To not understand why nandos is so popular

[Clappingforjoy]

That really opinions please

I personally find pizza express a ridiculous price. I went with 1 other person. We each had a tiny individual pizza each, a coke - not even alcohol - and I think 1 dessert between us, and it came to 40 quid!!

That's expensive for what you get. I've never been back.

This was at Bishopsgate though so I don't know whether they have different pricing based on where the restaurant is.

Can’t stand it personally

@Clana4ever
I know too! Cooked off site.

But there are much better halal places surely

Depends where you live I guess!
Personally I'm not a fan of Nando's but where I live everything is all just boring chain restaurants of the same sort of caliber so I can see why people eat there.
Prezzo is about as posh as it gets in my hometown!

We often go from work. A place everyone can eat with no hassles.
But I begrudge paying £15 odd for a skinny chicken bit and chips!
DD agrees thinks it's expensive and nowt special

I like it, my kids will all eat it and it’s not that expensive compared to pizza express or something like that.

I never get a whole chicken though- always the thighs which are dreamy, it dry and crispy skin.

Also, what is £15 there apart from 10 chicken wings which is enough for 2 to share?

I've never been, I hate spicy food and rice and only eat free range chicken so unlikely to in the future.

It’s known as “scrawny chicken place” in our house.

My two DC hate it, they are 17 and 20, and refuse to pay good money for crap food, but all their mates love it, so they end up eating chips only if they have to go!

'You can get a cooked whole chicken like that from the store for like £5. Mash would be £1 to £1.50 and a large soft drink bottle probably another £1. You're total cost to have the same ready made meal at home would be £7.50 and they want £20.95 for it. I don't see it as a good deal.'

Oh God seriously where is the joy in saving a few pounds on a meal if it's horrible and you have to eat it in the house and wash up after?

On the basis of this thread I had to go to Nandos this evening.

Super busy, full of people including some big groups/birthdays, and the staff were run off their feet but really cheery and nice. Not too loud despite being full. Lovely crispy skin-on chicken and not at all dry. The only thing I thought wasn't wonderful were the chips, and since we'd ordered a portion between two adults and a hungry toddler, we weren't eating many and it didn't matter.

I really think their macho peas/grains and greens are nicer options for sides than anywhere else vaguely chain-like. I'd happily eat those at a fancier restaurant and pay more.

Plus it's just a lovely atmosphere of people enjoying themselves.

I get that not everyone wants to sit in a room where two tables are singing happy birthday to children, there are several sleepy-looking couples with toddlers or babies, and there are obvious big-group tables of work colleagues or sport teams or whatever. But if you are one of those groups, it's nice, right? Much nicer than being in a pin-drop silent restaurant where everyone is giving you the evils for having brought in a toddler, or a thumping-music pub where you've got a splitting headache before you even order.

It's soo expensive! We have a few places that sell Portuguese chicken ext that tastes so much better and is half the price. I can only imagine people have never had decent chicken if they enjoy a Nando's

@ourkidmolly
I work at nandos as a Griller. I darn know my job! If its cooked off site how come I'm the one prepping the RAW chicken and loading it into the oven!!!!

It's OK to have opinions but don't play with facts and try to come off as you 'know'. ALL CHICKEN IS DELIVERED RAW. IT IS COOKED IN THE BACK KITCHEN FROM RAW.

I don't mind if you don't like nandos etc, but stop making things up! 😉

It's not to my taste...the chicken just tasted burnt to me 🙎

@Clana4ever
I like Nando's. No need to shout. My experience is different to yours. Not sure where your branch is but it's highly unusual if it's cooking raw chicken from scratch.

I want nandos now
Fino pitta with spicy rice and corn on the cob. DP will have half a chicken with double chips. Both medium. Yum.

Love Nando's! It's probably one of the healthiest chains to eat in. Definitely a step up from McDonald's, KFC etc.

One of the only places to get a proper meal in that I don't mind going into on my own and setting up camp for a few hours with my laptop. Plus the staff will let me order more drinks from my table.

I like Nando's. No need to shout. My experience is different to yours. Not sure where your branch is but it's highly unusual if it's cooking raw chicken from scratch

If you are in the UK, Nandos cook the chicken onsite, just like others on the thread, who actually work there, have said.

@SinkGirl I’m not sure everyone would make the connection though. And given that the actual peanuts are an allergen and the oil generally isn’t, I think it’s madness.
Do you or your family have peanut allergy?
My son does and it's always on my mind. I see the word peanut and I take notice, I noticed the big boxes saying peanut in red letters before I noticed the peanuts or the signs, my son wasn't with us the first time we visited so we'd had no reason to google first.

GBK also have (I'm presuming they still do as it's been a while since we visited) huge sacks of peanuts. Unlike Five Guys they don't tell people not to take them out of the store.

Loads of places serve peanuts and peanut butter. I've seen a kid in Costa eat peanut butter on toast, drop the toast on the seat, wipe her hands on the seat and all over the table. There are no warning signs in Costa.

Most chip shops use peanut oil for frying, they don't advertise this in the way Five Guys do. In fact I've only seen one that does, although most will tell you if you ask.

As a rule I'll only go out for food if the table is waited on and it's not something I can make myself at home. With the exception of pubs.

So nados is a big no for me. I personally don't see the point in it unless you can't cook or are too lazy to cook. It's not an enjoyable dining experience like a proper restaurant.

It's not an enjoyable dining experience like a proper restaurant.

The only difference is that you order before sitting down. You’re still served your meal, can linger as long as you like and the space is pleasant.

It’s nothing like eating in KFC or McDonalds.

Surely the "ordering at the till" bit is no different to many pubs? And so many now just chuck your food from the freezer to the microwave anyway.

DH and I often get a a single Pitta then another as a meal with two sides and share the sides. We're happy with water which we'll drink a few glasses of and it's around £20 for the pair of us. Really not expensive.

I now want Nando's Fino Pitta for breakfast

I am actually an awesome cook however am sometimes lazy! So Nando's is perfect on those nights and better than a chain pub for me. Simple food done well.