4. Restaurants

Nando’s Peri-Peri

924 Ellsworth Dr, Silver Spring, MD, 20910
  • (301) 588-7280
  • Store is closed

Nando’s Peri-Peri Menu

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  • Ellen L.

    exceptionally juicy chicken. I guess this place is a chain, but it doesn't feel like it. I got the HOT HOT chicken and it was delicious. it had a good kick to it. my one complaint was that the waitstaff kept forgetting to bring another plate to our table after we asked several times. not enough to ruin the experience for me though. we were there during the busy lunchtime rush and that is certainly excusable. I think we shared a half chicken between 2 people and it was more than enough food for the both of us girls.

    (4)

  • Nicholas C.

    First, the food was tasty albeit quite expensive. For two of us it came to $40 but that did include two 8 oz glasses of rather pricey wine. I was thrown off with how the restaurant worked. You sit down, choose from the menu what you want, go to the counter to order, return to your seat, and then the food is brought to you. The service was very good and friendly. I would go back.

    (4)

  • Rachel G.

    two words: macho peas.

    (5)

  • Michael M.

    Went there again this weekend, and just want to reiterate one thing... The HOT sauce .... is HOT... I know you think you're a tough guy... don't embarace yourself

    (4)

  • Mina A.

    Food and service were good. Fair prices and a fun atmosphere. The chicken is great, especially on a Portuguese roll. We also tried the chili jam, it was surprisingly delicious, but I couldn't have too much, it was sweet. Another bonus...they have coke zero! In addition to having great food, they make funny adverts. That's the reason we went here in the first place: youtube.com/watch?v=jsqo…

    (4)

  • Christopher P.

    Amazing grilled chicken at fast food prices. I first discovered Nandos in 2005 while living in England. My friends and I rarely made it two weeks without a visit. I'm looking forward to Nandos being franchised throughout the US!

    (5)

  • Robert B.

    Okay. I'm done. I used to enjoy this place, but lately have been running into completely absurd issues. I'm never going back and I suggest you avoid it as well. Over the last year I've dined here and run into issues on three different occasions (out of eating there maybe 4 times): 1. one time I went and they were out of bread (!!!) so they couldn't make sandwiches nor the garlic bread. WTF. 2. a month or so ago I went and their computers were completely down. I was unable to use the groupon I brought (the only reason why I'd come here over all the better, independent restaurants in Silver Spring). Weak. 3. I went the other day (to use the Groupon that was refused previously) and the place was out of Cesar dressing so they couldn't make my chicken Cesar wrap...wtf. It was Friday at 6pm so you'd think they'd, you know, stock the items they sell. How does a massive, multinational chain have more kinks than any restaurant I've been to in my entire life? Whoever manages this place must be completely dysfunctional.

    (2)

  • Ruben D.

    If there weren't a million Peruvian Chicken spots in the DMV then I just may eat here again. The chicken is overly spicy and the sauces? ehh The mashed potatoes was pretty good. The whole seating system is strange as well. I take it that all of yiou that gave this chicken 5 stars are out-of-towners that just don't know.. or, sorry to say it, Caucasians that like anything as long as it promises a lil culture. Stay thirsty my friends... ... gave it an extra since I found out that they care about their customers. Maybe

    (3)

  • Tim H.

    As a Silver Spring resident I end up here a lot--peri peri is something you begin to crave. The chicken is fantastic, and the food in general is tasty and reasonably priced. The clear choice is a platter--I've gotten wings a few times and they were good but missing the point. We often get the Sangria but it does lower the value per dollar of the meal. The format is a little awkward, as you have to be seated at a table, yet go to the counter to order and pay. Then you get your own drinks / silverware / sauces, but the food is brought to your table. Oddly, in South Africa, this place is everywhere and is sort of like fast food, perhaps explaining the format. In general, highly reliable for a good meal at a reasonable price, with some quirks. UPDATE: just had the wings again, and realized that the reason to get them over the whole chicken platters is that the surface area is larger so you get more peri peri per bite, which is a very good thing. Since all of their chicken is extremely well prepared, the decision comes down your desired to the meat-to-skin ratio.

    (4)

  • Corine H.

    JUST returned from a visit after taking in a movie (5ish p.m. on December 1). Why are there gnats STILL flying all over the place?! This is my second time there; the first time was a while ago. And the GNATS or whatever that hovers and divebombs threaten your food so much? We asked for extra napkins to cover the sangria and our resting food. BOTH visits. The set up and ordering: rather odd. IF the service were amazing? I'd take it with a happy smile. But, the cashier had a bad attitude; a huge turnoff. Also, when she slipped me a bill that included an "opportunity" to tip BEFORE ANYTHING HAD BEEN DELIVERED, TASTED, OR SEEN (you know the receipt: total + a line to add a tip)? I was put off even further. When I did get a lovely server? I was told I couldn't leave her a tip at the table, but had to put it in the collective "tip" container at the register. That's so fair that it teeters into the land of unfair, especially given what we'd just experienced with a delightful server and an indifferent cashier (e.g., "Um, may we have glasses?" "Why, what's this item on display? THIS item? The one RIGHT NEXT TO YOU here on the counter?!") I'm pretty sure I'm done with this location. The food's tasty, as is the sangria. It also smells delightful and would otherwise be a perfect spot to meet and eat. However, there are too many restaurants mere steps away that offer than and more, including customer service and no gnats. Too bad. I wanted this time to be different.

    (2)

  • Sqldbamd S.

    Portuguese food is full of flavor and Nandos pepi peri do the job, Chicken and Portuguese rice is very good, the only CONS is the serving size and the price. other than that the place and the food are really good.

    (3)

  • Seema F.

    Like the usual roasted chicken places, but flavored a little different and more expensive. We ordered a whole chicken and 2 sides for 3 people. It was plenty of food but 2 people in the group insisted on ordering olives and the nut mix. Both were a tiny serving for $4! To make matters worse there was a hair in the nuts and the manager was giving us a really hard time because he "didn't see any hair." The food took a fairly long time to come out, so in the meantime we tried all the sauces. They were all essentially the same but with different levels of being watered down. They were all a strange citrusy hot sauce (much like Indian lime pickle). Not bad, but there could have been more of a variety. The sides were mediocre--we got fries, macho peas, and the feta salad. I didn't like the peas at all since they had mint in them. The feta salad was just some feta, 2 peppers, a tomato and an olive--also a very tiny serving. The best thing they had here was the sink in the dining area. Every place that has people eating messy food with their hands should absolutely have one! Nando's isn't bad if you're downtown and really need some roast chicken. But I'd drive out to Pollo Rico or Sardis for the real stuff.

    (3)

  • Jeff M.

    I wanted sssooo badly to give this place five stars and they ALMOST did but there were just a few minor issues I had to keep it from perfection. I walked in and the nice hostess explained to me how you order at the counter and the food will be brought to you. I dined al fresco, was seated outside with my menu on a beautiful summer's night and figured out what I wanted and then walked back inside. To other reviewers complaining about how this is done, suck it up honkeys! I ordered a half chicken with garlic bread and cole slaw along with peri-peri nuts and a beer.....all for about $22 which for this type of restaurant was a tad pricey. Inside was absolutely beautiful though, even though I didn't actually sit in there and the bathroom was super nice and clean as well. Everything was extremely flavorful and I also got one of the "milder" bottled sauces, which term I will use loosely to compliment the chicken. And this is where one of my first issues come into play. I enjoy spice....I really do, but when one orders something "medium", it shouldn't be opening up every single pore on my face after eating it! I don't know whose definition of being medium this is, but it sure isn't mine. Let's just say I'm glad I didn't get the hot, good grief. So this is a great ploy to get you to drink more, right? $5 a beer for domestics is a bit pricey, even if they don't serve the craptacular Miller or Bud. Another issue, so I ordered food around 9:45 and the place closes at 10:00. I walked back in at around 10:05....."hi, I'd like to order another beer". "Sorry, we're closed" was their response. "But I'm already eating outside" I half-angerly respond. Thankfully, one of the cooks stood up for me and told her that he had seen me before. Does this even matter? I also saw at least three tables being used inside, what if they wanted to order something else? Then, it took them 3 min to find the bottle opener until the manager finally came over and popped it off with a spoon. So the night started off perfectly until the spices got to me and I had to make an emergency drink order for which I got a little crap for. Other than that, the food was amazing, even if a little pricey and I'll definitely be returning!

    (4)

  • Moritz R.

    I have to admit getting a message almost 2 months after I visited Nando's had me surprised. I was given complimentary pass for two to come back and try them again. The place is a bit odd in the fact that you are seated and then have to get up to order. (We had to figure that out ourselves, no one told us) That being said the person who greeted us was friendly. The cashier though was pretty indifferent though. So we grab our glasses and go fill our own drinks. Yes I will bring up the tip jar. The tip jar is at the register, before you have eaten. Odd? I think so. In the meantime, I had a look at the restroom not by choice, but by necessity. The door's could use braille for sight impaired customers though. I can say the men's room was clean and that is a good thing. The food was brought to our table in a fair amount of time considering there was only a few tables seated in the who place. The person who brought our food was pleasant. The chicken was spicy, even if you asked for it not to be spicy. The corn and garlic bread were OK, but the Chicken Caesar wrap was more lettuce and wrap then chicken. Would I go back? That is a tough question. I thought redeeming a coupon that was given to bring me back would liven the staff up a bit to be on their best behavior, but in the end I was just another number to come through the door. This is my second review and it's only gone up one star in the review.

    (3)

  • Jamie W.

    Since moving to Silver Spring (and working right around the corner) I've been to this place more than 25 times. Everything is amazing and for the most part healthy, and a great amount of food for your money. The mango lime chicken breast is my personal fave, as is the garlic bread and perinaise sauce. You have to try the Watermelon Sangria! I love that they are opening up other locations in MD as well. I recommend this place to everyone. Great date place, too...the outdoor seating in summer is nice because you get the hustle bustle of the blocked-off street and the fountain right across. I can't rave more about the friendliness of the staff. Everyone is very nice and welcoming and genuinely cares that you have a good experience.

    (5)

  • David D.

    I can't say this was a place I ever would have ventured into we're it not for someone in our party having an infatuation with some boy band which eats there a lot. I had the portobello mushroom wrap with medium heat and it was pretty spicy. Go for the level below if you're looking to avoid any heat. The wrap was tasty, with a substantial amount of mushroom. The pita wrap itself was nothing to write home about. Would have been nice to have something a little more authentic than grocery store fare. I actually liked the sides the best: the saffron rice and the macho peas were very tasty. Consider those if eating light. As for the service, kind of a pain that you have to get seated, read the menu and then go stand in line at the counter to place your order. If I've got to go through all that, let me just jump in line when I first get there and then I'll go to my seat. It also complicates things when it comes time to tip. No server takes your order but one does bring your food to you. So...how do you tip? I believe someone in our party gave the server $5 when she cleared our table. The all-foreign staff was a little difficult to understand but I guess that's what you get when dining at ethnic establishments. Come to think of it, I have the same issue at Applebee's.

    (3)

  • Chris C.

    Nando's is definitely a winner. The char grilled chicken is excellent. I had the chicken breast with grilled corn on the cob and rice with vegetables. The rice was so so but for the price you can't go wrong.

    (4)

  • Danny M.

    I have an update on my previous two-star review, which judged Nando's as good food and great atmosphere, but lazy and inattentive employees. My review was read by a customer service rep from Nando's who wanted to know all about the visit. I was impressed by this attentiveness, and filled her in on the details. Afterwards, she apologized and sent me a food voucher with assurances that they would work to fix what had been problematic. I am happy to say that tonight, I visited Nando's again. Within a minute, a waitress approached us, showed us to our seats, and then explained the process. This is what was missing on many of the previous visits. I found her professional, informative, and courteous. I ordered Rose wine while others in my group ordered food. Overall, this visit was much better; I just hope that it is consistent.

    (4)

  • Hani C.

    I meant to write this for a while ... First time at Nando's peri-peri, went to this location with a group of friends for a dinner and we all loved it. The place was packed when we arrived and we had to wait for 15 min to get seated. We all were first timers and a bit lost trying to figure out how this place works. Our server Kevin was very nice and super helpful. He explained everything to us and went over the entire menu. We asked for his recommendations and he didn't disappoint. The way the seating setup works is different from your typical restaurant, as many reviewers have already explained. The food deserves 5 stars!! We all ordered appetizers to share. My favorites are hummus and dip and garlic bread. What makes the hummus and dip unique and delicious is the peri peri infused oil that came with it. All went perfect except for one minor hiccup. Our entree arrived at the same time except mine didn't arrive at all. We told our server, he apologized and called the manager I believe her name is Aki; she sincerely apologized about the mishap and brought my food immediately. She also offered me a desert and drink on the house. She was very gracious and supper friendly. She checked on us multiple times and asked how our experience was. I have to say superb customer service. For my entrée, I got the grilled chicken breast prepped extra hot with a side of butter squash and grilled corn. The chicken is well seasoned and juicy. Since I love spicy food this definitely hit the spot. The squash I would say is a MUST, even if you are not a squash fun. It is so delicious!! Overall, the food and service were impeccable. It will definitely be one of my go to places in the area.

    (5)

  • Ashli H.

    Even as a vegetarian, I usually find reasons to come back to Nandos. The Halloumi Pita with portobello mushroom and halloumi cheese is fantastic--a perfect blend of flavors. It is also very convenient for groups since you can order separately at the counter then sit at the same table. The reason for three stars is because I am very disappointed with a recent visit and the customer service follow-up. I had ordered the Halloumi Pita while out with my friends. When it arrived at the table, I took a bite out of the edge and realized that I had just bit into a piece of chicken. Someone in the kitchen had mistakenly packed a chicken breast into the pita. This wouldn't be a big deal for someone that eats meat regularly, but I haven't had it in over five years and immediately get sick when I do accidentally have some (though I'm very careful about this). The manager gave me a free meal voucher, but the carelessness of the kitchen staff and way the incident was handled makes me hesitant to return. I also emailed Nando's headquarters through their website, but never did hear back (this was at least a month ago). Disappointing customer service, but great food if you get what you order.

    (3)

  • Cherie J.

    The first Nando's i've ever been to was in downtown dc so when my bf and i came to this location i was a bit skeptical yet still ready to devour some Peri-peri wings!!! It was a busy weekend evening so i didnt mind the line since it moved pretty quickly but the girl that took my order was not very pleasant. I always like to give them the benefit of the doubt and think to myself "oh maybe she's just tired or something" but this girl had a tude' on her! Regardless of that every other staff member we interacted with was quite nice and since my bf was new to Nando's his reaction to the food was priceless. I always go for the wings so i ordered those in medium with garlic bread and portuguese rice. My bf got the wings as well but in mango-lime (mmm hmmm!) and fries. Afterwards i had a major sweet tooth so i decided to try out the red velvet cupcake, which i had doubts about, but MAN! it was so moist and rich, so i highly recommend getting one. We were both pleased and i can't wait to try out more things on their menu like their chicken breast wrap or sandwich! *drools* Hopefully they will expand to more areas in VA!

    (4)

  • George C.

    This place is a chain but I guess they haven't really taken off in the US yet. My lunch was great! I ordered the chicken wrap with 2 sides. One was the red mashed potatoes and the other was the peas. The wrap was really good. Tender and juicy meat with a little kick. The mashed potato's were buttery and good. The peas were AWESOME! They had a nice kick to them and was just the right amount of heat for me. Wife ordered the 1/4 chicken with rice and really liked it. The dining area is very colorful and the servers were nice and friendly. I also like that it's an open kitchen. I thought the prices were reasonable and would go back. It's as good as your going to get for a chain restaurant that doesn't serve burgers, taco's or shitty sandwiches. Overall Nando's is probably a 3 star rating but for fast food...4 stars!

    (4)

  • Paula O.

    I've eaten at Nando's four times at two different locations, but my experience tonight is the one that made me want to post a review. We came in at 6:05 PM to get dinner before a 7PM movie. I got the 1/4 chicken with mash and Macho Peas and my friend got the same chicken with fries and an ear of grilled corn. Our food arrived promptly at 6:20, but the corn was missing. Server apologized and said it would be a few minutes, so we tucked in. I love the mango-lime seasoned chicken - I'm no fan of hot spices and that has just the right amount of heat for me - and the Macho Peas with chili and mint are unique and yummy. My friend also enjoyed her meal, but by 6:30, still no grilled corn. At 6:40 she asked our server, again got an apology and a request to wait. Well, we had to leave by 6:50 to reach the theatre, so at 6:45 she took the receipt and walked up to ask if they'd take the price of the corn off her bill - - just as the server arrived with the belated ear. ==Now, this is the great part. While my friend was wolfing down the corn, the floor manager came to our table, apologized again, and gave us not only two free cupcakes - boxed to go - but two coupons for a free 1/4 chicken on our next visit! That's two free desserts AND two free dinners, just for being late with a side dish. This manager's thoughtfulness turned what was becoming an unpleasant visit into a very nice surprise and cemented my sense that Nando's really does put its customers first. (Yes, I realize that she did it partly to stave off a bad review and cover the restaurant's tail, but most places wouldn't have gone as far as she did, and we really were pleasantly surprised.) We'll be eating here again for certain - not only do we have free chicken to look forward to, but I definitely want to try that watermelon sangria.

    (4)

  • Jamie D.

    Ick, ick, ick! My 1/4 dark meat chicken for takeout was absolutely dry. Seeing my order reheated over the grill should've been fair warning. I would've sent it back if I was dining at the restaurant.

    (1)

  • Russell P.

    i've been to Nando's in Silver Spring, MD twice now and the food is okay, but not as good as all the hype i get about it. i compare Nando's to other Peruvian style chicken vendors in the local area and Nando's maybe ranks 4th or 5th. i'm not particularly impressed by their flavor here, and the service is on and off. some of the staff are great and will do backflips to help you, but some of them are a bit lost in the shuffle. for example, some servers would bring me plates, utensils, etc. as soon as they were able if i asked them, but getting something like the nandosauce that they charge extra for took about 10 minutes after asking 3 times.

    (2)

  • Ryan M.

    I'm used to eating Peruvian grub from a food truck or greasy den. Nandos turns it classy! The food is probably just as good as any Peruvian chicken place you'll find. Its tender and flavorful. The add-ins like the macho peas and the ambiance are what set this place apart. It's casual enough for T-shirt and shorts but nice enough that you enjoy eating in as opposes to grabbing the chuken and running like other chicken places. I like the sauces at your disposal and the service even for a place that has you order at the counter is excellent. I wouldnt go out if my way or probably even plan a trip here but i don't want to stray from downtown SS this will probably be my choice from now on. Sorry Austin Grill.

    (4)

  • pia b.

    Eh, I had hoped for something different, so that's really all the issue I had. I'm not the biggest fan of the seating system. To wait to be given a table, sit down and then get back up to wait in line to place my order and then have it delivered to my table and still have to pick up my own silverware all for what seemed to be normal, full service sit down prices? (One 1/4 chicken with one side, one half chicken with one side and two beers for $30?) I didn't really like the sauces, but the chicken was moist. The beers (draught) tasted skunky and there were fruit flies hovering the whole meal. Overall, I'm happy to see that the spot is not vacant, but next time we have a craving for chicken, we'll likely just go to Crisp and Juicy.

    (2)

  • Michael P.

    Overpriced, too salty and not enough food for the money. I have eatan here 3 times and that is enough, each time it was not good, too salty and had to eat something an hour later. I will not go here again. Waste of money.

    (1)

  • Rachel D.

    Love this place!! I go here quite often and it's always a great experience. The service is great, the atmosphere is great, and the food is yummy! I get the red sangria every time--it's a fav!

    (5)

  • Tom T.

    Delicious good food in a ncie atmosphere at good prices! It's Nando's a chain celebrating spicy chicken from South Africa with a Portuguese infusion. This location has a nice dining area - well lit and ample space to relax. The food is good, I recommend a quarter chicken meal with garlic bread and their awesome mashed potatoes (red potatoes also garlic and butter). Try corn on the cob roasted or some of their others treats such as 'macho peas' or spicy hummus and pita bread. I would skip the desserts - they are fine but by the time you eat the meal you will be satisfied anyway. It's a nice place for some good spicy chicken and taking a break!

    (4)

  • Raycal B.

    Nando's Peri Peri...in one word. DELICIOUS. This chicken is flavorful right down to the last drop. If you go you MUST order the Garlic Bread. It is to die for. You will eat every last bit of it. My mom and sister tasted it and loved it too. I also got the Yellow Rice which was pretty tasty as well. The drinks are BOTTOMLESS and so is the Yogurt. I will make it a point to go here often. Wanna try the corn on the cob, heard it was good too. The sauces are okay but the chicken is so flavorful, you don't even need it. Right in Downtown Silver Spring. Excellent Location.

    (5)

  • Heather J.

    I'm a fan of Nando's. I love the chicken (medium-spicy) and the herb sauce. This location is especially nice because there's a free parking lot right nextdoor and it's very spacious inside. The service was friendly and really fast. We split a whole chicken platter, which came with two sides. We got the fries with peri peri salt and perinaise. They were excellent - very crunchy but not overdone, and not too greasy. For our other side we got the macho peas, which were very tasty. At other Nando's locations, I've had the mashed potatoes and garlic bread, which are both great. I'll definitely be back to Nando's.

    (4)

  • Arthur F.

    This chains a welcome addition to SS. Yes its a chain, but its one of those trendy european chains where its cool looking enough you let it slide. The dmv was picked for this companies first excursion into the states! This place makes some really good and tender grilled chicken. I guess it's the marinade or something that makes the chicken so tender and moist. I'm a dark meat chicken guy but here I even dig the breast meat. This place also makes some awesome chicken liver, yea, chicken liver, how often does one find that on a menu outside of the boonies. I don't know why other reviewers keep referring to crisp n juicy, which is Peruvian rotisserie chicken and cooked and seasoned completely different from this Portuguese fire grilled chicken. By that measure popeyes or kfc should be thrown into the mix. You can like one style and not the other, it doesn't make one necessarily better then the other. The few knocks on this location chain; it's expensive! The service can be really good or really bad. Some of the people taking the orders can't understand you and visa versa!

    (4)

  • Kitty B.

    Went here for lunch after passing by month after month. I don't know why I hesitated to come in. I think I had the notion that the food would be too hot to handle. I was so wrong. I come in and am greeted warmly. I study the menu and see that there are different levels of seasonings for the chicken and that I am in control of the heat. LOVE IT! The portions are not overwhelming, just perfect for lunch. This place will definitely make it into the lunch time rotation.

    (4)

  • Maboud E.

    Great chicken at a reasonable price! Quick and delicious! Great for groups! Order a bunch of stuff and share!

    (4)

  • Cat S.

    I frequent this location of Nando's and I have yet to have a bad experience! Their mashed potatoes are freaking amaaaaazing, so buttery and fluffy; and I have since fallen in love with bits of potato and its skin in mashed potato in any mashed potatoes I eat. The garlic bread is delicious as well. I have had their wings, I don't personally enjoy the wings as much as I enjoy their 1/4 breast with 2 sides. Their rice side is a bit spicy (I'm not a person who favors even a tad of spice, but I do love my rice) but always hot and moist. I would try their cupcakes, as I am a sucker for small sweets, but they always seem to have been sitting out for quite some time.. Their flan looks pretty good as well. Their staff are average, I haven't had a personable waitress to this day. I guess they're not big on being personable since Nando's is not really a sit down and tip kind of restaurant. Overall, I love love love love the mashed potatoes and quarter chicken from Nando's :D

    (4)

  • Libby F.

    I guess I'll have to come back and update when I've actually had something to eat here. I came with a friend to get a glass of sangria, but we ordered a carafe instead. It wasn't cheap, but a better deal than by the glass. I saw on their Yelp page that they have the carafes half-priced during happy hour (4-7pm). There was no mention of that on the menu. Anyhow, the sangria is good. It has cinnamon sticks in it. I didn't think it was potent until I bit into an apple wedge... My friend thought the chicken was okay; not the best she'd ever had. We will probably be back. there are a few vegetarian options on the menu. The ordering at the counter thing isn't a bad thing if they aren't too busy.

    (3)

  • Lorena B.

    I love the chicken breast wrap! I get it with pineapple and hot peri-peri (tried medium the first couple of times but it wasn't hot enough for me). As good as that wrap is, they chicken portion is super stingy! I don't expect them to stuff my wrap Chipotle-style but for the price Nando's could be a little more generous. Even worse it's about $3 more to double the chicken. If anyone from Nando's is reading this, please start serving your wraps with a couple of more chicken pieces! Never been to the other locations but the service here is actually pretty good! While I was eating today, a nice young man apologized for interrupting me since I was reading and asked if he could refill my drink. Nice! Oh, and if you could put some rainbow sprinkles by the all you can eat fro-yo, that would be awesome!!! Kloveyoubye!

    (3)

  • Adrien G.

    This place is great for spicy-holics. I enjoyed the variety of sauces available (Garlic sauce was bangin'). The service was sub-par. A few issues with items not coming out as ordered. Food: B++ Service: D+ Ambiance: A Cleanliness: A Overall: B- Will most likely return again.

    (3)

  • Sisley C.

    Went here for the first time a few weeks ago. Delicious! I got 1/4 chicken (too small) and a side of corn and the Portuguese rice. The chicken was yummy - perfectly flavored, especially with some sauce, and the rice was great... Literally to the point where I had to order another large portion of the rice to go. I would come back. Three stars because it is pricey for the portion size...

    (3)

  • Hector W.

    personel not to friendly or maybe to tired for the extensive hours food is magnificent

    (3)

  • Deb G.

    For some reason, the Silver Spring location is never as good as downtown is. My chicken breast wrap was skimpy in both yogurt sauce and jam, and my fries were cold. However, the chicken was delicious (as usual), the spicy pepper dip was excellent, and the atmosphere is more upscale than I expect from a serve-yourself place. It is also an easy choice for a group - appeals to a lot of people and has veggie options.

    (3)

  • Mike K.

    If service were a flying aircraft, Nando's wait staff would be the Hindenburg. Let me reiterate: the staff is made up of a group of buffoons. The greeters operate right off of a card directly out of the employee handbook. If you cause them to deviate from it even slightly, be prepared for a four-alarm, code red, emergency shutdown. The cashiers have no knowledge of the menu. Asking them to alter something as simple as "dressing on the side" will cause them to go into a tailspinning nervous panic - reminiscent of Rain Man - while stuttering and shaking as they stare blankly at the register mumbling, "there's no button for that." The wait staff could mess up a glass of water. The Nando staff finds bringing all the food at the same time overrated. A helpful hint: if you're dining mate gets their food first, don't tell them to start without you; you will be eating alone when your food finally comes out a half hour later. For your troubles, they will offer you nothing in return except for maybe a visit from: Guinness Would Record's Dumbest Restaurant Manager EVER. The chickens this place serves are smarter than the manager who came to our table. It was like I wasn't speaking English to this guy. When I told him my complaint, he, verbatim, repeated exactly what I said back to me, then looked at me with a confused expression and walked away... never to return. That was his solution: run away and hide. The food itself is actually pretty good, but who cares? You'll never actually get to taste it because one of the lobotomized cashiers will mess the order up. If the stars somehow align themselves and the cashiers happen to break their 0-1,000 slump and nail your order (spolier alert: they won't) , the waiter will leave your food on the shelf so long it will turn soggy, or dry, or cold, or hard or whatever the case may be, leaving you with only one option: call out the manager who - well, we've been over that.

    (1)

  • Diana C.

    I finally managed to get in here to meet up with a friend for dinner. I live only a block or two away, so it's criminal that I have not yet been here. He's quite a regular, so after some recommendations, I got a quarter chicken, HOT!, and a side of the peas. The chicken was not really HOT, as my friend had warned me. The spice did have a really nice flavor, though, but definitely was not spicy at all. I may get the OMG REALLY HOT next time because I have a feeling it isn't all that spicy either. I should have tried out some of the sauces and toppings, but I was too busy shoveling chicken meats into my face. The peas were pretty good--slightly spicy, slightly herbal, well cooked. And maybe it's just me, but that quarter chicken was not a lot of food. I have been known to eat almost a whole rotisserie chickens with my bare hands while cackling aloud, so I guess it just depends on how hungry you are. ;) Overall? Pretty good. Not terribly expensive, so I can definitely foresee picking up 1/2 a chicken and some sides when I'm being super lazy and want a tasty dinner to go.

    (3)

  • Charlotte S.

    Honestly, I'm really surprised to read the issues in the other reviews. I've been to this location at least 7 times in the past year and have never had any issues with my food. When I've come with my friends, I've always ended up converting someone to Nando's. Maybe it's my taste buds, but I don't think I've had more flavorful chicken. I've ordered to go twice to bring for my parents, and they love it. My parents are INCREDIBLY picky eaters, like they rarely find restaurant food to be good. At least good enough to the point where after they eat it they still hold the same opinion. My parent's really enjoy the food here. I think the rice is a bit salty though, but apart from that, it's great. I always go between the two spiciest chicken seasonings. Whenever I'm in town, this is definitely on my list of places I need to visit before I leave. I just wish they would expand.

    (5)

  • Eddie W.

    Yummy on epic proportions! Even vegetarians can have a feast here, because it's not just Portuguese chicken they're serving up. Whether you go with mild spiciness, or tongue tingling hot...you'll find one of their peri peri sauces to accommodate. The choices of sides are awesome, and proves difficult in narrowing your pick down to just 1 or 2. I frequently go for the grilled portobello and halloumi cheese wrap with chili jam, it's out of the world! Their homemade mashed potatoes, macho peas, and grilled corn on the cob, are all highly recommended choices. Be sure to grab a frequent customer card, as they offer free drinks, appetizers, and sides spanned out over future visits...eading all the way up to a free meal!

    (4)

  • Autumn M.

    Food is on point!!!!

    (5)

  • Rachel S.

    Went here for lunch today. I have been to the one in Chinatown but never to the one in Silver Spring before today. As expected, the food was almost identical to the quality and ingredients as I could get in Chinatown. I got the country salad with chicken and it was okay. I think they have shrunk their portion size a bit since I was there last. Also, they ran out of ice tea, which anyone who reads my reviews knows nothing means more to me than keeping my glass filled with some good, quality, unsweetened ice tea. Since I was alone, I was resistant to getting up from the table too many times. I asked the server if she could bring me a glass of the fresh-brewed ice tea once it was finished brewing. A few minutes later she brought me some fresh brewed luke-warm tea and forgot the ice! Overall- it was okay but service was just fair and I don't feel like its a good value for the money.

    (3)

  • Beller C.

    Pretty great food. Chicken done right!! However....the service is...ehh. I'm mean if you're not in a rush & can wait 30mins for your to-go order, it may work. I just feel a busy restaurant is a good thing, but managing the crowd and prompt food service is what makes a restaurant great (see Chick a Fila)

    (3)

  • Annie D.

    I like Nando's! It's a nice local chain that's serving up some yummy chicken. The food is consistent and inexpensive. The food isn't out of this world lick your plate amazing, but when we're too tired to cook and looking for real food cooked to order this is our go-to joint. The medium(spicy) chicken always hits the spot and it's worth it to order a whole chicken even if it's just 2 people eating. The sides are mostly carbs, but I never met a mashed potato I didn't inhale and the garlic bread is really tasty! We can get out of Nando's for under $30; that includes beer and leftovers for tomorrow. You cannot beat that. In the warmer months they have outdoor seating and Ellsworth has some of the best people watching in MD. WIN!

    (3)

  • Rachel S.

    A friend of mine recently took me to Nandos, just last Friday. I love the chicken and the garlic bread is AMAZING! Not to mention peri sauce. I definitely recommend this restaurant and will be returning soon.

    (5)

  • Ryan B.

    For a chain restaurant, this place is relatively good. I popped in here after a movie with a friend and was surprised at how good this place was for being a chain. I got the boneless chicken with their rice. Pretty spicy and I needed a lot of water, but was still delicious. I'll have to check the Bethesda location since I live closer to there, but this place will now be one of my two places to go before/after a movie out in Silver Spring.

    (4)

  • Jamila F.

    I love Nando's in The UK and ecstatic with this new location. The parking garage is easily accessible to the strip where this restaurants sits and pretty spacious. I'm not a fan of the chicken but love the pita, wraps, salad, chicken livers and of course the happy hour sangria! This isn't 5 stars because the temperature isn't even, pretty cold in there and the restroom is small...one person at a time. I have to add additional star because after visiting the Georgia Ave. location, I find the the Silver Spring location is exceptional. My husband and I love Nando's and we've taken a lot of our fiends there. I'm yet to eat a more delicious and succulent chicken livers! I've made several attempts to replicate this dish using the Nando's sauce, but all to no avail!

    (4)

  • Marissa A.

    Over all the food is good! Period...I enjoy the fries, rice, macho peas --as for sides. Ok the chicken: Its good. Its seasoned nicely, and the sauces are light but add just enough spice and tang. In my opinion. Im not a real spicy picante fan so yeah.. One thing that bothers me is the actual size of the chicken..like the proportion you get. What gives! Its just lacking to me. Im not asking for a Gen-Mod KFC chicken breast but daaaaammn! LOL These chicken seem like were starved or something? Everytime I order my regular 1/4 white im like... umm where the other half of my breast? ...Hhhmm wonder whats the diff between here and a 1/4 white at Crisp&Juicy or something? Aaahhh... IM JUST SAYING!

    (3)

  • Laura M.

    This review goes out specifically to the staff on August 17, 2013 between 9:40pm and 11:30pm. Our orders were rung up at 9:59pm. Our food wasn't served until 10:45pm. My friends at our table received their food 15 minutes after they ordered. In the meantime the staff was playing in the kitchen. How do I know this? Because we were sitting in the middle of the restaurant with a clear view of the whole area. The staff was laughing and hollering. Nothing wrong with having fun- but really did they forget to place our order and not tell us? Or check in on us? One of the waitress was running screaming in the back room. Meanwhile no one bothered to tell us that our food was still being cooked. Not until I got up to inquire was I informed by a waitress who ran up to ask the cook. Who was lounging on the counter. The waitress told me my food was going to be ready in 10 minutes. That was code for 20 minutes, which is when it arrived to the table. Anyways, the guy waiter said he was going to bring us plates. I'm still waiting for those plates!! Luckily my friend went to ask for plates. Overall, today's experience was handled by slackers! We are regulars of this establishment and always have a positive experience- not today though!

    (1)

  • Andrea S.

    Great chicken!! Spicy and tender! Grilled to perfection. Loved the red skin mashed potatoes. Reasonable price. Great music and comfortable atmosphere. I would definitely recommend this place!

    (5)

  • Katelyn K.

    We have walked past Nando's Peri Peri a few times in downtown, and with friends we recently decided to try it. The food was good, portions decent, options wide and our waitress great - however, you seat me, then I have to go up to the counter to order and then you will bring it to me? Why not just have the awesome waitress or hostess order it for me? It seemed completely unnecessary to seat us and then tell us to go order for ourselves and let them know what table we were at.

    (3)

  • Iza E.

    It is important to point out chain restaurants that actually stand out against the crowd and put some extra effort to create a nice ambiance for dining. Nando's Peri Peri is one of those places - Read more here: eisemanndesign.blogspot.…

    (5)

  • Devida N.

    Juicy delicious chicken!! I love spicy food so I ordered the HOT wings .. too too spicy! Love the yellow rice, nice place to meet up with friends and have a good time with good food. Their prices are a bit high for chicken but the food ia good.

    (4)

  • Christina C.

    I was introduced to Nando's by a friend (fellow yelper!) and am very glad I know of this place. Seems they keep opening new locations--just saw that they took over where Chicken Out used to be in Bethesda. The first time I went, I got a chicken sandwich, which was very good. The only thing that wasn't too good was the Portuguese roll, which was hard and not in a good way. Still, the chicken is delicious, everything else was full of flavor, and the sauces are to die for! Second time, I had the 1/4 chicken meal with peas and fries. Look forward to trying more the next time I go back!

    (4)

  • Jake T.

    This is mine and my wife's favorite restaurant! This is why: The Food: The chicken and steak are excellent and precisely worth the amount that you pay for them. We are huge Peruvian chicken fans and I used to think that style was the peak of chicken taste. But Nando's is just a notch better and always consistent. On top of the awesome entrees, their sides and appetizers are always tasty. We have tried the humus, pepper dip, corn, macho peas, and mashed potatoes. You would think that one of these would be weak, but there are no 'meh' dishes here! The Drinks: Nando's has our favorite chicken and our favorite drink as well! You must try the sangria! We call it the 'magical sangria' because we always end up giddy and talkative when we share it. The Service: Nando's has a unique setup where you pay before you eat. This is a great alternative to "hi, I'm so and so and I'll be your waiter". The staff are also totally awesome! If you are an employee trainer of sorts, then you should def come here and take notes! They are so generous with us as well! We have scored a few free meals just for telling them thanks. The Atmosphere: This place is beautiful! I would want my house to look like this! It's so relaxing with the sangria and the nice music in the background! I will miss Nando's when we move from this area for sure. Until then, we plan on eating there frequently.

    (5)

  • Stephanie S W.

    This is my new favorite chicken place. I had last eaten at a Nando's Peri Peri in London and when I saw the new location in Silver Spring I was so happy. The food is delicious and the chicken is awesome. I would suggest getting mild or medium flavoring - it can get spicy very fast. My boyfriend likes their chicken livers which he raves about - so be bold and try them! The butternut squash and couscous salad is my favorite!

    (5)

  • Brian C.

    This update has longtime been in the works. Here is where the additional points come from: +1: I have to say, Nando's customer service is phenomenal. Following my review, I was contacted by their central support about my complaint - too small of a portion. She assured me this was not to be and offered me a voucher for 2 as compensation. +1: The missus and I went back to redeem the coupon and we tried 2 new combo meals: I got the chicken pita and she got the spicy chicken wrap. The pita was a little thin for my tastes but I loved the mix of flavors and textures with the pita. I got my own bottle sauce and I sauced that pita up to my delight. It was delicious. The wrap was more traditional but I didn't like how you couldn't choose the kind of spicy sauce like you can do for the other chicken varieties. The chicken was still tender and tasty - but I do enjoy how the Nando's sauces are as flavorful as they are hot. The spicy wrap sauce seemed more like an ordinary buffalo sauce. Nando's sides are also creative: we had an order of the macho peas. Roughly mashed peas with some other things for kick, like parsley and chili. If you like to be adventurous, we enjoyed this variation and so you may too. -1: They seem to forgot about my missus' wrap, but we were seated outside. After waiting for what seemed well beyond the normal time it takes for food to be served, I went inside to ask and it had somehow slipped through the cracks. The platter was there, just not completed (missing a side). The hostess was more than helpful in getting everything squared away. The minor service kinks we have experienced are the only things keeping it from a full-fledged 5, but the staff is courteous and friendly if you ever bring up anything with them.

    (4)

  • Tracy P.

    Seating at Nando's works like this: They give you a number for your table. When I was here they sat you down first and give you menus..but you go up to the counter and place your order and give them your table #. Some people don't know this and are waiting at their table, confused why no one has come by. You get all your utensils, sauces, drinks, etc yourself. They bring food to you. Love Nando's food. I will say that I have been to a few locations and that this one is the slowest. For takeout lunch they took about 30 minutes to make an order. I went for dinner and dined in and they made my order wrong. I saw a roach here though.... also twice I have had an issue with a gnat flying around my sangria. Nando's Peri Peri is one of my favorite restaurants. I love their chicken. I usually get medium spicy even though I love spicy food because it is spicy! The hummus with Peri Peri drizzle is delicious. I have tried from their menu the 1/4 chicken, chicken breast wrap, hummus, chicken wings, Portugeuse rice, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, green salad, and french fries. Loved - chicken breast wrap. I get this 9/10 times I go. - corn on cob Liked - Rice - mashed potatoes - hummus - fries - 1/4 chicken Didn't like - Wings - Salad. They don't have many dressing choices so I didn't care for the two they have. So my 3 stars is mainly for this location. The food at Nando's is excellent!

    (3)

  • Sandy T.

    Love the Portuguese chicken here! First and foremost, if you like spice must try! Their ambrosial chicken meat is really tender and flavorful. You can taste the seasoned, spice that have been marinated for 24 hours, on the outer layer of the skin. It is flame- grilled to near perfection and the meat comes right off the bone. It comes in portions of quarter, half, or whole. The size of the portion is small though. The peri-peri chicken also come with many different sides to choose from; fries, garlic bread, corn, Portuguese rice, and a few others. Besides chicken, this restaurant also carries other delights; sandwiches, pitas, wraps, and also salad I love spice and this place has ton to choose from: -lemon & herb -mango & lime -medium, hot, or extra hot! I went for the hot and extra hot!! The venue of this place is surprisingly very nice for a self-served, dine in restaurant. It's also very clean, which is a plus! The inside is dimly lit with fancy decors making this place seem more upscale than it actually is.

    (4)

  • Yanoh J.

    This place is great! I have been to the London chain which have been doing it much longer than the American based chain, so I was going in there very critical. Honestly, everything was the same, the only thign that was different was the size of the chicken. It seemed a bit smaller than the chickens they serve in London. But honestly, no biggie, the food was great. We came after a graduation and had a party of about 25 and they were really good about seating us. I love that they have a hand washing facility(that you do not have to go to the bathroom for). The only negative I would say is that our food came out very staggered and in no real order, I would assume whoever ordered first would get their food first but it didnt really work like that. Some people had their food for 10-15 minutes before other's came out. All in all, it was very nice and we had a great time. I think the idea of you paying for your food before you eat is genius, it makes it easy especially when you have a big party like we did. I wish we had a Nando's in NY, so I will definitely take advantage anytime I am in the DMV area.

    (4)

  • Maggie F.

    Been here twice... once at the branch in DC, and recently in silver spring. Aye, i've been satisifed both times. Their chicken meat is real tender and flavorful and they provide you with a variety of sides to choose from. Sides include: peas, mashed potatoes, portugease rice and i dont remember the others. What's best about this place is that they have a bijillion sauces to choose from. and its so fun, because you get to bring the sauce jars to your table and SAUCE THAT CHICKEN to your hearts delight! And after, if you please, they have $3.25 BOTTOMLESS ice cream for dessert. The environment of the place is quite nice and clean, though the DC one was awfully dark. Rest assured, if you don't like that type of ambiance, the silver spring location was significantly brighter. I didn't mistaken someone's hand for chicken this time!

    (4)

  • Sara O.

    MMMM Good. I love me some Nandos. Get the perinaise or peri peri salt with the fries. I like the spicey chicken and my bf and I decided that it is cheaper and a better value to get the family pack then two seperate half chicken meals and sides. I like the sangria and I like the chicken. All inexpensive and quick for people who don't have time to cook dinner. It is not the best, but it is above KFC, Popeyes quality.

    (4)

  • Madhur K.

    Really really good.... Chicken Breast + Garlic Bread is best combination, but the rice is good too...

    (4)

  • Brian C.

    It's a nice place and the food was pretty good. But the whole system of sitting down, ordering at the register needs to be revamped and the girl at the Register was a low talker and seemed irritated that I had questions. I left the place unfulfilled and a bit irritated if they had wait staff I think this place would get 4 stars

    (2)

  • Stacie V.

    If you are looking for decent chicken, Nandos Peri Peri's is one of the better places in Silver Spring downtown. Decor and environment is adequate with nice and friendly service from my experience. I order a 1/2 chicken with X hot sauce, with sides of chips and mashed potatoes, and a Chicken wrap with a slice of pineapple. Likes: 1. Chicken was well seasoned and very moist 2. Chicken wrap went very well with a slice of pineapple, added a nice texture to it. 3. The sauces went great with the chicken. Dislikes: 1. Chips perinaise kind of fell flat 2. Like the sauces but X-tra hot is not really hot to me Conclusions: All in all the chicken is tasty and I will be back.

    (4)

  • Chris A.

    After hearing people rave about this place I have to admit that I was disappointed by my visit here. I got a 1/2 chicken with an order of the macho peas. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I found the prices reasonable. The real issue that I had was with the food. I just didn't find it that spectacular. I couldn't taste a really discernible spice to my food. The menu seemed to imply that medium was "hot" elsewhere so I didn't try my luck. The sauces provided were good, but I really expected more. My friend loved the peas, and the flavor was interesting but I found them too sweet. I just wasn't really wowed. Not sure that I'll be back. Maybe I just visited on an off day.

    (2)

  • Joshua B.

    Nando's was good meal. I don't think their chicken is better than Sardi's or even Chix, but I really love their side dishes. The butter nut squash was really good.They're also one of the only fire grilled chicken places in the area that serve beer and wine, so I appreciate that. Its also a little nicer than the other chicken places in the area. The one drawback, I felt the chicken portion was small for a half a chicken. That said I think its a more complete experience in comparison to the others chicken spots around The District. They have the little extras, like cucumber water, beer and desserts. I really enjoyed the red velvet cupcakes, nice touch. I'm sure I'll be back.

    (3)

  • Edzai M.

    I absolutely love this place. I was so excited Nandos was finally coming states side and it was only a few hours from home. Yes, thats how much I love Nandos, I will travel a few hours just to get my 1/4 chicken and chips (aka fries). I usually get my nandos fix when I travel to Africa and Gland, but finally I can have it here too! It was nice to see they kept everything on the menu originally and didn't try and change it up. I can have my 1/4 chic, liver (yum) and peri peri chips and feel like I'm back in Africa, watching the sunset. The outside seating here I especially enjoy as I reminisce of the days on the motherland. I would definitely recommend this place if you want some good chicken and a feel of Africa.

    (4)

  • Tyson L.

    Their whole roasted chicken was a fun meal to share with a buddy. Plenty of meat, tasty skin, and cool sides. "Fast Casual" dining. Not fancy, you still order at the counter, but its not fast food. You can even order wine with your meal.

    (4)

  • Martin B.

    I'm pretty sure I've been to all the Nando's locations in DC at this point. My experience here was as good as at the other restaurants. This location seems particularly spacious and dare I say cavernous. The service was friendly although I do agree with other reviewers that the system of being seated and then going up to the register to order is a bit convoluted. You can never go wrong with the chicken pitas or sandwiches here. Depending on the fortitude of your taste buds, you can have your chicken mild with a simple marinade or extra hot with a marinade and sauce that will give a lot of spice-jockeys a run for their money. If you're really hungry, go for either double meat or get a side order of pita and hummus, it's fantastic. Nothing bad to say about this place in all honesty.

    (4)

  • C D.

    Not bad food - although the mashed peas were terrible - but not amazing, and the service was incredibly slow. Seems like a lot of hype to me. Not awful, but you can get better quality and less noise for the same amount of money at Boston Market.

    (2)

  • Jessica E.

    Not your standard "sit down restaurant" service, but excellent food and good ambiance. The chicken is amazing, and there is a relatively wide variety of menu options (most involving chicken). Overall, nice place for an inexpensive and delicious meal.

    (4)

  • Jesus J.

    This place serves your typical quarter/half/whole chicken with multiple sides, but what's not typical is the different types of chicken you can order. They have different levels of spiciness - plain, lemon herb, medium, and hotness (with some other levels in between). My favorite tends to be the medium - lots of sauce, but not too spicy. All of the flavors are tasty except for the plain - as the name implies...it's pretty plain. There are a good selection of sides. My favorites are their delicious french fries (make sure to get it with the "salt"), and corn on the cob. The macho peas are an interesting choice, but I found them to be sort of bland. It's really difficult to go wrong with the sides - the rest of them are delicious. There are other types of food (sandwiches) as well. They also have small desserts and cupcakes. The ambiance of the place is nice - dimly lit, fancy decor, and plenty of tables. The service at this place has always been really good. I hope the novelty of a new business doesn't wear off and the service starts lacking...but for the time being, it's great.

    (4)

  • Sarah B.

    If you look through these reviews, it seems as though many of the negative comments are about the service/environment. It seemed pleasant to me, but since I got takeaway, my comments are only about the food. I got the half chicken with medium sauce, the mashed potatoes, and the macho peas. I'd say that individually, the products aren't that special, but combined, the saltyness of the potatoes complement the tangyness of the chicken, and the peas provide a completely different texture. The chicken was perfectly cooked, with such a variety of char, sauce, and juicy white meat. The potatoes were salty, but I really can't complain about that because I eat anchovies straight from the can and snack on pickles. So, the takeaway was delicious and exactly what I needed... like, girl next door food (chicken, potatoes, and peas), but girl next door after she returns from Southern Africa.

    (4)

  • John K.

    I absolutely love the food at Nando's - I like the garlic, the spices, the sides - they are unique and much better than a boring old chicken sandwich. HOWEVER - the service at this particular Nando's location is HORRIBLE. We waited almost an hour - and the store wasn't even busy. The cashier just stood there and stared at us and didn't offer to help. The cooks were standing around and looked like they didn't know how to turn on the grill. We asked about our order twice and they finally decided to prepare it - and then they got the order wrong. My recommendation - try Nando's if you like spicy chicken with unique sides - but go to Bethesda or downtown DC instead.

    (2)

  • Curtis B.

    OK, so I go there probably more than I should...meaning I am too lazy to go home and cook! This place has the best chicken wings I have ever had! Their Portuguese rice, garlic bread and Red Pepper Dip are delicious. The staff are friendly, although at times can be a bit slow. I do enjoy the "serve yourself" policy with utensils, non-alcoholic drinks and condiments and I also like the music blend. The prices are very reasonable for Silver Spring.

    (4)

  • Carla B.

    When I initially found out that my friends and I were going to be eating here, I was like, "great, another chain restaurant with bleh food." I was actually pleasantly surprised! If you're a chicken lover, you're going to like nomming at this place. Be forewarned, though, if you don't like spicy...your options will be limited! The chicken comes in different sizes (1/4 is good for just one person if you have some sides) and different flavors. Flavor is based on the spice level that you want (Plain, Lime, Medium, Hot, and Extremely Hot). I like spicy food but I don't like to sweat too much while I eat it, so I went with the medium. It had a small kick to it and I probably could have handled the hot, but I was happy with it. There are also a variety of sauces that you could try, some to make your food a bit spicier, some just to add some more flavor. Be sure to try to the garlic sauce, it's especially tasty with the french fries!

    (3)

  • Zachary H.

    We were so excited that a Nandos was opening in Silver Spring, but this place is not off to a great start thus far. Our order - a hot chicken pita and 1/4 chicken - was wrong twice over. To top it all off, once corrected, we were then delivered someone else's order. The food was decent and the service relatively friendly, except for the somewhat over baring South African store manager who was roaming the tables, cracking jokes and interrupting dinner. I love this chain, but hope things improve as some of these operational things get ironed out.

    (2)

  • MaJ C.

    Service Is chaotic, if you are not used to "Middle Food" Not quite slow, and not quite fast.. You get seated by a hostess, then remembering the number on your table, walk up to the cashier, and 1) Give your table number, and 2) Give your order.3) Get your own napkins, silverware, and sauces off of the condiments bar 4) go back to table, and wait for order to arrive. If you want to tip, there are tip boxes right by the registers, so do so when ordering. The food is really inexpensive for what it is, my party tried everything, and thought it was worth exactly as we paid, Except for the sangria. During Happy Hour, a pitcher ( a small glass vessel ) is 8$. After 7, it goes to 18$. The bottled beers are expensive, though lo and behold, they do have PBR on tap. Service was very attentive, as was the managers working on the floor with the staff, in a friendly manner. They have Veg Options for the non-flesh picker, so all can enjoy this place. Side Note: Use the restroom, at least to wash dry your hands. This type of hand dryer is pretty popular in Europe, and I am glad to see it make its way unto the states. :)

    (3)

  • Herbert N.

    Just moved back to DC and this place rocks. chicken is so good, well spiced and marinated and cooked over a fire. can't beat that. and they have the most incredible condiments station where you can load up on any number of sauces of various kinds and heat levels. if you go here i don't think you'll be sorry. not super cheap, but not overly expensive either. we fed 3 people and a toddler very nicely for under $30. yum.

    (5)

  • Jen S.

    Atmosphere: Good service. Everyone was friendly and pleasant. The combination of table and counter service worked smoothly, but the restaurant was not very crowded. The decor was described by my dining companion as resembling that of an affordable dining venue in Las Vegas. Pretty, with an amusement park feel. Food: The chicken was solid, but not outstanding. I concur with Stephen R. about there being better chicken options in the area for more reasonable prices. The numerous sauces were tasty, but a bit salty. Sides such as macho peas and Portuguese rice were on the bland side without the liberal addition of aforementioned sauces. A pitcher of sangria was half price during happy hour. That is good because we watched as a large amount of water was added to it. Deal Breaker: The reason for one star? Serious fruit flies. They swarmed around our food for the first half of the meal. They showed a keen interest in our sangria. They were not to be deterred by swatting and our attempts to kill them in mid air, Karate Kid style. Finally, one made its way into my glass and luxuriated on an apple chunk. I stopped drinking at this point and watched as its friends arrived. It was fruit fly Spring Break in my glass. I stopped counting at 5. Mediocre food and fruit fly bacchanal. I cannot recommend this place.

    (1)

  • Medjinne D.

    I love their chicken always good my son devours their 1/4 chicken and some of our food every time. Their fries and peri peri sauce are great, the mash potatoes, corns, garlic bread and etc yumm. Their Sangria can be a miss sometimes but if you let them know, they will fix it. Oh and their music is nice too. There service at this location has improved drastically!

    (4)

  • Brownie B.

    I ordered a chicken wrap to go. Even though I am skeptical of chain restaurants, I was quite pleased. The service was good, although, I can't stand people who used canned greeting scripts...Feels forced and awkward. Just take my order...There are people behind me, just smile and keep it moving. Another negative was I ordered rice as a side order, and they gave me fries instead. But maybe "rice" and "fries" can sound alike to some, so I won't give them a real hard time about that. Anyway, the fries were pretty good, and the chicken wrap was perfect. I enjoyed the spices and sauces used, which to me, is important to give me a distinct tasting chicken wrap. Anybody can make a chicken wrap, but, it is the seasoning that separates one restaurant from the other. I will DEFINITELY go back. The food is pretty healthy compared to other options nearby and the menu has plenty of options.

    (4)

  • Roy S.

    Had the chicken wrap today. It was INCREDIBLE!!! The hot sauce and the sweet jelly or whatever was excellent. I want another one right now...

    (5)

  • J B.

    If you're in the mood for chicken, then this is your place. The chicken comes in 4 different levels of heat. They range from mild to X-treme! I usually order the medium and then add small amounts of X-treme! when the food arrives at the table. The corn on the cob is my favorite side. The corn comes straight off the grill and onto your plate. YUM! Unfortunately the rice on the other hand, was a really dry. That lead me to only give this place 3 stars.

    (3)

  • Kamal K.

    This location marked my first Nando's experience and I'm now a fan of the peri-peri. As I live in VA, this location is the somewhat ideal as it's easily accessible off the beltway/Georgia avenue. Parking is abundant in the nearby Wayne Street garage (at $ .75/hr it's not bad at all). It's nice to not have to deal with the Chinatown crowds and metro when going to the DC locations. Everyone seemed to be friendly at this location. The format is a bit unusual, you get seated by a host(-ess), given your menus and are told to head up to the counter to order when you're ready. Definitely gives indecisive customers time to fully analyze the menu. I've so far made two visits; both of times I've had the 1/2 chicken with two sides option. It's pricey but the portions are hearty. The chicken is absolutely amazing, fresh off the grill and juicy. I spiced my medium which was perfect, though for a few bites with an extra kick I get the hot sauce from the condiments table, which is extensive with many of their own sauces and overall adds a nice touch to the dining experience. The sides have all been lovely, the mashed potatoes are my favorite along with the corn on the cob. Their chips (french fries) are also a must-have. I have a new addiction.

    (4)

  • Izzat A.

    Just as good as the others. Service is great. If you've been to any of the others, you know the deal.

    (4)

  • Gerri S.

    If you worship at the temple of Nando's DO NOT COME HERE. They have no idea what they are doing here. All I can say is it keeps people off the streets. Try the other locations.

    (1)

  • Ran C.

    Ok, let's talk about the interesting steps of service. So you walk in and the hostess seats. She's wonderful, happy and accommodating. She asks you if you want table or booth. "Booth!" Duh, It's much more comfortable than the cushion-less chairs. You get sat with copies of the menu. You decide what you want and then you go up to the counter to order. The girl at the counter asks you what your table number is and you have no idea... Thankfully your dining partner paid attention and was able to answer promptly. There's a "tip" line on your receipt. You put down +20% because you're a nice person, you're on a first date with a cute girl who wanted to come here and you're expecting a good experience! You ordered the dark meat combo with a side of french fries and coleslaw. The cashier hands you a cup for you to fill at the soda fountain. There's a station by the condiments for you to wash your hands. You grab silverware and napkins before returning to your booth. The food arrives and they gave you a chicken breast... Your lovely date mentions it to one of the food runners and another one is brought to you momentarily without any questions. The chicken is well spiced and tasty. Unfortunately, the coleslaw is watery and the french fries are under seasoned. You finish your chicken and then take the bowl that the cashier handed to you to the "yogurt" machine for dessert. It tastes like vanilla ice cream. Oh well. You leave with your date and life goes on... Wait, what was the tip for?

    (3)

  • LaTonya F.

    Great food. Chicken cooked the way I like it!! Friendly staff. Fast service.

    (4)

  • Herb T.

    I have been to the Chinatown location for lunch.....recently went to theSilver Spring location on separate occasions for lunch and dinner....the Silver Spring location is much more spacious.....but i found it works much better for dinner than lunch.....the chicken is delicious.....it tasted very fresh.....you have to get at least a half chicken because the quarter chicken is really just one breast (with a tiny wing attached)....so its gonna cost more than you might normally spend for a chicken dinner.....but the quality is A+......i would also recommend the grilled corn and the coleslaw....very tasty...the squash i found to be a little to sweet for my taste....(almost like sweet potatoes)....we also had the watermelon sangria and it too was quite good.....not too sweet....very tasty and refreshing......

    (4)

  • Stephanie G.

    Just dropped by last week for lunch. This place is refreshing. The decor is definitely eye-catching. Another plus for downtown silver spring - and even though it's a chain, it's a good one to have. Had the chicken pita sandwich and I should have taken the hint when the folks at the counter asked me if I wanted double meat! A little thin on the chicken that one. However, what was there was delish! And since I like spice - the extra hot was right up my alley. Add to that the macho peas and butternut, corn thing that I had on the side... a great lunch and not a bad price. Since I work in the area, I'm going to put this on my regular visit list.

    (4)

  • Lisa G.

    I was very excited to see Nando's coming to my home town of Silver Spring. I first ate at the location in China Town (Washington DC) on a date and I thought it was pretty good. The location in Silver Spring is nice but the food wasn't as good as I remembered. I think I may be spoiled by my love for the chicken at Crispy and Juicy. My favs for Chicken are Crispy and Juicy, El Pollo Rico, Nando's...in that order. Nice neighborhood spot though.

    (3)

  • Jim C.

    Other yelpers have explained the ordering system. I will note that the chicken is excellent. I also enjoy the chicken livers, the Portuguese rice, the chicken wings, the mashed potatoes and the spicy olives. It's also a beautiful space.

    (4)

  • Gregory O.

    The atmosphere is great, the booths are unusually comfortable, the service is fast, there's a great variety of sauces, and the garlic bread is wonderful. I don't even need to mention the chicken! This is a great addition to downtown Silver Spring.

    (4)

  • Elle B.

    This place is perfect for Patio Happy Hour Sangria and Appetizers. Though I wasn't thrilled with the food in my last review. I have to give them this Happy Hour review.

    (4)

  • Robin B.

    Food - Amazing. Addictive. I could eat Peri Peri Chicken every day of the week for the rest of my life. I love their hot sauce - it doesn't taste like something that's just "really spicy". It has depth. I've never been to another of the other restaurants, I hope they're all this good. We've gone a few times and always get Macho Peas. They're awesome. Price - a little high for what you get, I think. They do have a frequent visitor's program though, which is pretty cool. Service - the whole be seated, order at the counter, be seated again thing is kind of confusing. I think I could be happier with it if the prices were a little lower. But it's all better after happy hour Sangria, so, eh. Highly recommend. You'll end up with Peri Peri withdrawl, but its so very worth it.

    (4)

  • Kevin M.

    I don't want to go too far and give it a five star review but this might be my favorite chicken place. If they had these in LA, I think Zankou and Cali Chicken might be in trouble. The hot sauce and sides are great and this will definitely be a regular lunch venue now that I'm working in the DC area. Screw it. Five stars. Love this place. I just bought their sauces online since I can't get Nandos anymore in LA.

    (5)

  • Joe G.

    I'm definitely a fan of Nando's chicken! I love how it's spiced and the sides are really good. Who would have thought mint and peas mashed together would be that delicious?

    (4)

  • Dan R.

    Enjoyed Nando's much more than I expected. Four of us ordered some appetizers including hummus which were really tasty and then decided to share the chicken meal. Chicken was tasty and juicy but the real stand-outs were the side dishes. Great coleslaw and the macho peas also rocked. Also tried dessert and liked the chocolate concoctions as sweet, freshly made, and unique. Note sure if Nando's is a paragon of consistency but definitely charmed my socks off during the one visit...

    (4)

  • Tuan L.

    We were planning on eating at Sabroso Grill on the other side of Downtown Silver Spring when we walked past Nando's Peri Peri and peeked at their menu. It looked appealing and we love trying new places. We're glad we went inside. The ambiance is great. The music isn't too loud. The decorations and art were original. And the atmosphere was friendly. The menu was not big, but it was not small either. And it was pretty reasonably priced too! We got the whole "peri-peri" chicken with red-skinned mashed potatoes and corn on the cob. We grabbed loads of different sauces and went at it with our hands. It was delicious. We also got a half-off pitcher of Sangria. What's not to love? We will probably come back here again sometime in the future. The only negative is that you have to get up to go to the cashier to order and that can take some time. Highly recommended!!!

    (4)

  • Nabil E.

    Nando's just opened in downtown Silver Spring, and I came on the recommendation of a friend. The service is in between fast food and waited service. The instruction to remember your table number when you go up to order is a little confusing, but manageable nonetheless. We ordered the 10 wings platter with fries and mashed peas. The server entered rice for the fries. I noticed in another review that fries and rice were mixed up, so this is probably something to be aware of when ordering. After dinner, we ordered some ice cream, vanilla and blueberry. The good news - the chicken was _outstanding_. Very flavorful, even without an added sauces. The sauces brought some great additional tastes. The hot sauce was indeed very spicy. I was happy with the herb and the garlic ones. The fries were tasty too, particularly when dipped in the sauces. The greeter at the door was friendly, and she brought us bottles of sauce to try out, which was very helpful. Note - the chicken can be messy. They have wet naps available near the counter with sauces - grab a few, and some extra napkins; you'll be thankful later. The bad news - The ice cream was not worth it. First, it took over 10 minutes to get the ice cream, which was a long time to simply scoop some ice cream. When we got it, it was very hard and appeared to have freezer burn. The manager walked by and asked us about our meal, and we complained about the ice cream. He said next time to get the carrot cake. If you really want some ice cream after the meal, there is a Ben and Jerry's and Cold Stone Creamery down the block. But back to the good stuff. The chicken was amazing. Perhaps the most flavorful chicken I've ever eaten. Based on that alone, I'm giving 4 stars. I'll be back again, to try a half chicken.

    (4)

  • Sam S.

    I went to Nando's for the Happy Hour. The Sangria was great. We also ordered garlic sticks which were great. I will definitely be back for more Sangria.

    (4)

  • Silvia A.

    Cannot describe how i feel about this place, from the cashier to the food, she was rude and rushed, being that there was not another customer behind me, i dont get that ;S, then i order white meat, was dry and although the flavor was good it was a very small breast, i made the mistake of ordering coleslaw, i love coleslaw, have had it at several pollerias before, and this one HAD ONIONS!!!!! I almost threw up when i bit the onion cut in big chunks, the menu does not say it has them, but anyways who does that???? Their spicy rice is good but you have to like hot to eat it, the mashed peas are just ok, not to mention that the waiting time was over 30 min for take out, one thing i noticed since i waited that long and was sitting in front of the gril is that the chicken is precooked, they just put it in the grill for like 5 minutes to get some marks and serve it, so why is there such a delay to give the food to the customer???

    (1)

  • Laura C.

    Today was our first visit to Nando's Peri-Peri and I was surprisingly pleased with the food. I had the chic wrap, I shared the hummus & pita appetizer w/my hubby. All was good and tasted fresh. I really like the atmosphere, original art on the walls, nice background music and clean, contemporary style bathrooms.

    (4)

  • Andrew P.

    Bottom line up front: good chicken, great setting, and a welcome addition to Silver Spring...but *not* as tasty (and certainly not as cheap) as locally-available Peruvian chicken Excited to patronize Silver Spring's latest restaurant, I placed my take-out order on NPP's well-designed Internet website. The restaurant space is very handsome and peaceful -- the decor is a big notch above most of the local competition. My order consisted of a whole chicken and side orders of potato salad and Portuguese salad. Wife, son (18), and I enjoyed the meal, but concluded that the chicken is not as tasty or transporting as the local Peruvian chicken offerings (Mr. Chicken and Lizbeth's Cafe, both on Georgia Ave.). My son really missed the Peruvian green sauce and side order of yucca. He aptly commented, "the chicken tastes like spicy chicken wings." NPP's chicken, while tasty, simply is not as good. NPP's whole-chicken dinner with sides is $10 more than the equivalent offering at our Peruvian chicken venues. And, well, NPP's meal is a bit skimpy -- the "large" side dishes aren't terribly large for three adult eaters In conclusion, and in the context of casual but tasty take-out food -- for which one doesn't get to take advantage of Nando's handsome dining room -- I give the nod to our local Peruvian chicken purveyors. They are better, more generous, and a little cheaper than NPP.

    (3)

  • Cindy P.

    Great flavor and both the white and dark meat were moist. I like the British style of ordering your food and them bringing it out to you. I can't wait until they open one in Crystal City VA.

    (5)

  • Tom L.

    The short of it--check your takeout order before you leave! To clarify on someone else's earlier post, they are now apparently just taking your name and having you wait nearby for your carryout order, rather than bringing it to your assigned table. I was looking forward to having Nando's again after trying it near Toronto a few years ago. I've even since bought the jarred sauce. At 730 tonight the restaurant was quite busy but the staff were upbeat and friendly. However, I just wanted some takeout after a long day's work and they screwed that up. Takeout should be a no-brainer--I don't require their frenzied waitstaff to have to dote on me and figure me into their feeding ballet. Just get my order right. (They didn't.) The cheerful woman up front took my order of the $9 boneless butterfly chicken breasts correctly per my receipt, but I got home with a single bone-in chicken breast. So to that SS, MD locale--fixing your customer service doesn't mean you can screw up and overcharge for the takeout orders now. Bummer...

    (2)

  • Ramon S.

    Nandos is a refreshing change of pace of the multitude of eating options in Silver Spring. It is moderately priced though the quality of food certainly offsets that. The Food: The food is very good. Spicy but not unmanageable. I don't generally like spicy food, but the brand of spiciness is handled extremely well, as it isn't spicy for spicy's sake. You won't burn off your taste buds eating their food and there is a lemony-not-spicy alternative if you can't eat spicy food at all. The portions are generous, especially the sides though most are in that spicy category listed above. The one irksome thing of note: you can't order half a chicken and get two dark meat options. They won't do it. The secret is to go with a friend who likes white meat so you can order half chicken entrees and exchange the types you want. Service: The service is pretty good, the wait staff is very friendly and quick to help. The cashiers have been in my experience more on the 'meh' side. Two cashiers were flirting with each other, one with her back to me, the other getting a little too handsy for my taste. He even glanced over at me and ignored me, which isn't the best of circumstance. This has only happened once but obviously, it left a mark in my book. Decor: The place is clean, inviting, though the music is a bit too loud (though it was good international music). The booths are very comfy, the tables large enough to seat 4, or 6 if you wanted to squeeze in together. Also, they use metal utensils which is nice because there is less waste involved in the cleanup. I had a friend visit and he couldn't stop commenting on how wonderful the soap in the restroom was. Having experienced it, I gotta say, I don't know what his deal was.

    (4)

  • Rashmi S.

    This is by far the worst Nando's location in the DMV area. Understaffed, terrible customer service, no silverware for takeout food, incorrect order given, the list goes on. Avoid if you can.

    (2)

  • Bea A.

    YUM. I am such a fan! I used to visit the DC metro locations more, but love this Silver Spring location as it's bigger and not as hectic. The staff is friendly and the place is organized and energetic. Try the boneless chicken breast--just be mindful that the sauce selections are spicy (and you can always add more later). Enjoy!

    (5)

  • j n.

    I should have written an update a while back. The food was great, but I complained about the wait. Their customer service is sooo great that they sent me an offer to come back and try them out again. I brought my office workers back for a second treat -- boy were they happy.... and the food was just as good as last time. i'm giving this place all the stars this time because it's admirable to see there are a few establishments that really work to make the customer happy :)

    (5)

  • Jane F.

    In a word...Chipotle. really disappointed on the second try...coupled with as small as I am, I leave hungry and frankly, can they get an order right?

    (2)

  • Rob B.

    nasty saw a couple of mice walking around

    (1)

  • GG B.

    We were here at 8pm on a Friday night - it was busy but not packed. They were totally out of sangria, which is the first drink on their menu and supposed to be available by the pitcher. Ok, fine. We got our food quickly, which was a plus, HOWEVER, we couldn't eat because they were completely out of clean utensils. After waiting 10 minutes we got forks, but not knives. Our chicken was on our table for a good 15 minutes before we got knives. We were given "plastic utensils in a baggie" in the interim, but sorry, this is unacceptable for a "nice" sit-down meal, and not to mention roast chicken is pretty darn hard to cut up with plastic. I mean, how do you run out of knives? We almost offered to go into the kitchen to wash them ourselves. This is in no means a dig on the food, which was excellent, but efficiency at this location was less than stellar. Maybe we'll try another location next time.

    (2)

  • Emily S.

    They follow a model that works for restaurants: they have a limited menu of items that they do well. Options are expanded because any item on the menu can be ordered with a different spiciness level (including a lemon & herb for those who don't care for spicy). Great food at a completely reasonable price. The dining format is pretty cool. You order your main course at a register and prepay, then get your napkins and condiments from a station in the middle of the room and seat yourself. A server will bring out your food when it's ready. This is a great way to go out with a group, because you can each pay for your own food in advance and not have to worry about splitting up a tab. (Although it should be noted your food will be brought to you order-by-order rather than holding until the entire table's orders are ready.) It's also great that when you're done eating, you can just stand up and leave. No waiting for a server to bring your check, pick up your card, run your card, and bring the receipt back to you.

    (4)

  • Dee S.

    It was ok...a bit overpriced for spicy nothing special. Restaurant was nice though. We ordered the plain chicken with no peri-peri sauce. I was expecting the plain grilled chicken to be flavorful, of the peruvian variety. Naw it was just grilled chicken. The sauce is the flavor. Even the mild sauce was spicy as hell. If you like expensive dippin' spicy chicken, then this is the spot for you.

    (2)

  • Bob B.

    I absolutely love the chicken here. I love all the sauces they have and the sides are also excellent. I love eating here before catching a movie up the street. Very nice atmosphere and good service.

    (5)

  • Brit B.

    Eh.. I've had better and I've certainly had worse. The staff had difficulty taking orders/didn't seem to know the menu. The atmosphere would be nice when it's not lunch hour.. it was super loud. If you like spicy food, it's probably worth a try!

    (3)

  • Autumn R.

    The food, service and atmosphere is awesome! Loved the humus dip and the food was very fresh. I food took longer than they wanted so the manager came out and apologized and gave us free chili pepper dip. Would definitely go back.

    (5)

  • Chris L.

    We went later in the evening, but I had high expectations after hearing from friends. The first thing I noticed when walking in was the number of tables that had not been bused. The place was filthy! I had the half chicken with mashed potatoes. The chicken was stored in a warming drawer under the grill, and for being a half it was quite small. They just threw the chicken on the grill to warm it up which dried even the dark meat out. I think I saw this on Kitchen Nightmares. The sauce is right out of a bottle. It's not even freshly made. The mashed potatoes were good, but who can mess those up? We also had a country salad with chicken. They ran out of romaine lettuce; so they offered to make it with spinach which was fine. The salad was over dressed, and something was very salty. For desert we tried the "frozen" yogurt. It was half melted out of the machine and really grainy looking. We didn't even eat it. I might give this place a try again based on other reviews, but first impressions were terrible.

    (1)

  • Greta C.

    I stopped going, when I realized that I was going for the warmth of the decor rather than the food. The spicy nuts are the highlight. The thinnest chickens on the face of the earth are the low light.

    (2)

  • Demetrius G.

    Great flavor. Interesting service. And hot really is hot.

    (4)

  • antonette s.

    I know I came on a bad day because there was some equipment down and thus limited their menu. It still doesn't justify the nasty attitude I received when I walked in with my 7 month old son. I have to assume it was my skin color because the people that walked in right after me were met with a lot less hostility. They were offered vouchers for their inconvenience directly in front of me, where I had to request one. I won't be rushing back.

    (1)

  • Cynthia R.

    My family and I enjoy their meals very much, except we don't do spicy so we end up eating the same type ol' plain chicken and cannot have the rice, but we still love our usuals. The perk for my kid is always the endless frozen yogurt, which we all may or may not share. If you are expecting the serving sizes to be like those popular rotisserie chicken places, though, you will be disappointed (and theirs isn't rotisserie anyway). Definitely smaller for the price, but I would say more flavorful so that is okay with me.

    (4)

  • Sondi A.

    While visiting on a business trip we happened on this place. The ambiance is fantastic; music, setting, art work all lend itself to a welcome vibe. Oh and the food is fantastic. I had the chicken breast wrap with mango lime sauce and added a grilled pineapple for kicks and it was delicious!! This was my introduction to this franchise but won't be my last time. GO if you are nearby.

    (5)

  • Arthita G.

    The one at silver spring is very nicely decorated. I was quite impressed. Man their drizzles are hot but very yummy. Hummus and chicken breast wrap- both were good. So was the roasted veggie wrap. I liked it here. They didn't have sangria that day but I will go back!

    (4)

  • Cindy M.

    Great food! Great price! Defintely worth a repeat visit. Macho peas are a great compliment to the medium peri peri chicken. When will one of these be open in Northetn California?

    (5)

  • Lily L.

    The chicken is great. The sangria is great. The macho peas are the only way I eat peas. Nandos is one of my favorite spots when I'll looking for a fun meal. The chicken isn't always tender and juicy but it usually is. Plus the peri peri sauce is great! Interestingly, it really is South African - which is a bonus in my book.

    (4)

  • Neil O.

    Dat chicken breast wrap doe. It's soooooooo good. And the fries have excellent seasoning. Changing it to 5 stars for those reasons.

    (5)

  • Katrina L.

    First time ever at Nando's. Always passed by in various locations ( Nat'l Harbor, Arundel Mills, DC) and wanted to try but never made it inside. Luckily, a friend asked me to accompany him to dinner here and he reminded me that I had wanted to check this place out. Let me just say that the food was good. I had the Chicken Pita with two sides, and I selected the corn on the cob and Portuguese rice. The corn needed a little salt for extra seasoning, but other than that, I was very satisfied with the overall taste of my food. The portions were a little disappointing, considering the cost for everything. It's not that this place is expensive, because it's not, but its like the ambiance, menu options, portions, and prices do not make sense to me. This place is like a weird balancing act of a Chipotle-type of fast food joint and sit down restaurant that translates into a well-decorated cafeteria with mismatched price and portion offerings. When you arrive, you are given a "server" like any other generic restaurant. He/she seats you and then takes no more than five seconds to tell you to look over the menu and head over to the cashier to place your order once you make your decision. Does anyone really need a server to tell you to stand in line? Yeah, no. So we order at the register and tell the "number" table we are sitting at. Our food arrives pretty quickly, but without napkins, utensils, or condiments. Guess what? You have to get up from your own table and fetch those items for yourself. I'm so not trying to be a whiny first-world American right now, but I was really taken aback by that set-up. Essentially, the food was really good, but I can't see myself justifying spending nearly $14 on tiny portions for fast-food. Because really there's no point (at least to me) in dining in at a place that I'll have to provide all of the service (besides the food of course) for myself.

    (3)

  • Timothy C.

    It isn't often that I wait until I have been to a restaurant 3x before I review it, and that is how often we have been back. This is our favorite restaurant right now. I'll separate the visits. First visit - We sat with our friends at a large wooden table in the back that could have seated 8. They sit you with menus, but you order at the counter and then they bring your food to the table. I ordered medium heat chicken breast with rice and garlic bread, and was surprised by everything. The chicken is tender and the sauces (available in bottles as well if you want more) accent it perfectly, even the rice and garlic bread were really well-seasoned. My wife had a chunky salad with olives and cheese that she orders every time now. Second visit - My wife ordered a hot heat half chicken with chunky salad and mashed potatoes, and I had the portabello and halloumi sandwich with cole slaw and a side of mango lime wings. Once again,all the food was basically comfort food; just how I would have wanted it to taste, but also with enough of a unique spin that it's almost ...exciting. The sandwich was a great mix of flavors, and the mango-lime marinade is killer! We sat outside on the street and the staff brought my mother-in-law a chocolate spoon cake on Mother's Day; a nice touch. Third visit - We started with pita and hummus, both fresh and yummy, and the perfect pita-to-hummus ratio. The big winner this time was the pea mash with chilies, mint, parsley - fresh and delicious. I had the mango lime marinade on a half chicken, and I think that is the best. Overall, 5 stars. I'll also give a shout out to the sauce and setting station in the middle with a hand-washing sink, napkins, sugar for iced tea, silverware, and all the sauces and salad dressing. And also a shout-out to the iced tea. I really like it.

    (5)

  • Christopher C.

    Imo not worth the price. I there are numerous Peruvian chicken places that are cheaper with better quality food for the price. The good. Peri peri nuts are really good but salty and expensive ar 4 bucks. The so so the 1/2 or 1/4 chicken they are not cooked a well done as crisp and juicy or silvestre. The skin is thick, slimy with alot of fat. At least at these places the rotisserie style cooks off the fat. The bad the sauces they are so over rated. Very greasy with alot of heat but low on flavor. If the food was prepared better the sauces would t be needed. While nandos is not bad but it isn't worth 12 dollars for a 1/2 a chicken and two sides when you can get the same thibf for 8 bucks at crisp and juicy for tasty food.

    (2)

  • Crystal J.

    My children and I always stop here for dinner when we are in the area. Tonight, we were able to get a table right away. The cole slaw and mashed potatoes are my favorite sides.

    (5)

  • Ivonne C.

    Food was good, dinning area was clean, love the location (right downtown), but the staff could be a bit friendlier and helpful. Got there on a Tuesday evening with husband and kids and I was really surprised by the beautiful decor. The menu was easy to navigate. When we ordered, the cashier was a bit rude, like in a hurry (eventhough no one was behind us), she was yelling something to a coworker while chewing gum and made me feel uncomfortable. I will go back as the food was great, but please re train your staff in customer service. Thanks

    (4)

  • Brittany S.

    This place gets a 3.5 stars. This is my first time at this location and it wasn't such a great idea to come on a nice Friday night. Luckily there was no wait for a table but when we got to the table it was dirty, it happens sometimes, I get it. There was just too much going on. I think the downside to this chain is everybody has to get up and get their own stuff, meaning half of the people are up walking around the whole times. Not really relaxing, and it's hard to enjoy it. The line for the food was pretty long, had to wait probably 10 minutes. The boyfriend and I ordered the chicken platter, it say's 2-4 people. We definitely had leftovers. The medium sauce is good and they had just the right amount on the chicken. I'm not a big spicy person so that's as spicy as I'm going to get. Chicken was very tender. The corn on the cob was... not the best but I'm sure it could be a lot worse. The mashed potatoes, perfectly mashed and mixed, we didn't leave any leftovers of that! The watermelon sangria was deliciously refreshing. Perfect for a hot summer day, it was sweet but not too sweet and you could taste the watermelon. Get a pitcher and drink the whole thing, go for it!

    (4)

  • Koral S.

    G really likes this place - so I only really go when he craves it. I like the flavor of the chicken done with no sauce and then get to dip in whichever flavors I want. The spice levels are really good. The side options are just alright to me. Koral cuz G wants it

    (3)

  • Starr C.

    The lovely Curie Thomas sent me a voucher because she read my review here on Yelp and wished that my chicken breast wasn't dry. So not only was I giving Nando's 5 stars and more than willing to pay for my meals there, but customer service reached out to me to fix what I thought to be a very tiny problem. OH. MY. WORD. That is how chicken is supposed to be. My chicken breast was perfect. Thigh was perfect. The chicken just melted in my mouth and I had to fan myself off in the restaurant, I was so deliriously pleased with the food. FOODGASM TO THE MAX. Thank you so much, Nando's. You have set a new bar for how chicken should be for me. Of course, everything was seasoned beautifully. I found that the chicken tastes quite good with their creamy salad dressing. (AKA I got a bit overzealous with that dressing bottle and got more on my chicken than I intended.) Service was also fantastic, because we were having a hard time choosing our sides to go with our chicken. Nando's is definitely one of my favorite places to go now. I just need to control myself enough so that I can gorge on those desserts! I'm always full on chicken and carbalicious sides. Everything in my previous reviews that wasn't addressed in this one still stands.

    (5)

  • Jill C.

    Had them for lunch today and I must say they're pretty good! I had 1/4 chicken with lemon & herb rub, along with 2 sides: garlic bread and red skin garlic mashed potatoes. The chicken had good flavor except it was a little burnt, I ate around it though. Now, it was the mashed potatoes that was the star of my meal! I could taste little pieces of garlic in my potatoes! Now that's what I call fresh! The garlic bread was good, but it was too much food for me, I only ate one piece of the bread (two were served), the next time I'll order one side instead of two! You live and learn! I came with a group and the group liked it so much they want to return tomorrow!

    (4)

  • Q P.

    My 1st visit here was excellent ! Adam helped me out he was very polite and helpful, and explained the different foods to help me select my choice! What he referred matched up to my expectations..this is a new favorite of mine. The atmosphere and the customer service was all together a great experience! I look forward to eating here again very soon!

    (5)

  • Suki N.

    Ok I will start out with I am probably majorly biased here... Since I ate @Nando's in Botswana and chicken there is unbeatable. Hence 1 star... So if ur looking to get that same original taste, THIS IS NOT IT! I had quarter chicken with lemon herb with fries and side of cucumber onion salad. My first reaction was, what happened to chicken? It was a tiny, tiny piece, nuthin like the juicy, big chicken they have in Botswana. Ugh! And it was quite bland like they cooked it to death in the oven! What happened to on the grill and is that why they have to put lemon herb seasoning on it? To hide crappie chicken taste?? Yea even if I lived here I wouldn't come back!

    (1)

  • Thomas S.

    I was on hold for about 15 minutes when I walked into the place the manager comped my meal for the inconvenience a 5 star rating for service and food. Thank you walter

    (5)

  • Kevin L.

    I've had Nando's many times, never at the Silver Spring location. It's exactly what you expect from any of their other locations - delicious, portuguese chicken with sides. Busy location, especially during weekends. We ended up getting a "jumbo platter" for our party of 5 - two whole chickens and two large sides. I had forgotten how terrible plain tasted - medium is the way to go (and it's not even *that* spicy). The garlic bread was a hit, but the portuguese rice was a miss. We also had the wing roulette, basically a plate of 10 wings, one supposed to be ridiculously spicy. Guess which one was "ridiculously spicy"? None. Still delicious chicken, relatively cheap. Service is efficient, but not immediate.

    (4)

  • Mark H.

    I really liked the wings here, great flavor. It is more of an upscale fast food atmosphere to this place, But that being said it was very good and looks very clean. The people working here seemed polite and courteous and respect to the customer. I also have the hummus which was average. Sounds weird to give it four stars but I did like the flavor of the wings and makes me think other things on the menu would also be good

    (4)

  • Danielle P.

    I know this is a chain restaurant, but I just love this place. The food is always delicious, and the perfect amount of spicy. Please note that for me, the perfect amount of spicy means I am sweating. I like that you order at the counter then take a seat. I like that you can easily wash your hands before eating, and also grab all the condiments (spicier sauces, yum) that you wish. I like that they serve beer and wine, but this place is also great for kids. And I LOVE the garlic mashed potatoes. I have been to the Nandos in Gallery Place and Silver Spring. Both are wonderful, and the staff is very pleasant. And ode to Nandos... Yum, Nandos, Yum! Peri, Yum, Peri. Thank you Nandos, thanks! Your food makes me merry!

    (4)

  • Tonya S.

    Umm I have mixed opinions about this place. I have been to their other location in DC and the food was great, the chicken was cooked at the right temperature, right amount of seasoning and deliciousness but for some reason here the chicken was burned. I had asked for a medium spice but unfortunately I got hot hot hot chicken breasts. Not good for my digestion. The mashed potatoes were very good and the music and entire ambiance of the place for a rainy day like this.

    (3)

  • Corey F.

    I went to this place on a late Saturday night after a concert and it was not as busy as I would think. The location is perfect as its next to the Theater and some other food places as well. The outside of the place makes it look like a decent sit down restaurant but once inside its almost like a fancier 'Boston Market.' Hopefully that makes sense. The price was not bad at all. I had two meals and an alcoholic beverage and I paid about $25. Not bad in my book. I had the chicken, portugeuse rice and the mashd potatoes. The food was GREAT! It was a decent portion. I think its the appropriate portion if you are trying to eat CORRECTLY lol. If you are trying to get your Church's chicken, hormone induced size chicken on, this is NOT the place :). I would recommend you get two sides though. Otherwise, you will be looking at the menu again. The ambiance is decent for a quick date night, not fancy though. Although a waitress greets you, she basically drops you off at your table and tells you to go order at the counter :) that was different...but effective lol. After the "go order your own food" effect wears off, its actually a great place. As a guy I love it! But if you want restaurant that asks you what you need every 10 minutes, this is not the place. This is a good meal at a reasonable price with a SLIGHT restaurant feel place. I hope this helps :)

    (4)

  • Kelly C.

    I adore Nando's, sadly just not this location that's about 500 ft. from my office. Service is often slow and confusing, my pita is always sloppily made, but I keep coming back, because in the end, the chicken is fresh and grilled and good and those sauces are hard to beat. The coleslaw is good on some days, weird on others. I do not dine in enough to comment on the expedited plates, although last time I went my coworker's squash salad was on the extremely al dente side vs. cooked. Still glad it's here, just wish it would step up its game a bit.

    (3)

  • Rose M.

    Good chicken. This restaurant has a lot of seating and lots of options on the menu. Love the different spicy sauces! The sangria is a little bit too sweet for my taste and service is slow.

    (4)

  • Rosa O.

    I would not usually come to an eatery like this but I was shopping and I wanted something quick. The restaurant was fairly comfortable. The chicken was pretty awesome, though! The spicy sauce on the chicken was really nice. I really wasn't expecting it to be that good. The Sangrias were ok but I didn't pay a lot for them. I would totally recommend!

    (4)

  • Bridget M.

    An interesting flavor that you'll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere in the U.S., Nando's is an ideal place to grab a quick, filling meal. I'm more of a person who likes to linger over dinner, so I'd probably stop here for lunch. For an appetizer, I'd go with the red pepper dip--the warm pita it's served with is great. The medium peri-peri chicken is good, and the "perinaise" paired with fries is worth the extra 75 cents. The coleslaw is kind of odd. I'm told the chicken caesar wrap with rice is a solid choice. The wine list is crap, though!

    (3)

  • Marissa T.

    Day/Time: Wednesday, 12pm This place is like Noodles & Company with the whole order at the counter , they give you a # and then you sit. Totally didn't know that because this place is a pretty good sized restaurant so I thought a server would come to us. Well, we finally realized that wasn't the case when no one came up to us after 8 minutes. Ha! The girl at the counter talked us into getting those little pies at the register. They were like 220 calories, but they were pretty darn good. Would be better if there were ice cream.... Yum. Anyways. Lunch. Since it was my 1st time there, I had to go with their staple, their Chicken. Got a 1/4 chicken white with a side of rice. Roughly $7 for it. Oh, and you can choose the "heat" on how spicy you want it. I got it somewhere in the middle and it was just spicy enough to give you a kick without taking away the flavor of the chicken. It was pretty good. Rice was pretty good too. I don't know what I was expecting, but if i gave it 3 stars because it was alright. I didn't love it, and I didn't hate it. I prefer Peruvian chicken over this. Sure, not the same, but I def would go to a Peruvian joint, spend the same amount of money and get more food and be happier with consuming it. Overall, not bad. I would come back if someone wanted me to accompany them, but I won't be craving it. We'll see. The menu is a decent size so Perhaps I'll try something new and then my review may change.

    (3)

  • Jon L.

    My first time to this Portuguese themed franchise. Went to a movie at the nearby Regal Cinema and stopped in for an after show theater. You get seated, review the menu and then go to the main counter to order and then someone brings your food. It's essentially rotisserie chicken with a nice slection of sides and differents types of sauce. The service is exceptional and everyone is friendly. It's not really authentic portuguese though.

    (4)

  • Nicholas H.

    I've been coming here since the place opened and I like the food, although I think it's a little overpriced, but perhaps it's the ambiance they want me to enjoy. You have t go up and order your food, but this has often meant waiting in line behind folks picking up to-go orders in addition to the rest of us trying to get a sit-down meal. This can take 5 minutes or more at times. Trying to order can be a challenge as the noise levels require that one yell out the order. In fact the noise level in the restaurant, which is to say their music level and then the noise of people trying to talk over the music, often makes any conversation quite difficult. I was seated tonight, but we left after realizing that the noise level was louder than normal and the uncomfortable two-top with cheap metal chairs was going to be the beginning of an uncomfortable meal, and I hadn't yet the opportunity to stand in line and yell my order. We went across the street to a not-so-trendy restaurant where we could have a relaxing conversation.

    (2)

  • Beth N.

    I was unimpressed with the veggie wrap that I got. Couldn't actually eat the whole thing because I really didn't like the taste. However, everyone else seemed to love their food, so I will be back to try something else.

    (3)

  • Jemima E.

    Nando's is basically an overpriced rotisserie chicken restaurant and I normally wouldn't eat here except they won me over when I heard them playing Carimi's (Haitian group) music over the speakers. Winninnggg!!! lol I ordered the quarter chicken (hot), green salad, and cucumber poppyseed salad. My chicken came out with no sauce on it (-__-), and my salad had no dressing. This was slightly annoying but I go over it since they have an assortment of sauces available for you to choose from with the other condiments and utensils. The food was delicious and I am now a fan of cucumbers and poppyseed! Lol. I would come here more often but the simple fact I could purchase two chipotle bowls for the price of that one meal won't allow me to do so anytime soon. The register lady was super awesome though and gave me a free drink! ^.^

    (4)

  • Ashis Khadka 2.

    Best Nandos and one of my favorite restaurants to go to!! Have been a loyal customer since 2012 and will continue to be until the day I die! Good food, organized, good service! One entrance and you're instantly greeted by an waitress. I ordered the full plater (with garlic bread and fries) and got it about 5 minutes later. The food was hot which ensured that it stayed warm through out our meal. The garlic bread was crunchy, flavorful, and was made just right!!! The fries were seasoned with black pepper and old bay I believe, and were delicious. And the chicken had a good amount of meat. The lemon-herb flavor also gave it flavor, unlike the rio Nandos. Waitress asked us TWICE (pretty soon as munched, about 5 mins in) if everything was okay. BEST NANDOS AND BEST RESTAURANT EVER!!

    (5)

  • Jen Y.

    Stopped by for dinner with a family friend last night. I had no problem enjoying myself, the restaurant and all the other companies around me but the food itself is okay. Chicken is on the dry side, fries are average, garlic bread was slightly over-pasted with butter, and the fro-yo tasted like custard ice cream. When we got up again to order dessert, we told a server that we would be right back but they cleaned up our table anyways.. it was a nice gesture in a way, however there was obviously a lack of communication because the same server offered to give us cups again for drinks. Left a $3 tip.. I always feel unsure how much to tip at restaurants where there's a mix of ordering at the cashier yet there are still servers.

    (3)

  • Stephi S.

    This rating is for the service, not the food. Because the food is amazing. And I'd eat it every day if ordering wasn't such a struggle. A little while ago I went in to place a to go order. I placed my order at 8:15, with one person ahead of me, and proceeded to wait by the to go area. As I waited, I watched order after order fill the window - some on plates, some in to go containers. Finally, after 25 minutes I approached the window to check on my order. The gentleman bagging the order seemed confused, and then grabbed a to go box that had been sitting in the window for 15 minutes. I asked to check the order, and his response was to snap, "It's fine. It's only two things." Then, I proceed to wait another 10 minutes for him to finish putting the order together. As I headed back to the cashier, I noticed that there was still an inordinate amount of meals sitting in the window, for now what was approaching 40 minutes. I asked to speak to the manager, to alert her to the issue. Her response was to very rudely ask, "Well, what would you like?" I got home. I should have checked the order. It was wrong. I'm sorely disappointed.

    (2)

  • Swatee G.

    Living in silver spring means this Nandos has become a regular haunt. I love their lemon pepper sauce and the peri peri chicken obviously. I also think their veggie wrap with portobello mushrooms is great! Their is sangria and beer too - there isn't much that can go wrong with with place, lol Oh and sometimes they will do the $8 movie tickets with dinner, which is amazing!

    (4)

  • Don W.

    Downtown Silver Spring has lots of places to eat, but if your looking for grilled chicken, you have to try this spot. Walk in the door and the host/hostess will seat you with menus. After you decide, go to the counter and order your food. Now grab your drinks and some forks/napkins. Go back to your table and they will bring it to you. Unlimited drink refills but you have to get the yourself. When you order they will ask what flavor chicken you want. There's a few to choose from, hot to mild, plain or mango/lime. We kicked it off with an appetizer order of hummus. It was very delicious and you have to try the little bottle of drizzle. It's a little spicy but changes the flavor. I ordered a dozen wings with mango/lime sauce that were perfectly done. Grilled corn on the cob was outstanding and my peas were ok. My wife ordered the chicken breast pita sandwich. Mango/lime was her choice and she said it wAs excellent. ( I wouldn't know because she inhaled it before I got a bite). Dinner for the two of us with an appetizer and fountain drinks ran just under $40. Everything was worth every penny. If you can get there for happy hour (4pm to 6pm), some beers are $2.50 and pitchers of Sangria are half price. I'LL REPEAT THAT......pitchers of Sangria are half price! Just figure about $8 for a pitcher of that kind of goodness during happy hour. Each little floating fruit piece is like a shot of alcohol! It's a good thing I didn't drive, and my hotel room was within stumble distance!

    (4)

  • Tiffany L.

    It's a step above casual fast food.. The chipotle and things. The lighting is dim, you wait to get seated. Then you walk up to place your order. Food gets delivered to you table. You have to pick up your own utensils, sauces and drink. Then at the end of the meal you leave your plates and trash at the table. Service is usually friendly and upbeat. Food has always been solid. They serve beers on tap and bottles. They also serve wine and sangria. I like the red sangria a lot. The last time I went I got the baby kale salad with chicken and I really really enjoyed it! It was sauce nicely.. Not too much but not too little. There was shredded chicken breast that was very moist. Only thing I didn't like we're the olives.. Just didn't taste right in the salad. It was a fairly large plate of salad. I forget how much it was but I remember it wasn't cheap. This was probably the best salad I've had in a very long time. Mm writing about it makes me wanna go back! The bf got wings with the extra spicy sauce... Which was extra spicy... I had a taste and couldn't do anymore. He got the peas and fries I believe. He didn't care for the peas but I liked them. They just tasted like mashed peas though... Nothing great but I love my veggies. Our friends got a quarter chicken with two sides and a wrap. I'm not sure how they felt about theirs.

    (4)

  • Fred H.

    Delicious and friendly. Had our date night here, very much enjoyed their new mango lime marinade.

    (5)

  • Gellie E.

    This is a great spot to go to if you like chicken. My usual is the 1/4 chicken leg and thigh (dark meat) with either fries or the Portuguese rice as my side. I'm not a fan of spicy so I've only ventured to try the plain...ish, lemon and herb, and mango and lime sauces. The other flavors are medium, hot, and extra hot. if you don't want to get any of those directly on your chicken or maybe you want more than one, they have an array of sauces you can get near the silverware . The mango and lime is my favorite - its tangy and flavorful. The chicken is always moist and the skin is crisp - every time I have gone to Nando's the chicken has been tasty. The fries are good, though pretty standard - I would recommend eating them with ketchup or one of their sauces. I thought the Portuguese rice was on the spicy side (but then again I have a low tolerance for spicy foods), but it wasn't overwhelmingly spicy. The setup is a little weird if you've never been to a Nando's before, but the hostess will explain it to you if you're new. I'll also explain it here: when you enter, they'll tell you your table number and give you a menu. When you get to your table you can take as long as you need to decide- when you're ready you go up to the counter to order. (Note: you have to tell them your table number when you order so they know what table to bring it to.) I would recommend this place for groups if you want to split the check because you can all just order separately. After you place your order you go sit down and they will bring it to you when it's ready. After you order you can go fill up your drink, get your silverware, get extra sauces or what have you. Service was excellent. The food was prepared and brought to us quickly. They came to check on us to make sure we were doing okay and took our plates away when we were done. I wasn't expecting that just based on ordering at the counter. The only reason this place doesn't get 5 stars is because the silverware doesn't always look clean. But other than that, this place is affordable and the food is delicious.

    (4)

  • Zariah G.

    So I have mixed feelings. Here's why. The environment is great, relaxing, chill, quiet. Although my chicken livers were excellent, my wife's chicken breast was overlooked and dry. Her chicken wing was perfect. As was all of our veggies. The Sangria and cheesecake were warm. Not to sure about the staff, we didn't see them much. When we didn't they were not all to happy. But Pedro, the earwig was very happy and even cracked a few jokes. We might come back to give it a second chance. I would recommend the chicken liver & veggies- to go. See the picture of Pedro ;)

    (2)

  • Cherrelle L.

    Nandos is nice to go to when you are having a grilled chicken craving! They do not compare to Peruvian chicken, which happens to be my fave! Their Sangria's are AWESOME! I would strongly suggest a pitcher for those who are interested in fruity spirits! As for their chicken... every visit I end up with a few "crispy" (*burnt*) wings that have been on the grill a little too long. I won't hold it against them, because their wings are good! The corn and mashed potatoes are my favorite sides!

    (3)

  • Tanzina I.

    Nando's is one of my favorite go-to places in downtown Silver Spring. Service is quick, the food is delicious. And I love their cupcakes too - so good!

    (5)

  • Ruth S.

    Something has changed drastically at the Silver Spring location. The food is not fresh or is overcooked. Experience A: My salad had slimy greens under the chicken. I sent the salad back for a replacement and again found slimy greens in the salad. Experience B: Sent overcooked, dry chicken back to kitchen twice. Boneless chicken breast was thin, dry and small both times. Asked for "dressing on the side" for my cucumber salad. I was too frustrated to send the salad back so that I would have something to eat while my wife ate her dinner with me having no entree to enjoy. Corporate was contacted both times. They have been accommodating and have given me coupons. Methinks that they have a problem in Silver Spring! The prices are also high for what you are given on the plate. It's back to Tastee Diner. No expectations and you leave with a full stomach.

    (2)

  • Dave L.

    I have been to Nando's several times with friends. I've been here when it is crowded and when it isn't. I like the food, which is mostly chicken or vegetarian dishes. The service has always been friendly. There are probably less expensive places to eat in this neighborhood but I am more than happy to give my money to Nando's and eat their food. The most recent dinner I had here was the Nutty Chicken Date Salad. It was a much bigger dish than I thought it would be. For dessert I had the Carrot Cake, which I have had before. It is awesome and awesomely delicious.

    (5)

  • Rita R.

    Sometimes busy and difficult to find parking, however absolutely worth all the trouble! Quality of the food is incredible, love all the sauce choices. Lastly, didn't think hummus from a chicken place would be great - glad I was wrong!

    (4)

  • Meh M.

    Stopped by for dinner with my friends, they came all the way from NJ. They loved the place, food was great and loved the outdoor seating.

    (4)

  • Tera P.

    This location is the one usually frequent. However, the last few times I've been here the coleslaw was off and no up to its regular standards and the service was lacking. On my last visit the manager tried to accuse me of faking the punches on my reward card. I did not appreciate that at all especially being such a frequent customer. I like Nando's Peri Peri so I will stick to the Bethesda or China Town location, definitely not the Silver Spring anymore.

    (1)

  • Shannon L.

    Chicken skin has good flavor; lemon and herb is even spicy at some parts. But once you get to the chicken, there is neither much flavor nor tenderness. Mash peas taste exactly as their name with a slight kick and some olive oil. Unfortunately that doesn't make this childhood vegetable any better. Portuguese chunky salad is bell peppers, feta, cherry tomatoes, and olives. Nothing special unless you want a side other than garlic bread or Portuguese spicy rice, which everyone raves about. I did like the rice because the spice helps to amp up the chicken. All this was less than $20 and could've fed two people who aren't in buffet mode. I ordered online and my meal was ready in about 25 minutes but may sound long but there is lots around this area to keep you busy.

    (3)

  • Yu H.

    This was busy and packed when we went for lunch. The service is rather odd in that they seat you but you have to get back up and order at the front desk, you get your own utensils but they bring the food to your table. They have multiple chicken options, I opted for the half chicken which comes with a leg/thigh and breast/wing piece. They have several sauce options ranging from hot to mild. I got the second hottest one but it really was not very hot. The thigh/leg piece was good but the breast/wing piece was quite dry. The sauce was flavorful. I got a grilled corn on the cob for my side and that was pretty good. I'd recommend the dark meat piece if my experience was indicative of their cooking.

    (3)

  • Lilly N.

    Came here for lunch on the weekend and ordered the quarter chicken. It was delicious but portions were tiny. Also if this is your first time at this restaurant, you'll get a free appetizer of your choice!

    (3)

  • Mark M.

    Peri-peri grilled chicken is where it's at. The sides here are good, this particular location also usually plays some nice tunes and has an energetic vibe. Always a good option in the Silver Spring area.

    (5)

  • Sam W.

    The chicken is really juicy and tasty, the sides are decent, and the sauces range from tangy to painful (in a good way). Unfortunately the good food doesn't make up for the poor service. Their staff tend to be easily distracted, likely due to their young age. On multiple visits I've had to wait for the cashiers to stop chatting with the cooks to come take our order. The few times I've ordered something to go they've gotten my order incomplete or incorrect each time. The last time I went in for a takeout order my food was ready for several minutes before anyone behind the counter noticed. I asked more than once for the order in my name and was told it was not ready yet. But then someone noticed it had been under the heat lamps the whole time. The quality of the food suffered for having been ignored for so long. They were not terribly busy at the time so I'm not sure what caused their disorganization. I know Nando's is chain so perhaps results will vary elsewhere. I will not return to the Silver Spring location.

    (2)

  • Alyssa A.

    I liked my sit in experience so much I decided to come by for takeout last night. We arrived around 645 and there was a line all the way out the door. We told the waitress we were going to do carryout and went straight to the order line. It was about 30 minutes to get our food. I am not sure if it was because they were so busy or because the two take out orders ahead of us just took a long time. The take out boxes are pretty impossible to eat out of if you're trying to cut the chicken. We sort of made a mess out of the whole thing. The sauces were good but our chickens were a little overdone and more towards the burnt side. My overall experience was just okay this time. Don't try to come here around 7 on a Saturday, the wait seemed to be at least 45 minutes minimum. Everyone and their mom was seriously up in this place (it was poppin' off). Oh and they have half priced pitchers of margarita and 3.99 beers from 4-6 Mon through Friday . So if you can dip out of work a little early and you're in the area it might be worth trying!

    (3)

  • Renee' H.

    I've lived in the area for a while but always found a reason to skip over Nando's. Well not anymore! This place is definitely going into my new rotation. I love the semi self- serve atmosphere and appreciate the good service. The chicken was a little small for the price but everything was well seasoned and hot on arrival. I ate all of my food and while hesitant to sacrifice another veggie side for the garlic bread....it did not disappoint. The chocolate spoon cake was a little disappointing, unless you are a huge fan of very cold chocolate pudding with tiny tiny specks of cake. I was a little off put by the broken ice machine, lack of knives, and lack of direction that I was supposed to order and pay upfront even as a dine in customer. But once I got the hang of things, I was all good. When my greek quarter chicken is sold out at the Bug Greek Cafe down the road, I am definitely coming here as the next best thing in Silver Spring.

    (4)

  • Kelli J.

    Nando's is in a beautiful space. I love the sink in the middle of the restaurant where you can wash your hands -- so necessary, especially when you're eating chicken with your fingers. They cook the chicken on a real grill, so it gets that grilled/charred taste that I so enjoy. I love the wings and usually get the lemon flavor because I don't like spicy food. Never use the collection of flavored sauces that they make available because the chicken is tasty enough on its own. Whatever you do -- get the garlic bread!! They must sprinkle a little crack on it. No joke. The mashed potatoes are also exceptional; rich, buttery, creamy, and flavorful. It's no-frills (really a step above fast food), and a tad expensive for the portions. But still it's a good casual dining experience and I'd recommend it if you're in the mood for nothing fancy.

    (3)

  • Hannah H.

    Nando's Peri-Peri is based on a spice that was discovered in Africa called the African Bird's Eye Chilli (or, Peri-Peri). They are known for their butterfly-cut, flame-grilled chicken as well as other items in the menu such as: sandwiches, pitas, wraps, salads, sides, and desserts. To start off with, I had the Spicy Mixed Olives, which had green and black olives, mixed with garlic, peppers, and chilli - I thought the olives were pretty good, but the green ones were the dominant ones as there were more of those than the salty black ones. I had the 5 Whole Wings combination (you can choose the chicken to be 'plain,' 'lemon & herbs,' 'mango & lime,' 'medium,' 'hot,' or 'extra hot peri-peri sauce.' I had it 'Plain' with 2 sides - the Flame-Grilled Corn on the Cob and the Portuguese Rice. I wasn't really a fan of the chicken as it was really dry - I can appreciate the flame-grilled and the charcoal taste, but I wasn't too fond of the chicken being extremely dry, considering there is only so much meat on wings! The corn was okay and I wasn't a fan of the rice as that was bland and unflavorful. The vibe of the restaurant was very energetic, and there were many families and couples dining in. It did take quite some time for us to get our food as the kitchen seemed to be backed up, so we waited for a solid 30-45 minutes. I am glad I was able to try Nando's out, but not sure if I'd go back! +inefficient staff/long wait times T___T +dry chicken T___T

    (3)

  • Char C.

    I know the original Nando's from Africa so my opinion might be biased anyway but this location is destroying the good name of Nandos! My chicken is almost always overdone and burnt - I usually get take out so I dont discover this till I'm at home, and the one time I had to call the manager and complain because my chicken was more charred than grilled it couldn't be eaten. I stopped going to this location completely, but every now and then I get a craving and decide to give them another chance but every time I get reminded why I stopped going there in the first place, which is what prompted me to write this review. I find the DC locations to be a lot better. I have not been to the Bethesda location. But if you have the time I suggest you check out these other locations for a much better Nando's experience.

    (1)

  • Roberto N.

    Chicken w lemon and herb delicious- not that large though. Feta cheese was great... I've got to tell you here. We've been back. Twice. Why??? Yeah, why? Well, it's different. Some of the food is way too spicy for me. Some of the portions are small. But, the decor is really, I mean really, classy, arty, original,and even fascinating. And, the food we choose is usually really, really tasty. And, the variety of spices and sauces is kind of a real adventure. And it's affordable! So, I'm kicking Nando up to 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Jen R.

    I went here with my family on a beautiful summer night. The place was pretty crowded since we went at around 8 on a Friday night. The way the restaurant works always throws me off even after I've been there before. They sit you at a table and give you menus, but then you go up to the counter to order. Normally, this system would be fine, but it was a bit annoying to first wait for a table and then wait in line for 5-10 minutes to order since it was a busy night. You are also responsible for getting your own silverware, which on our night meant snatching up the last knife for our table to share. The food, however, was phenomenal. I got the 1/4 chicken (breast and wing) and sides of garlic bread and sweet potatoes. I got the medium spiciness for the chicken and that was a bit spicy for me, but I tend to be sensitive to spicyness. The sweet potatoes were also surprisingly hot. The garlic bread was absolutely amazing. My favorite part of the night was definitely the sangria. It worked perfectly with the food and was absolutely delicious. If you are in downtown silver spring and are looking for a delicious and interesting place to eat, then definitely go to Nando's. However, keep in mind that if you are not in the mood for chicken then this is definitely not the place for you. This has the best chicken around, but probably isn't the greatest choice if you are looking for more varied meals or a standard sit-down restaurant.

    (4)

  • Sandy T.

    I used to love Nando's! But now they changed the menu and also the size/volume of the dishes. I always order chicken wings and they are tiny tiny tiny now......I love the corn and rice is surprisingly nice as well (guess it has something to do with the spices in it).

    (3)

  • Terinee B.

    This place was REALLY YUMMY! First of all, I must say that when I told my friend that I was going here, she recommended the mashed potatoes before she said anything about the chicken.... And when I tasted them I totally understood why! They were OFF THE CHAIN! That will probably be one of my permanent side orders every time I return to this place! The chicken was seasoned well & juicy (even the white meat) by itself, but they actually have these different sauces that you can add on it that give it even more of a kick. Now.... for my vegetarian friends - My husband had the veggie burger and (even though my food was great), I actually wished I could return my food and get a veggie burger. It was THAT GOOD! Next time, I'll have to get the veggie burger and maybe I'll have to alternate from then on out. Too many great choices here. Another plus is that they have a touchless "hand wash" (basin) area outside of the restroom so that you can wash your hands without having to make a trip to the ladies' (or men's) room! (Nice touch!)

    (4)

  • Val A.

    This place is simple - go to the counter, order your food, sit down and the food will be brought to you. The chicken was delicious, I didn't care for the fries and beans (a bit too soft for my liking) but the seasoning and sauce on the chicken was flavorful and bold. The place was not busy which is fine for me since I don't like waiting a long time to be seated. Definitely a go-to place for good food.

    (4)

  • Ling W.

    Although it's a chicken place, they also offer a veggie burger, and a portobello burger with grilled hallumi. The latter is excellent, especially with hot sauce! (Haven't tried the veggie burger yet, but will probably return for it)

    (4)

  • Muse M.

    I've been hearing about how good this place is so I decided to try it. I got the Flame-Grilled Chicken Breast with hot sauce which cost $11, and a side of garlic bread. I really liked the sauce but that was about it. The garlic bread was a little too moist, I prefer mine a little crunchy but it was not too bad. The chicken breast was another thing though. For one thing, it was disappointingly small, unless you are a 10 year old. I don't know where Nando's are buying their chicken but if I'm paying $11 for chicken I would expect a something that will keep me from being hungry in a couple of hours. It was also cooked until it was dry, not juicy at all. I haven't tried anything else there but going by this, don't go unless you like your chicken cooked dry and in tiny portions

    (1)

  • Ali K.

    The food is pretty good. Usually have a good experience when I come. They used to have a deal (it may still be going on) where you get discounted movie tickets if you order there to the theatre up the street. When I did take out last time, they ran out of fries and mixed leaf lettuce. I will still continue to go. Good choice.

    (4)

  • Peter N.

    Very friendly and accommodating. I had a special request and they were happy to do it without hesitation. I'll come back many times.

    (5)

  • Parul M.

    I love you Nandos but I think we need to go on a break. It shouldn't take 45 minutes to get my food. If you can't handle a rush then don't take on so many patrons you can't tend to! This is depressing.

    (2)

  • Merlyn R.

    Although the line at the counter (to order your food... no waitresses/waiters), the food tastes and looks fresh and the surroundings are great. I keep my sauce pretty mild, but they can spice up that chicken to any liking you want. A great addition to the downtown Silver Spring eatery experience!

    (3)

  • Michelle D.

    I love Nando's, and this location does not disappoint. Their 1/4 chicken and chicken breast sandwich are both full of flavor and delicious! The price is good, and I especially love the option of outdoor seating at this location. The waiters have always been efficient and friendly, too, so it's a great lunch spot!

    (4)

  • Chichi C.

    Love this restaurant, but after my experience today I think I might give it a second thought next time I wanna go out and eat. Servers were amazing and polite as usual. Food came out fast which is a good thing until you realize your chicken pita barely has any chicken. When they first opened up they were perfect, now I feel like I'm getting a watered down version of Nandos (exactly what happened in Africa is happening here). I believe two soda fountains weren't working and those that were working were more watered down than they need to be. The sweet tea wasn't any different smh. Not to mention they seemed to be under new management. The old managers were much nicer and interacted with customers, even if it was a simple "hi" or just to make sure everything was fine. From the moment you walked in till you left, they made sure your experience was worthwhile (bring them back or train the new manager better) Maybe it's just this location (Silver Spring), but if these things don't get fixed I think it's safe to assume that it will only get worse. They are still okay for now, but I'm not that likely to recommend it to my friends anymore. Get it together guys!!!!!

    (2)

  • Elodie T.

    I just really love Nando's Peri Peri. This location is in downtown Silver Spring and it's a little roomier than the Chinatown location. Menu is the same- I nearly always get the flame grilled boneless chicken breast with a side of garlic bread, and then make a combination sauce made of garlic, medium and classic salad dressing (weird but oh so good). Nando's is a tad on the pricy side but I think it's worth it, especially if you throw in the red sangria. Still hands down my favorite sangria so far. Not as big of a fan of the watermelon sangria though- it tastes a little too artificial to me. Highly recommend it. Just thinking of it... maybe I'll go tonight haha.

    (4)

  • David L.

    Really good. Interesting decor. Good food choices, and the fact that sangria pitchers are 2/3rds off during happy hour is nothing to bat an eye at. The place is very chicken heavy, so you better like chicken. I got the portabello mushroom sandwich which was quite delicious. I got the regular hot sauce but should have gotten the extra hot sauce since it was so much better. Bottom line: the place is really god, but go during happy hour for the best deals.

    (4)

  • Landon C.

    A group of 3 went here on a Thursday night. No wait. I ordered the butterflied chicken breast and mashed potatoes. I think the price was around 12 which was a little more than I expected for what you get. I got the medium hotness sauce which was hotter than I expected but not unbearable. The chicken was good but not the juiciest or most tender chicken breast I have had. The potatoes were good also. Nothing to brag about here, but not bad either. I would go back here if I was in town for a week or so. There are a lot better options though if your stay is short.

    (3)

  • Rachel E.

    The general manager was so kind to contact me and offer a second chance which I'll gladly accept. Mistakes happen and the food was excellent when we ate there, despite the issue in my initial review. I look forward to my next visit and will report back! It's nice to know that great customer service exists. Five stars for customer service.

    (5)

  • Cerene P.

    Delicious Food! Great Atmosphere. The hummus was a great start to our meal. The Peri Peri chicken is seasoned to perfection and very juicy. Everyone was pleased with everything we had.

    (4)

  • Gary B.

    I was wondering around the downtown Silver Spring area looking for a casual place to eat. I spotted Nando's and decided to check them out. The food was soo good, the service was quick and I was frequently checked on to make sure everything was good. What a great experience. I will be sure to visit every time I am in the area.

    (5)

  • Addy C.

    My dad's a picky eater so when he says he loves a place and wants to go back, that says a whole lot :) My almost 4-yr old nephew is also a picky eater and there are probably few restaurants where he actually eats THEIR food and not his chicken nuggets - so that says a whole lot too :) Nando's is famous for their Portuguese flame-grilled peri-peri chicken. They have different flavors, different spice levels, and several sides to choose from - and prices are reasonable too which makes it a great choice for families. The kid's meals incl. chicken, apple, milk, AYCE yogurt (no surprise kids love this), and coloring to help keep them occupied. Keep in mind the chicken might taste slightly spicy for some kids but the milk helps minimize that. The space is very nice yet also casual - you order up front and then the servers bring your food. All the servers were very nice. 1/4 CHICKEN (breast & wing) - $5.45 (no sides), $7.45 (1 side), $9.35 (2 sides) This is actually a decent size meal. Got the "mango & lime" chicken, loved it, and I'd probably get it again. Other flavor options - lemon & herb, medium, and hot. SIDES The portion size for 1 side is plenty - if we had to do it again, we'd order just 1 side per entree and then share sides. I liked the Portuguese Rice, Cole Slaw (complemented the very flavorful chicken well), and Red Skin Potatoes. The Grilled Corn on Cob was just ok, and while the Chunky Portuguese Medley sounded good in reality it was nothing all that special. RASPBERRY CREME BRULEE CHEESECAKE - $6.25 The dessert was very good, and the perfect size for sharing. I'd order it again :) We'll definitely be back next time we're in Maryland.

    (4)

  • Mosart R.

    This place was nice Food was great Ordered more food because it was that good If you have kids get the bottomless yogurt Got the half chicken with mash and lemon sauce Plus got 2 movie tickets for 8 bucks each. Not bad Plus the staff were very friendly they acknowledged us played with my son. They also gave him a balloon. Next time I'm in downtown silver spring were going to eat here again.

    (4)

  • Mark O.

    Come on Friday or Saturday and sit outside for live music. Food is great. Garlic sauce was amazing.

    (4)

  • Johnny A.

    With so many choices for great chicken in DC, Nando's doesn't really stand out. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with it, but I can think of more flavorful and less expensive options within a few blocks. Having said that, it's a great addition to Silver Spring.

    (3)

  • Jim P.

    Most reviews have explained how the system works here. My thoughts: - Family friendly sit down restaurant - very kid friendly - Clean bathrooms - Fresh, health oriented food - A bit on the pricey side but you get table service without the obligation to tip so it's like they factored in the tip into the prices, which works for me - BEST OF ALL, the fro yo ($2.95) is bottomless!! It's also included in all kid's meals (~$5.25). I've had my share of fro yo and this is more pudding like flavored, not tart, with a soft serve type of consistency. Absolutely delicious! In summary, the food is good, but let's be honest, there are better places to have Peruvian chicken. However, none of the top rated Peruvian chicken places serve all you can eat DELICIOUS fro-yo. That alone raises this review from 3 stars to 4!

    (4)

  • Laurie W.

    First visit here. Watermelon sangria wins, and at 50 percent off of a pitcher for happy hour, it wins double. The red sangria was good, too. In fact, I think I was the only person at my table who preferred the watermelon, so, you know, MORE FOR ME. I cannot tolerate hot food, so even their medium spice was too much for me. I know, I know I'm a wimp. Oh well. I can't stand ruining a meal because I'm so focused on how uncomfortable I am with too much heat that I can't enjoy the flavor. The staff here was VERY nice, and accommodating of my inability to tolerate what I ordered. They replaced the chicken right away. I fully intended to pay for it, but they gave it to me on the house. I felt like a jerk asking at all, but it was worth it to learn that the lemon and herb chicken breast is something I'd definitely come back for. Good, laid back service is hard to find (I say as a long-time server myself) and it's one of the reasons besides the chicken and sangria that I'd stop in here again before Monday night McGinty's trivia.

    (4)

  • Bill B.

    We enjoy Nando's, but the last time we were here it was quite cold in the dining room... in the middle of winter. It actually felt like they had the air conditioning on, and lots of folks in the dining room ate with their winter coats on. That being said, the food was good, and the service was very friendly and courteous.

    (3)

  • Courtney L.

    I had my first visit to Nando Peri Peri with a friend who dines there often. You come into the restaurant, pick your own table, take note of the the number, and go to the register to order. You tell the cashier the table number so they can bring your food to you. I had the quarter chicken - breast & wing -HOT. My sides were the Portuguese rice and garlic bread. The chicken was awesome. My first time have Portuguese food. I would definitely come back for more.

    (4)

  • Kristin M.

    I was concerned as soon as I saw "Our wines compliment any PERI-PERI perfectly!" painted into a humongous mural along a wall. Why, you ask? Fool! Unless those wines were saying, "Damn, Peri-Peri, you're lookin' fly!", it should be COMPLEMENT! COMPLEMENT!!! Unfortunately, I didn't notice that 1/7 of their giant words was misspelled until around the same time that I realized I'd been sitting with my dad waiting for takeout for almost half an hour. For some chicken and a couple sides. That, by the way, I'd also called ahead for. So yeah, concern struck. I asked at the register and quickly realized our order wasn't on their list! (Was it busy? Nooope...It was actually past their 10pm closing time at the point.) They apologized profusely and hopped on it, but it was still another 15 minutes until we finally got our food. In the meantime, we also saw them serve a table of seated guests with plates that had been sitting under the heat lamp for so long my dad thought they were samples for people to see on their way to the bathroom. The chef guys were well-intentioned, but, yeah.. Poor Mom had been sitting in the car the whole time. Luckily, her irritation dissipated when I'd told her I'd gotten a free side order out of it! So, an extra 40 minute wait, but...free side of peas! Oh and the food was pretty good! Not the best Portuguese chicken and sides, but great for the price - some $24 worth fed 4 of us easily. So, there's that!

    (3)

  • Ebonne B.

    This was my first foray into Portuguese cuisine, or at least this restaurants take on it (hey it's my first time so I have nothing to compare it to). What threw me off was having a hostess direct us to a table but having to walk up to the counter to place and pick up my order. However, once the food and drinks arrived all was well with my stomach and my taste buds. The portions are reasonable, the prices are decent and the food was DELICIOUS! Not to mention the night that my friend and I arrived there was a group of goregous policemen dining nearby. Yummy food and yummy eye candy all for a price that won't push you off your fiscal cliff - what more could a girl ask for?

    (4)

  • Siv L.

    Came here again with my boyfriend to use a gift card for 2 meals. This time we each ordered 2 chicken quarters (to ensure that we got dark meat instead of the drier white meat). I ordered the fries with spice and my boyfriend ordered the garlic bread. Overall the meal was pretty good and filling. The garlic bread was surprisingly very yummy.

    (3)

  • Katie M.

    After my bad experience, I came back and the food was perfect! Chicken was juicy and tender, macho peas were the right consistency, etc. Maybe they got a different cook! The music they play is always pretty, catchy, and makes us want to dance. Nando's is the best.

    (5)

  • lisa y.

    Having been to the Nando's on 18th Street, I was very excited to see that there was coming in Silver Spring. Food here is very good! Wish I could say the same about the counter service. Cashier was very distracted by friends who were there and I had to repeat my order several times. our waiter was wonderful. I wish I had gotten his name. He brought us our olives (which the cashier forgot to give us) Made sure we were doing ok. Wish the booths were a little bigger too. But overall, good food!

    (3)

  • Lauren A.

    This place is definitely on the rotation - we probably find ourselves at Nando's once every two weeks or so. It's just so consistent. I know I'll always have yummy food and still feel good about myself afterwards. I usually get a quarter white with the mashed potatoes and either corn on the cob or macho peas. The sangria is tasty too. Yeah, the seating/ordering situation is kind of weird, but so what? The food is great and pretty inexpensive. Plus I usually have some left over for lunch the next day.

    (4)

  • Rodas Y.

    The food was very salty and it came out cold. The price is not the best. Also, the rice was very dry and they ran out of French fries. How can you run out of fries. Very disappointed with my visit. I will not be returning. Lastly, the service was terrible.

    (1)

  • Deborah N.

    I was wrong about this place. It's terrific. Whatever customer service issues they had when they first opened have been ironed out.

    (5)

  • Ingrid F.

    Two weeks ago I came to nando's with my husband for dinner. Let just say we put our order in and they forgot about us. I then realize 45 min later that we haven't received our order nor my husband beer so we went to go ask and management came politely and apologies that somehow our order fell thru the crack. They gave us a voucher for a free meal to come back. So we go back on a Sunday night and try to redeem the voucher. The voucher clearly says your entitled to 1 free combination meal and 1soft drink. Another manager made us feel bad about getting half chickens when that's what we had last time. So they gave us a hard time on what we wanted to order. The food is great. Service sucks. Never coming back.

    (2)

  • Patrick M.

    i really genuinely don't get the hype around this place. i have been twice, and while it's not bad, it's A) pretty expensive for what it is and B) your sides can sometimes be a gamble (though the peas aren't bad). i have never had juicy chicken here - it's always been dry to my taste. the sauces are OK - i think the "purely" south american/peruvian spots (don pollo in bethesda, i'm looking at you) do way better in this category. go to a strictly peruvian-style place instead.

    (2)

  • Dave A.

    Moist chicken fresh from the grill - who could ask for more? Try the Portugese rice or blended peas since it's one of the really unique sides this restaurant offers. You can enjoy the original South African art as well. The ambiance is really well executed. The only weird thing was that you cannot keep your tab open... I had to pay separately for dessert.

    (4)

  • Jules J.

    I was contacted after posting a negative review, so I wanted to post again to express how impressed I am with the level of customer service here. So two stars for the effort, but the food still needs some work. Perhaps I will try again if I am in the neighborhod.

    (2)

  • Kate F.

    2.5 stars After my last review, I was contacted by someone from Nando's who offered me a free coupon for two meals and drinks so they could try again. I accepted and have been back a few other times as well. When I used the coupon - I don't know why this location cannot get it's act together. It wasn't the worst, but it still shouldn't take 20 minutes to place an order at a nearly empty restaurant. We waited a while for the food and sangria. It's like the cashiers don't know how to work the register. One of the people at the register had a cashier change in the middle of ordering and had to start over. Also, the coupons are rare and it said it was for a customer service issue, so I expected a few more cares than zero to be given. The watermelon sangria was really bland. I would not get it again, but taste is a personal preference and maybe you'll like it. Even when I order online, something get messed up. They often forget the pineapple and I don't discover it until I'm back at my office. I wouldn't mind it so much if it was a free add-on, but I gave them more money for them to mess up. I like the food, so this location will remain a rarely used lunch option. I always expect an ordeal and am not disappointed.

    (3)

  • Daniel V.

    Best chicken joint in town!!! It's a beautiful space with great, friendly, helpful staff and the chicken is unbelievable! Nando's is a mandatory stop for anyone who is in to great service and amazing chicken.

    (5)

  • Jereme M.

    Are you supposed to leave gratuity at your table after eating here?

    (4)

  • Paul L.

    5 Star Service and Food - First the place is beautiful, very modern with great original art work. The menu is extensive with something for everyone, even vegetarians. We were greeted by a very nice warm smile and a hello from the hostess. You place your order at the register, but your food is brought out to you. The Chicken was grilled perfectly and the sides were tasty and look homemade. The thing that stands out is the staff (besides the wonderful food), we had several staff stop by and check to see how we liked the food and if everything was going well. Loved this place and hope they keep up the good work. They have a "tip" box at the register, don't forget to leave something for the great work they do.

    (5)

  • Molly S.

    Love it here. I've become a regular between the delicious food, nice atmosphere, and the friendly & prompt service. The chicken is flavorful and moist, and the sauces are fun. The sandwiches are refreshing and scrumptious. The side dishes are actually a highlight - best mashed potatoes and garlic bread I've had at a restaurant. Those might sound like two of the most boring options, but they're just so soul-warmingly delicious. The service style (lining up and pseudo-servers) is a little different and not ideal if you want seconds, but I've never had a real issue with it. The booths are comfy and the decor is different and elegant without being over the top. I try to support the mom n' pop shops when dining out, but Nando's is a dangerously delicious chain addition to Ellsworth.

    (5)

  • Eduardo G.

    Lingual Spa Ever feel like you've discovered something special? From the moment you enter through the double doors an immediate calm sets in as your eyes take a breather. The lighting is low lit, there's a wood theme surrounding the place and if one could meditate while eating it would be done here. Ordering is a bit different from places that look this good, so grab a menu on your way in as you'll be ordering from the front. There's an old world styled sink in the middle of the dining area for washing your hands. Thats a great concept for people who just want to wash up without having to use the restroom. I asked the young lady taking my order what she recommend. For vegetarians there's the roasted portobello mushroom with halloumi cheese and chili jam, perfect for my wife. For the semicarniverous, such as myself, there's their famous chicken dishes. I had the chicken breast wrap w medium heat. It has green leaf lettuce, peppery sweet chili jam, and tangy yogurt sauce. For a side the girl who took my order recommended their garlic bread, a Portuguese roll smothered in garlic and herb butter. From first bite my taste buds were getting pampered. The garlic bread had me literally salivating as I enjoyed all the flavors of butter, garlic and herbs. I grabbed their olive oil since its what I love with my bread. I didn't touch it except for one bite. It didn't need it. It was genuinely divine. The chicken in the wrap was exquisite. Not dry at all, but tender and juicy the way the greatest chefs expect it to be. Now I love spicy food, and let me forewarn their medium heat hits it on the money for spiceaholics like me. Anything more would be too much I think. It's not only spicy, but tastes wonderful. If my brain and tongue were people they'd say, "thank you for giving us spa treatment." There's nothing like stimulation in the brain from excited taste receptors. To finish it off, a lovely young lady, properly named, Joyful(that's really her name) recommended their red velvet cupcake which was pure decadence. She loves working here. Thank you Johannesburg, South Africa for starting something special. This is but my first experience and I'm definitely making this a regular hang out spot. I'm writing this review from my table as I've no desire to leave yet back to reality. Until next time, Deny Not Thy Senses from edible delights. You'll be much happier for it.

    (5)

  • Stephen R.

    The food and the overall experience was just okay to be honest with you. I feel the are a little over priced for what you get and that the service was underwhelming. I did go during the weekend and at night so the fact they were crowded could have contributed to their underwhelming service. With so many other wonderful places to get chicken in the area I think you can get the same food or better at cheaper price somewhere else.

    (3)

  • Yogin P.

    I heard a lot of good things about Nando's so I had to try it on my last visit to so the DC/Maryland area. This place is amazing! Even as a vegetarian I was impressed; the veggie burger and the different sauces and dressings were fantastic!

    (4)

  • Jennifer B.

    The ordering process is a little chaotic and there is a long wait to get your food, but the chicken is flavorful and moist and the sides are delicious.

    (4)

  • Mike S.

    Unusual service model: you order at the counter, then a waiter delivers. Don't mistake it for fast food, though. Other than the initial order, it's full-service (they check on you, ask if want another drink and bring it to you, etc.), and the staff are very courteous and helpful. Also, while it's casual, the decor is snazzy enough for a nightclub. The food is very tasty. They have tangy sauces with different levels of hotness, and you get can a bottle and add as little or as much as you want. I recommend ordering it mild and then add hotter sauce to your preference, because if you start hot and it's too much, there's no way to step it down. Most people don't think about nutrition when choosing a restaurant, but it's worth noting that Nando's food is good on that count too. Most items have very little saturated fat, reasonable calorie counts, and plenty of protein and vitamins. (See their website for details.) It makes me feel less guilty about ordering dessert. :-)

    (4)

  • K. M.

    I love the sauces and the rice is amazing. Make sure you try all of the sauces on your first try. The sauce is what makes the place great. Chicken is well cooked, but not as juicy as Sabroso. Whenever any out of town guests come to visit, we take them to Nando's. The staff is always super friendly. Very fun place for a casual dinner.

    (4)

  • Natalie F.

    As much as I hate writing negative reviews, (especially about places that I really do like and have delicious food) I believe this is necessary. I have been coming here on a regular basis for months and have been filling up a frequent dining card, which I used today for my free combination meal. Being a strict vegetarian for almost 10 years the menu is very limited but the few options that are available are so incredibly tasty. I ordered the Roasted Portobello mushroom with Halloumi cheese and chilli jam wrap. Because It was a combination meal I got the coleslaw and grilled corn on the cob. The woman who took my order was very friendly and accommodating. After she checked me out, I waited an exceptionally long time for my food. (which unfortunately happens very frequently) I don't understand why, seeing as how I never order anything with meat in it which I know takes longer to cook. I understand that if they are really busy and have lots of orders to take care of you will wait longer but today it was almost empty in there! After the employee packed up my order and repeated to me what was in the order I assumed it was correct so I left. After getting home and unpacking my food, I looked at my "Roasted Portobello mushroom with Halloumi cheese and chilli jam wrap", only to find that it was full of chicken. Usually it wouldn't upset me this much but seeing as how I was using my frequent dining card for my free combination meal only to have fucking coleslaw and grilled corn on the cob as my reward for dining here so much, I feel it's rather ridiculous and infuriating. Unfortunately, I will no longer return to this location. Hopefully the new location opening up in Bethesda will be managed better.

    (1)

  • M P.

    I love Nando's. I first had it in London and was so excited to see Nando's come to the DC area. A medium heat chicken sandwich with added pineapple makes me a very, very happy girl. Add on some mashed potatoes and a starter of the olives or roasted red pepper dip and I'm all set. Their salads are really good, too. We took my mom there and she had the squash & couscous salad, which she still raves about months later.

    (4)

  • Sunny D.

    so, chicken is their specialty. yep, that's what they say. chicken is their specialty. really? really. i find that hard to believe after eating there. the chicken was moist and hot and came out promptly, but it didn't taste like much. yeah, yeah...i know, it's really supposed to be all about the sauce. ummm, OK. if you say so. with their spice meter on the menu ranging from mild to ZOMG beware/be careful/your lips might catch fire!, you'd think they'd be more flavorful and well, hot. nope. maybe if you're very sensitive to spice, but otherwise it's just meh. not exciting in heat OR flavor level. even my friend's 3-year old ate her chicken with very little trouble with the [pitiful] spice (and she was eating from her mom's plate of spicy chicken, not from the kiddie menu). the sides were just as weak, for the most part. corn on the cob appeared small and overcooked; "chips" (french fries) large and overcooked. my side of portuguese rice was probably the best part of the meal but while it was better tasting than the chicken, it still wasn't that great. it had lots of color and ingredients, but could've used a little more flavor. no one at our table tried the coleslaw, mashed potatoes or [new] macho peas, though the macho peas passing us to go to another table at least looked good. wonder if they tasted good. after a disappointing meal i got a little excited by the dessert option of wild blueberry ice cream and ordered a scoop. good lord can these people get anything right? i think dessert was even more disappointing b/c even though i could tell the ice cream had good flavor, it was ruined by the stale/freezer burn taint. you could tell by the way it was served that they must pre-scoop it and have bowls ready to go, but however they store it (possibly uncovered?), it significantly spoils what would otherwise be a very tasty treat. if all this food disappointment weren't enough, the service/system kind of blows, too. while we were greeted and seated promptly, the rest went from mediocre to bad. if you're not familiar with the 1/3 counter, 1/3 server, 1/3 self-serve system NPP has, it can be confusing/off-putting. you get seated and are given menus, but then when you're ready to order you have to go to the counter/cashier to order and pay, giving them your table # so they can bring your food to you. they give you your cups and you self-serve for beverages at a soda fountain in the dining area, as well as you collect your own napkins/silverware/sauces/etc on your way back to your table. ok, fine. but then if you want extras or dessert, they tell you your server will get that for you. yeah, good luck with that. what server?! i got a better arm workout trying to flag down servers than i do when i go to the boxing gym. they were few and far between, and seemed to have blinders on when they walked. we waited almost 20 minutes b/w finishing our meal and getting a server to even come to our table so we could order dessert. FAIL. NPP is so popular in DC and this newest MD one got a lot of hype leading up to its opening. but, the food just doesn't cut it. i think it's all about location, decor (the actual restaurant is very nice and even the bathrooms have a cool design - and are clean!), ambiance (nice music and genial crowd) and buzz. i'm not a believer, after trying it for myself. i've much better [food] for the same price, in less appealing establishments and i'll go for that over this, every time.

    (2)

  • Raquel C.

    The food is so good. I had the wings platter, lemon herb flavor with grilled corn, rice and garlic bread. There was plenty food for myself, hubby and he took the leftovers to lunch next day. Lemon herb wings are the mildest they have and still have a fair amount of spice and I love spicy food. We had carry out so I don't know about the service in house but my order was ready in less than 20min. Bill was around $21 which is fine for dinner for 2-3ppl. Medium and lemon herb sauces for chicken are yummy. Finger licking good. I will dine in for lunch next time I go there.

    (4)

  • Maria K.

    Tried this place based on another yelper's recommendation and I loved the food here. I would almost say I loved the appetizers more than the chicken. We tried the Red Pepper Dip and the Spicy Mixed Olives -- Red Pepper Dip was GOOD. I love olives, so the olives were good too. The chicken was good too, they have all these different sauces you can get on the chicken. If you like spicy (I'm Korean and I like spicy, but I can't do Thai spicy), then get the Hot. Also, do NOT get the Portuguese roll. We were so disappointed by the Portuguese roll -- think plain white bread roll. Definitely will be coming here again.

    (5)

  • Clifford M.

    Last night 5 of us headed to Nandos, Silver Spring for dinner. Normally, we would not make the trek from Bethesda but two of us sharing the same origin as Nandos (South Africa), we were nostalgic enough to undertake such a journey. Most of us had the chicken in varying degrees of spiciness; one of the kids had a vegetarian salad. Without deserts or alcohol, the check quickly rose to $80-something dollars with tip - certainly more than what we expected. The chicken portions were very tasty but a little on the small side. It seems Nandos was simply using small chickens. The sides, however, were generous. The atmosphere was lively, especially with some homegrown music and décor. Having read a Yelp review about the ordering system - that is prepaying like in a lunch cafeteria and not running a tab like in most restaurants - I too think this is a little cumbersome and inconvenient when we added desert and had to pay again. The table of 5 next to us got up and left after waiting for service that didn't come - clearly they didn't understand the Nandos ordering system and were waiting for a waiter to take their order. We will certainly be back but were not so thrilled that it will become a weekly affair. P.S. Since most of us had the chicken, we now realize we would have enjoyed more chicken for less money if we simply ordered the family-style whole chicken(s) instead of each of us ordering one quarter chicken parts.

    (4)

  • A. E.

    I LOVE Nando's Peri Peri's food and ambiance. I also love that you can wash your hands over by where you can get your silverware. Something about that makes me happy. This location is good, but I have found that they can be really slow at getting your food out to you at times - I have seen other tables that ordered after me get their food first and they have taken forever to bring me my food while my friends already got theirs. I think that the service at the Nando's in Chinatown is a better. But, I always love the food when it does arrive. I am sad that Nando's in general has stopped serving their ice creams - the spicy chocolate and the blueberry. If anyone from the company is reading this PLEASE bring back the ice cream!

    (4)

  • Lindsay H.

    Can I just tell you how happy I am that Nando's came to Silver Spring??!! The mashed potatoes are awesome--easily the best I have ever had--and I could go to heaven with a bown of minty peas--the perfect cooling antidote to HOT chicken (hot is my favorite there...and it certainly is...). I've been probably once a week since they opened in September. I love Nando's!!

    (5)

  • Sarajeane D.

    food was great. what i didn't like was the service of two people our cashier Erling and our waitress Brittany. its a long story but i have to say those two need to retrained. Erling spoke very low and had an attitude if asked to repeat herself, then because Erling had in plain sight told Brittany about us, Brittany was rude and very loud( which i later found out is normal for her) ... the manager and the second waitress we got saved the night. because it was getting to the point of me having to put those two girls in the place... in conclusion if some one is standing right in front of you and asking you what different flavors you offer don't say " why don't you look in the menu" and when someone is asking u something don't interrupt them and say "well i have but two hands" which is irrelevant to the question in the first place. for good food and good sangria. and if your going to be rude don't F**k up the order...and also after all this and complaining to the manager we stayed ate and had about 6 pitchers of sangria and were not offered a discount or a voucher or nothing for the horrible service we had received... this place should get at least a 4 but they lost two stars .. one thanks to Erling and one thanks to Brittany!

    (2)

  • Cerene P.

    Delicious Food! Great Atmosphere. The hummus was a great start to our meal. The Peri Peri chicken is seasoned to perfection and very juicy. Everyone was pleased with everything we had.

    (4)

  • Gary B.

    I was wondering around the downtown Silver Spring area looking for a casual place to eat. I spotted Nando's and decided to check them out. The food was soo good, the service was quick and I was frequently checked on to make sure everything was good. What a great experience. I will be sure to visit every time I am in the area.

    (5)

  • Cynthia R.

    My family and I enjoy their meals very much, except we don't do spicy so we end up eating the same type ol' plain chicken and cannot have the rice, but we still love our usuals. The perk for my kid is always the endless frozen yogurt, which we all may or may not share. If you are expecting the serving sizes to be like those popular rotisserie chicken places, though, you will be disappointed (and theirs isn't rotisserie anyway). Definitely smaller for the price, but I would say more flavorful so that is okay with me.

    (4)

  • Merlyn R.

    Although the line at the counter (to order your food... no waitresses/waiters), the food tastes and looks fresh and the surroundings are great. I keep my sauce pretty mild, but they can spice up that chicken to any liking you want. A great addition to the downtown Silver Spring eatery experience!

    (3)

  • Michelle D.

    I love Nando's, and this location does not disappoint. Their 1/4 chicken and chicken breast sandwich are both full of flavor and delicious! The price is good, and I especially love the option of outdoor seating at this location. The waiters have always been efficient and friendly, too, so it's a great lunch spot!

    (4)

  • Jemima E.

    Nando's is basically an overpriced rotisserie chicken restaurant and I normally wouldn't eat here except they won me over when I heard them playing Carimi's (Haitian group) music over the speakers. Winninnggg!!! lol I ordered the quarter chicken (hot), green salad, and cucumber poppyseed salad. My chicken came out with no sauce on it (-__-), and my salad had no dressing. This was slightly annoying but I go over it since they have an assortment of sauces available for you to choose from with the other condiments and utensils. The food was delicious and I am now a fan of cucumbers and poppyseed! Lol. I would come here more often but the simple fact I could purchase two chipotle bowls for the price of that one meal won't allow me to do so anytime soon. The register lady was super awesome though and gave me a free drink! ^.^

    (4)

  • Ashis Khadka 2.

    Best Nandos and one of my favorite restaurants to go to!! Have been a loyal customer since 2012 and will continue to be until the day I die! Good food, organized, good service! One entrance and you're instantly greeted by an waitress. I ordered the full plater (with garlic bread and fries) and got it about 5 minutes later. The food was hot which ensured that it stayed warm through out our meal. The garlic bread was crunchy, flavorful, and was made just right!!! The fries were seasoned with black pepper and old bay I believe, and were delicious. And the chicken had a good amount of meat. The lemon-herb flavor also gave it flavor, unlike the rio Nandos. Waitress asked us TWICE (pretty soon as munched, about 5 mins in) if everything was okay. BEST NANDOS AND BEST RESTAURANT EVER!!

    (5)

  • Jen Y.

    Stopped by for dinner with a family friend last night. I had no problem enjoying myself, the restaurant and all the other companies around me but the food itself is okay. Chicken is on the dry side, fries are average, garlic bread was slightly over-pasted with butter, and the fro-yo tasted like custard ice cream. When we got up again to order dessert, we told a server that we would be right back but they cleaned up our table anyways.. it was a nice gesture in a way, however there was obviously a lack of communication because the same server offered to give us cups again for drinks. Left a $3 tip.. I always feel unsure how much to tip at restaurants where there's a mix of ordering at the cashier yet there are still servers.

    (3)

  • Stephi S.

    This rating is for the service, not the food. Because the food is amazing. And I'd eat it every day if ordering wasn't such a struggle. A little while ago I went in to place a to go order. I placed my order at 8:15, with one person ahead of me, and proceeded to wait by the to go area. As I waited, I watched order after order fill the window - some on plates, some in to go containers. Finally, after 25 minutes I approached the window to check on my order. The gentleman bagging the order seemed confused, and then grabbed a to go box that had been sitting in the window for 15 minutes. I asked to check the order, and his response was to snap, "It's fine. It's only two things." Then, I proceed to wait another 10 minutes for him to finish putting the order together. As I headed back to the cashier, I noticed that there was still an inordinate amount of meals sitting in the window, for now what was approaching 40 minutes. I asked to speak to the manager, to alert her to the issue. Her response was to very rudely ask, "Well, what would you like?" I got home. I should have checked the order. It was wrong. I'm sorely disappointed.

    (2)

  • Swatee G.

    Living in silver spring means this Nandos has become a regular haunt. I love their lemon pepper sauce and the peri peri chicken obviously. I also think their veggie wrap with portobello mushrooms is great! Their is sangria and beer too - there isn't much that can go wrong with with place, lol Oh and sometimes they will do the $8 movie tickets with dinner, which is amazing!

    (4)

  • Don W.

    Downtown Silver Spring has lots of places to eat, but if your looking for grilled chicken, you have to try this spot. Walk in the door and the host/hostess will seat you with menus. After you decide, go to the counter and order your food. Now grab your drinks and some forks/napkins. Go back to your table and they will bring it to you. Unlimited drink refills but you have to get the yourself. When you order they will ask what flavor chicken you want. There's a few to choose from, hot to mild, plain or mango/lime. We kicked it off with an appetizer order of hummus. It was very delicious and you have to try the little bottle of drizzle. It's a little spicy but changes the flavor. I ordered a dozen wings with mango/lime sauce that were perfectly done. Grilled corn on the cob was outstanding and my peas were ok. My wife ordered the chicken breast pita sandwich. Mango/lime was her choice and she said it wAs excellent. ( I wouldn't know because she inhaled it before I got a bite). Dinner for the two of us with an appetizer and fountain drinks ran just under $40. Everything was worth every penny. If you can get there for happy hour (4pm to 6pm), some beers are $2.50 and pitchers of Sangria are half price. I'LL REPEAT THAT......pitchers of Sangria are half price! Just figure about $8 for a pitcher of that kind of goodness during happy hour. Each little floating fruit piece is like a shot of alcohol! It's a good thing I didn't drive, and my hotel room was within stumble distance!

    (4)

  • Tiffany L.

    It's a step above casual fast food.. The chipotle and things. The lighting is dim, you wait to get seated. Then you walk up to place your order. Food gets delivered to you table. You have to pick up your own utensils, sauces and drink. Then at the end of the meal you leave your plates and trash at the table. Service is usually friendly and upbeat. Food has always been solid. They serve beers on tap and bottles. They also serve wine and sangria. I like the red sangria a lot. The last time I went I got the baby kale salad with chicken and I really really enjoyed it! It was sauce nicely.. Not too much but not too little. There was shredded chicken breast that was very moist. Only thing I didn't like we're the olives.. Just didn't taste right in the salad. It was a fairly large plate of salad. I forget how much it was but I remember it wasn't cheap. This was probably the best salad I've had in a very long time. Mm writing about it makes me wanna go back! The bf got wings with the extra spicy sauce... Which was extra spicy... I had a taste and couldn't do anymore. He got the peas and fries I believe. He didn't care for the peas but I liked them. They just tasted like mashed peas though... Nothing great but I love my veggies. Our friends got a quarter chicken with two sides and a wrap. I'm not sure how they felt about theirs.

    (4)

  • Fred H.

    Delicious and friendly. Had our date night here, very much enjoyed their new mango lime marinade.

    (5)

  • Gellie E.

    This is a great spot to go to if you like chicken. My usual is the 1/4 chicken leg and thigh (dark meat) with either fries or the Portuguese rice as my side. I'm not a fan of spicy so I've only ventured to try the plain...ish, lemon and herb, and mango and lime sauces. The other flavors are medium, hot, and extra hot. if you don't want to get any of those directly on your chicken or maybe you want more than one, they have an array of sauces you can get near the silverware . The mango and lime is my favorite - its tangy and flavorful. The chicken is always moist and the skin is crisp - every time I have gone to Nando's the chicken has been tasty. The fries are good, though pretty standard - I would recommend eating them with ketchup or one of their sauces. I thought the Portuguese rice was on the spicy side (but then again I have a low tolerance for spicy foods), but it wasn't overwhelmingly spicy. The setup is a little weird if you've never been to a Nando's before, but the hostess will explain it to you if you're new. I'll also explain it here: when you enter, they'll tell you your table number and give you a menu. When you get to your table you can take as long as you need to decide- when you're ready you go up to the counter to order. (Note: you have to tell them your table number when you order so they know what table to bring it to.) I would recommend this place for groups if you want to split the check because you can all just order separately. After you place your order you go sit down and they will bring it to you when it's ready. After you order you can go fill up your drink, get your silverware, get extra sauces or what have you. Service was excellent. The food was prepared and brought to us quickly. They came to check on us to make sure we were doing okay and took our plates away when we were done. I wasn't expecting that just based on ordering at the counter. The only reason this place doesn't get 5 stars is because the silverware doesn't always look clean. But other than that, this place is affordable and the food is delicious.

    (4)

  • Zariah G.

    So I have mixed feelings. Here's why. The environment is great, relaxing, chill, quiet. Although my chicken livers were excellent, my wife's chicken breast was overlooked and dry. Her chicken wing was perfect. As was all of our veggies. The Sangria and cheesecake were warm. Not to sure about the staff, we didn't see them much. When we didn't they were not all to happy. But Pedro, the earwig was very happy and even cracked a few jokes. We might come back to give it a second chance. I would recommend the chicken liver & veggies- to go. See the picture of Pedro ;)

    (2)

  • Cherrelle L.

    Nandos is nice to go to when you are having a grilled chicken craving! They do not compare to Peruvian chicken, which happens to be my fave! Their Sangria's are AWESOME! I would strongly suggest a pitcher for those who are interested in fruity spirits! As for their chicken... every visit I end up with a few "crispy" (*burnt*) wings that have been on the grill a little too long. I won't hold it against them, because their wings are good! The corn and mashed potatoes are my favorite sides!

    (3)

  • Tanzina I.

    Nando's is one of my favorite go-to places in downtown Silver Spring. Service is quick, the food is delicious. And I love their cupcakes too - so good!

    (5)

  • Ruth S.

    Something has changed drastically at the Silver Spring location. The food is not fresh or is overcooked. Experience A: My salad had slimy greens under the chicken. I sent the salad back for a replacement and again found slimy greens in the salad. Experience B: Sent overcooked, dry chicken back to kitchen twice. Boneless chicken breast was thin, dry and small both times. Asked for "dressing on the side" for my cucumber salad. I was too frustrated to send the salad back so that I would have something to eat while my wife ate her dinner with me having no entree to enjoy. Corporate was contacted both times. They have been accommodating and have given me coupons. Methinks that they have a problem in Silver Spring! The prices are also high for what you are given on the plate. It's back to Tastee Diner. No expectations and you leave with a full stomach.

    (2)

  • Dave L.

    I have been to Nando's several times with friends. I've been here when it is crowded and when it isn't. I like the food, which is mostly chicken or vegetarian dishes. The service has always been friendly. There are probably less expensive places to eat in this neighborhood but I am more than happy to give my money to Nando's and eat their food. The most recent dinner I had here was the Nutty Chicken Date Salad. It was a much bigger dish than I thought it would be. For dessert I had the Carrot Cake, which I have had before. It is awesome and awesomely delicious.

    (5)

  • Rita R.

    Sometimes busy and difficult to find parking, however absolutely worth all the trouble! Quality of the food is incredible, love all the sauce choices. Lastly, didn't think hummus from a chicken place would be great - glad I was wrong!

    (4)

  • Meh M.

    Stopped by for dinner with my friends, they came all the way from NJ. They loved the place, food was great and loved the outdoor seating.

    (4)

  • Tera P.

    This location is the one usually frequent. However, the last few times I've been here the coleslaw was off and no up to its regular standards and the service was lacking. On my last visit the manager tried to accuse me of faking the punches on my reward card. I did not appreciate that at all especially being such a frequent customer. I like Nando's Peri Peri so I will stick to the Bethesda or China Town location, definitely not the Silver Spring anymore.

    (1)

  • Shannon L.

    Chicken skin has good flavor; lemon and herb is even spicy at some parts. But once you get to the chicken, there is neither much flavor nor tenderness. Mash peas taste exactly as their name with a slight kick and some olive oil. Unfortunately that doesn't make this childhood vegetable any better. Portuguese chunky salad is bell peppers, feta, cherry tomatoes, and olives. Nothing special unless you want a side other than garlic bread or Portuguese spicy rice, which everyone raves about. I did like the rice because the spice helps to amp up the chicken. All this was less than $20 and could've fed two people who aren't in buffet mode. I ordered online and my meal was ready in about 25 minutes but may sound long but there is lots around this area to keep you busy.

    (3)

  • Yu H.

    This was busy and packed when we went for lunch. The service is rather odd in that they seat you but you have to get back up and order at the front desk, you get your own utensils but they bring the food to your table. They have multiple chicken options, I opted for the half chicken which comes with a leg/thigh and breast/wing piece. They have several sauce options ranging from hot to mild. I got the second hottest one but it really was not very hot. The thigh/leg piece was good but the breast/wing piece was quite dry. The sauce was flavorful. I got a grilled corn on the cob for my side and that was pretty good. I'd recommend the dark meat piece if my experience was indicative of their cooking.

    (3)

  • Lilly N.

    Came here for lunch on the weekend and ordered the quarter chicken. It was delicious but portions were tiny. Also if this is your first time at this restaurant, you'll get a free appetizer of your choice!

    (3)

  • Mark M.

    Peri-peri grilled chicken is where it's at. The sides here are good, this particular location also usually plays some nice tunes and has an energetic vibe. Always a good option in the Silver Spring area.

    (5)

  • Sam W.

    The chicken is really juicy and tasty, the sides are decent, and the sauces range from tangy to painful (in a good way). Unfortunately the good food doesn't make up for the poor service. Their staff tend to be easily distracted, likely due to their young age. On multiple visits I've had to wait for the cashiers to stop chatting with the cooks to come take our order. The few times I've ordered something to go they've gotten my order incomplete or incorrect each time. The last time I went in for a takeout order my food was ready for several minutes before anyone behind the counter noticed. I asked more than once for the order in my name and was told it was not ready yet. But then someone noticed it had been under the heat lamps the whole time. The quality of the food suffered for having been ignored for so long. They were not terribly busy at the time so I'm not sure what caused their disorganization. I know Nando's is chain so perhaps results will vary elsewhere. I will not return to the Silver Spring location.

    (2)

  • Alyssa A.

    I liked my sit in experience so much I decided to come by for takeout last night. We arrived around 645 and there was a line all the way out the door. We told the waitress we were going to do carryout and went straight to the order line. It was about 30 minutes to get our food. I am not sure if it was because they were so busy or because the two take out orders ahead of us just took a long time. The take out boxes are pretty impossible to eat out of if you're trying to cut the chicken. We sort of made a mess out of the whole thing. The sauces were good but our chickens were a little overdone and more towards the burnt side. My overall experience was just okay this time. Don't try to come here around 7 on a Saturday, the wait seemed to be at least 45 minutes minimum. Everyone and their mom was seriously up in this place (it was poppin' off). Oh and they have half priced pitchers of margarita and 3.99 beers from 4-6 Mon through Friday . So if you can dip out of work a little early and you're in the area it might be worth trying!

    (3)

  • Renee' H.

    I've lived in the area for a while but always found a reason to skip over Nando's. Well not anymore! This place is definitely going into my new rotation. I love the semi self- serve atmosphere and appreciate the good service. The chicken was a little small for the price but everything was well seasoned and hot on arrival. I ate all of my food and while hesitant to sacrifice another veggie side for the garlic bread....it did not disappoint. The chocolate spoon cake was a little disappointing, unless you are a huge fan of very cold chocolate pudding with tiny tiny specks of cake. I was a little off put by the broken ice machine, lack of knives, and lack of direction that I was supposed to order and pay upfront even as a dine in customer. But once I got the hang of things, I was all good. When my greek quarter chicken is sold out at the Bug Greek Cafe down the road, I am definitely coming here as the next best thing in Silver Spring.

    (4)

  • Kelli J.

    Nando's is in a beautiful space. I love the sink in the middle of the restaurant where you can wash your hands -- so necessary, especially when you're eating chicken with your fingers. They cook the chicken on a real grill, so it gets that grilled/charred taste that I so enjoy. I love the wings and usually get the lemon flavor because I don't like spicy food. Never use the collection of flavored sauces that they make available because the chicken is tasty enough on its own. Whatever you do -- get the garlic bread!! They must sprinkle a little crack on it. No joke. The mashed potatoes are also exceptional; rich, buttery, creamy, and flavorful. It's no-frills (really a step above fast food), and a tad expensive for the portions. But still it's a good casual dining experience and I'd recommend it if you're in the mood for nothing fancy.

    (3)

  • Hannah H.

    Nando's Peri-Peri is based on a spice that was discovered in Africa called the African Bird's Eye Chilli (or, Peri-Peri). They are known for their butterfly-cut, flame-grilled chicken as well as other items in the menu such as: sandwiches, pitas, wraps, salads, sides, and desserts. To start off with, I had the Spicy Mixed Olives, which had green and black olives, mixed with garlic, peppers, and chilli - I thought the olives were pretty good, but the green ones were the dominant ones as there were more of those than the salty black ones. I had the 5 Whole Wings combination (you can choose the chicken to be 'plain,' 'lemon & herbs,' 'mango & lime,' 'medium,' 'hot,' or 'extra hot peri-peri sauce.' I had it 'Plain' with 2 sides - the Flame-Grilled Corn on the Cob and the Portuguese Rice. I wasn't really a fan of the chicken as it was really dry - I can appreciate the flame-grilled and the charcoal taste, but I wasn't too fond of the chicken being extremely dry, considering there is only so much meat on wings! The corn was okay and I wasn't a fan of the rice as that was bland and unflavorful. The vibe of the restaurant was very energetic, and there were many families and couples dining in. It did take quite some time for us to get our food as the kitchen seemed to be backed up, so we waited for a solid 30-45 minutes. I am glad I was able to try Nando's out, but not sure if I'd go back! +inefficient staff/long wait times T___T +dry chicken T___T

    (3)

  • Parul M.

    I love you Nandos but I think we need to go on a break. It shouldn't take 45 minutes to get my food. If you can't handle a rush then don't take on so many patrons you can't tend to! This is depressing.

    (2)

  • Chichi C.

    Love this restaurant, but after my experience today I think I might give it a second thought next time I wanna go out and eat. Servers were amazing and polite as usual. Food came out fast which is a good thing until you realize your chicken pita barely has any chicken. When they first opened up they were perfect, now I feel like I'm getting a watered down version of Nandos (exactly what happened in Africa is happening here). I believe two soda fountains weren't working and those that were working were more watered down than they need to be. The sweet tea wasn't any different smh. Not to mention they seemed to be under new management. The old managers were much nicer and interacted with customers, even if it was a simple "hi" or just to make sure everything was fine. From the moment you walked in till you left, they made sure your experience was worthwhile (bring them back or train the new manager better) Maybe it's just this location (Silver Spring), but if these things don't get fixed I think it's safe to assume that it will only get worse. They are still okay for now, but I'm not that likely to recommend it to my friends anymore. Get it together guys!!!!!

    (2)

  • Elodie T.

    I just really love Nando's Peri Peri. This location is in downtown Silver Spring and it's a little roomier than the Chinatown location. Menu is the same- I nearly always get the flame grilled boneless chicken breast with a side of garlic bread, and then make a combination sauce made of garlic, medium and classic salad dressing (weird but oh so good). Nando's is a tad on the pricy side but I think it's worth it, especially if you throw in the red sangria. Still hands down my favorite sangria so far. Not as big of a fan of the watermelon sangria though- it tastes a little too artificial to me. Highly recommend it. Just thinking of it... maybe I'll go tonight haha.

    (4)

  • David L.

    Really good. Interesting decor. Good food choices, and the fact that sangria pitchers are 2/3rds off during happy hour is nothing to bat an eye at. The place is very chicken heavy, so you better like chicken. I got the portabello mushroom sandwich which was quite delicious. I got the regular hot sauce but should have gotten the extra hot sauce since it was so much better. Bottom line: the place is really god, but go during happy hour for the best deals.

    (4)

  • Landon C.

    A group of 3 went here on a Thursday night. No wait. I ordered the butterflied chicken breast and mashed potatoes. I think the price was around 12 which was a little more than I expected for what you get. I got the medium hotness sauce which was hotter than I expected but not unbearable. The chicken was good but not the juiciest or most tender chicken breast I have had. The potatoes were good also. Nothing to brag about here, but not bad either. I would go back here if I was in town for a week or so. There are a lot better options though if your stay is short.

    (3)

  • Rachel E.

    The general manager was so kind to contact me and offer a second chance which I'll gladly accept. Mistakes happen and the food was excellent when we ate there, despite the issue in my initial review. I look forward to my next visit and will report back! It's nice to know that great customer service exists. Five stars for customer service.

    (5)

  • Addy C.

    My dad's a picky eater so when he says he loves a place and wants to go back, that says a whole lot :) My almost 4-yr old nephew is also a picky eater and there are probably few restaurants where he actually eats THEIR food and not his chicken nuggets - so that says a whole lot too :) Nando's is famous for their Portuguese flame-grilled peri-peri chicken. They have different flavors, different spice levels, and several sides to choose from - and prices are reasonable too which makes it a great choice for families. The kid's meals incl. chicken, apple, milk, AYCE yogurt (no surprise kids love this), and coloring to help keep them occupied. Keep in mind the chicken might taste slightly spicy for some kids but the milk helps minimize that. The space is very nice yet also casual - you order up front and then the servers bring your food. All the servers were very nice. 1/4 CHICKEN (breast & wing) - $5.45 (no sides), $7.45 (1 side), $9.35 (2 sides) This is actually a decent size meal. Got the "mango & lime" chicken, loved it, and I'd probably get it again. Other flavor options - lemon & herb, medium, and hot. SIDES The portion size for 1 side is plenty - if we had to do it again, we'd order just 1 side per entree and then share sides. I liked the Portuguese Rice, Cole Slaw (complemented the very flavorful chicken well), and Red Skin Potatoes. The Grilled Corn on Cob was just ok, and while the Chunky Portuguese Medley sounded good in reality it was nothing all that special. RASPBERRY CREME BRULEE CHEESECAKE - $6.25 The dessert was very good, and the perfect size for sharing. I'd order it again :) We'll definitely be back next time we're in Maryland.

    (4)

  • Mosart R.

    This place was nice Food was great Ordered more food because it was that good If you have kids get the bottomless yogurt Got the half chicken with mash and lemon sauce Plus got 2 movie tickets for 8 bucks each. Not bad Plus the staff were very friendly they acknowledged us played with my son. They also gave him a balloon. Next time I'm in downtown silver spring were going to eat here again.

    (4)

  • Mark O.

    Come on Friday or Saturday and sit outside for live music. Food is great. Garlic sauce was amazing.

    (4)

  • Sondi A.

    While visiting on a business trip we happened on this place. The ambiance is fantastic; music, setting, art work all lend itself to a welcome vibe. Oh and the food is fantastic. I had the chicken breast wrap with mango lime sauce and added a grilled pineapple for kicks and it was delicious!! This was my introduction to this franchise but won't be my last time. GO if you are nearby.

    (5)

  • Arthita G.

    The one at silver spring is very nicely decorated. I was quite impressed. Man their drizzles are hot but very yummy. Hummus and chicken breast wrap- both were good. So was the roasted veggie wrap. I liked it here. They didn't have sangria that day but I will go back!

    (4)

  • Cindy M.

    Great food! Great price! Defintely worth a repeat visit. Macho peas are a great compliment to the medium peri peri chicken. When will one of these be open in Northetn California?

    (5)

  • Katrina L.

    First time ever at Nando's. Always passed by in various locations ( Nat'l Harbor, Arundel Mills, DC) and wanted to try but never made it inside. Luckily, a friend asked me to accompany him to dinner here and he reminded me that I had wanted to check this place out. Let me just say that the food was good. I had the Chicken Pita with two sides, and I selected the corn on the cob and Portuguese rice. The corn needed a little salt for extra seasoning, but other than that, I was very satisfied with the overall taste of my food. The portions were a little disappointing, considering the cost for everything. It's not that this place is expensive, because it's not, but its like the ambiance, menu options, portions, and prices do not make sense to me. This place is like a weird balancing act of a Chipotle-type of fast food joint and sit down restaurant that translates into a well-decorated cafeteria with mismatched price and portion offerings. When you arrive, you are given a "server" like any other generic restaurant. He/she seats you and then takes no more than five seconds to tell you to look over the menu and head over to the cashier to place your order once you make your decision. Does anyone really need a server to tell you to stand in line? Yeah, no. So we order at the register and tell the "number" table we are sitting at. Our food arrives pretty quickly, but without napkins, utensils, or condiments. Guess what? You have to get up from your own table and fetch those items for yourself. I'm so not trying to be a whiny first-world American right now, but I was really taken aback by that set-up. Essentially, the food was really good, but I can't see myself justifying spending nearly $14 on tiny portions for fast-food. Because really there's no point (at least to me) in dining in at a place that I'll have to provide all of the service (besides the food of course) for myself.

    (3)

  • Q P.

    My 1st visit here was excellent ! Adam helped me out he was very polite and helpful, and explained the different foods to help me select my choice! What he referred matched up to my expectations..this is a new favorite of mine. The atmosphere and the customer service was all together a great experience! I look forward to eating here again very soon!

    (5)

  • Suki N.

    Ok I will start out with I am probably majorly biased here... Since I ate @Nando's in Botswana and chicken there is unbeatable. Hence 1 star... So if ur looking to get that same original taste, THIS IS NOT IT! I had quarter chicken with lemon herb with fries and side of cucumber onion salad. My first reaction was, what happened to chicken? It was a tiny, tiny piece, nuthin like the juicy, big chicken they have in Botswana. Ugh! And it was quite bland like they cooked it to death in the oven! What happened to on the grill and is that why they have to put lemon herb seasoning on it? To hide crappie chicken taste?? Yea even if I lived here I wouldn't come back!

    (1)

  • Thomas S.

    I was on hold for about 15 minutes when I walked into the place the manager comped my meal for the inconvenience a 5 star rating for service and food. Thank you walter

    (5)

  • Timothy C.

    It isn't often that I wait until I have been to a restaurant 3x before I review it, and that is how often we have been back. This is our favorite restaurant right now. I'll separate the visits. First visit - We sat with our friends at a large wooden table in the back that could have seated 8. They sit you with menus, but you order at the counter and then they bring your food to the table. I ordered medium heat chicken breast with rice and garlic bread, and was surprised by everything. The chicken is tender and the sauces (available in bottles as well if you want more) accent it perfectly, even the rice and garlic bread were really well-seasoned. My wife had a chunky salad with olives and cheese that she orders every time now. Second visit - My wife ordered a hot heat half chicken with chunky salad and mashed potatoes, and I had the portabello and halloumi sandwich with cole slaw and a side of mango lime wings. Once again,all the food was basically comfort food; just how I would have wanted it to taste, but also with enough of a unique spin that it's almost ...exciting. The sandwich was a great mix of flavors, and the mango-lime marinade is killer! We sat outside on the street and the staff brought my mother-in-law a chocolate spoon cake on Mother's Day; a nice touch. Third visit - We started with pita and hummus, both fresh and yummy, and the perfect pita-to-hummus ratio. The big winner this time was the pea mash with chilies, mint, parsley - fresh and delicious. I had the mango lime marinade on a half chicken, and I think that is the best. Overall, 5 stars. I'll also give a shout out to the sauce and setting station in the middle with a hand-washing sink, napkins, sugar for iced tea, silverware, and all the sauces and salad dressing. And also a shout-out to the iced tea. I really like it.

    (5)

  • Christopher C.

    Imo not worth the price. I there are numerous Peruvian chicken places that are cheaper with better quality food for the price. The good. Peri peri nuts are really good but salty and expensive ar 4 bucks. The so so the 1/2 or 1/4 chicken they are not cooked a well done as crisp and juicy or silvestre. The skin is thick, slimy with alot of fat. At least at these places the rotisserie style cooks off the fat. The bad the sauces they are so over rated. Very greasy with alot of heat but low on flavor. If the food was prepared better the sauces would t be needed. While nandos is not bad but it isn't worth 12 dollars for a 1/2 a chicken and two sides when you can get the same thibf for 8 bucks at crisp and juicy for tasty food.

    (2)

  • Crystal J.

    My children and I always stop here for dinner when we are in the area. Tonight, we were able to get a table right away. The cole slaw and mashed potatoes are my favorite sides.

    (5)

  • Ivonne C.

    Food was good, dinning area was clean, love the location (right downtown), but the staff could be a bit friendlier and helpful. Got there on a Tuesday evening with husband and kids and I was really surprised by the beautiful decor. The menu was easy to navigate. When we ordered, the cashier was a bit rude, like in a hurry (eventhough no one was behind us), she was yelling something to a coworker while chewing gum and made me feel uncomfortable. I will go back as the food was great, but please re train your staff in customer service. Thanks

    (4)

  • Brittany S.

    This place gets a 3.5 stars. This is my first time at this location and it wasn't such a great idea to come on a nice Friday night. Luckily there was no wait for a table but when we got to the table it was dirty, it happens sometimes, I get it. There was just too much going on. I think the downside to this chain is everybody has to get up and get their own stuff, meaning half of the people are up walking around the whole times. Not really relaxing, and it's hard to enjoy it. The line for the food was pretty long, had to wait probably 10 minutes. The boyfriend and I ordered the chicken platter, it say's 2-4 people. We definitely had leftovers. The medium sauce is good and they had just the right amount on the chicken. I'm not a big spicy person so that's as spicy as I'm going to get. Chicken was very tender. The corn on the cob was... not the best but I'm sure it could be a lot worse. The mashed potatoes, perfectly mashed and mixed, we didn't leave any leftovers of that! The watermelon sangria was deliciously refreshing. Perfect for a hot summer day, it was sweet but not too sweet and you could taste the watermelon. Get a pitcher and drink the whole thing, go for it!

    (4)

  • Koral S.

    G really likes this place - so I only really go when he craves it. I like the flavor of the chicken done with no sauce and then get to dip in whichever flavors I want. The spice levels are really good. The side options are just alright to me. Koral cuz G wants it

    (3)

  • Starr C.

    The lovely Curie Thomas sent me a voucher because she read my review here on Yelp and wished that my chicken breast wasn't dry. So not only was I giving Nando's 5 stars and more than willing to pay for my meals there, but customer service reached out to me to fix what I thought to be a very tiny problem. OH. MY. WORD. That is how chicken is supposed to be. My chicken breast was perfect. Thigh was perfect. The chicken just melted in my mouth and I had to fan myself off in the restaurant, I was so deliriously pleased with the food. FOODGASM TO THE MAX. Thank you so much, Nando's. You have set a new bar for how chicken should be for me. Of course, everything was seasoned beautifully. I found that the chicken tastes quite good with their creamy salad dressing. (AKA I got a bit overzealous with that dressing bottle and got more on my chicken than I intended.) Service was also fantastic, because we were having a hard time choosing our sides to go with our chicken. Nando's is definitely one of my favorite places to go now. I just need to control myself enough so that I can gorge on those desserts! I'm always full on chicken and carbalicious sides. Everything in my previous reviews that wasn't addressed in this one still stands.

    (5)

  • Jill C.

    Had them for lunch today and I must say they're pretty good! I had 1/4 chicken with lemon & herb rub, along with 2 sides: garlic bread and red skin garlic mashed potatoes. The chicken had good flavor except it was a little burnt, I ate around it though. Now, it was the mashed potatoes that was the star of my meal! I could taste little pieces of garlic in my potatoes! Now that's what I call fresh! The garlic bread was good, but it was too much food for me, I only ate one piece of the bread (two were served), the next time I'll order one side instead of two! You live and learn! I came with a group and the group liked it so much they want to return tomorrow!

    (4)

  • Lily L.

    The chicken is great. The sangria is great. The macho peas are the only way I eat peas. Nandos is one of my favorite spots when I'll looking for a fun meal. The chicken isn't always tender and juicy but it usually is. Plus the peri peri sauce is great! Interestingly, it really is South African - which is a bonus in my book.

    (4)

  • Neil O.

    Dat chicken breast wrap doe. It's soooooooo good. And the fries have excellent seasoning. Changing it to 5 stars for those reasons.

    (5)

  • Kevin L.

    I've had Nando's many times, never at the Silver Spring location. It's exactly what you expect from any of their other locations - delicious, portuguese chicken with sides. Busy location, especially during weekends. We ended up getting a "jumbo platter" for our party of 5 - two whole chickens and two large sides. I had forgotten how terrible plain tasted - medium is the way to go (and it's not even *that* spicy). The garlic bread was a hit, but the portuguese rice was a miss. We also had the wing roulette, basically a plate of 10 wings, one supposed to be ridiculously spicy. Guess which one was "ridiculously spicy"? None. Still delicious chicken, relatively cheap. Service is efficient, but not immediate.

    (4)

  • Mark H.

    I really liked the wings here, great flavor. It is more of an upscale fast food atmosphere to this place, But that being said it was very good and looks very clean. The people working here seemed polite and courteous and respect to the customer. I also have the hummus which was average. Sounds weird to give it four stars but I did like the flavor of the wings and makes me think other things on the menu would also be good

    (4)

  • Danielle P.

    I know this is a chain restaurant, but I just love this place. The food is always delicious, and the perfect amount of spicy. Please note that for me, the perfect amount of spicy means I am sweating. I like that you order at the counter then take a seat. I like that you can easily wash your hands before eating, and also grab all the condiments (spicier sauces, yum) that you wish. I like that they serve beer and wine, but this place is also great for kids. And I LOVE the garlic mashed potatoes. I have been to the Nandos in Gallery Place and Silver Spring. Both are wonderful, and the staff is very pleasant. And ode to Nandos... Yum, Nandos, Yum! Peri, Yum, Peri. Thank you Nandos, thanks! Your food makes me merry!

    (4)

  • Tonya S.

    Umm I have mixed opinions about this place. I have been to their other location in DC and the food was great, the chicken was cooked at the right temperature, right amount of seasoning and deliciousness but for some reason here the chicken was burned. I had asked for a medium spice but unfortunately I got hot hot hot chicken breasts. Not good for my digestion. The mashed potatoes were very good and the music and entire ambiance of the place for a rainy day like this.

    (3)

  • Corey F.

    I went to this place on a late Saturday night after a concert and it was not as busy as I would think. The location is perfect as its next to the Theater and some other food places as well. The outside of the place makes it look like a decent sit down restaurant but once inside its almost like a fancier 'Boston Market.' Hopefully that makes sense. The price was not bad at all. I had two meals and an alcoholic beverage and I paid about $25. Not bad in my book. I had the chicken, portugeuse rice and the mashd potatoes. The food was GREAT! It was a decent portion. I think its the appropriate portion if you are trying to eat CORRECTLY lol. If you are trying to get your Church's chicken, hormone induced size chicken on, this is NOT the place :). I would recommend you get two sides though. Otherwise, you will be looking at the menu again. The ambiance is decent for a quick date night, not fancy though. Although a waitress greets you, she basically drops you off at your table and tells you to go order at the counter :) that was different...but effective lol. After the "go order your own food" effect wears off, its actually a great place. As a guy I love it! But if you want restaurant that asks you what you need every 10 minutes, this is not the place. This is a good meal at a reasonable price with a SLIGHT restaurant feel place. I hope this helps :)

    (4)

  • Kelly C.

    I adore Nando's, sadly just not this location that's about 500 ft. from my office. Service is often slow and confusing, my pita is always sloppily made, but I keep coming back, because in the end, the chicken is fresh and grilled and good and those sauces are hard to beat. The coleslaw is good on some days, weird on others. I do not dine in enough to comment on the expedited plates, although last time I went my coworker's squash salad was on the extremely al dente side vs. cooked. Still glad it's here, just wish it would step up its game a bit.

    (3)

  • Rose M.

    Good chicken. This restaurant has a lot of seating and lots of options on the menu. Love the different spicy sauces! The sangria is a little bit too sweet for my taste and service is slow.

    (4)

  • Rosa O.

    I would not usually come to an eatery like this but I was shopping and I wanted something quick. The restaurant was fairly comfortable. The chicken was pretty awesome, though! The spicy sauce on the chicken was really nice. I really wasn't expecting it to be that good. The Sangrias were ok but I didn't pay a lot for them. I would totally recommend!

    (4)

  • Bridget M.

    An interesting flavor that you'll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere in the U.S., Nando's is an ideal place to grab a quick, filling meal. I'm more of a person who likes to linger over dinner, so I'd probably stop here for lunch. For an appetizer, I'd go with the red pepper dip--the warm pita it's served with is great. The medium peri-peri chicken is good, and the "perinaise" paired with fries is worth the extra 75 cents. The coleslaw is kind of odd. I'm told the chicken caesar wrap with rice is a solid choice. The wine list is crap, though!

    (3)

  • Marissa T.

    Day/Time: Wednesday, 12pm This place is like Noodles & Company with the whole order at the counter , they give you a # and then you sit. Totally didn't know that because this place is a pretty good sized restaurant so I thought a server would come to us. Well, we finally realized that wasn't the case when no one came up to us after 8 minutes. Ha! The girl at the counter talked us into getting those little pies at the register. They were like 220 calories, but they were pretty darn good. Would be better if there were ice cream.... Yum. Anyways. Lunch. Since it was my 1st time there, I had to go with their staple, their Chicken. Got a 1/4 chicken white with a side of rice. Roughly $7 for it. Oh, and you can choose the "heat" on how spicy you want it. I got it somewhere in the middle and it was just spicy enough to give you a kick without taking away the flavor of the chicken. It was pretty good. Rice was pretty good too. I don't know what I was expecting, but if i gave it 3 stars because it was alright. I didn't love it, and I didn't hate it. I prefer Peruvian chicken over this. Sure, not the same, but I def would go to a Peruvian joint, spend the same amount of money and get more food and be happier with consuming it. Overall, not bad. I would come back if someone wanted me to accompany them, but I won't be craving it. We'll see. The menu is a decent size so Perhaps I'll try something new and then my review may change.

    (3)

  • Jon L.

    My first time to this Portuguese themed franchise. Went to a movie at the nearby Regal Cinema and stopped in for an after show theater. You get seated, review the menu and then go to the main counter to order and then someone brings your food. It's essentially rotisserie chicken with a nice slection of sides and differents types of sauce. The service is exceptional and everyone is friendly. It's not really authentic portuguese though.

    (4)

  • Nicholas H.

    I've been coming here since the place opened and I like the food, although I think it's a little overpriced, but perhaps it's the ambiance they want me to enjoy. You have t go up and order your food, but this has often meant waiting in line behind folks picking up to-go orders in addition to the rest of us trying to get a sit-down meal. This can take 5 minutes or more at times. Trying to order can be a challenge as the noise levels require that one yell out the order. In fact the noise level in the restaurant, which is to say their music level and then the noise of people trying to talk over the music, often makes any conversation quite difficult. I was seated tonight, but we left after realizing that the noise level was louder than normal and the uncomfortable two-top with cheap metal chairs was going to be the beginning of an uncomfortable meal, and I hadn't yet the opportunity to stand in line and yell my order. We went across the street to a not-so-trendy restaurant where we could have a relaxing conversation.

    (2)

  • Beth N.

    I was unimpressed with the veggie wrap that I got. Couldn't actually eat the whole thing because I really didn't like the taste. However, everyone else seemed to love their food, so I will be back to try something else.

    (3)

  • Char C.

    I know the original Nando's from Africa so my opinion might be biased anyway but this location is destroying the good name of Nandos! My chicken is almost always overdone and burnt - I usually get take out so I dont discover this till I'm at home, and the one time I had to call the manager and complain because my chicken was more charred than grilled it couldn't be eaten. I stopped going to this location completely, but every now and then I get a craving and decide to give them another chance but every time I get reminded why I stopped going there in the first place, which is what prompted me to write this review. I find the DC locations to be a lot better. I have not been to the Bethesda location. But if you have the time I suggest you check out these other locations for a much better Nando's experience.

    (1)

  • Roberto N.

    Chicken w lemon and herb delicious- not that large though. Feta cheese was great... I've got to tell you here. We've been back. Twice. Why??? Yeah, why? Well, it's different. Some of the food is way too spicy for me. Some of the portions are small. But, the decor is really, I mean really, classy, arty, original,and even fascinating. And, the food we choose is usually really, really tasty. And, the variety of spices and sauces is kind of a real adventure. And it's affordable! So, I'm kicking Nando up to 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Jen R.

    I went here with my family on a beautiful summer night. The place was pretty crowded since we went at around 8 on a Friday night. The way the restaurant works always throws me off even after I've been there before. They sit you at a table and give you menus, but then you go up to the counter to order. Normally, this system would be fine, but it was a bit annoying to first wait for a table and then wait in line for 5-10 minutes to order since it was a busy night. You are also responsible for getting your own silverware, which on our night meant snatching up the last knife for our table to share. The food, however, was phenomenal. I got the 1/4 chicken (breast and wing) and sides of garlic bread and sweet potatoes. I got the medium spiciness for the chicken and that was a bit spicy for me, but I tend to be sensitive to spicyness. The sweet potatoes were also surprisingly hot. The garlic bread was absolutely amazing. My favorite part of the night was definitely the sangria. It worked perfectly with the food and was absolutely delicious. If you are in downtown silver spring and are looking for a delicious and interesting place to eat, then definitely go to Nando's. However, keep in mind that if you are not in the mood for chicken then this is definitely not the place for you. This has the best chicken around, but probably isn't the greatest choice if you are looking for more varied meals or a standard sit-down restaurant.

    (4)

  • Sandy T.

    I used to love Nando's! But now they changed the menu and also the size/volume of the dishes. I always order chicken wings and they are tiny tiny tiny now......I love the corn and rice is surprisingly nice as well (guess it has something to do with the spices in it).

    (3)

  • Terinee B.

    This place was REALLY YUMMY! First of all, I must say that when I told my friend that I was going here, she recommended the mashed potatoes before she said anything about the chicken.... And when I tasted them I totally understood why! They were OFF THE CHAIN! That will probably be one of my permanent side orders every time I return to this place! The chicken was seasoned well & juicy (even the white meat) by itself, but they actually have these different sauces that you can add on it that give it even more of a kick. Now.... for my vegetarian friends - My husband had the veggie burger and (even though my food was great), I actually wished I could return my food and get a veggie burger. It was THAT GOOD! Next time, I'll have to get the veggie burger and maybe I'll have to alternate from then on out. Too many great choices here. Another plus is that they have a touchless "hand wash" (basin) area outside of the restroom so that you can wash your hands without having to make a trip to the ladies' (or men's) room! (Nice touch!)

    (4)

  • Val A.

    This place is simple - go to the counter, order your food, sit down and the food will be brought to you. The chicken was delicious, I didn't care for the fries and beans (a bit too soft for my liking) but the seasoning and sauce on the chicken was flavorful and bold. The place was not busy which is fine for me since I don't like waiting a long time to be seated. Definitely a go-to place for good food.

    (4)

  • Ling W.

    Although it's a chicken place, they also offer a veggie burger, and a portobello burger with grilled hallumi. The latter is excellent, especially with hot sauce! (Haven't tried the veggie burger yet, but will probably return for it)

    (4)

  • Muse M.

    I've been hearing about how good this place is so I decided to try it. I got the Flame-Grilled Chicken Breast with hot sauce which cost $11, and a side of garlic bread. I really liked the sauce but that was about it. The garlic bread was a little too moist, I prefer mine a little crunchy but it was not too bad. The chicken breast was another thing though. For one thing, it was disappointingly small, unless you are a 10 year old. I don't know where Nando's are buying their chicken but if I'm paying $11 for chicken I would expect a something that will keep me from being hungry in a couple of hours. It was also cooked until it was dry, not juicy at all. I haven't tried anything else there but going by this, don't go unless you like your chicken cooked dry and in tiny portions

    (1)

  • Ali K.

    The food is pretty good. Usually have a good experience when I come. They used to have a deal (it may still be going on) where you get discounted movie tickets if you order there to the theatre up the street. When I did take out last time, they ran out of fries and mixed leaf lettuce. I will still continue to go. Good choice.

    (4)

  • Peter N.

    Very friendly and accommodating. I had a special request and they were happy to do it without hesitation. I'll come back many times.

    (5)

  • Johnny A.

    With so many choices for great chicken in DC, Nando's doesn't really stand out. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with it, but I can think of more flavorful and less expensive options within a few blocks. Having said that, it's a great addition to Silver Spring.

    (3)

  • Jim P.

    Most reviews have explained how the system works here. My thoughts: - Family friendly sit down restaurant - very kid friendly - Clean bathrooms - Fresh, health oriented food - A bit on the pricey side but you get table service without the obligation to tip so it's like they factored in the tip into the prices, which works for me - BEST OF ALL, the fro yo ($2.95) is bottomless!! It's also included in all kid's meals (~$5.25). I've had my share of fro yo and this is more pudding like flavored, not tart, with a soft serve type of consistency. Absolutely delicious! In summary, the food is good, but let's be honest, there are better places to have Peruvian chicken. However, none of the top rated Peruvian chicken places serve all you can eat DELICIOUS fro-yo. That alone raises this review from 3 stars to 4!

    (4)

  • Laurie W.

    First visit here. Watermelon sangria wins, and at 50 percent off of a pitcher for happy hour, it wins double. The red sangria was good, too. In fact, I think I was the only person at my table who preferred the watermelon, so, you know, MORE FOR ME. I cannot tolerate hot food, so even their medium spice was too much for me. I know, I know I'm a wimp. Oh well. I can't stand ruining a meal because I'm so focused on how uncomfortable I am with too much heat that I can't enjoy the flavor. The staff here was VERY nice, and accommodating of my inability to tolerate what I ordered. They replaced the chicken right away. I fully intended to pay for it, but they gave it to me on the house. I felt like a jerk asking at all, but it was worth it to learn that the lemon and herb chicken breast is something I'd definitely come back for. Good, laid back service is hard to find (I say as a long-time server myself) and it's one of the reasons besides the chicken and sangria that I'd stop in here again before Monday night McGinty's trivia.

    (4)

  • Bill B.

    We enjoy Nando's, but the last time we were here it was quite cold in the dining room... in the middle of winter. It actually felt like they had the air conditioning on, and lots of folks in the dining room ate with their winter coats on. That being said, the food was good, and the service was very friendly and courteous.

    (3)

  • Kristin M.

    I was concerned as soon as I saw "Our wines compliment any PERI-PERI perfectly!" painted into a humongous mural along a wall. Why, you ask? Fool! Unless those wines were saying, "Damn, Peri-Peri, you're lookin' fly!", it should be COMPLEMENT! COMPLEMENT!!! Unfortunately, I didn't notice that 1/7 of their giant words was misspelled until around the same time that I realized I'd been sitting with my dad waiting for takeout for almost half an hour. For some chicken and a couple sides. That, by the way, I'd also called ahead for. So yeah, concern struck. I asked at the register and quickly realized our order wasn't on their list! (Was it busy? Nooope...It was actually past their 10pm closing time at the point.) They apologized profusely and hopped on it, but it was still another 15 minutes until we finally got our food. In the meantime, we also saw them serve a table of seated guests with plates that had been sitting under the heat lamp for so long my dad thought they were samples for people to see on their way to the bathroom. The chef guys were well-intentioned, but, yeah.. Poor Mom had been sitting in the car the whole time. Luckily, her irritation dissipated when I'd told her I'd gotten a free side order out of it! So, an extra 40 minute wait, but...free side of peas! Oh and the food was pretty good! Not the best Portuguese chicken and sides, but great for the price - some $24 worth fed 4 of us easily. So, there's that!

    (3)

  • Ebonne B.

    This was my first foray into Portuguese cuisine, or at least this restaurants take on it (hey it's my first time so I have nothing to compare it to). What threw me off was having a hostess direct us to a table but having to walk up to the counter to place and pick up my order. However, once the food and drinks arrived all was well with my stomach and my taste buds. The portions are reasonable, the prices are decent and the food was DELICIOUS! Not to mention the night that my friend and I arrived there was a group of goregous policemen dining nearby. Yummy food and yummy eye candy all for a price that won't push you off your fiscal cliff - what more could a girl ask for?

    (4)

  • Siv L.

    Came here again with my boyfriend to use a gift card for 2 meals. This time we each ordered 2 chicken quarters (to ensure that we got dark meat instead of the drier white meat). I ordered the fries with spice and my boyfriend ordered the garlic bread. Overall the meal was pretty good and filling. The garlic bread was surprisingly very yummy.

    (3)

  • Katie M.

    After my bad experience, I came back and the food was perfect! Chicken was juicy and tender, macho peas were the right consistency, etc. Maybe they got a different cook! The music they play is always pretty, catchy, and makes us want to dance. Nando's is the best.

    (5)

  • lisa y.

    Having been to the Nando's on 18th Street, I was very excited to see that there was coming in Silver Spring. Food here is very good! Wish I could say the same about the counter service. Cashier was very distracted by friends who were there and I had to repeat my order several times. our waiter was wonderful. I wish I had gotten his name. He brought us our olives (which the cashier forgot to give us) Made sure we were doing ok. Wish the booths were a little bigger too. But overall, good food!

    (3)

  • Courtney L.

    I had my first visit to Nando Peri Peri with a friend who dines there often. You come into the restaurant, pick your own table, take note of the the number, and go to the register to order. You tell the cashier the table number so they can bring your food to you. I had the quarter chicken - breast & wing -HOT. My sides were the Portuguese rice and garlic bread. The chicken was awesome. My first time have Portuguese food. I would definitely come back for more.

    (4)

  • Lauren A.

    This place is definitely on the rotation - we probably find ourselves at Nando's once every two weeks or so. It's just so consistent. I know I'll always have yummy food and still feel good about myself afterwards. I usually get a quarter white with the mashed potatoes and either corn on the cob or macho peas. The sangria is tasty too. Yeah, the seating/ordering situation is kind of weird, but so what? The food is great and pretty inexpensive. Plus I usually have some left over for lunch the next day.

    (4)

  • Rodas Y.

    The food was very salty and it came out cold. The price is not the best. Also, the rice was very dry and they ran out of French fries. How can you run out of fries. Very disappointed with my visit. I will not be returning. Lastly, the service was terrible.

    (1)

  • Deborah N.

    I was wrong about this place. It's terrific. Whatever customer service issues they had when they first opened have been ironed out.

    (5)

  • Ingrid F.

    Two weeks ago I came to nando's with my husband for dinner. Let just say we put our order in and they forgot about us. I then realize 45 min later that we haven't received our order nor my husband beer so we went to go ask and management came politely and apologies that somehow our order fell thru the crack. They gave us a voucher for a free meal to come back. So we go back on a Sunday night and try to redeem the voucher. The voucher clearly says your entitled to 1 free combination meal and 1soft drink. Another manager made us feel bad about getting half chickens when that's what we had last time. So they gave us a hard time on what we wanted to order. The food is great. Service sucks. Never coming back.

    (2)

  • Patrick M.

    i really genuinely don't get the hype around this place. i have been twice, and while it's not bad, it's A) pretty expensive for what it is and B) your sides can sometimes be a gamble (though the peas aren't bad). i have never had juicy chicken here - it's always been dry to my taste. the sauces are OK - i think the "purely" south american/peruvian spots (don pollo in bethesda, i'm looking at you) do way better in this category. go to a strictly peruvian-style place instead.

    (2)

  • Kate F.

    2.5 stars After my last review, I was contacted by someone from Nando's who offered me a free coupon for two meals and drinks so they could try again. I accepted and have been back a few other times as well. When I used the coupon - I don't know why this location cannot get it's act together. It wasn't the worst, but it still shouldn't take 20 minutes to place an order at a nearly empty restaurant. We waited a while for the food and sangria. It's like the cashiers don't know how to work the register. One of the people at the register had a cashier change in the middle of ordering and had to start over. Also, the coupons are rare and it said it was for a customer service issue, so I expected a few more cares than zero to be given. The watermelon sangria was really bland. I would not get it again, but taste is a personal preference and maybe you'll like it. Even when I order online, something get messed up. They often forget the pineapple and I don't discover it until I'm back at my office. I wouldn't mind it so much if it was a free add-on, but I gave them more money for them to mess up. I like the food, so this location will remain a rarely used lunch option. I always expect an ordeal and am not disappointed.

    (3)

  • Robert B.

    Okay. I'm done. I used to enjoy this place, but lately have been running into completely absurd issues. I'm never going back and I suggest you avoid it as well. Over the last year I've dined here and run into issues on three different occasions (out of eating there maybe 4 times): 1. one time I went and they were out of bread (!!!) so they couldn't make sandwiches nor the garlic bread. WTF. 2. a month or so ago I went and their computers were completely down. I was unable to use the groupon I brought (the only reason why I'd come here over all the better, independent restaurants in Silver Spring). Weak. 3. I went the other day (to use the Groupon that was refused previously) and the place was out of Cesar dressing so they couldn't make my chicken Cesar wrap...wtf. It was Friday at 6pm so you'd think they'd, you know, stock the items they sell. How does a massive, multinational chain have more kinks than any restaurant I've been to in my entire life? Whoever manages this place must be completely dysfunctional.

    (2)

  • Ruben D.

    If there weren't a million Peruvian Chicken spots in the DMV then I just may eat here again. The chicken is overly spicy and the sauces? ehh The mashed potatoes was pretty good. The whole seating system is strange as well. I take it that all of yiou that gave this chicken 5 stars are out-of-towners that just don't know.. or, sorry to say it, Caucasians that like anything as long as it promises a lil culture. Stay thirsty my friends... ... gave it an extra since I found out that they care about their customers. Maybe

    (3)

  • Tim H.

    As a Silver Spring resident I end up here a lot--peri peri is something you begin to crave. The chicken is fantastic, and the food in general is tasty and reasonably priced. The clear choice is a platter--I've gotten wings a few times and they were good but missing the point. We often get the Sangria but it does lower the value per dollar of the meal. The format is a little awkward, as you have to be seated at a table, yet go to the counter to order and pay. Then you get your own drinks / silverware / sauces, but the food is brought to your table. Oddly, in South Africa, this place is everywhere and is sort of like fast food, perhaps explaining the format. In general, highly reliable for a good meal at a reasonable price, with some quirks. UPDATE: just had the wings again, and realized that the reason to get them over the whole chicken platters is that the surface area is larger so you get more peri peri per bite, which is a very good thing. Since all of their chicken is extremely well prepared, the decision comes down your desired to the meat-to-skin ratio.

    (4)

  • Corine H.

    JUST returned from a visit after taking in a movie (5ish p.m. on December 1). Why are there gnats STILL flying all over the place?! This is my second time there; the first time was a while ago. And the GNATS or whatever that hovers and divebombs threaten your food so much? We asked for extra napkins to cover the sangria and our resting food. BOTH visits. The set up and ordering: rather odd. IF the service were amazing? I'd take it with a happy smile. But, the cashier had a bad attitude; a huge turnoff. Also, when she slipped me a bill that included an "opportunity" to tip BEFORE ANYTHING HAD BEEN DELIVERED, TASTED, OR SEEN (you know the receipt: total + a line to add a tip)? I was put off even further. When I did get a lovely server? I was told I couldn't leave her a tip at the table, but had to put it in the collective "tip" container at the register. That's so fair that it teeters into the land of unfair, especially given what we'd just experienced with a delightful server and an indifferent cashier (e.g., "Um, may we have glasses?" "Why, what's this item on display? THIS item? The one RIGHT NEXT TO YOU here on the counter?!") I'm pretty sure I'm done with this location. The food's tasty, as is the sangria. It also smells delightful and would otherwise be a perfect spot to meet and eat. However, there are too many restaurants mere steps away that offer than and more, including customer service and no gnats. Too bad. I wanted this time to be different.

    (2)

  • Sqldbamd S.

    Portuguese food is full of flavor and Nandos pepi peri do the job, Chicken and Portuguese rice is very good, the only CONS is the serving size and the price. other than that the place and the food are really good.

    (3)

  • Seema F.

    Like the usual roasted chicken places, but flavored a little different and more expensive. We ordered a whole chicken and 2 sides for 3 people. It was plenty of food but 2 people in the group insisted on ordering olives and the nut mix. Both were a tiny serving for $4! To make matters worse there was a hair in the nuts and the manager was giving us a really hard time because he "didn't see any hair." The food took a fairly long time to come out, so in the meantime we tried all the sauces. They were all essentially the same but with different levels of being watered down. They were all a strange citrusy hot sauce (much like Indian lime pickle). Not bad, but there could have been more of a variety. The sides were mediocre--we got fries, macho peas, and the feta salad. I didn't like the peas at all since they had mint in them. The feta salad was just some feta, 2 peppers, a tomato and an olive--also a very tiny serving. The best thing they had here was the sink in the dining area. Every place that has people eating messy food with their hands should absolutely have one! Nando's isn't bad if you're downtown and really need some roast chicken. But I'd drive out to Pollo Rico or Sardis for the real stuff.

    (3)

  • Jeff M.

    I wanted sssooo badly to give this place five stars and they ALMOST did but there were just a few minor issues I had to keep it from perfection. I walked in and the nice hostess explained to me how you order at the counter and the food will be brought to you. I dined al fresco, was seated outside with my menu on a beautiful summer's night and figured out what I wanted and then walked back inside. To other reviewers complaining about how this is done, suck it up honkeys! I ordered a half chicken with garlic bread and cole slaw along with peri-peri nuts and a beer.....all for about $22 which for this type of restaurant was a tad pricey. Inside was absolutely beautiful though, even though I didn't actually sit in there and the bathroom was super nice and clean as well. Everything was extremely flavorful and I also got one of the "milder" bottled sauces, which term I will use loosely to compliment the chicken. And this is where one of my first issues come into play. I enjoy spice....I really do, but when one orders something "medium", it shouldn't be opening up every single pore on my face after eating it! I don't know whose definition of being medium this is, but it sure isn't mine. Let's just say I'm glad I didn't get the hot, good grief. So this is a great ploy to get you to drink more, right? $5 a beer for domestics is a bit pricey, even if they don't serve the craptacular Miller or Bud. Another issue, so I ordered food around 9:45 and the place closes at 10:00. I walked back in at around 10:05....."hi, I'd like to order another beer". "Sorry, we're closed" was their response. "But I'm already eating outside" I half-angerly respond. Thankfully, one of the cooks stood up for me and told her that he had seen me before. Does this even matter? I also saw at least three tables being used inside, what if they wanted to order something else? Then, it took them 3 min to find the bottle opener until the manager finally came over and popped it off with a spoon. So the night started off perfectly until the spices got to me and I had to make an emergency drink order for which I got a little crap for. Other than that, the food was amazing, even if a little pricey and I'll definitely be returning!

    (4)

  • Moritz R.

    I have to admit getting a message almost 2 months after I visited Nando's had me surprised. I was given complimentary pass for two to come back and try them again. The place is a bit odd in the fact that you are seated and then have to get up to order. (We had to figure that out ourselves, no one told us) That being said the person who greeted us was friendly. The cashier though was pretty indifferent though. So we grab our glasses and go fill our own drinks. Yes I will bring up the tip jar. The tip jar is at the register, before you have eaten. Odd? I think so. In the meantime, I had a look at the restroom not by choice, but by necessity. The door's could use braille for sight impaired customers though. I can say the men's room was clean and that is a good thing. The food was brought to our table in a fair amount of time considering there was only a few tables seated in the who place. The person who brought our food was pleasant. The chicken was spicy, even if you asked for it not to be spicy. The corn and garlic bread were OK, but the Chicken Caesar wrap was more lettuce and wrap then chicken. Would I go back? That is a tough question. I thought redeeming a coupon that was given to bring me back would liven the staff up a bit to be on their best behavior, but in the end I was just another number to come through the door. This is my second review and it's only gone up one star in the review.

    (3)

  • Jamie W.

    Since moving to Silver Spring (and working right around the corner) I've been to this place more than 25 times. Everything is amazing and for the most part healthy, and a great amount of food for your money. The mango lime chicken breast is my personal fave, as is the garlic bread and perinaise sauce. You have to try the Watermelon Sangria! I love that they are opening up other locations in MD as well. I recommend this place to everyone. Great date place, too...the outdoor seating in summer is nice because you get the hustle bustle of the blocked-off street and the fountain right across. I can't rave more about the friendliness of the staff. Everyone is very nice and welcoming and genuinely cares that you have a good experience.

    (5)

  • David D.

    I can't say this was a place I ever would have ventured into we're it not for someone in our party having an infatuation with some boy band which eats there a lot. I had the portobello mushroom wrap with medium heat and it was pretty spicy. Go for the level below if you're looking to avoid any heat. The wrap was tasty, with a substantial amount of mushroom. The pita wrap itself was nothing to write home about. Would have been nice to have something a little more authentic than grocery store fare. I actually liked the sides the best: the saffron rice and the macho peas were very tasty. Consider those if eating light. As for the service, kind of a pain that you have to get seated, read the menu and then go stand in line at the counter to place your order. If I've got to go through all that, let me just jump in line when I first get there and then I'll go to my seat. It also complicates things when it comes time to tip. No server takes your order but one does bring your food to you. So...how do you tip? I believe someone in our party gave the server $5 when she cleared our table. The all-foreign staff was a little difficult to understand but I guess that's what you get when dining at ethnic establishments. Come to think of it, I have the same issue at Applebee's.

    (3)

  • Hani C.

    I meant to write this for a while ... First time at Nando's peri-peri, went to this location with a group of friends for a dinner and we all loved it. The place was packed when we arrived and we had to wait for 15 min to get seated. We all were first timers and a bit lost trying to figure out how this place works. Our server Kevin was very nice and super helpful. He explained everything to us and went over the entire menu. We asked for his recommendations and he didn't disappoint. The way the seating setup works is different from your typical restaurant, as many reviewers have already explained. The food deserves 5 stars!! We all ordered appetizers to share. My favorites are hummus and dip and garlic bread. What makes the hummus and dip unique and delicious is the peri peri infused oil that came with it. All went perfect except for one minor hiccup. Our entree arrived at the same time except mine didn't arrive at all. We told our server, he apologized and called the manager I believe her name is Aki; she sincerely apologized about the mishap and brought my food immediately. She also offered me a desert and drink on the house. She was very gracious and supper friendly. She checked on us multiple times and asked how our experience was. I have to say superb customer service. For my entrée, I got the grilled chicken breast prepped extra hot with a side of butter squash and grilled corn. The chicken is well seasoned and juicy. Since I love spicy food this definitely hit the spot. The squash I would say is a MUST, even if you are not a squash fun. It is so delicious!! Overall, the food and service were impeccable. It will definitely be one of my go to places in the area.

    (5)

  • Ashli H.

    Even as a vegetarian, I usually find reasons to come back to Nandos. The Halloumi Pita with portobello mushroom and halloumi cheese is fantastic--a perfect blend of flavors. It is also very convenient for groups since you can order separately at the counter then sit at the same table. The reason for three stars is because I am very disappointed with a recent visit and the customer service follow-up. I had ordered the Halloumi Pita while out with my friends. When it arrived at the table, I took a bite out of the edge and realized that I had just bit into a piece of chicken. Someone in the kitchen had mistakenly packed a chicken breast into the pita. This wouldn't be a big deal for someone that eats meat regularly, but I haven't had it in over five years and immediately get sick when I do accidentally have some (though I'm very careful about this). The manager gave me a free meal voucher, but the carelessness of the kitchen staff and way the incident was handled makes me hesitant to return. I also emailed Nando's headquarters through their website, but never did hear back (this was at least a month ago). Disappointing customer service, but great food if you get what you order.

    (3)

  • Heather J.

    I'm a fan of Nando's. I love the chicken (medium-spicy) and the herb sauce. This location is especially nice because there's a free parking lot right nextdoor and it's very spacious inside. The service was friendly and really fast. We split a whole chicken platter, which came with two sides. We got the fries with peri peri salt and perinaise. They were excellent - very crunchy but not overdone, and not too greasy. For our other side we got the macho peas, which were very tasty. At other Nando's locations, I've had the mashed potatoes and garlic bread, which are both great. I'll definitely be back to Nando's.

    (4)

  • Cherie J.

    The first Nando's i've ever been to was in downtown dc so when my bf and i came to this location i was a bit skeptical yet still ready to devour some Peri-peri wings!!! It was a busy weekend evening so i didnt mind the line since it moved pretty quickly but the girl that took my order was not very pleasant. I always like to give them the benefit of the doubt and think to myself "oh maybe she's just tired or something" but this girl had a tude' on her! Regardless of that every other staff member we interacted with was quite nice and since my bf was new to Nando's his reaction to the food was priceless. I always go for the wings so i ordered those in medium with garlic bread and portuguese rice. My bf got the wings as well but in mango-lime (mmm hmmm!) and fries. Afterwards i had a major sweet tooth so i decided to try out the red velvet cupcake, which i had doubts about, but MAN! it was so moist and rich, so i highly recommend getting one. We were both pleased and i can't wait to try out more things on their menu like their chicken breast wrap or sandwich! *drools* Hopefully they will expand to more areas in VA!

    (4)

  • George C.

    This place is a chain but I guess they haven't really taken off in the US yet. My lunch was great! I ordered the chicken wrap with 2 sides. One was the red mashed potatoes and the other was the peas. The wrap was really good. Tender and juicy meat with a little kick. The mashed potato's were buttery and good. The peas were AWESOME! They had a nice kick to them and was just the right amount of heat for me. Wife ordered the 1/4 chicken with rice and really liked it. The dining area is very colorful and the servers were nice and friendly. I also like that it's an open kitchen. I thought the prices were reasonable and would go back. It's as good as your going to get for a chain restaurant that doesn't serve burgers, taco's or shitty sandwiches. Overall Nando's is probably a 3 star rating but for fast food...4 stars!

    (4)

  • Chris C.

    Nando's is definitely a winner. The char grilled chicken is excellent. I had the chicken breast with grilled corn on the cob and rice with vegetables. The rice was so so but for the price you can't go wrong.

    (4)

  • Danny M.

    I have an update on my previous two-star review, which judged Nando's as good food and great atmosphere, but lazy and inattentive employees. My review was read by a customer service rep from Nando's who wanted to know all about the visit. I was impressed by this attentiveness, and filled her in on the details. Afterwards, she apologized and sent me a food voucher with assurances that they would work to fix what had been problematic. I am happy to say that tonight, I visited Nando's again. Within a minute, a waitress approached us, showed us to our seats, and then explained the process. This is what was missing on many of the previous visits. I found her professional, informative, and courteous. I ordered Rose wine while others in my group ordered food. Overall, this visit was much better; I just hope that it is consistent.

    (4)

  • Paula O.

    I've eaten at Nando's four times at two different locations, but my experience tonight is the one that made me want to post a review. We came in at 6:05 PM to get dinner before a 7PM movie. I got the 1/4 chicken with mash and Macho Peas and my friend got the same chicken with fries and an ear of grilled corn. Our food arrived promptly at 6:20, but the corn was missing. Server apologized and said it would be a few minutes, so we tucked in. I love the mango-lime seasoned chicken - I'm no fan of hot spices and that has just the right amount of heat for me - and the Macho Peas with chili and mint are unique and yummy. My friend also enjoyed her meal, but by 6:30, still no grilled corn. At 6:40 she asked our server, again got an apology and a request to wait. Well, we had to leave by 6:50 to reach the theatre, so at 6:45 she took the receipt and walked up to ask if they'd take the price of the corn off her bill - - just as the server arrived with the belated ear. ==Now, this is the great part. While my friend was wolfing down the corn, the floor manager came to our table, apologized again, and gave us not only two free cupcakes - boxed to go - but two coupons for a free 1/4 chicken on our next visit! That's two free desserts AND two free dinners, just for being late with a side dish. This manager's thoughtfulness turned what was becoming an unpleasant visit into a very nice surprise and cemented my sense that Nando's really does put its customers first. (Yes, I realize that she did it partly to stave off a bad review and cover the restaurant's tail, but most places wouldn't have gone as far as she did, and we really were pleasantly surprised.) We'll be eating here again for certain - not only do we have free chicken to look forward to, but I definitely want to try that watermelon sangria.

    (4)

  • Jamie D.

    Ick, ick, ick! My 1/4 dark meat chicken for takeout was absolutely dry. Seeing my order reheated over the grill should've been fair warning. I would've sent it back if I was dining at the restaurant.

    (1)

  • Russell P.

    i've been to Nando's in Silver Spring, MD twice now and the food is okay, but not as good as all the hype i get about it. i compare Nando's to other Peruvian style chicken vendors in the local area and Nando's maybe ranks 4th or 5th. i'm not particularly impressed by their flavor here, and the service is on and off. some of the staff are great and will do backflips to help you, but some of them are a bit lost in the shuffle. for example, some servers would bring me plates, utensils, etc. as soon as they were able if i asked them, but getting something like the nandosauce that they charge extra for took about 10 minutes after asking 3 times.

    (2)

  • Ryan M.

    I'm used to eating Peruvian grub from a food truck or greasy den. Nandos turns it classy! The food is probably just as good as any Peruvian chicken place you'll find. Its tender and flavorful. The add-ins like the macho peas and the ambiance are what set this place apart. It's casual enough for T-shirt and shorts but nice enough that you enjoy eating in as opposes to grabbing the chuken and running like other chicken places. I like the sauces at your disposal and the service even for a place that has you order at the counter is excellent. I wouldnt go out if my way or probably even plan a trip here but i don't want to stray from downtown SS this will probably be my choice from now on. Sorry Austin Grill.

    (4)

  • pia b.

    Eh, I had hoped for something different, so that's really all the issue I had. I'm not the biggest fan of the seating system. To wait to be given a table, sit down and then get back up to wait in line to place my order and then have it delivered to my table and still have to pick up my own silverware all for what seemed to be normal, full service sit down prices? (One 1/4 chicken with one side, one half chicken with one side and two beers for $30?) I didn't really like the sauces, but the chicken was moist. The beers (draught) tasted skunky and there were fruit flies hovering the whole meal. Overall, I'm happy to see that the spot is not vacant, but next time we have a craving for chicken, we'll likely just go to Crisp and Juicy.

    (2)

  • Michael P.

    Overpriced, too salty and not enough food for the money. I have eatan here 3 times and that is enough, each time it was not good, too salty and had to eat something an hour later. I will not go here again. Waste of money.

    (1)

  • Rachel D.

    Love this place!! I go here quite often and it's always a great experience. The service is great, the atmosphere is great, and the food is yummy! I get the red sangria every time--it's a fav!

    (5)

  • Tom T.

    Delicious good food in a ncie atmosphere at good prices! It's Nando's a chain celebrating spicy chicken from South Africa with a Portuguese infusion. This location has a nice dining area - well lit and ample space to relax. The food is good, I recommend a quarter chicken meal with garlic bread and their awesome mashed potatoes (red potatoes also garlic and butter). Try corn on the cob roasted or some of their others treats such as 'macho peas' or spicy hummus and pita bread. I would skip the desserts - they are fine but by the time you eat the meal you will be satisfied anyway. It's a nice place for some good spicy chicken and taking a break!

    (4)

  • Raycal B.

    Nando's Peri Peri...in one word. DELICIOUS. This chicken is flavorful right down to the last drop. If you go you MUST order the Garlic Bread. It is to die for. You will eat every last bit of it. My mom and sister tasted it and loved it too. I also got the Yellow Rice which was pretty tasty as well. The drinks are BOTTOMLESS and so is the Yogurt. I will make it a point to go here often. Wanna try the corn on the cob, heard it was good too. The sauces are okay but the chicken is so flavorful, you don't even need it. Right in Downtown Silver Spring. Excellent Location.

    (5)

  • Clifford M.

    Last night 5 of us headed to Nandos, Silver Spring for dinner. Normally, we would not make the trek from Bethesda but two of us sharing the same origin as Nandos (South Africa), we were nostalgic enough to undertake such a journey. Most of us had the chicken in varying degrees of spiciness; one of the kids had a vegetarian salad. Without deserts or alcohol, the check quickly rose to $80-something dollars with tip - certainly more than what we expected. The chicken portions were very tasty but a little on the small side. It seems Nandos was simply using small chickens. The sides, however, were generous. The atmosphere was lively, especially with some homegrown music and décor. Having read a Yelp review about the ordering system - that is prepaying like in a lunch cafeteria and not running a tab like in most restaurants - I too think this is a little cumbersome and inconvenient when we added desert and had to pay again. The table of 5 next to us got up and left after waiting for service that didn't come - clearly they didn't understand the Nandos ordering system and were waiting for a waiter to take their order. We will certainly be back but were not so thrilled that it will become a weekly affair. P.S. Since most of us had the chicken, we now realize we would have enjoyed more chicken for less money if we simply ordered the family-style whole chicken(s) instead of each of us ordering one quarter chicken parts.

    (4)

  • Sunny D.

    so, chicken is their specialty. yep, that's what they say. chicken is their specialty. really? really. i find that hard to believe after eating there. the chicken was moist and hot and came out promptly, but it didn't taste like much. yeah, yeah...i know, it's really supposed to be all about the sauce. ummm, OK. if you say so. with their spice meter on the menu ranging from mild to ZOMG beware/be careful/your lips might catch fire!, you'd think they'd be more flavorful and well, hot. nope. maybe if you're very sensitive to spice, but otherwise it's just meh. not exciting in heat OR flavor level. even my friend's 3-year old ate her chicken with very little trouble with the [pitiful] spice (and she was eating from her mom's plate of spicy chicken, not from the kiddie menu). the sides were just as weak, for the most part. corn on the cob appeared small and overcooked; "chips" (french fries) large and overcooked. my side of portuguese rice was probably the best part of the meal but while it was better tasting than the chicken, it still wasn't that great. it had lots of color and ingredients, but could've used a little more flavor. no one at our table tried the coleslaw, mashed potatoes or [new] macho peas, though the macho peas passing us to go to another table at least looked good. wonder if they tasted good. after a disappointing meal i got a little excited by the dessert option of wild blueberry ice cream and ordered a scoop. good lord can these people get anything right? i think dessert was even more disappointing b/c even though i could tell the ice cream had good flavor, it was ruined by the stale/freezer burn taint. you could tell by the way it was served that they must pre-scoop it and have bowls ready to go, but however they store it (possibly uncovered?), it significantly spoils what would otherwise be a very tasty treat. if all this food disappointment weren't enough, the service/system kind of blows, too. while we were greeted and seated promptly, the rest went from mediocre to bad. if you're not familiar with the 1/3 counter, 1/3 server, 1/3 self-serve system NPP has, it can be confusing/off-putting. you get seated and are given menus, but then when you're ready to order you have to go to the counter/cashier to order and pay, giving them your table # so they can bring your food to you. they give you your cups and you self-serve for beverages at a soda fountain in the dining area, as well as you collect your own napkins/silverware/sauces/etc on your way back to your table. ok, fine. but then if you want extras or dessert, they tell you your server will get that for you. yeah, good luck with that. what server?! i got a better arm workout trying to flag down servers than i do when i go to the boxing gym. they were few and far between, and seemed to have blinders on when they walked. we waited almost 20 minutes b/w finishing our meal and getting a server to even come to our table so we could order dessert. FAIL. NPP is so popular in DC and this newest MD one got a lot of hype leading up to its opening. but, the food just doesn't cut it. i think it's all about location, decor (the actual restaurant is very nice and even the bathrooms have a cool design - and are clean!), ambiance (nice music and genial crowd) and buzz. i'm not a believer, after trying it for myself. i've much better [food] for the same price, in less appealing establishments and i'll go for that over this, every time.

    (2)

  • A. E.

    I LOVE Nando's Peri Peri's food and ambiance. I also love that you can wash your hands over by where you can get your silverware. Something about that makes me happy. This location is good, but I have found that they can be really slow at getting your food out to you at times - I have seen other tables that ordered after me get their food first and they have taken forever to bring me my food while my friends already got theirs. I think that the service at the Nando's in Chinatown is a better. But, I always love the food when it does arrive. I am sad that Nando's in general has stopped serving their ice creams - the spicy chocolate and the blueberry. If anyone from the company is reading this PLEASE bring back the ice cream!

    (4)

  • Lindsay H.

    Can I just tell you how happy I am that Nando's came to Silver Spring??!! The mashed potatoes are awesome--easily the best I have ever had--and I could go to heaven with a bown of minty peas--the perfect cooling antidote to HOT chicken (hot is my favorite there...and it certainly is...). I've been probably once a week since they opened in September. I love Nando's!!

    (5)

  • Sarajeane D.

    food was great. what i didn't like was the service of two people our cashier Erling and our waitress Brittany. its a long story but i have to say those two need to retrained. Erling spoke very low and had an attitude if asked to repeat herself, then because Erling had in plain sight told Brittany about us, Brittany was rude and very loud( which i later found out is normal for her) ... the manager and the second waitress we got saved the night. because it was getting to the point of me having to put those two girls in the place... in conclusion if some one is standing right in front of you and asking you what different flavors you offer don't say " why don't you look in the menu" and when someone is asking u something don't interrupt them and say "well i have but two hands" which is irrelevant to the question in the first place. for good food and good sangria. and if your going to be rude don't F**k up the order...and also after all this and complaining to the manager we stayed ate and had about 6 pitchers of sangria and were not offered a discount or a voucher or nothing for the horrible service we had received... this place should get at least a 4 but they lost two stars .. one thanks to Erling and one thanks to Brittany!

    (2)

  • Kamal K.

    This location marked my first Nando's experience and I'm now a fan of the peri-peri. As I live in VA, this location is the somewhat ideal as it's easily accessible off the beltway/Georgia avenue. Parking is abundant in the nearby Wayne Street garage (at $ .75/hr it's not bad at all). It's nice to not have to deal with the Chinatown crowds and metro when going to the DC locations. Everyone seemed to be friendly at this location. The format is a bit unusual, you get seated by a host(-ess), given your menus and are told to head up to the counter to order when you're ready. Definitely gives indecisive customers time to fully analyze the menu. I've so far made two visits; both of times I've had the 1/2 chicken with two sides option. It's pricey but the portions are hearty. The chicken is absolutely amazing, fresh off the grill and juicy. I spiced my medium which was perfect, though for a few bites with an extra kick I get the hot sauce from the condiments table, which is extensive with many of their own sauces and overall adds a nice touch to the dining experience. The sides have all been lovely, the mashed potatoes are my favorite along with the corn on the cob. Their chips (french fries) are also a must-have. I have a new addiction.

    (4)

  • Izzat A.

    Just as good as the others. Service is great. If you've been to any of the others, you know the deal.

    (4)

  • Gerri S.

    If you worship at the temple of Nando's DO NOT COME HERE. They have no idea what they are doing here. All I can say is it keeps people off the streets. Try the other locations.

    (1)

  • Mike S.

    Unusual service model: you order at the counter, then a waiter delivers. Don't mistake it for fast food, though. Other than the initial order, it's full-service (they check on you, ask if want another drink and bring it to you, etc.), and the staff are very courteous and helpful. Also, while it's casual, the decor is snazzy enough for a nightclub. The food is very tasty. They have tangy sauces with different levels of hotness, and you get can a bottle and add as little or as much as you want. I recommend ordering it mild and then add hotter sauce to your preference, because if you start hot and it's too much, there's no way to step it down. Most people don't think about nutrition when choosing a restaurant, but it's worth noting that Nando's food is good on that count too. Most items have very little saturated fat, reasonable calorie counts, and plenty of protein and vitamins. (See their website for details.) It makes me feel less guilty about ordering dessert. :-)

    (4)

  • K. M.

    I love the sauces and the rice is amazing. Make sure you try all of the sauces on your first try. The sauce is what makes the place great. Chicken is well cooked, but not as juicy as Sabroso. Whenever any out of town guests come to visit, we take them to Nando's. The staff is always super friendly. Very fun place for a casual dinner.

    (4)

  • Natalie F.

    As much as I hate writing negative reviews, (especially about places that I really do like and have delicious food) I believe this is necessary. I have been coming here on a regular basis for months and have been filling up a frequent dining card, which I used today for my free combination meal. Being a strict vegetarian for almost 10 years the menu is very limited but the few options that are available are so incredibly tasty. I ordered the Roasted Portobello mushroom with Halloumi cheese and chilli jam wrap. Because It was a combination meal I got the coleslaw and grilled corn on the cob. The woman who took my order was very friendly and accommodating. After she checked me out, I waited an exceptionally long time for my food. (which unfortunately happens very frequently) I don't understand why, seeing as how I never order anything with meat in it which I know takes longer to cook. I understand that if they are really busy and have lots of orders to take care of you will wait longer but today it was almost empty in there! After the employee packed up my order and repeated to me what was in the order I assumed it was correct so I left. After getting home and unpacking my food, I looked at my "Roasted Portobello mushroom with Halloumi cheese and chilli jam wrap", only to find that it was full of chicken. Usually it wouldn't upset me this much but seeing as how I was using my frequent dining card for my free combination meal only to have fucking coleslaw and grilled corn on the cob as my reward for dining here so much, I feel it's rather ridiculous and infuriating. Unfortunately, I will no longer return to this location. Hopefully the new location opening up in Bethesda will be managed better.

    (1)

  • M P.

    I love Nando's. I first had it in London and was so excited to see Nando's come to the DC area. A medium heat chicken sandwich with added pineapple makes me a very, very happy girl. Add on some mashed potatoes and a starter of the olives or roasted red pepper dip and I'm all set. Their salads are really good, too. We took my mom there and she had the squash & couscous salad, which she still raves about months later.

    (4)

  • Raquel C.

    The food is so good. I had the wings platter, lemon herb flavor with grilled corn, rice and garlic bread. There was plenty food for myself, hubby and he took the leftovers to lunch next day. Lemon herb wings are the mildest they have and still have a fair amount of spice and I love spicy food. We had carry out so I don't know about the service in house but my order was ready in less than 20min. Bill was around $21 which is fine for dinner for 2-3ppl. Medium and lemon herb sauces for chicken are yummy. Finger licking good. I will dine in for lunch next time I go there.

    (4)

  • Maria K.

    Tried this place based on another yelper's recommendation and I loved the food here. I would almost say I loved the appetizers more than the chicken. We tried the Red Pepper Dip and the Spicy Mixed Olives -- Red Pepper Dip was GOOD. I love olives, so the olives were good too. The chicken was good too, they have all these different sauces you can get on the chicken. If you like spicy (I'm Korean and I like spicy, but I can't do Thai spicy), then get the Hot. Also, do NOT get the Portuguese roll. We were so disappointed by the Portuguese roll -- think plain white bread roll. Definitely will be coming here again.

    (5)

  • Arthur F.

    This chains a welcome addition to SS. Yes its a chain, but its one of those trendy european chains where its cool looking enough you let it slide. The dmv was picked for this companies first excursion into the states! This place makes some really good and tender grilled chicken. I guess it's the marinade or something that makes the chicken so tender and moist. I'm a dark meat chicken guy but here I even dig the breast meat. This place also makes some awesome chicken liver, yea, chicken liver, how often does one find that on a menu outside of the boonies. I don't know why other reviewers keep referring to crisp n juicy, which is Peruvian rotisserie chicken and cooked and seasoned completely different from this Portuguese fire grilled chicken. By that measure popeyes or kfc should be thrown into the mix. You can like one style and not the other, it doesn't make one necessarily better then the other. The few knocks on this location chain; it's expensive! The service can be really good or really bad. Some of the people taking the orders can't understand you and visa versa!

    (4)

  • Maboud E.

    Great chicken at a reasonable price! Quick and delicious! Great for groups! Order a bunch of stuff and share!

    (4)

  • Cat S.

    I frequent this location of Nando's and I have yet to have a bad experience! Their mashed potatoes are freaking amaaaaazing, so buttery and fluffy; and I have since fallen in love with bits of potato and its skin in mashed potato in any mashed potatoes I eat. The garlic bread is delicious as well. I have had their wings, I don't personally enjoy the wings as much as I enjoy their 1/4 breast with 2 sides. Their rice side is a bit spicy (I'm not a person who favors even a tad of spice, but I do love my rice) but always hot and moist. I would try their cupcakes, as I am a sucker for small sweets, but they always seem to have been sitting out for quite some time.. Their flan looks pretty good as well. Their staff are average, I haven't had a personable waitress to this day. I guess they're not big on being personable since Nando's is not really a sit down and tip kind of restaurant. Overall, I love love love love the mashed potatoes and quarter chicken from Nando's :D

    (4)

  • Libby F.

    I guess I'll have to come back and update when I've actually had something to eat here. I came with a friend to get a glass of sangria, but we ordered a carafe instead. It wasn't cheap, but a better deal than by the glass. I saw on their Yelp page that they have the carafes half-priced during happy hour (4-7pm). There was no mention of that on the menu. Anyhow, the sangria is good. It has cinnamon sticks in it. I didn't think it was potent until I bit into an apple wedge... My friend thought the chicken was okay; not the best she'd ever had. We will probably be back. there are a few vegetarian options on the menu. The ordering at the counter thing isn't a bad thing if they aren't too busy.

    (3)

  • Lorena B.

    I love the chicken breast wrap! I get it with pineapple and hot peri-peri (tried medium the first couple of times but it wasn't hot enough for me). As good as that wrap is, they chicken portion is super stingy! I don't expect them to stuff my wrap Chipotle-style but for the price Nando's could be a little more generous. Even worse it's about $3 more to double the chicken. If anyone from Nando's is reading this, please start serving your wraps with a couple of more chicken pieces! Never been to the other locations but the service here is actually pretty good! While I was eating today, a nice young man apologized for interrupting me since I was reading and asked if he could refill my drink. Nice! Oh, and if you could put some rainbow sprinkles by the all you can eat fro-yo, that would be awesome!!! Kloveyoubye!

    (3)

  • Adrien G.

    This place is great for spicy-holics. I enjoyed the variety of sauces available (Garlic sauce was bangin'). The service was sub-par. A few issues with items not coming out as ordered. Food: B++ Service: D+ Ambiance: A Cleanliness: A Overall: B- Will most likely return again.

    (3)

  • Sisley C.

    Went here for the first time a few weeks ago. Delicious! I got 1/4 chicken (too small) and a side of corn and the Portuguese rice. The chicken was yummy - perfectly flavored, especially with some sauce, and the rice was great... Literally to the point where I had to order another large portion of the rice to go. I would come back. Three stars because it is pricey for the portion size...

    (3)

  • Hector W.

    personel not to friendly or maybe to tired for the extensive hours food is magnificent

    (3)

  • Deb G.

    For some reason, the Silver Spring location is never as good as downtown is. My chicken breast wrap was skimpy in both yogurt sauce and jam, and my fries were cold. However, the chicken was delicious (as usual), the spicy pepper dip was excellent, and the atmosphere is more upscale than I expect from a serve-yourself place. It is also an easy choice for a group - appeals to a lot of people and has veggie options.

    (3)

  • Kitty B.

    Went here for lunch after passing by month after month. I don't know why I hesitated to come in. I think I had the notion that the food would be too hot to handle. I was so wrong. I come in and am greeted warmly. I study the menu and see that there are different levels of seasonings for the chicken and that I am in control of the heat. LOVE IT! The portions are not overwhelming, just perfect for lunch. This place will definitely make it into the lunch time rotation.

    (4)

  • Mike K.

    If service were a flying aircraft, Nando's wait staff would be the Hindenburg. Let me reiterate: the staff is made up of a group of buffoons. The greeters operate right off of a card directly out of the employee handbook. If you cause them to deviate from it even slightly, be prepared for a four-alarm, code red, emergency shutdown. The cashiers have no knowledge of the menu. Asking them to alter something as simple as "dressing on the side" will cause them to go into a tailspinning nervous panic - reminiscent of Rain Man - while stuttering and shaking as they stare blankly at the register mumbling, "there's no button for that." The wait staff could mess up a glass of water. The Nando staff finds bringing all the food at the same time overrated. A helpful hint: if you're dining mate gets their food first, don't tell them to start without you; you will be eating alone when your food finally comes out a half hour later. For your troubles, they will offer you nothing in return except for maybe a visit from: Guinness Would Record's Dumbest Restaurant Manager EVER. The chickens this place serves are smarter than the manager who came to our table. It was like I wasn't speaking English to this guy. When I told him my complaint, he, verbatim, repeated exactly what I said back to me, then looked at me with a confused expression and walked away... never to return. That was his solution: run away and hide. The food itself is actually pretty good, but who cares? You'll never actually get to taste it because one of the lobotomized cashiers will mess the order up. If the stars somehow align themselves and the cashiers happen to break their 0-1,000 slump and nail your order (spolier alert: they won't) , the waiter will leave your food on the shelf so long it will turn soggy, or dry, or cold, or hard or whatever the case may be, leaving you with only one option: call out the manager who - well, we've been over that.

    (1)

  • Diana C.

    I finally managed to get in here to meet up with a friend for dinner. I live only a block or two away, so it's criminal that I have not yet been here. He's quite a regular, so after some recommendations, I got a quarter chicken, HOT!, and a side of the peas. The chicken was not really HOT, as my friend had warned me. The spice did have a really nice flavor, though, but definitely was not spicy at all. I may get the OMG REALLY HOT next time because I have a feeling it isn't all that spicy either. I should have tried out some of the sauces and toppings, but I was too busy shoveling chicken meats into my face. The peas were pretty good--slightly spicy, slightly herbal, well cooked. And maybe it's just me, but that quarter chicken was not a lot of food. I have been known to eat almost a whole rotisserie chickens with my bare hands while cackling aloud, so I guess it just depends on how hungry you are. ;) Overall? Pretty good. Not terribly expensive, so I can definitely foresee picking up 1/2 a chicken and some sides when I'm being super lazy and want a tasty dinner to go.

    (3)

  • Charlotte S.

    Honestly, I'm really surprised to read the issues in the other reviews. I've been to this location at least 7 times in the past year and have never had any issues with my food. When I've come with my friends, I've always ended up converting someone to Nando's. Maybe it's my taste buds, but I don't think I've had more flavorful chicken. I've ordered to go twice to bring for my parents, and they love it. My parents are INCREDIBLY picky eaters, like they rarely find restaurant food to be good. At least good enough to the point where after they eat it they still hold the same opinion. My parent's really enjoy the food here. I think the rice is a bit salty though, but apart from that, it's great. I always go between the two spiciest chicken seasonings. Whenever I'm in town, this is definitely on my list of places I need to visit before I leave. I just wish they would expand.

    (5)

  • Eddie W.

    Yummy on epic proportions! Even vegetarians can have a feast here, because it's not just Portuguese chicken they're serving up. Whether you go with mild spiciness, or tongue tingling hot...you'll find one of their peri peri sauces to accommodate. The choices of sides are awesome, and proves difficult in narrowing your pick down to just 1 or 2. I frequently go for the grilled portobello and halloumi cheese wrap with chili jam, it's out of the world! Their homemade mashed potatoes, macho peas, and grilled corn on the cob, are all highly recommended choices. Be sure to grab a frequent customer card, as they offer free drinks, appetizers, and sides spanned out over future visits...eading all the way up to a free meal!

    (4)

  • Autumn M.

    Food is on point!!!!

    (5)

  • Rachel S.

    Went here for lunch today. I have been to the one in Chinatown but never to the one in Silver Spring before today. As expected, the food was almost identical to the quality and ingredients as I could get in Chinatown. I got the country salad with chicken and it was okay. I think they have shrunk their portion size a bit since I was there last. Also, they ran out of ice tea, which anyone who reads my reviews knows nothing means more to me than keeping my glass filled with some good, quality, unsweetened ice tea. Since I was alone, I was resistant to getting up from the table too many times. I asked the server if she could bring me a glass of the fresh-brewed ice tea once it was finished brewing. A few minutes later she brought me some fresh brewed luke-warm tea and forgot the ice! Overall- it was okay but service was just fair and I don't feel like its a good value for the money.

    (3)

  • Beller C.

    Pretty great food. Chicken done right!! However....the service is...ehh. I'm mean if you're not in a rush & can wait 30mins for your to-go order, it may work. I just feel a busy restaurant is a good thing, but managing the crowd and prompt food service is what makes a restaurant great (see Chick a Fila)

    (3)

  • Nicholas C.

    First, the food was tasty albeit quite expensive. For two of us it came to $40 but that did include two 8 oz glasses of rather pricey wine. I was thrown off with how the restaurant worked. You sit down, choose from the menu what you want, go to the counter to order, return to your seat, and then the food is brought to you. The service was very good and friendly. I would go back.

    (4)

  • Rachel G.

    two words: macho peas.

    (5)

  • Annie D.

    I like Nando's! It's a nice local chain that's serving up some yummy chicken. The food is consistent and inexpensive. The food isn't out of this world lick your plate amazing, but when we're too tired to cook and looking for real food cooked to order this is our go-to joint. The medium(spicy) chicken always hits the spot and it's worth it to order a whole chicken even if it's just 2 people eating. The sides are mostly carbs, but I never met a mashed potato I didn't inhale and the garlic bread is really tasty! We can get out of Nando's for under $30; that includes beer and leftovers for tomorrow. You cannot beat that. In the warmer months they have outdoor seating and Ellsworth has some of the best people watching in MD. WIN!

    (3)

  • Rachel S.

    A friend of mine recently took me to Nandos, just last Friday. I love the chicken and the garlic bread is AMAZING! Not to mention peri sauce. I definitely recommend this restaurant and will be returning soon.

    (5)

  • Ryan B.

    For a chain restaurant, this place is relatively good. I popped in here after a movie with a friend and was surprised at how good this place was for being a chain. I got the boneless chicken with their rice. Pretty spicy and I needed a lot of water, but was still delicious. I'll have to check the Bethesda location since I live closer to there, but this place will now be one of my two places to go before/after a movie out in Silver Spring.

    (4)

  • Jamila F.

    I love Nando's in The UK and ecstatic with this new location. The parking garage is easily accessible to the strip where this restaurants sits and pretty spacious. I'm not a fan of the chicken but love the pita, wraps, salad, chicken livers and of course the happy hour sangria! This isn't 5 stars because the temperature isn't even, pretty cold in there and the restroom is small...one person at a time. I have to add additional star because after visiting the Georgia Ave. location, I find the the Silver Spring location is exceptional. My husband and I love Nando's and we've taken a lot of our fiends there. I'm yet to eat a more delicious and succulent chicken livers! I've made several attempts to replicate this dish using the Nando's sauce, but all to no avail!

    (4)

  • Marissa A.

    Over all the food is good! Period...I enjoy the fries, rice, macho peas --as for sides. Ok the chicken: Its good. Its seasoned nicely, and the sauces are light but add just enough spice and tang. In my opinion. Im not a real spicy picante fan so yeah.. One thing that bothers me is the actual size of the chicken..like the proportion you get. What gives! Its just lacking to me. Im not asking for a Gen-Mod KFC chicken breast but daaaaammn! LOL These chicken seem like were starved or something? Everytime I order my regular 1/4 white im like... umm where the other half of my breast? ...Hhhmm wonder whats the diff between here and a 1/4 white at Crisp&Juicy or something? Aaahhh... IM JUST SAYING!

    (3)

  • Laura M.

    This review goes out specifically to the staff on August 17, 2013 between 9:40pm and 11:30pm. Our orders were rung up at 9:59pm. Our food wasn't served until 10:45pm. My friends at our table received their food 15 minutes after they ordered. In the meantime the staff was playing in the kitchen. How do I know this? Because we were sitting in the middle of the restaurant with a clear view of the whole area. The staff was laughing and hollering. Nothing wrong with having fun- but really did they forget to place our order and not tell us? Or check in on us? One of the waitress was running screaming in the back room. Meanwhile no one bothered to tell us that our food was still being cooked. Not until I got up to inquire was I informed by a waitress who ran up to ask the cook. Who was lounging on the counter. The waitress told me my food was going to be ready in 10 minutes. That was code for 20 minutes, which is when it arrived to the table. Anyways, the guy waiter said he was going to bring us plates. I'm still waiting for those plates!! Luckily my friend went to ask for plates. Overall, today's experience was handled by slackers! We are regulars of this establishment and always have a positive experience- not today though!

    (1)

  • Andrea S.

    Great chicken!! Spicy and tender! Grilled to perfection. Loved the red skin mashed potatoes. Reasonable price. Great music and comfortable atmosphere. I would definitely recommend this place!

    (5)

  • Katelyn K.

    We have walked past Nando's Peri Peri a few times in downtown, and with friends we recently decided to try it. The food was good, portions decent, options wide and our waitress great - however, you seat me, then I have to go up to the counter to order and then you will bring it to me? Why not just have the awesome waitress or hostess order it for me? It seemed completely unnecessary to seat us and then tell us to go order for ourselves and let them know what table we were at.

    (3)

  • Iza E.

    It is important to point out chain restaurants that actually stand out against the crowd and put some extra effort to create a nice ambiance for dining. Nando's Peri Peri is one of those places - Read more here: eisemanndesign.blogspot.…

    (5)

  • Jake T.

    This is mine and my wife's favorite restaurant! This is why: The Food: The chicken and steak are excellent and precisely worth the amount that you pay for them. We are huge Peruvian chicken fans and I used to think that style was the peak of chicken taste. But Nando's is just a notch better and always consistent. On top of the awesome entrees, their sides and appetizers are always tasty. We have tried the humus, pepper dip, corn, macho peas, and mashed potatoes. You would think that one of these would be weak, but there are no 'meh' dishes here! The Drinks: Nando's has our favorite chicken and our favorite drink as well! You must try the sangria! We call it the 'magical sangria' because we always end up giddy and talkative when we share it. The Service: Nando's has a unique setup where you pay before you eat. This is a great alternative to "hi, I'm so and so and I'll be your waiter". The staff are also totally awesome! If you are an employee trainer of sorts, then you should def come here and take notes! They are so generous with us as well! We have scored a few free meals just for telling them thanks. The Atmosphere: This place is beautiful! I would want my house to look like this! It's so relaxing with the sangria and the nice music in the background! I will miss Nando's when we move from this area for sure. Until then, we plan on eating there frequently.

    (5)

  • Stephanie S W.

    This is my new favorite chicken place. I had last eaten at a Nando's Peri Peri in London and when I saw the new location in Silver Spring I was so happy. The food is delicious and the chicken is awesome. I would suggest getting mild or medium flavoring - it can get spicy very fast. My boyfriend likes their chicken livers which he raves about - so be bold and try them! The butternut squash and couscous salad is my favorite!

    (5)

  • Brian C.

    This update has longtime been in the works. Here is where the additional points come from: +1: I have to say, Nando's customer service is phenomenal. Following my review, I was contacted by their central support about my complaint - too small of a portion. She assured me this was not to be and offered me a voucher for 2 as compensation. +1: The missus and I went back to redeem the coupon and we tried 2 new combo meals: I got the chicken pita and she got the spicy chicken wrap. The pita was a little thin for my tastes but I loved the mix of flavors and textures with the pita. I got my own bottle sauce and I sauced that pita up to my delight. It was delicious. The wrap was more traditional but I didn't like how you couldn't choose the kind of spicy sauce like you can do for the other chicken varieties. The chicken was still tender and tasty - but I do enjoy how the Nando's sauces are as flavorful as they are hot. The spicy wrap sauce seemed more like an ordinary buffalo sauce. Nando's sides are also creative: we had an order of the macho peas. Roughly mashed peas with some other things for kick, like parsley and chili. If you like to be adventurous, we enjoyed this variation and so you may too. -1: They seem to forgot about my missus' wrap, but we were seated outside. After waiting for what seemed well beyond the normal time it takes for food to be served, I went inside to ask and it had somehow slipped through the cracks. The platter was there, just not completed (missing a side). The hostess was more than helpful in getting everything squared away. The minor service kinks we have experienced are the only things keeping it from a full-fledged 5, but the staff is courteous and friendly if you ever bring up anything with them.

    (4)

  • Tracy P.

    Seating at Nando's works like this: They give you a number for your table. When I was here they sat you down first and give you menus..but you go up to the counter and place your order and give them your table #. Some people don't know this and are waiting at their table, confused why no one has come by. You get all your utensils, sauces, drinks, etc yourself. They bring food to you. Love Nando's food. I will say that I have been to a few locations and that this one is the slowest. For takeout lunch they took about 30 minutes to make an order. I went for dinner and dined in and they made my order wrong. I saw a roach here though.... also twice I have had an issue with a gnat flying around my sangria. Nando's Peri Peri is one of my favorite restaurants. I love their chicken. I usually get medium spicy even though I love spicy food because it is spicy! The hummus with Peri Peri drizzle is delicious. I have tried from their menu the 1/4 chicken, chicken breast wrap, hummus, chicken wings, Portugeuse rice, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, green salad, and french fries. Loved - chicken breast wrap. I get this 9/10 times I go. - corn on cob Liked - Rice - mashed potatoes - hummus - fries - 1/4 chicken Didn't like - Wings - Salad. They don't have many dressing choices so I didn't care for the two they have. So my 3 stars is mainly for this location. The food at Nando's is excellent!

    (3)

  • Sandy T.

    Love the Portuguese chicken here! First and foremost, if you like spice must try! Their ambrosial chicken meat is really tender and flavorful. You can taste the seasoned, spice that have been marinated for 24 hours, on the outer layer of the skin. It is flame- grilled to near perfection and the meat comes right off the bone. It comes in portions of quarter, half, or whole. The size of the portion is small though. The peri-peri chicken also come with many different sides to choose from; fries, garlic bread, corn, Portuguese rice, and a few others. Besides chicken, this restaurant also carries other delights; sandwiches, pitas, wraps, and also salad I love spice and this place has ton to choose from: -lemon & herb -mango & lime -medium, hot, or extra hot! I went for the hot and extra hot!! The venue of this place is surprisingly very nice for a self-served, dine in restaurant. It's also very clean, which is a plus! The inside is dimly lit with fancy decors making this place seem more upscale than it actually is.

    (4)

  • Yanoh J.

    This place is great! I have been to the London chain which have been doing it much longer than the American based chain, so I was going in there very critical. Honestly, everything was the same, the only thign that was different was the size of the chicken. It seemed a bit smaller than the chickens they serve in London. But honestly, no biggie, the food was great. We came after a graduation and had a party of about 25 and they were really good about seating us. I love that they have a hand washing facility(that you do not have to go to the bathroom for). The only negative I would say is that our food came out very staggered and in no real order, I would assume whoever ordered first would get their food first but it didnt really work like that. Some people had their food for 10-15 minutes before other's came out. All in all, it was very nice and we had a great time. I think the idea of you paying for your food before you eat is genius, it makes it easy especially when you have a big party like we did. I wish we had a Nando's in NY, so I will definitely take advantage anytime I am in the DMV area.

    (4)

  • Maggie F.

    Been here twice... once at the branch in DC, and recently in silver spring. Aye, i've been satisifed both times. Their chicken meat is real tender and flavorful and they provide you with a variety of sides to choose from. Sides include: peas, mashed potatoes, portugease rice and i dont remember the others. What's best about this place is that they have a bijillion sauces to choose from. and its so fun, because you get to bring the sauce jars to your table and SAUCE THAT CHICKEN to your hearts delight! And after, if you please, they have $3.25 BOTTOMLESS ice cream for dessert. The environment of the place is quite nice and clean, though the DC one was awfully dark. Rest assured, if you don't like that type of ambiance, the silver spring location was significantly brighter. I didn't mistaken someone's hand for chicken this time!

    (4)

  • Sara O.

    MMMM Good. I love me some Nandos. Get the perinaise or peri peri salt with the fries. I like the spicey chicken and my bf and I decided that it is cheaper and a better value to get the family pack then two seperate half chicken meals and sides. I like the sangria and I like the chicken. All inexpensive and quick for people who don't have time to cook dinner. It is not the best, but it is above KFC, Popeyes quality.

    (4)

  • Madhur K.

    Really really good.... Chicken Breast + Garlic Bread is best combination, but the rice is good too...

    (4)

  • Brian C.

    It's a nice place and the food was pretty good. But the whole system of sitting down, ordering at the register needs to be revamped and the girl at the Register was a low talker and seemed irritated that I had questions. I left the place unfulfilled and a bit irritated if they had wait staff I think this place would get 4 stars

    (2)

  • Stacie V.

    If you are looking for decent chicken, Nandos Peri Peri's is one of the better places in Silver Spring downtown. Decor and environment is adequate with nice and friendly service from my experience. I order a 1/2 chicken with X hot sauce, with sides of chips and mashed potatoes, and a Chicken wrap with a slice of pineapple. Likes: 1. Chicken was well seasoned and very moist 2. Chicken wrap went very well with a slice of pineapple, added a nice texture to it. 3. The sauces went great with the chicken. Dislikes: 1. Chips perinaise kind of fell flat 2. Like the sauces but X-tra hot is not really hot to me Conclusions: All in all the chicken is tasty and I will be back.

    (4)

  • Chris A.

    After hearing people rave about this place I have to admit that I was disappointed by my visit here. I got a 1/2 chicken with an order of the macho peas. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I found the prices reasonable. The real issue that I had was with the food. I just didn't find it that spectacular. I couldn't taste a really discernible spice to my food. The menu seemed to imply that medium was "hot" elsewhere so I didn't try my luck. The sauces provided were good, but I really expected more. My friend loved the peas, and the flavor was interesting but I found them too sweet. I just wasn't really wowed. Not sure that I'll be back. Maybe I just visited on an off day.

    (2)

  • Joshua B.

    Nando's was good meal. I don't think their chicken is better than Sardi's or even Chix, but I really love their side dishes. The butter nut squash was really good.They're also one of the only fire grilled chicken places in the area that serve beer and wine, so I appreciate that. Its also a little nicer than the other chicken places in the area. The one drawback, I felt the chicken portion was small for a half a chicken. That said I think its a more complete experience in comparison to the others chicken spots around The District. They have the little extras, like cucumber water, beer and desserts. I really enjoyed the red velvet cupcakes, nice touch. I'm sure I'll be back.

    (3)

  • Edzai M.

    I absolutely love this place. I was so excited Nandos was finally coming states side and it was only a few hours from home. Yes, thats how much I love Nandos, I will travel a few hours just to get my 1/4 chicken and chips (aka fries). I usually get my nandos fix when I travel to Africa and Gland, but finally I can have it here too! It was nice to see they kept everything on the menu originally and didn't try and change it up. I can have my 1/4 chic, liver (yum) and peri peri chips and feel like I'm back in Africa, watching the sunset. The outside seating here I especially enjoy as I reminisce of the days on the motherland. I would definitely recommend this place if you want some good chicken and a feel of Africa.

    (4)

  • Tyson L.

    Their whole roasted chicken was a fun meal to share with a buddy. Plenty of meat, tasty skin, and cool sides. "Fast Casual" dining. Not fancy, you still order at the counter, but its not fast food. You can even order wine with your meal.

    (4)

  • Martin B.

    I'm pretty sure I've been to all the Nando's locations in DC at this point. My experience here was as good as at the other restaurants. This location seems particularly spacious and dare I say cavernous. The service was friendly although I do agree with other reviewers that the system of being seated and then going up to the register to order is a bit convoluted. You can never go wrong with the chicken pitas or sandwiches here. Depending on the fortitude of your taste buds, you can have your chicken mild with a simple marinade or extra hot with a marinade and sauce that will give a lot of spice-jockeys a run for their money. If you're really hungry, go for either double meat or get a side order of pita and hummus, it's fantastic. Nothing bad to say about this place in all honesty.

    (4)

  • Devida N.

    Juicy delicious chicken!! I love spicy food so I ordered the HOT wings .. too too spicy! Love the yellow rice, nice place to meet up with friends and have a good time with good food. Their prices are a bit high for chicken but the food ia good.

    (4)

  • Jesus J.

    This place serves your typical quarter/half/whole chicken with multiple sides, but what's not typical is the different types of chicken you can order. They have different levels of spiciness - plain, lemon herb, medium, and hotness (with some other levels in between). My favorite tends to be the medium - lots of sauce, but not too spicy. All of the flavors are tasty except for the plain - as the name implies...it's pretty plain. There are a good selection of sides. My favorites are their delicious french fries (make sure to get it with the "salt"), and corn on the cob. The macho peas are an interesting choice, but I found them to be sort of bland. It's really difficult to go wrong with the sides - the rest of them are delicious. There are other types of food (sandwiches) as well. They also have small desserts and cupcakes. The ambiance of the place is nice - dimly lit, fancy decor, and plenty of tables. The service at this place has always been really good. I hope the novelty of a new business doesn't wear off and the service starts lacking...but for the time being, it's great.

    (4)

  • Sarah B.

    If you look through these reviews, it seems as though many of the negative comments are about the service/environment. It seemed pleasant to me, but since I got takeaway, my comments are only about the food. I got the half chicken with medium sauce, the mashed potatoes, and the macho peas. I'd say that individually, the products aren't that special, but combined, the saltyness of the potatoes complement the tangyness of the chicken, and the peas provide a completely different texture. The chicken was perfectly cooked, with such a variety of char, sauce, and juicy white meat. The potatoes were salty, but I really can't complain about that because I eat anchovies straight from the can and snack on pickles. So, the takeaway was delicious and exactly what I needed... like, girl next door food (chicken, potatoes, and peas), but girl next door after she returns from Southern Africa.

    (4)

  • John K.

    I absolutely love the food at Nando's - I like the garlic, the spices, the sides - they are unique and much better than a boring old chicken sandwich. HOWEVER - the service at this particular Nando's location is HORRIBLE. We waited almost an hour - and the store wasn't even busy. The cashier just stood there and stared at us and didn't offer to help. The cooks were standing around and looked like they didn't know how to turn on the grill. We asked about our order twice and they finally decided to prepare it - and then they got the order wrong. My recommendation - try Nando's if you like spicy chicken with unique sides - but go to Bethesda or downtown DC instead.

    (2)

  • Curtis B.

    OK, so I go there probably more than I should...meaning I am too lazy to go home and cook! This place has the best chicken wings I have ever had! Their Portuguese rice, garlic bread and Red Pepper Dip are delicious. The staff are friendly, although at times can be a bit slow. I do enjoy the "serve yourself" policy with utensils, non-alcoholic drinks and condiments and I also like the music blend. The prices are very reasonable for Silver Spring.

    (4)

  • Carla B.

    When I initially found out that my friends and I were going to be eating here, I was like, "great, another chain restaurant with bleh food." I was actually pleasantly surprised! If you're a chicken lover, you're going to like nomming at this place. Be forewarned, though, if you don't like spicy...your options will be limited! The chicken comes in different sizes (1/4 is good for just one person if you have some sides) and different flavors. Flavor is based on the spice level that you want (Plain, Lime, Medium, Hot, and Extremely Hot). I like spicy food but I don't like to sweat too much while I eat it, so I went with the medium. It had a small kick to it and I probably could have handled the hot, but I was happy with it. There are also a variety of sauces that you could try, some to make your food a bit spicier, some just to add some more flavor. Be sure to try to the garlic sauce, it's especially tasty with the french fries!

    (3)

  • Zachary H.

    We were so excited that a Nandos was opening in Silver Spring, but this place is not off to a great start thus far. Our order - a hot chicken pita and 1/4 chicken - was wrong twice over. To top it all off, once corrected, we were then delivered someone else's order. The food was decent and the service relatively friendly, except for the somewhat over baring South African store manager who was roaming the tables, cracking jokes and interrupting dinner. I love this chain, but hope things improve as some of these operational things get ironed out.

    (2)

  • MaJ C.

    Service Is chaotic, if you are not used to "Middle Food" Not quite slow, and not quite fast.. You get seated by a hostess, then remembering the number on your table, walk up to the cashier, and 1) Give your table number, and 2) Give your order.3) Get your own napkins, silverware, and sauces off of the condiments bar 4) go back to table, and wait for order to arrive. If you want to tip, there are tip boxes right by the registers, so do so when ordering. The food is really inexpensive for what it is, my party tried everything, and thought it was worth exactly as we paid, Except for the sangria. During Happy Hour, a pitcher ( a small glass vessel ) is 8$. After 7, it goes to 18$. The bottled beers are expensive, though lo and behold, they do have PBR on tap. Service was very attentive, as was the managers working on the floor with the staff, in a friendly manner. They have Veg Options for the non-flesh picker, so all can enjoy this place. Side Note: Use the restroom, at least to wash dry your hands. This type of hand dryer is pretty popular in Europe, and I am glad to see it make its way unto the states. :)

    (3)

  • Herbert N.

    Just moved back to DC and this place rocks. chicken is so good, well spiced and marinated and cooked over a fire. can't beat that. and they have the most incredible condiments station where you can load up on any number of sauces of various kinds and heat levels. if you go here i don't think you'll be sorry. not super cheap, but not overly expensive either. we fed 3 people and a toddler very nicely for under $30. yum.

    (5)

  • Jen S.

    Atmosphere: Good service. Everyone was friendly and pleasant. The combination of table and counter service worked smoothly, but the restaurant was not very crowded. The decor was described by my dining companion as resembling that of an affordable dining venue in Las Vegas. Pretty, with an amusement park feel. Food: The chicken was solid, but not outstanding. I concur with Stephen R. about there being better chicken options in the area for more reasonable prices. The numerous sauces were tasty, but a bit salty. Sides such as macho peas and Portuguese rice were on the bland side without the liberal addition of aforementioned sauces. A pitcher of sangria was half price during happy hour. That is good because we watched as a large amount of water was added to it. Deal Breaker: The reason for one star? Serious fruit flies. They swarmed around our food for the first half of the meal. They showed a keen interest in our sangria. They were not to be deterred by swatting and our attempts to kill them in mid air, Karate Kid style. Finally, one made its way into my glass and luxuriated on an apple chunk. I stopped drinking at this point and watched as its friends arrived. It was fruit fly Spring Break in my glass. I stopped counting at 5. Mediocre food and fruit fly bacchanal. I cannot recommend this place.

    (1)

  • Medjinne D.

    I love their chicken always good my son devours their 1/4 chicken and some of our food every time. Their fries and peri peri sauce are great, the mash potatoes, corns, garlic bread and etc yumm. Their Sangria can be a miss sometimes but if you let them know, they will fix it. Oh and their music is nice too. There service at this location has improved drastically!

    (4)

  • Brownie B.

    I ordered a chicken wrap to go. Even though I am skeptical of chain restaurants, I was quite pleased. The service was good, although, I can't stand people who used canned greeting scripts...Feels forced and awkward. Just take my order...There are people behind me, just smile and keep it moving. Another negative was I ordered rice as a side order, and they gave me fries instead. But maybe "rice" and "fries" can sound alike to some, so I won't give them a real hard time about that. Anyway, the fries were pretty good, and the chicken wrap was perfect. I enjoyed the spices and sauces used, which to me, is important to give me a distinct tasting chicken wrap. Anybody can make a chicken wrap, but, it is the seasoning that separates one restaurant from the other. I will DEFINITELY go back. The food is pretty healthy compared to other options nearby and the menu has plenty of options.

    (4)

  • Roy S.

    Had the chicken wrap today. It was INCREDIBLE!!! The hot sauce and the sweet jelly or whatever was excellent. I want another one right now...

    (5)

  • J B.

    If you're in the mood for chicken, then this is your place. The chicken comes in 4 different levels of heat. They range from mild to X-treme! I usually order the medium and then add small amounts of X-treme! when the food arrives at the table. The corn on the cob is my favorite side. The corn comes straight off the grill and onto your plate. YUM! Unfortunately the rice on the other hand, was a really dry. That lead me to only give this place 3 stars.

    (3)

  • Ran C.

    Ok, let's talk about the interesting steps of service. So you walk in and the hostess seats. She's wonderful, happy and accommodating. She asks you if you want table or booth. "Booth!" Duh, It's much more comfortable than the cushion-less chairs. You get sat with copies of the menu. You decide what you want and then you go up to the counter to order. The girl at the counter asks you what your table number is and you have no idea... Thankfully your dining partner paid attention and was able to answer promptly. There's a "tip" line on your receipt. You put down +20% because you're a nice person, you're on a first date with a cute girl who wanted to come here and you're expecting a good experience! You ordered the dark meat combo with a side of french fries and coleslaw. The cashier hands you a cup for you to fill at the soda fountain. There's a station by the condiments for you to wash your hands. You grab silverware and napkins before returning to your booth. The food arrives and they gave you a chicken breast... Your lovely date mentions it to one of the food runners and another one is brought to you momentarily without any questions. The chicken is well spiced and tasty. Unfortunately, the coleslaw is watery and the french fries are under seasoned. You finish your chicken and then take the bowl that the cashier handed to you to the "yogurt" machine for dessert. It tastes like vanilla ice cream. Oh well. You leave with your date and life goes on... Wait, what was the tip for?

    (3)

  • LaTonya F.

    Great food. Chicken cooked the way I like it!! Friendly staff. Fast service.

    (4)

  • Herb T.

    I have been to the Chinatown location for lunch.....recently went to theSilver Spring location on separate occasions for lunch and dinner....the Silver Spring location is much more spacious.....but i found it works much better for dinner than lunch.....the chicken is delicious.....it tasted very fresh.....you have to get at least a half chicken because the quarter chicken is really just one breast (with a tiny wing attached)....so its gonna cost more than you might normally spend for a chicken dinner.....but the quality is A+......i would also recommend the grilled corn and the coleslaw....very tasty...the squash i found to be a little to sweet for my taste....(almost like sweet potatoes)....we also had the watermelon sangria and it too was quite good.....not too sweet....very tasty and refreshing......

    (4)

  • Stephanie G.

    Just dropped by last week for lunch. This place is refreshing. The decor is definitely eye-catching. Another plus for downtown silver spring - and even though it's a chain, it's a good one to have. Had the chicken pita sandwich and I should have taken the hint when the folks at the counter asked me if I wanted double meat! A little thin on the chicken that one. However, what was there was delish! And since I like spice - the extra hot was right up my alley. Add to that the macho peas and butternut, corn thing that I had on the side... a great lunch and not a bad price. Since I work in the area, I'm going to put this on my regular visit list.

    (4)

  • Lisa G.

    I was very excited to see Nando's coming to my home town of Silver Spring. I first ate at the location in China Town (Washington DC) on a date and I thought it was pretty good. The location in Silver Spring is nice but the food wasn't as good as I remembered. I think I may be spoiled by my love for the chicken at Crispy and Juicy. My favs for Chicken are Crispy and Juicy, El Pollo Rico, Nando's...in that order. Nice neighborhood spot though.

    (3)

  • Jim C.

    Other yelpers have explained the ordering system. I will note that the chicken is excellent. I also enjoy the chicken livers, the Portuguese rice, the chicken wings, the mashed potatoes and the spicy olives. It's also a beautiful space.

    (4)

  • Gregory O.

    The atmosphere is great, the booths are unusually comfortable, the service is fast, there's a great variety of sauces, and the garlic bread is wonderful. I don't even need to mention the chicken! This is a great addition to downtown Silver Spring.

    (4)

  • Elle B.

    This place is perfect for Patio Happy Hour Sangria and Appetizers. Though I wasn't thrilled with the food in my last review. I have to give them this Happy Hour review.

    (4)

  • Christina C.

    I was introduced to Nando's by a friend (fellow yelper!) and am very glad I know of this place. Seems they keep opening new locations--just saw that they took over where Chicken Out used to be in Bethesda. The first time I went, I got a chicken sandwich, which was very good. The only thing that wasn't too good was the Portuguese roll, which was hard and not in a good way. Still, the chicken is delicious, everything else was full of flavor, and the sauces are to die for! Second time, I had the 1/4 chicken meal with peas and fries. Look forward to trying more the next time I go back!

    (4)

  • Michael M.

    Went there again this weekend, and just want to reiterate one thing... The HOT sauce .... is HOT... I know you think you're a tough guy... don't embarace yourself

    (4)

  • Mina A.

    Food and service were good. Fair prices and a fun atmosphere. The chicken is great, especially on a Portuguese roll. We also tried the chili jam, it was surprisingly delicious, but I couldn't have too much, it was sweet. Another bonus...they have coke zero! In addition to having great food, they make funny adverts. That's the reason we went here in the first place: youtube.com/watch?v=jsqo…

    (4)

  • Robin B.

    Food - Amazing. Addictive. I could eat Peri Peri Chicken every day of the week for the rest of my life. I love their hot sauce - it doesn't taste like something that's just "really spicy". It has depth. I've never been to another of the other restaurants, I hope they're all this good. We've gone a few times and always get Macho Peas. They're awesome. Price - a little high for what you get, I think. They do have a frequent visitor's program though, which is pretty cool. Service - the whole be seated, order at the counter, be seated again thing is kind of confusing. I think I could be happier with it if the prices were a little lower. But it's all better after happy hour Sangria, so, eh. Highly recommend. You'll end up with Peri Peri withdrawl, but its so very worth it.

    (4)

  • Kevin M.

    I don't want to go too far and give it a five star review but this might be my favorite chicken place. If they had these in LA, I think Zankou and Cali Chicken might be in trouble. The hot sauce and sides are great and this will definitely be a regular lunch venue now that I'm working in the DC area. Screw it. Five stars. Love this place. I just bought their sauces online since I can't get Nandos anymore in LA.

    (5)

  • Joe G.

    I'm definitely a fan of Nando's chicken! I love how it's spiced and the sides are really good. Who would have thought mint and peas mashed together would be that delicious?

    (4)

  • Dan R.

    Enjoyed Nando's much more than I expected. Four of us ordered some appetizers including hummus which were really tasty and then decided to share the chicken meal. Chicken was tasty and juicy but the real stand-outs were the side dishes. Great coleslaw and the macho peas also rocked. Also tried dessert and liked the chocolate concoctions as sweet, freshly made, and unique. Note sure if Nando's is a paragon of consistency but definitely charmed my socks off during the one visit...

    (4)

  • Tuan L.

    We were planning on eating at Sabroso Grill on the other side of Downtown Silver Spring when we walked past Nando's Peri Peri and peeked at their menu. It looked appealing and we love trying new places. We're glad we went inside. The ambiance is great. The music isn't too loud. The decorations and art were original. And the atmosphere was friendly. The menu was not big, but it was not small either. And it was pretty reasonably priced too! We got the whole "peri-peri" chicken with red-skinned mashed potatoes and corn on the cob. We grabbed loads of different sauces and went at it with our hands. It was delicious. We also got a half-off pitcher of Sangria. What's not to love? We will probably come back here again sometime in the future. The only negative is that you have to get up to go to the cashier to order and that can take some time. Highly recommended!!!

    (4)

  • Nabil E.

    Nando's just opened in downtown Silver Spring, and I came on the recommendation of a friend. The service is in between fast food and waited service. The instruction to remember your table number when you go up to order is a little confusing, but manageable nonetheless. We ordered the 10 wings platter with fries and mashed peas. The server entered rice for the fries. I noticed in another review that fries and rice were mixed up, so this is probably something to be aware of when ordering. After dinner, we ordered some ice cream, vanilla and blueberry. The good news - the chicken was _outstanding_. Very flavorful, even without an added sauces. The sauces brought some great additional tastes. The hot sauce was indeed very spicy. I was happy with the herb and the garlic ones. The fries were tasty too, particularly when dipped in the sauces. The greeter at the door was friendly, and she brought us bottles of sauce to try out, which was very helpful. Note - the chicken can be messy. They have wet naps available near the counter with sauces - grab a few, and some extra napkins; you'll be thankful later. The bad news - The ice cream was not worth it. First, it took over 10 minutes to get the ice cream, which was a long time to simply scoop some ice cream. When we got it, it was very hard and appeared to have freezer burn. The manager walked by and asked us about our meal, and we complained about the ice cream. He said next time to get the carrot cake. If you really want some ice cream after the meal, there is a Ben and Jerry's and Cold Stone Creamery down the block. But back to the good stuff. The chicken was amazing. Perhaps the most flavorful chicken I've ever eaten. Based on that alone, I'm giving 4 stars. I'll be back again, to try a half chicken.

    (4)

  • Sam S.

    I went to Nando's for the Happy Hour. The Sangria was great. We also ordered garlic sticks which were great. I will definitely be back for more Sangria.

    (4)

  • j n.

    I should have written an update a while back. The food was great, but I complained about the wait. Their customer service is sooo great that they sent me an offer to come back and try them out again. I brought my office workers back for a second treat -- boy were they happy.... and the food was just as good as last time. i'm giving this place all the stars this time because it's admirable to see there are a few establishments that really work to make the customer happy :)

    (5)

  • Silvia A.

    Cannot describe how i feel about this place, from the cashier to the food, she was rude and rushed, being that there was not another customer behind me, i dont get that ;S, then i order white meat, was dry and although the flavor was good it was a very small breast, i made the mistake of ordering coleslaw, i love coleslaw, have had it at several pollerias before, and this one HAD ONIONS!!!!! I almost threw up when i bit the onion cut in big chunks, the menu does not say it has them, but anyways who does that???? Their spicy rice is good but you have to like hot to eat it, the mashed peas are just ok, not to mention that the waiting time was over 30 min for take out, one thing i noticed since i waited that long and was sitting in front of the gril is that the chicken is precooked, they just put it in the grill for like 5 minutes to get some marks and serve it, so why is there such a delay to give the food to the customer???

    (1)

  • Laura C.

    Today was our first visit to Nando's Peri-Peri and I was surprisingly pleased with the food. I had the chic wrap, I shared the hummus & pita appetizer w/my hubby. All was good and tasted fresh. I really like the atmosphere, original art on the walls, nice background music and clean, contemporary style bathrooms.

    (4)

  • Andrew P.

    Bottom line up front: good chicken, great setting, and a welcome addition to Silver Spring...but *not* as tasty (and certainly not as cheap) as locally-available Peruvian chicken Excited to patronize Silver Spring's latest restaurant, I placed my take-out order on NPP's well-designed Internet website. The restaurant space is very handsome and peaceful -- the decor is a big notch above most of the local competition. My order consisted of a whole chicken and side orders of potato salad and Portuguese salad. Wife, son (18), and I enjoyed the meal, but concluded that the chicken is not as tasty or transporting as the local Peruvian chicken offerings (Mr. Chicken and Lizbeth's Cafe, both on Georgia Ave.). My son really missed the Peruvian green sauce and side order of yucca. He aptly commented, "the chicken tastes like spicy chicken wings." NPP's chicken, while tasty, simply is not as good. NPP's whole-chicken dinner with sides is $10 more than the equivalent offering at our Peruvian chicken venues. And, well, NPP's meal is a bit skimpy -- the "large" side dishes aren't terribly large for three adult eaters In conclusion, and in the context of casual but tasty take-out food -- for which one doesn't get to take advantage of Nando's handsome dining room -- I give the nod to our local Peruvian chicken purveyors. They are better, more generous, and a little cheaper than NPP.

    (3)

  • Cindy P.

    Great flavor and both the white and dark meat were moist. I like the British style of ordering your food and them bringing it out to you. I can't wait until they open one in Crystal City VA.

    (5)

  • Tom L.

    The short of it--check your takeout order before you leave! To clarify on someone else's earlier post, they are now apparently just taking your name and having you wait nearby for your carryout order, rather than bringing it to your assigned table. I was looking forward to having Nando's again after trying it near Toronto a few years ago. I've even since bought the jarred sauce. At 730 tonight the restaurant was quite busy but the staff were upbeat and friendly. However, I just wanted some takeout after a long day's work and they screwed that up. Takeout should be a no-brainer--I don't require their frenzied waitstaff to have to dote on me and figure me into their feeding ballet. Just get my order right. (They didn't.) The cheerful woman up front took my order of the $9 boneless butterfly chicken breasts correctly per my receipt, but I got home with a single bone-in chicken breast. So to that SS, MD locale--fixing your customer service doesn't mean you can screw up and overcharge for the takeout orders now. Bummer...

    (2)

  • Ramon S.

    Nandos is a refreshing change of pace of the multitude of eating options in Silver Spring. It is moderately priced though the quality of food certainly offsets that. The Food: The food is very good. Spicy but not unmanageable. I don't generally like spicy food, but the brand of spiciness is handled extremely well, as it isn't spicy for spicy's sake. You won't burn off your taste buds eating their food and there is a lemony-not-spicy alternative if you can't eat spicy food at all. The portions are generous, especially the sides though most are in that spicy category listed above. The one irksome thing of note: you can't order half a chicken and get two dark meat options. They won't do it. The secret is to go with a friend who likes white meat so you can order half chicken entrees and exchange the types you want. Service: The service is pretty good, the wait staff is very friendly and quick to help. The cashiers have been in my experience more on the 'meh' side. Two cashiers were flirting with each other, one with her back to me, the other getting a little too handsy for my taste. He even glanced over at me and ignored me, which isn't the best of circumstance. This has only happened once but obviously, it left a mark in my book. Decor: The place is clean, inviting, though the music is a bit too loud (though it was good international music). The booths are very comfy, the tables large enough to seat 4, or 6 if you wanted to squeeze in together. Also, they use metal utensils which is nice because there is less waste involved in the cleanup. I had a friend visit and he couldn't stop commenting on how wonderful the soap in the restroom was. Having experienced it, I gotta say, I don't know what his deal was.

    (4)

  • Rashmi S.

    This is by far the worst Nando's location in the DMV area. Understaffed, terrible customer service, no silverware for takeout food, incorrect order given, the list goes on. Avoid if you can.

    (2)

  • Bea A.

    YUM. I am such a fan! I used to visit the DC metro locations more, but love this Silver Spring location as it's bigger and not as hectic. The staff is friendly and the place is organized and energetic. Try the boneless chicken breast--just be mindful that the sauce selections are spicy (and you can always add more later). Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Jane F.

    In a word...Chipotle. really disappointed on the second try...coupled with as small as I am, I leave hungry and frankly, can they get an order right?

    (2)

  • GG B.

    We were here at 8pm on a Friday night - it was busy but not packed. They were totally out of sangria, which is the first drink on their menu and supposed to be available by the pitcher. Ok, fine. We got our food quickly, which was a plus, HOWEVER, we couldn't eat because they were completely out of clean utensils. After waiting 10 minutes we got forks, but not knives. Our chicken was on our table for a good 15 minutes before we got knives. We were given "plastic utensils in a baggie" in the interim, but sorry, this is unacceptable for a "nice" sit-down meal, and not to mention roast chicken is pretty darn hard to cut up with plastic. I mean, how do you run out of knives? We almost offered to go into the kitchen to wash them ourselves. This is in no means a dig on the food, which was excellent, but efficiency at this location was less than stellar. Maybe we'll try another location next time.

    (2)

  • Emily S.

    They follow a model that works for restaurants: they have a limited menu of items that they do well. Options are expanded because any item on the menu can be ordered with a different spiciness level (including a lemon & herb for those who don't care for spicy). Great food at a completely reasonable price. The dining format is pretty cool. You order your main course at a register and prepay, then get your napkins and condiments from a station in the middle of the room and seat yourself. A server will bring out your food when it's ready. This is a great way to go out with a group, because you can each pay for your own food in advance and not have to worry about splitting up a tab. (Although it should be noted your food will be brought to you order-by-order rather than holding until the entire table's orders are ready.) It's also great that when you're done eating, you can just stand up and leave. No waiting for a server to bring your check, pick up your card, run your card, and bring the receipt back to you.

    (4)

  • Dee S.

    It was ok...a bit overpriced for spicy nothing special. Restaurant was nice though. We ordered the plain chicken with no peri-peri sauce. I was expecting the plain grilled chicken to be flavorful, of the peruvian variety. Naw it was just grilled chicken. The sauce is the flavor. Even the mild sauce was spicy as hell. If you like expensive dippin' spicy chicken, then this is the spot for you.

    (2)

  • Bob B.

    I absolutely love the chicken here. I love all the sauces they have and the sides are also excellent. I love eating here before catching a movie up the street. Very nice atmosphere and good service.

    (5)

  • Brit B.

    Eh.. I've had better and I've certainly had worse. The staff had difficulty taking orders/didn't seem to know the menu. The atmosphere would be nice when it's not lunch hour.. it was super loud. If you like spicy food, it's probably worth a try!

    (3)

  • Autumn R.

    The food, service and atmosphere is awesome! Loved the humus dip and the food was very fresh. I food took longer than they wanted so the manager came out and apologized and gave us free chili pepper dip. Would definitely go back.

    (5)

  • Christopher P.

    Amazing grilled chicken at fast food prices. I first discovered Nandos in 2005 while living in England. My friends and I rarely made it two weeks without a visit. I'm looking forward to Nandos being franchised throughout the US!

    (5)

  • Ellen L.

    exceptionally juicy chicken. I guess this place is a chain, but it doesn't feel like it. I got the HOT HOT chicken and it was delicious. it had a good kick to it. my one complaint was that the waitstaff kept forgetting to bring another plate to our table after we asked several times. not enough to ruin the experience for me though. we were there during the busy lunchtime rush and that is certainly excusable. I think we shared a half chicken between 2 people and it was more than enough food for the both of us girls.

    (4)

  • Rob B.

    nasty saw a couple of mice walking around

    (1)

  • C D.

    Not bad food - although the mashed peas were terrible - but not amazing, and the service was incredibly slow. Seems like a lot of hype to me. Not awful, but you can get better quality and less noise for the same amount of money at Boston Market.

    (2)

  • Jessica E.

    Not your standard "sit down restaurant" service, but excellent food and good ambiance. The chicken is amazing, and there is a relatively wide variety of menu options (most involving chicken). Overall, nice place for an inexpensive and delicious meal.

    (4)

  • Chris L.

    We went later in the evening, but I had high expectations after hearing from friends. The first thing I noticed when walking in was the number of tables that had not been bused. The place was filthy! I had the half chicken with mashed potatoes. The chicken was stored in a warming drawer under the grill, and for being a half it was quite small. They just threw the chicken on the grill to warm it up which dried even the dark meat out. I think I saw this on Kitchen Nightmares. The sauce is right out of a bottle. It's not even freshly made. The mashed potatoes were good, but who can mess those up? We also had a country salad with chicken. They ran out of romaine lettuce; so they offered to make it with spinach which was fine. The salad was over dressed, and something was very salty. For desert we tried the "frozen" yogurt. It was half melted out of the machine and really grainy looking. We didn't even eat it. I might give this place a try again based on other reviews, but first impressions were terrible.

    (1)

  • Greta C.

    I stopped going, when I realized that I was going for the warmth of the decor rather than the food. The spicy nuts are the highlight. The thinnest chickens on the face of the earth are the low light.

    (2)

  • Demetrius G.

    Great flavor. Interesting service. And hot really is hot.

    (4)

  • antonette s.

    I know I came on a bad day because there was some equipment down and thus limited their menu. It still doesn't justify the nasty attitude I received when I walked in with my 7 month old son. I have to assume it was my skin color because the people that walked in right after me were met with a lot less hostility. They were offered vouchers for their inconvenience directly in front of me, where I had to request one. I won't be rushing back.

    (1)

  • Daniel V.

    Best chicken joint in town!!! It's a beautiful space with great, friendly, helpful staff and the chicken is unbelievable! Nando's is a mandatory stop for anyone who is in to great service and amazing chicken.

    (5)

  • Jereme M.

    Are you supposed to leave gratuity at your table after eating here?

    (4)

  • Paul L.

    5 Star Service and Food - First the place is beautiful, very modern with great original art work. The menu is extensive with something for everyone, even vegetarians. We were greeted by a very nice warm smile and a hello from the hostess. You place your order at the register, but your food is brought out to you. The Chicken was grilled perfectly and the sides were tasty and look homemade. The thing that stands out is the staff (besides the wonderful food), we had several staff stop by and check to see how we liked the food and if everything was going well. Loved this place and hope they keep up the good work. They have a "tip" box at the register, don't forget to leave something for the great work they do.

    (5)

  • Molly S.

    Love it here. I've become a regular between the delicious food, nice atmosphere, and the friendly & prompt service. The chicken is flavorful and moist, and the sauces are fun. The sandwiches are refreshing and scrumptious. The side dishes are actually a highlight - best mashed potatoes and garlic bread I've had at a restaurant. Those might sound like two of the most boring options, but they're just so soul-warmingly delicious. The service style (lining up and pseudo-servers) is a little different and not ideal if you want seconds, but I've never had a real issue with it. The booths are comfy and the decor is different and elegant without being over the top. I try to support the mom n' pop shops when dining out, but Nando's is a dangerously delicious chain addition to Ellsworth.

    (5)

  • Dave A.

    Moist chicken fresh from the grill - who could ask for more? Try the Portugese rice or blended peas since it's one of the really unique sides this restaurant offers. You can enjoy the original South African art as well. The ambiance is really well executed. The only weird thing was that you cannot keep your tab open... I had to pay separately for dessert.

    (4)

  • Jules J.

    I was contacted after posting a negative review, so I wanted to post again to express how impressed I am with the level of customer service here. So two stars for the effort, but the food still needs some work. Perhaps I will try again if I am in the neighborhod.

    (2)

  • Eduardo G.

    Lingual Spa Ever feel like you've discovered something special? From the moment you enter through the double doors an immediate calm sets in as your eyes take a breather. The lighting is low lit, there's a wood theme surrounding the place and if one could meditate while eating it would be done here. Ordering is a bit different from places that look this good, so grab a menu on your way in as you'll be ordering from the front. There's an old world styled sink in the middle of the dining area for washing your hands. Thats a great concept for people who just want to wash up without having to use the restroom. I asked the young lady taking my order what she recommend. For vegetarians there's the roasted portobello mushroom with halloumi cheese and chili jam, perfect for my wife. For the semicarniverous, such as myself, there's their famous chicken dishes. I had the chicken breast wrap w medium heat. It has green leaf lettuce, peppery sweet chili jam, and tangy yogurt sauce. For a side the girl who took my order recommended their garlic bread, a Portuguese roll smothered in garlic and herb butter. From first bite my taste buds were getting pampered. The garlic bread had me literally salivating as I enjoyed all the flavors of butter, garlic and herbs. I grabbed their olive oil since its what I love with my bread. I didn't touch it except for one bite. It didn't need it. It was genuinely divine. The chicken in the wrap was exquisite. Not dry at all, but tender and juicy the way the greatest chefs expect it to be. Now I love spicy food, and let me forewarn their medium heat hits it on the money for spiceaholics like me. Anything more would be too much I think. It's not only spicy, but tastes wonderful. If my brain and tongue were people they'd say, "thank you for giving us spa treatment." There's nothing like stimulation in the brain from excited taste receptors. To finish it off, a lovely young lady, properly named, Joyful(that's really her name) recommended their red velvet cupcake which was pure decadence. She loves working here. Thank you Johannesburg, South Africa for starting something special. This is but my first experience and I'm definitely making this a regular hang out spot. I'm writing this review from my table as I've no desire to leave yet back to reality. Until next time, Deny Not Thy Senses from edible delights. You'll be much happier for it.

    (5)

  • Stephen R.

    The food and the overall experience was just okay to be honest with you. I feel the are a little over priced for what you get and that the service was underwhelming. I did go during the weekend and at night so the fact they were crowded could have contributed to their underwhelming service. With so many other wonderful places to get chicken in the area I think you can get the same food or better at cheaper price somewhere else.

    (3)

  • Yogin P.

    I heard a lot of good things about Nando's so I had to try it on my last visit to so the DC/Maryland area. This place is amazing! Even as a vegetarian I was impressed; the veggie burger and the different sauces and dressings were fantastic!

    (4)

  • Jennifer B.

    The ordering process is a little chaotic and there is a long wait to get your food, but the chicken is flavorful and moist and the sides are delicious.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • 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 : Garage
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : 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

Nando’s Peri-Peri

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