a little heat, Nando's is right for you. I can't wait to see what the future holds for this location in the new section of Waugh Chapel.
(5)Joyce C.
Wanted to try something new in the area, so we stopped here in the food mecca center of Crofton. Got greeted and seated right away. Host didn't ask if this was our first visit, just gave us the menus and left. After waiting some time to be greeted by our server, we figured out there really are no "servers" here. We made our choice, poorly I'll say, and went to place it. Ordered the 10 medium chicken wings and one side & two drinks. Total was $26.00. The wings were small. It was more like an appetizer. We figured each wing cost us about $1 each. Huh? We really were expecting larger wings for the price. The taste was good though. The staff was friendly but not at all helpful. My tip for newcomers to this place is to study the menu before going.
(3)Sean G.
I've been to this location quite a few times, having spotted their sign on the back of the building when I was shopping at Wegman's. I had heard about Nando's from some European folks, and decided it was worth checking out. I was not disappointed! I like spicy food as a rule, and I'm a sucker for well cooked chicken, so this was a no-brainer menu for me. I have stuck with the butterfly chicken, done medium or hot, both of them are good, but I think I prefer the medium heat so I can dab it with hot or extra hot sauce on the side. The mashed potatoes are great, the garlic bread is awesome too. I would like if they offered a liquid sugar (agave maybe?) for their iced tea, but that's really the only complaint I have at all. I would probably eat here three times a week if it was closer to where I live!
(4)Somany Q.
I like the location and the decor. Staff was helpful. This was my first time, so I ordered the wings and got them in different flavors. Medium, Mango Lime and Lemon Herb. All three flavors were pretty tasty. Call me a wimp if you want, but I know that I would not enjoy the hot flavor. I also had the corn, cole slaw and mashed potatoes; none of these were anything to write home about, and I will likely just not order any sides here in the future. To recap this review; chicken wings are good, sides are just okay.
(4)Alexander W.
No line, quick food, polite staff ... a win! Ordered: the chicken livers with macho peas, 1/2 chicken woth rice, and a pitcher of Sangria. The chicken livers were perfectly cooked and spicy. The 1/2 chicken had a good flavor too (I am partial to the chicken livers) The chicken liver order could be bigger for the money, but the flavor made up for the lack of size. The location is fairly new, much nicer than the Silver Spring MD locarion.
(4)Bryan L.
My go to place for good food. There are plenty of great dishes to choose from. They also give 20% discount to military.
(4)Jeneen C.
Had lunch at Peri Peri located in the Waugh Chapel Towne Centre. Great location and lots of stores and a movie theater. We were seated very quickly upon entering. If you haven't been to Nando's Peri Peri let me give you a briefing-- you look over the menu and decide what you would like to order, go up to the register, place your order and pay. Afterwards you make your way over to the self serve drink station, silverware and napkins. Return to your seat and then your food is brought out to you. Different right?! Back to the food, the chicken is moist , tender and you order it however spicy you'd like. As far as the sides;all starch didn't see anything green except the salads. Sides: garlic bread, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, rice and fries. I had the 1/4 white meat chicken with mashed potatoes and garlic bread. Also had a sangria-premade and delicious!
(3)Lauren A.
I love Nando's. I always get the same item (grilled chicked breast, medium sauce) with garlic bread or their amazing mashed potatoes. Service is quick, prices are reasonable (about $10-15 per meal), and the atmosphere is exciting and colorful. I even brought my daughters here a couple weeks ago and they loved their chicken kids meals as well. The set-up of the place is easy to figure out; sit down, go up to the front ad order when you know what you want, get your drink/napkins/silverware/and whatever sauce you want, and wait at your table for the food. This location is great because there's so much to offer in the shopping center. The one in the Annapolis Mall is also great, with the inside being a little more aesthetically pleasing, and generally less crowded.
(4)Angela R.
I was suspicious before I even walked in there, but my husband wanted to try something new. As it turned out my gut feeling was right. We've ordered two appetizers to share and it was ridiculous how small the portions were. Before you think I am a fatty, I am definitely not (size 8) but I love to eat and I love my meals to be generous. The main course Flame-Grilled Chicken promised to be succulent (full of juice) but it was hard as a rock and again it was a portion as small as you would give to a child that doesn't want to eat. The hyped up Peri Peri sauce is really nothing special. They make you pay for all the extras, like mayo or a pineapple in your wrap. Maybe you wont spend much if you go to this place, but you will also still be hungry when you leave it. I would never go there again.
(1)John W.
I wanted to try something new and the ambiance first caught my attention. I realized that the story of how it was founded in south africa was bullshit. The company just does those things so there is a story behind your chicken, or the place you eat. The portions were small almost 4 dollars for some olives is insane. My chicken wrap was a bit over priced. All the food tasted good, the service was confusing. I am not going back anytime soon. My wife did not think so highly of the place, though i do not see them staying around to long when they give you almost nothing for what you pay. Basically it is a fancy fast food joint.
(2)Hoyt H.
I was a fan of Nando's in the UK, and I'm glad to see they're expanding in the US. Every Nando's I've been to has been consistently tasty. Ordering is done pub-style, where your table has a number, and you order at a counter. They bring your food out to your table when its ready. I usually get the butterflied chicken breast, with a side of fries (with perinaise) and/or peas. You can select how spicy you want your chicken to be, which is helpful when in a group. I really like the peas side, since they add a bit of mint. There are also a wide variety of sauces available to take to your table, if you need to add even more flavor. This Waugh Chapel location is convenient for those pre-wegmans food stops :) Definitely recommended.
(4)B V.
Nando's is my family's go-to place to eat at the Waugh Chapel Town Center. When we aren't sure of what we have a taste for we always end up choosing Nando's. Wonderful place to eat! Great entrees and sides. The Sangria is the best around! The food is always served with a smile. The hostess, Maeton serves us quite frequently. She and the rest of the staff are very accommodating and friendly.
(5)Erica C.
I tried Nando's twice when it first opened at Waugh Chapel. The restaurant had great reviews so after my initial experience being underwhelming, I attempted to create some chemistry between myself and Nando's by trying it again. I was disappointed the second time, so I never went back. Last week my husband and I began making better choices because our diet was awful. We were out running Saturday errands with our kid and decided to grab dinner. My husband suggested Nando's and after I rolled my eyes ten times, I reluctantly agreed. We decided to dine in, so you order your food and pay at the register and they bring it to you. We ordered the large wing dinner with mashed potatoes and corn. It took awhile to get to us but it was sizzling when it did! The chicken wings were roasted brilliantly, they were crispy on the outside and tender inside. They had the perfect amount of kick! The mashed potatoes were thick and flavorful, and the corn was sweet and salty. My daughter got the grilled cheese and French fries. I probably would not get her the grilled cheese again as the bread was extremely hard but the fries were perfection. My family was happy and we will return again! Sometimes you have to give a place time and space...I'm glad that upon my return to Nando's...we had the spark I was looking for!
(4)Susan M.
Good but not great, compared to the Nando's in Gaithersburg. The fries were warm but not fresh and the chicken in my wrap was on the cold side.
(3)Rae M.
I personally think that this place is a bit overrated. It's an okay place to stop in and grab some food, but...put it like this, I wouldn't rush back. Came in on a Saturday afternoon and was immediately greeted by the host. He explained to us that you take the menu to your table and then go place the your order and they bring your food out to you when it's done. Why? It seems a little bassackwards (get it? ha!) if you ask me. Why can't the servers who walk around asking if you need anything like sauces, refills, etc; take your order for you? Just seems like it's an inconvenience for the customer. We ordered the platter of wings, 1/2 mango and lime, 1/2 lemon and herb, with fries and Portuguese rice as our sides and a order of garlic bread. The rice was bland, the garlic bread was delicious, the fries were okay, but a bit salty and most of our wings weren't even cooked fully. I had to tell the server that our wings weren't fully cooked. He took them back and said they would put them back on the grill. Again, why? Bring us out some new wings. Well, they didn't and when the wings came back, they were burnt to a crisp. The server came back to ask if everything was fine and we told him that they were now burnt, his response, "but everything else is fine, right?" as he walked away. SIGH! The manager came over to check on us and she was very apologetic and let us know she was going to make us another batch. She literally went in the kitchen herself to prepare the wings. We appreciated her customer service and how she worked hard to correct the issue. By the time the wings reached our table, they were piping hot and fully cooked. So much time had elapsed that we weren't even hungry anymore. We had filled up on the sides and the pitchers of Verde Sangria! The sangria was really good! I could come back for that alone. So even with the snafu's that we had with our under cooked wings, other than the garlic bread and sangria, nothing that I ate really stood out to me. It was just okay. My wings were pretty bland, the prices seemed a bit too steep for what you were receiving and the fact that it took 2 tries to actually cook the chicken at the proper temperature was a big red flag for me. I guess the only reason I'm giving them 3 stars is because of the sangria and garlic bread. Other than that, I wasn't impressed.
(3)Alyssa M.
Just ok. Not well seasoned... just bland. It was inedible tho. Over priced. Self serve. You order at counter and you are on your own after that... for the cost... I want service included. Wasn't really a fan. Won't be back.
(2)Sharon C.
Located in the Waugh Chapel area, Nando's Peri Peri was just what I needed to abandon my KFC & Tabasco habits. I ordered the Peri-Peri wings and Peri chips. Food came out promptly and full of flame broiled goodness. Upon arrival I mentioned that this was my first time dining here. I was encouraged to dine in & I'm glad I did. The entire place is clean & airy. I can appreciate the hand washing station to remind all the dirty birds to wash their hands before delving into the deliciousness waiting. I'll be back. ...with friends so I can sample more of the menu items.
(4)Brea S.
The only reason I am giving this restaurant 2 stars is because of the staff they were so nice and always checking on us. The food and the price I wish I could give a negative. My friend recommend the place I never wanted to go because I would look at the menu and think this is so overpriced especially compared to limas or Sardi's. I gave it a try worst mistake ever. I got the 6 wings and a Caesar salad it cost 10 I didnt even get a drink. My fried got her food she ordered a half of chicken and rice we ordered at the same time. It took 20 min for my food to arrive after hers and i had to ask the waitress about it. When it came out disappointment was an understatement. The wings were the side of my fingers and burnt the salad was all the nasty hard pieces and hardly any dressing or cheese. I go the hot and mango sauce could hardly taste them on my wings. Now the good part was the staff i told them it was bad they apologized asked if i wanted some more salad. but i was like i don't want more nasty dry lettuce. And they guy was like yes our wings are small sorry. I told my friend even if she treated me i probably would never come back here again. If you want good Peruvian Chicken and you money's work drive to laurel or Bowie and go to Lima's or Sardis best chicken I ever had and the sides, they almost put too much food on our plate plus the price is great.
(1)Elizabeth S.
The staff is outstanding - friendly without being saccharine or fake. The chicken is terrific and the rice is super tasty. Love the option for different marinades on the chicken, as well as different sauces. The spice level on some options is too aggressive and overwhelms, but I like mild spice, so personal preference. My only complaint is that the cold slaw dressing is too heavy - need a much lighter hand. Overall, a great place to eat.
(4)Danielle L.
Ok.. So i have been here (this location) at least 8 times. For some reason I get the same ole' thang. I mean dont get me wrong....... I always enjoy it, but I usually end looking around and thinking next time I am ordering something different. So I did just that. I got the country salad with chicken . Mmmmmm so fresh and tasty. I added medium chicken to my salad. This was the perfect option since Im trying to watch what a eat, and usually here I opt for rice and garlic bread (which is not the best option if you are hoping the scale goes down) But this was filling .. the lettuce was crisp and fresh and of course the chicken was great. Ive never had a issue with service the staff is always friendly and helpful.
(4)K B.
The chicken is good and flavorful. I thought the mango lime was a little spicy and not very mango flavored but good nonetheless. The country salad is good. Prices are good and overall it is a comparatively inexpensive restaurant since you order at the counter and get your own drinks. Also they offer a 20% military discount.
(4)Vanessa R.
I've loved Nando's before they came to the U.S., I was stationed in England and it was my absolute favorite restaurant. When I found it here I was so happy, I've been to the Arundel Mills location 4x in the last month. I found this location by accident but I was hungry so I stopped by. This location had NOTHING the Arundel Mills location. I wasn't greeted, the food wasn't seasoned, my pita was 60% bread to 20% chicken and 20% vegetables. The cucumber salad that I fell in love with at the other location tasted like nothing here. I wondered why it was so empty and I figured it out pretty quickly.
(2)Crystal H.
I have been wondering about this place ever since I feel in love with Lima's in Bowie! I know that Lima's is Peruvian and Nando's is Portugese, but I've heard very good things about thier chicken! So on the suggestion of a friend, I went on in! I definitely get the chain feeling walking inside, but thought, it should be alright! I ordered the quarter chicken and the fries! However, I didn't like that I had to pay for the salt or the mayo,but whatever, it is what it is! I thought the chicken was alright! It was dryer than I thought it would be! Not as flavorful either! But whatever! If I wanted the flavor profile adjusted it could have been. I'm just not into spicy food that much so I played it safe with plain or perhaps mild chicken! Next time, I will try another seasoning cause this lacked a lot to be desired! It wasn't bad, I just wasn't impressed! I did find their prices to be a little big much for what they are serving, but that's just my opinion! Not too sure if I will go back anytime soon, but it wasn't the worst thing I've ever had! But I will make better choices!
(3)David W.
Where do I start, I know with one word... DELICIOUS! I thought Chipotle had the formula for good healthy food delivered fast. Nando's takes it up a notch with great dining ambience and the frozen yogurt that is like a small part of heaven. I recommend absolutely everything and please do yourself a favor and chase it down with their signature formulary Sangria!
(5)Jarrod F.
First of, the restaurant itself was beautiful. This was my first time in a Nando's and I was pleasantly surprised by the colorful and tasteful decor. Very high waulity. Unfortunately, decor aside, Nando's leaves much to be desired... I ordered the 1/2 chicken (lime seasoning) with fries and peas. My lady ordered the Mediterranean salad with chicken (she got 3 stripes) and the other couple we were with got the wings, garlic bread and harvest salad? with chicken. Everything was just OK... nothing at all made me want to jump up and say YAY I'm coming back for more! This was really just a glorified rotisserie chicken joint and that was the biggest letdown. The menu is just chicken, salads and sandwiches. I was hoping for something a bit more Portuguese, South African or whatever national cuisine this restaurant pretends to serve. Other little things like charging $0.15 cents for salt on my fries really irked me. I mean who the hell charges for salt?!! I also didn't like the whole order at the counter thing because we got our food a good 10 minutes before the other couple got there's and we ordered at the same time. Again, the decor rocks.... the employees were great and the fries were actually really awesome. Besides that, I can buy a rotisserie chicken on my own and pay a fraction of the price. The sauce bottles were a great concept but it just didn't do it for me.
(3)SL F.
I've visited this PERi-PERi location often as it's near my home, and unfortunately it seems like my experience goes down one step with each visit. One time I actually (OK, I can't prove it, but I'm about 85% sure) had food poisoning from perhaps an old cut of chicken they served me when I went there one late night to eat dinner. My last order, which was takeout (hot wings and fries) just sucked all around. The chicken was dried out and there wasn't really anything hot about it nor did it seem like anything was on it, the fries were limp and lukewarm, and overall it was just a very discomforting meal; I think I winded up just fixing something else I had in my kitchen. I don't think I will visit this particular location anymore. Not worth the price.
(2)Angela T.
Worthless. The hostess is rude. Tried to seat us at a filthy table. We've been here before. Super slow and order comes out with huge lags in between. Not worth a visit.
(1)C K.
Great wings (plainish and add your own sauce) and fries. However, I will say Lima has more flavorful chicken hands down and you get a lot more for your money. Format is a little strange with the half service, half do it yourself, but whatever. Probably could see myself returning like once a year, but not often. Nothing special to really write home about. P.S. While I was there a customer came back and said they didn't receive their order of rice in the takeout bag. The cashier said he was sure it was in there and proceeded to argue with the guy. Seriously? Who would come back with a kid in tow to argue about a $3 side item??? DO BETTER Nando's! Bad service will get you nowhere!
(2)Vidal D.
Second vist. Chicken wasn't as good. Not crispy. Not as much flavor. Still decent, but not as good as it was last visit. There was a rush of customers, maybe they rushed things. Don't rush. Cook the chicken perfectly please. Oh yeah they changed their happy hour....shorter now - 4-6 Sun-Thurs. Geez....people that work aren't going to make that....boo ... oh yeah and no more $5 pitchers of sangria - 1/2 price - full price is a steep $16
(4)Cee G.
For a fast food chain, the food was pretty good. I got the 1/4 thigh meal with the mashed peas and the seasonal cucumber salad. I did the medium hot chicken and it was not flavorful enough until I put the Garlic and Herb Peri Peri sauce on it. I wish you got more chicken for the price. Much of the chicken was bone. The atmosphere was pretty and loved the music. I might go back, but wouldn't go out of my way to do so.
(4)Usagi T.
Boring. Uneventful. Flavorless Chicken. Sorry, I know a ton of people will disagree and no disrespect to anyone else's taste buds but to each their own. For the price they charge, they ought to be ashamed. Nando's is simply another overhyped, American chain restaurant with a phenomenal marketing team. I came in on a Groupon, and if I hadn't, this would be a one star review. We ordered a leg & thigh, breast & wing and wings order and shared everything between the 2 of us. For sides we went with fries and macho peas. The macho peas were 4 stars, unique, minty, very fresh tasting and delicious they were oddly my favorite part of the meal. The fries were basic, no...less than basic. Oh, and if you want to fries salted, they charge you. Wtf? It's only .15 but still. Don't insult us, just wrap it in the cost if the fries. Aye... Moving on to the main course, the chicken. Dry, small and no flavor without the sauces. I suppose Nando's concept may primary be based strictly on their sauces since they have so many. One of our orders we got plain with sauce on the side, specifically to see how the chicken tasted on its own. Yuk. Plain...like bad banquet food. Ok, let's try the order that came with the sauce on it. It was ok. But it tasted like the sauce sits on the outside of plain, boring, dry chicken and doesn't really penetrate. The best way I discovered to eat Nando's in fact was to simply dip the chicken in the sauce. As for the sauces, 4 stars. This is the only other thing Nando's does pretty well besides the peas. I tried every flavor in the restaurant while we waited for our food, and I'd agree it is a unique and nice little selection. I don't think the "spicy" sauces though are spicy at all. I guess you can take my review with a grain of salt. I don't eat much American food, and typically eat very seasoned, spicy dishes on a regular basis. I'm accustomed to marinated meats (when I do eat meat...slowly becoming less and less again). So this just doesn't cut it for me. Perhaps it's a cultural difference. As far as this particular location, the service was all right. Good looking staff, semi friendly but not overly. They weren't helpful when I told them it was my first time there, didn't offer suggestions or anything. My Izzy beverage was opened before it was handed to me, which was unfortunate as I specifically told them I ordered it to take home. Oh well. Overall, I'll come pick up some sauces to include in my at home condiment selection, however I don't intend to eat here again. The peas are easily duplicated at home.
(2)Angie J.
Delicious, flavorful chicken! I always order the 1/4 leg and thigh (medium) with the Spanish rice and Chunky Portuguese Medley. My husband is crazy about their garlic bread. Service is friendly and fast.
(5)Katie B.
Some people may be partial to the flavors that Nandos serves up, but I however absolutely love this selection of cuisine! I first tried Nandos when I studied abroad in the united kingdom, and I was extremely excited to find their restaurants here after some years. Nandos is Portuguese inspired food, so it tends to be very spicy. If spice is not for you, then be sure to order to order the lemon and like flavored items that just offer a great seasoning. I promise you that Nandos will not disappoint, but do be prepared for lots and lots of chicken inspired menu items. I personally love ordering the pitas, but no item on the menu will disappoint. This location is fairly new, and it is very tastefully furnished. Now go enjoy your Peri Peri!
(5)Shari L.
Love this place the best thing on the menu is the butternut squash! The flavors burst in your mouth! ! The mango lime chicken is tasty cooked perfectly! To top it off is yummy sangria! One of my favorite places!
(4)Jon W.
The good: the food was Outstanding! The best we've had here or at any Nando's since we've started patronizing the establishment. For this reason they get 2 stars instead of 1. The bad: My wife and I drove for an hour to get here, dealt with driving considerably more time to get a parking space, then had to deal with one of the 4 Cardinal sins of the restaurant world. Thou Shalt Not Be Rude To Patrons. I stood in line waiting to be served while the cashier had a complaint session with her gf at work. Only when she was finished did she ask if she could help me. And so on and so on and so on. It continued to get worse but I have to say that the food changed my mood considerably. As much as we like it, if we have the same expedience with the wait staff next time we come then we won't return. Restaurant Cardinal Sins 2, 3 and 4? Thou Shalt Not Be Rude To Patrons, Thou Shalt Not Be Rude To Patrons and Thou Shalt Not Be Rude To Patrons.
(2)Art T.
I was stoked when this opened in Waugh Chapel. I had been to the location in the Annapolis Mall once, having the urge to try something a little different. I was expecting something South American perhaps, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found out it was more Northwest African! The chicken is good, very good. Admittedly, it can be a tad overcooked, but I've never had anything too dry or at all burnt. Also, the base chicken can pack a tiny bit of heat even, so if you're anything like my immediate family (LOL), then you probably want to stay away. I generally go with one of the mild sauces and add from there with the plethora of bottles they have available for post-chicken-to-table seasoning. The sides are quite enjoyable, as well. Don't be afraid to try those peas. Believe me, they'll make you think twice about peas. The garlic bread is soft, crunchy, very flavorful, and nicely seasoned. Shout-outs to the corn and slaw, as well; both very delicious accompaniments. I love the decor in here, too. Very nautical in a far Western Europe/African way. Fun, but not pretentious. Colorful, but not obnoxious. Great balance of scenery and light. Overall, this place is a win. Very happy to have it next door. Maybe the chicken will keep getting better, we'll see. But, definitely worth the four stars, close to a fifth. Oh yum.
(4)Nee J.
LOVE IT! The food is awesome. We have gon' like 10 times already since they opened. We always get the platter--10 medium wings, 2 corn-on-the-cobs, garlic bread, and a caesar salad. This is more than enough for my hubby and I. The service is always fast and courteous. When we go in it's always getting the food to-go--we like to sit and laugh at the people get intimate with the drink machine. This Nando's has the do-it-yourself drink machine and there is only ONE! So when the parents let the kiddies fix their own drinks it slows the line down or you get the childish adult who wants to mix 10 different drinks together! I have tried the rice (wasn't a fan) and their sauces (chicken is seasoned very well so they're not needed to me).
(5)Vaidehi M.
I have been to Nando's several times and I love the peri-peri chicken they serve. However as compared to other locations the staff at Waugh Chapel is just okay. There was no line at the register and I still waited there for 10 mins for them to take my order, the staff just stood there chatting. I love Nando's and I will choose a different location whenever I crave for peri-peri chicken.
(3)James C.
This place is the sorriest, least-busy Nando's Peri Peri that I've patronized. The food was okay but It felt dead and slow which made me wonder how fresh the side order were. nice location but it's huge and un-fill-able.
(3)Natalie F.
So I love Nandos especially this one until today. I work right next store to Nandos and normally will order the mushroom side to put on top of my salads I make from home. So I placed an order. One side of mushroom and a coffee. First I have to stand and wait while two girls try to figure out the machine and then they hand me my mushrooms expect it's a third of the size it's suppose to be. When I asked I was told they ran out today sorry. So I asked for a refund. The manager comes out and says "you find out what you're worth when you return from vacatio and that they had to send someone to the grocery store. So he refunds me and then throws it out! All around a bad experience. It's not my fault you were on vacation and that your staff can't place orders. Not to mention you allowed a customer to order something you were out of and then wasted it! That's the last time I order anything from Nandos ever!
(2)Jason D.
Pretty good food. I got a chicken breast for lunch...it looked kind of lonely sitting there on the plate all by itself, but tasted really good. I ordered spicy and it was pretty hot by American standards. I was a little upset with the "Portuguese" roll I ordered as a side thinking it would be some great, hand-made, exotic bread. It was just a hard dinner roll -- a SINGLE hard dinner roll -- that you can buy at any grocery store. The worst part? I paid $2.50 for it. Avoid the Portuguese roll.
(3)Jamie H.
So glad to have a chance to attend the soft opening at the newest Nando's & to be able to speak with the Operation's Manager about the upcoming happenings & potential openings! My husband and I are regulars at the Annapolis location but so excited to have one closer to our house. David had the butterfly chicken in Medium (heat) w/ red skin mashed potatoes & a side mixed green salad. I always like the butternut squash & couscous salad and this time I tried out the Lemon & Herb seasoned chicken which was delicious. If you like flavor in your food & don't mind a little heat, Nando's is right for you. I can't wait to see what the future holds for this location in the new section of Waugh Chapel.
(5)Joyce C.
Wanted to try something new in the area, so we stopped here in the food mecca center of Crofton. Got greeted and seated right away. Host didn't ask if this was our first visit, just gave us the menus and left. After waiting some time to be greeted by our server, we figured out there really are no "servers" here. We made our choice, poorly I'll say, and went to place it. Ordered the 10 medium chicken wings and one side & two drinks. Total was $26.00. The wings were small. It was more like an appetizer. We figured each wing cost us about $1 each. Huh? We really were expecting larger wings for the price. The taste was good though. The staff was friendly but not at all helpful. My tip for newcomers to this place is to study the menu before going.
(3)Michael H.
Love love love the chicken, also try their mashed peas. Delicious. Definitely cant skip out on their frozen yogurts either, really helps with the heat. Reasonably priced...oh! Also, the hummus...great with the peri peri sauce swirled in. Not five stars for a few reasons. Entering is a bit confusing, as if a hostess seats you...but then you get up to go to the register and place your order. A bit backwards if you ask me...there isn't a server to take your order which normally is expected if youre greeted and sat down at a table. again, with a few other places. Only one of those create-your-flavor-coke machines. Gets a little annoying waiting in line to refill if theres people in front that like to try every single button.
(4)Steph H.
Nando's, where have you been all my life? Seriously. This is my go-to restaurant for a quick & tasty inexpensive meal...and they also serve beer and wine! SCORE!! I generally order the same thing every time I go...the chicken breast wrap, which is served with fresh green leaf lettuce, peppery sweet chilli jam and tangy yogurt sauce, and then I douse it in Nando's wild herb hot sauce. It is so good, and pretty big, as well. If I'm really hungry, I will add a couple of sides. I've tried them all...my absolute faves are the Peri-Peri nuts, macho peas with parsley, mint & chili (a little strange but very tasty) and the butternut squash and grilled corn with onions, dried cranberries, fresh cilantro and chili. The food always tastes the same and never disappoints, unlike some of the other restaurants close by. If you're sick of paying $13+ for a subpar salad down the street, try Nando's. Your tastebuds and wallet will thank you.
(4)Tim D.
This place has a bunch of choices for those that like chicken. You can choose from breasts, leg & thigh, wing & breast, etc. There are a lot of sauces available to put on the chicken they present to you. Dishes here are served a la carte and you'll want to pick out at least one side. Perhaps three for two people is the right answer. We've had a good number of them and we like the macho peas (rugged pea mash with whole peas, parsley, mint and chili) or the fries/chips. But they charge you another 15 cents for their special salt... And that brings me to why this place can't be given more than three stars from me. Their food is just not worth what they charge for it. For two people, it's at least 25 dollars with (soft) drinks -- they do have a fancy coke fountain though. This place is a little bit awkward too since you're greeted by a hostess/host and then you are given a table...but then you walk to the counter and order (and pay too much)...and then another/separate person brings the food to you...and then you leave confused and bewildered thinking: where did my money go and why did so many people have to help me?
(3)Daniel T.
After my previous visit, I contacted Nando's management in D.C. about the incident. They were very concerned and gave me the explanation, "All chickens are not created equal". lol. They stated that the staff on duty should have noticed all the servings were very small and should have been replaced. They sent me a coupon for a free family meal. My family went and the food was excellent, and the portions were healthy. Thanks Nando for being responsive and very professional. Good management is what keeps businesses thriving, even after a bad experience. Danny
(5)Gee L.
Very delicious. The butterflied grilled chicken breast was moist and very tasty. I highly recommend that you try it at least once. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Doug S.
There is something just electric about this place. The staff is attentive and patient; especially since the ordering system is a little bit different. Now, it's counter service but you have to remember the number of your table when you order. Again, not a big deal unless you have consistent brain farts like I tend to do. You know those times when that six year old walking with you has been talking incessantly about absolutely nothing and your mind has drifted off to... Oh look sparkly sparkly.. Yea you get it. So first let's talk about their chicken. It's been brined then thrown onto a superhot grill, seared on both sides and served fresh to the table. To be honest I haven't had a bad piece of chicken there yet. But wait, there's more... Corn, corn on the cob grilled and brought to the table that I smother with butter and devour. Juicy, sweet, crisp, crunchy, and delectable are just a few words I would use to describe it. The mashed potato's are probably the best I've ever eaten that weren't prepared by my wife or memaw. Simply put I have not gone wrong with anything I've eaten and will continue hitting them up 1-2 times per month. Finally, you have to ask for it but they have a generous military discount that brings them firmly into the "I'll eat here over so-called fast food every time".
(4)Giang L.
The one star is for the lack of service. Now let me preface this and say that I frequent Nando's pretty often. Once we arrived to this particular establishment today (8/17/13), it was busy. So I picked an open table and had the hostess seat us. Once seated and decided what to eat, I went to order, no problems. They even honored my request for all dark meat chicken with my full platter. As we sat down and waited for our food, we got most of our order within 15 minutes. Not bad considering how busy they were. They said my order of corn was being cooked and would take 5 minutes max, "Okay that's fine", I said. Upon inspection of our food, we ended up getting breast and thighs in our order. No big deal, we were hungry and didn't mind it at all. As we ate, my side order of corn never came even after the server came by to make sure our meal was ok. Mid way through our meal, the manager came by and apologized as our order was mixed up. She asked if we wanted to have the chicken breast replaced with legs, I said thats fine if it wasn't a problem. So, off she went with the chicken breast. After 20 minutes, I told the manager that I was still missing my side order of corn and that the chicken had not come out yet. She said it would be right out. Another 15 minutes my blood was boiling.... I seriously wanted to go up to the manager and rip her a new one at this point, but with my bf there, I had to simmer my rage. So in total, 35 minutes to finally get the rest of the correct order. But the really messed up part of this ordeal was, the manager never came back to apologize for the inconvenience it caused. Not even eye contact. She avoided the area we were seated in, all together. As for the location of this place, it's closer to where we live now and certainly is more convenient. But would I go back? Probably not. The lack of responsibility of this particular manager really upset me. And that is saying something because I really love Nando's food...
(1)Tiffany S.
Out of the three Nando's in the DC/MD area I've been to, this is the first one I didn't LOVE. I recently moved up to MD, and was ecstatic to have a Nando's within 20 miles of my house. I had previously driven 3 hours to eat the DC 17th & M Nando's with my little sister because I love Nando's so much. It's hard to make me love peri-peri any less, truly. All this in mind: I found the customer service at this Nando's to be highly lacking. We were greeted promptly, seated outside, and came back in to order. Particularly from my cashier, Destiny. I always order the Chicken wrap, medium with double chicken and two sides. After this, who ever is taking my order is always asks, "Would you like cheese or pineapple on that wrap?" and what my sides will be. While the cashier took my sides, (delicious mashed potatoes & bread) she did not ask if I wanted cheese or pineapple. So when I made a point after completing my order to say, 'May I have the cheese on my wrap' - she proceeded to argue with me about what kind of cheese I wanted. I have never been asked any cheesy questions before (pun intended) so I was confused and did my best to explain that I simply ask for cheese it appears, generally shredded. She was not kind about this. Clearly cheese is serious business at this Nando's. Cheese attitude or not, my food was delicious. I did laugh that inside my wrap was large slice of cheese. I also love that this Nando's has Honest Tea.
(3)Scott M.
Best chicken chain in the DC area.
(4)Sheila s.
I have been to Nando's Peri Peri in Annapolis many times so I am very familiar with the menu. Over time the Nando's in Annapolis has been slowly going down in terms of quality, it was a smart idea to make one in the new shopping center. It is hard for me to find any negatives with my dining experience at Nando's in Gambrills. I decided to take my cousin to this location for his first Nando's experience which he enjoyed. The ambiance was definitely above par for a chain restaurant. Very clean and organized. This location hasn't been open for very long so it would be a surprise to me if it wasn't clean. The decorations were simple but not boring. Overall the establishment looks welcoming. Staff was attentive and polite. We were approached by numerous employees who made sure our food was cooked properly and if we had any complains. Employees behind the register were very polite( you have to order at the counter btw), the line was moving a little slow but a cashier apologized and explained that they were closing down a register. No snobby teens working here! I ordered the hummus as an appetizer, very good. Usually hummus from most restaurants is salty and has no real flavor, Nando's hummus was full of flavor and there was a good amount of it. It also comes with a slightly hot sauce for anyone that wants a little kick. I ordered a half chicken (lemon herb) with fries and mashed potatoes for my entree. Chicken was moist and flavorful. Fries were crisped to perfection (no salt added which I enjoyed). The mashed potatoes were very rich. For two meals it was about 40 dollars, 40 dollars well spent.
(4)Thea L.
Best roasted chicken ever. Make sure to get the peas and garlic bread as sides. The hummus is also out of this world.
(5)Karina O.
So... first time to Nando's. Heard great things about it and I was excited. We did a group TAKE OUT order for work, and I ordered a 1/4 chicken, leg & thigh which cost $4.95 not including tax. It came back and I was excited to get to eating (it smelled great). I opened the box and was greatly disappointed - the piece of leg/thigh I got was probably 3" wide by 6" long (yes, including both the leg AND thigh, like maybe a pigeon or cornish hen size). Unfortunately, I couldn't take a picture of it to share with everyone, but my advice is DON'T DO TAKE OUT - especially if all you're ordering is a 1/4 chicken. I'm guessing any "small pieces" they have get put in take out orders because it's hard to complain (and do anything about it) once you get your food to wherever you're eating (in our case, it is a 20 minute drive to/from Nando's). I gave it 2 stars because the taste was great - but I surely did NOT pay $5 for that size chicken piece, where I could get a WHOLE chicken at Costco (or a 2-piece chicken meal at KFC) for that price. Sure, it's not the same as Nando's seasoned chicken - but I definitely would've felt like I actually had a whole dinner meal with the other options. I'll also add to this review that we were missing several items from our entire order - so that really sucked for each of the folks who got gipped. On the other hand, the Mucho Peas side dish was delicious.
(2)Mary H.
VERY good! It's kinda wierd to pay before they serve you but the char grilled chicken makes up for it. And the two of us only came to $25.
(4)Mr J.
Consistently delicious and reasonably priced...a rare tasty chain restaurant. Very good sauces, fresh vegetables, and a great family friendly atmosphere.
(4)