This was my first visit to Nando's in downtown DC. I ordered the half chicken with no sides, and medium spicy sauce. The chicken came out with blackened edges because of their preparation method. I don't prefer that taste, but others may. I did not find the sauce to be particularly spicy so I added the 'extra hot' sauce on the side, which helped to add more flavor. Surprisingly, the chicken breast was very moist, along with the thigh. The ambience is casual and relaxed. There are plenty circular or modular seats along with smaller tables along the back end of the restaurant. My biggest complaint was their restrooms. They have gender neutral restrooms; two stalls total. Both restrooms were in great need of cleaning with a LOT of bodily fluids all along the toilets and floors. Also, there was no option for hand towels, only an air blower to dry your hands, which is one of the most disgusting ways to dry freshly washed hands. I recommend either creating one male and one female stall instead of unisex because men and women have very different habits in the restroom. On the positive side, Carolina and Barian were quite helpful and kind. They made the overall experience better. read more

Nando's, to me, has always been a win. I'm rethinking this. This was my first time to Nando's in DC. Far from the greatness I felt in Chicago years ago. This trip, we had Nando's once and that was plain and simple enough. Nando's to me is/was something special. Despite the sauces, this felt like steam table buffet fare. Lacked the spark and flair that I've come to expect from Nando's. Overall, disappointed. read more

Petition to have Nando's in California! This sounds silly, but I went to Nando's 2 days in a row for a short trip in DC. Everything was delicious! The chicken is fresh, well seasoned, and I'm not a big chicken girl. This chicken was so well cooked, not dry at all. I love the different variations in spices and the spice bar!! It's always a new adventure trying different sauces. The fries were delicious and well spiced, the chilies shine through. This also has the BEST Mac and cheese out of any other fast food chain I've had. Service was quick, very friendly and attentive. I'm going to Nando's again next time I spot one. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - Portuguese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I came to Nando's after the Georgetown basketball game with some friends. It was busy, and we were told there were groups ahead of us. They said 10-12 minutes, but we had to wait outside. Not ideal on a winter day, but we obliged until a group ahead of us got up from the waiting area a few minutes later. It's nice that you can order your food at the table via QR code or at the front counter. When they deliver your food, utensils are not included. Everything is located in a section in the back of the restaurant. The chicken was decent, especially with the mild sauce, but nothing I'd go back for. The fries were good with the Peri sauce. read more

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This Nando's Peri-Peri used to be in Chinatown, but in 2023 moved here to the Penn Quarter. First thing to be aware of, if they are busy, and you are ordering anything using Thighs, be prepared for a 45-minute wait. It's not just this location, Nando's in general seems to be very slow in preparing them. Peas, one of the chain's best sides, have also been dropped. Considering how busy they were, we were seated quickly and the whole table ordered using the Nando's website. I went with the Boneless Breast, Mashed Potatoes, and Honey Sweet Potatoes. All were delicious with the Honey Sweet Potatoes surpassing my expectations. Two from our table ordered Thighs, and there was a wait for those as expected. Overall, we were all pleased with our food and compared to the National Harbor Nando's, this location is head and shoulders better. read more

One of the small restaurants of Nando's. Service was fairly quick. Food was good. Will recommend. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - Half chicken with Mac and cheese and crispy Brussels sprouts and peach iced tea. - Portuguese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Saturday, August 2, 2025. 7pm After a very long day, walked 20 minutes here, excited to try South African-influenced food. It's semi casual; you order at the counter, but there's servers. Everything seemed ok, staff was friendly & I said that someone in NYC recommended the place to me. The vibe got weird after I got my food. I ordered the mango lime thigh, crispy brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, pine lemonade. I noticed the dish of mashed potatoes looked like it had been stirred into a spiral. I tried a 1/4tsp & it tasted buttery & okay. I really wish I trusted my instincts. The staff were all standing along the back counter & I felt all eyes on me. There were a few other solo diners & 3-4 groups. It was obvious that the staff was watching carefully what I ate. I locked eyes with a few & the cook on the left. At one point I mouthed to him "How are you?" because he seemed locked in. Every time someone walked by carrying dirty dishes, or from across the room. Felt like they were hiding smiles. Different bites of the food started tasting like rubbing alcohol, something bitter. I had a weird upchuck feeling. I immediately took some (traveler emergency) Pepto & drank a lot of water. I'm not usually sensitive to food, so it was incredibly strange. I cut up the rest of the chicken & taste different bits & the brussels. The first 1/3 of the meal was very normal, so I was confused. I kept going back to the mashed potatoes to mask that taste. I eat a lot of different cuisines - Peruvian chicken, jerk chicken, chili oil noodles, mala stir fries; this food here was def tasting weird. I sat near the back, just a few tables away from the manager on a laptop & staff chatting with her. The whole time they were kind of gathered over there. At one point she gets up and goes to me "Are you okay?"..."How's your food?" (I stayed polite & said fine), checks on other tables. You know the vibe when you just feel like you're being watched? 3 staff, 1 manager & 3 cooks I slowly finished the small plate & noticed an occasional stomach rumble. I know right away that something's not right. It was clear they put some kind of diuretic in the food. Maybe rubbing alcohol? Maybe the food got messed up but they still served it anyway? Let's just say I did not have diarrhea, but my systems were moving & loose. Which isn't my normal evening bathroom schedule, lol. Headed to the restroom and one of the waiters seem to follow me, went into the kitchen door next to the bathroom. I waited at the door & looked back out because it was so odd, he pokes his head back out in my direction, we lock eyes & I looked at him with a "What?" expression. He goes back into the kitchen. When I exit the bathroom, the waiter comes out of the kitchen at the same time. He says good night & was about to start clearing my drinks. I needed to say something - turned around & went back & asked the waiter if they "use liquid smoke in the food" because it got bitter. "Our chicken is made differently maybe it's from the grill." Said that I felt uncomfortable, it felt like everyone was watching and waiting for me to eat. "This place is pretty open, yeah it feels that way." What do YOU think I should I do if I feel nauseous? He said he would get the manager & I can get a refund. The look of fear & guilt on his face! The manager came over, quickly listened, didn't react, said I could get a refund. (Almost a little too quick) While I was waiting at the cash wrap for the refund, I made sure I was in eye sight of the waiter; who sat down near the Manager's laptop; with his head between his knees, then looked up & worried, watching me. So disappointed. I think tampering happens in the food industry more than we know - diuretics & tourists. I filled out Nando's company contact form & sent the incident & my receipts to the DC Department of Health. Would really like some CCTV footage of body language & facial expressions of their staff that evening also. read more

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Everything was super yummy including the lavender spiked lemonade. I loved the wings I would order these every time. I also ordered a side of brussle sprouts which I didn't love the ranch that was drizzled on top however the sprouts were really crispy and tasty. The Caesar salad wrap was pretty tasty I wished had a little more flavor. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - Cesar Spicy Chicken Caesar Salad - Portuguese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I've read a lot of reviews prior to visiting D.C. and knew this was gonna be one of my food spots to try and it did prove to be good. On a Friday night we were able to get a table right away, we had great service and got our food pretty quick. I had the chicken breast sandwich with fries and I was also able to try some rice and the sweet potato they had as well. Their chicken is really juicy and flavorful, on a nicely toasted bread with lettuce and tomato. The fries come seasoned with a bit of a Cajun like taste and crunchy and crisp. They have a little great section with a bunch of sauce bottles for you to try and thought that was great for anyone to just be able to add whatever flavor they feel is missing to their food, but to be honest the food is already seasoned and cooked well. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - Chicken Breast Sandwich - Portuguese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

12/4/2025 - first time here. It was busy. Nice and clean and the atmosphere had a great buzz. I ordered an item to go since it was next to the DC Christmas Fair. Very good chicken with seasonings! I highly recommend. See photos. Had the 1/2 chicken and 1 side. Mash potatoes. Very good and warm. Then grabbed lots of side sauces to try. All were great. read more

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Walked in And was greeted by the entire team. Food was amazing well seasoned and cooked perfectly . Fav is always gonna be their mashed potatoes. The pineapple lemonade 10s across the board. The garlic bread clt was good i ordered because I was moving too fast and thought it was the one that had the pineapple on it but it's different but it was still tasty. Service was great they brought food to the table and silverware. They noticed my friend had leftovers and brought her a Togo box and bag. And spoke when we left thoroughly enjoyed my experience read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - Garlic Bread CLT - Portuguese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We tried this place out, while visiting Washington DC in April 2025. Although we were just 'hungry', the menu was quite appealing and simple. The server (Aki) seated us right away and explained the menu and ordering procedures. The restaurant gives off a modern but simple upbeat vibe. This is family friendly but they do offer a limited menu of adult beverages. Once we placed our order, the drinks came out fast. The food followed about 10 minutes later. We tried several of the sauces but found the hot and extra hot to be our favorite. The chicken was moist and flavorful (even without the sauce). It is the sauce that makes the difference though. My favorite side was their corn and rice. While there, we ate here three times! It was that good. I highly recommend this place during your visit to DC or any of their other locations. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - Condiments - Portuguese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Hip Portuguese chicken spot right across the street from the National Portrait Gallery. $19 gets you half a chicken and 2 sides. Chicken is marinated & grilled to be flavorful & moist and you can add flavor with assorted dips on the counter. Interesting Portuguese sides too. Lots of alcoholic & non-alcoholic drink choices. Order at counter or via scanned QR code. Self-serve non-alcoholic drink station, so this place is hybrid of table, counter & self serve. Place is hopping sorta loud with cute circular booths, tables and even some outdoor seating. If you're wanting grilled chicken at decent prices, try Nando's. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - Half chicken w/2 sides (sweet potatoes & chips/fries). - Portuguese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We had 1/2 chicken with mango lime spice and a 16 oz strawberry lemonade to share. We also had fries and an addon of sweet potato with feta. The chicken was so moist with a good hint of mango lime spice rub. They also have many sauces to dip the chicken and fries. The fries was not bad but the sweet potato was much better. The feta added a nice touch and was not too strong. read more

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So good! It's fast service like fast food, but you are served at your table (after ordering at counter) and you get REAL IDENTIFIABLE chicken, unlike fast food. I believe this is a South African chain. This influences the decor, which was a fun cultural setting. GRILLED HALLOUMI CHEESE STICKS & CHILLI DIP was an amazing starter. The texture reminds me of what is called "bread cheese". It is warm and soft but retains a good structure, not melting into a gooey mess. I so wish we had a Nandos near my home area! I ordered a QUARTER CHICKEN (1 leg and thigh). I order with medium sauce, but they offer all sauces in bottles to take to your table. I tried them all and liked hot the best. Very hot was too much spice. Don't be scared they are not as hot as you might imagine. The BRUSSEL SPROUTS were huge! I love Brussels and these were good, but a bit tough, and difficult to cut. I am not sure if that is because of their siE or if they just weren't sauteed long enough. The lemon garlic sauce was really good on them. read more

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My wife and I dropped in on a Sunday afternoon before heading to an event at the arena nearby. The dining room was quite busy for this time between lunch and dinner. We were seated at the only open table of the dozen or so in their dining room. You scan a QR code to see an online menu and place your order. You can also use a register to have someone take your order. We both ordered a 1/4 chicken breast. My wife got the fries as a side while I tried the Portuguese rice. We thought the fountain drinks were overpriced and went with tap water The chicken was amazing. There are different sauces to try on it. The lemon and herb is my favorite. The rice was tasty but I couldn't help stealing fries off my wufe's plate. Apart from drink pricing, my only other complaint was that the outside door opened directly into the dining room, releasing a blast of cold air. They knew it, though, as there were a couple of strategically placed space heaters. read more

I've always heard of Nando's and being an east coast chain I've never had the chance to try it until now. There was a lot of hype around the place so my expectation was high and boy were they met. Real quick, the service was okay (but we arrived near closing so no fault to the employees here). The restaurant was also well decorated and themed well with the restaurant and what they served. I ordered the two chicken leg combo with fries and some garlic bread. Everything was incredible. The chicken was juicy and well seasoned. The sauces only enhanced the flavors already presented in front of me. The garlic bread and fries were also no slouch either. Everything was freshly made and tasted incredible. Overall, Nando's lived up to the hype I heard and I am very jealous it is not on the west coast yet. Nando's for me will be a spot I will try to seek out in the future thanks to this location! read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - Two 1/4 Chicken Legs - Portuguese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Food was very good, the grilled chicken was juicy and the sides were delicious. Mostly self service which went well. Took a little effort with the website to ordered but we managed. Friendly staff, I woukd certainly recommend Nando's read more

A healthy meal when you don't want Chipotle. I'd always known about Nando's from all of the early 2000s British Youtubers that raved about it. So believe me when I say I was so surprised to find one in Washington DC. My group of 12 were luckily all seated almost right away and ordering was really easy. If I remember correctly, I got the 3 chicken thighs, medium spice with a side of rice and their sweet potatoes. The quality of the chicken was quite nice and I loved experimenting with the different sauces. I couldn't remember which one was my favorite, but I highly recommend just trying all of them or mixtures to find what you like. The rice itself was kind of okay. Something about the flavor and texture wasn't really it for me, so I only ate half. The sweet potatoes however were actually really good. I could've eaten two bowls of just those as my meal. I loved the seed and nut addition to them. Overall, I wasn't really feeling it. Maybe I just needed to order differently, but it wasn't for me. I'm happy I tried it though! read more

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First time at a Nando's. Chicken was very good, good drink options as well. Took mine to go and everything was packed up well. Service was good for a quick takeout meal. Restaurant environment was good too. Seemed to be that they were leaning in to eating there rather than take-away. Would go again if I was around. read more

I recommend Nando's. I have been eating at the establishment since it opened. They have multiple outlets. This is the new location of the Chinatown/Penn Quarter original. The food is as good. They did remove those mashed peas from the menu. That is too bad. I had been looking forward to it, with a touch of mint. The prices are better in the sense they have not gone up due to inflation. The space is more open, but less cozy. Nando's is reliable. Chicken is their specialty. I have the livers. They offer options for spiciness. That might have been decreased. I like my hot foods so hot I regret saying I wanted it that hot. I selected the second from highest level, and it was not nearly at the scorching flavor I had expected; next time, I'll go all the way. For most people, probably the regular hot is enough (I'm not better -- my wife calls me a condiment abuser; I just like strong sensations). read more

Fantastic service. The manager and/or owner made sure to make our first experience amazing by explaining the sauce tasting process and being extremely hospitable. He really made an amazing experience for us. He even threw in a free dessert for it being our first time! read more

Nando's is a great chain, and this particular location is perfect for a meal before an event at Capital One. The service is quick, the space is clean, and everyone working is great. I normally order a spicy chicken caesar wrap for a quick bite, but any cut of chicken is good! The fries are nice and crispy, and the servings are pretty filling. read more

My family loves Nando's so my mom and I jumped on the opportunity to go to Nando's when we were exploring the city together in Washington DC. We were excited to stumble across this location because we hadn't seen it on the map. The restaurant was very clean and the waitstaff was friendly and attentive. This is the first time we've had to wait to be seated at a Nando's as we're usually used to ordering at the counter and finding our own table. After ordering online, our food came out really quickly and it was delicious the way Nando's always is. We got the Medium spicy half chicken with two sides to share between the two of us and still had at least half the meal to take home. We love how big the portions are here because it means we always have yummy leftovers to enjoy the next day. My only qualm was that the restaurant was freezing cold. Even the family sitting at the large table behind us complained about the temperature. I don't know why all their tables for two on the left side of the restaurant are directly under the air conditioning but I definitely do not recommend sitting there. Great food and incredible waitstaff, we'll definitely have to come again next time we're in DC. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - Portuguese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I really want to give this place the rating it deserves, but both times I have been, something wrong has happened. Without a doubt the food is superb, but the customer service lacks. From the friendliness to the attentiveness, the service is just poor. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - Portuguese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Always enjoy Nandos and this one is really nice! Fun vibe and friendly service! Tried the sweet and spicy chicken wrap which was delicious, with tasty chicken and very fresh veggies! We were also offered the natas for dessert on the house which was a lovely surprise! They are always delicious!!! read more

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This was nice, the weather was freezing and the restaurant was a nice relaxing way to warm up with my parents. We had more than enough food and friendly staff. I have been to Nandos all over the world and they don't disappoint read more

Amazing food, hot sauces (hot, extra hot, extra extra hot) weren't too spicy but made up for it in flavor. I actually thought hot was more spicy than the other two ironically. read more

Supposedly One Direction loves this chain restaurant! This location came highly recommended by friends, and as a fast/casual dining spot, we loved it. The sauces were plentiful and full of flavor. I enjoy heat, and while the hottest one isn't super hot, it has 10/10 flavor. The fries were good, as was the accompanying ranch. I wish this was in my area! read more

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If you tired of the usual boring chicken, come here. Friendly staff, fast service and delicious. Got a full chicken, mango lime. Make sure you load up on their hot sauces. Wish the had a location in California. read more

I'm not sure how we ended up at Nando's Peri-Peri but I'm glad we did. We were visiting DC for the week and stopped in for lunch. The way we learned it worked is you use their QR code and enter your order online including your table number, and food runners bring you your food. We did that and food arrived in about 11 minutes. My order was for a ¼ lb chicken thigh and a couple of typical sides, corn on the cob and coleslaw. What I didn't expect was just how good the food was. These people know their stuff, the chicken was moist and flavorful, the corn sweet, and the slaw much better than average. All the staff we did interact with were upbeat and friendly. We all liked the food and the energetic atmosphere. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - Portuguese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My first time trying Nando's after hearing the hype, and it did not disappoint! The chicken is so moist & juicy and when combined with the flavorful sides, (I chose the coleslaw and Portuguese rice) make for a hearty meal. I wish that there were more Nando's locations in the U.S. so I could return to try more! The only thing I found strange was the fact that we waited ~20 minutes to be seated, then were prompted to make a mobile order from our own devices. But, the service was otherwise friendly and the food was delicious. Would recommend! read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - 1/4 chicken leg, Coleslaw, Portuguese Rice - Portuguese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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It really pains me to write this review since I am a huge fan of Nando's, but I had one of the worst dinner experiences in recent memory eating here. We placed our order for six wings and the Full Chicken Platter with sides of mashed potatoes and crispy Brussel sprouts at 9pm. We did not receive our food until 9:45pm! This was on a Monday night where the restaurant was mostly empty and not busy. We watched as another diner who came in after us got seated, received their food, and finished eating before we even received our food. We saw a ton of to go orders being fulfilled as we waited as well. While we were waiting, one of the servers was cleaning and carelessly leaned the broom against the back of my chair. The broom fell onto my shoulder and nearly hit my head... When we finally did receive our food, the fries were missing from the platter, and 75% of the Brussels sprouts were burned and inedible. By now, the entire restaurant was empty of customers and the workers were beginning to put the chairs on tables and clean up right next to us, before it was the closing time at 10pm. We felt uncomfortable and awkward at this point, so we took our entire meal to go. As someone from the west coast and who barely gets a chance to eat at Nando's, what a disappointing dinner experience that was supposed to be one of the big highlights of our trip to DC. The chicken was as juicy and flavorful as we expected, but that's the only positive point I have to say. Definitely don't come here even an hour before closing time. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - Full Chicken Platter with missing fries - Portuguese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Unfortunately there's no Peri-Peri on the West Coast, so I got really excited when I saw it on the map when visiting D.C. I have previously eaten Nando's in Vancouver and I couldn't wait to revisit the flavor-punch of perfectly grilled chicken with all the sauces. This time, the chicken was again delicious, the sauces really amped things up, and I really enjoyed the side of Brussels sprouts. Staff was helpful, and the food reached us quickly. I thought it was super cute how this location had rounded booth seating. Super happy we stopped in. read more

What a good chicken dinner in a very nice restaurant. Two legs with two sides is a good way to go. Recommend you try the rice. When you order the spice level you can go milder because they have all the sauces available for you to increase the spiciness. The service was really friendly and helpful. It's close to the Capital One Arena. So its a nice spot before and after an event. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - Condiments area - Portuguese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The location is new and in a much busier part of Chinatown, across from the holiday market. I don't think it's much bigger than the retail space they occupied previously but if it is, it doesn't look the part. I ordered a sweet pineapple lemonade that could have used refrigeration or ice cubes and a chicken dish with cauliflower and corn on the side to vary the flavor profile. The chicken was pink and raw on the inside, so I worked my way around the unsavory parts and overall ate very little of it. The corn on the cob was bland and didn't taste like corn and was room temperature. The chili cauliflower was slathered in the chili sauce so it felt overwhelming. I loved the seeds adding a nice crunch, though. The service was OK. They were incredibly busy and could have used a few extra pair of hands. I got my food pretty quickly. There weren't many seats to choose from. They were packed! I'd come back during a less busy time instead of the lunch hour. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - Pineapple lemonade - Portuguese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Right across Smithsonian American Art Museum. Food was delicious and healthy. Quick serve, service good. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - Half chicken lemon herbs, 2 corns, lime mango drink - Portuguese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Really good food, came up quick, not huge portions but adequate, modestly priced for what you get. Good service. Nice that they have a large selection of sauces. We'll be back. read more

In town visiting. Ordered 3 chicken thighs (side 1) Mac & cheese (side 2) peri rice. Xtra hot chicken not really spicy. ( I like HoTT!) Food was really good. Lavender cocktail was excellent! read more

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Back in DC! I really love this city! Not my first DC trip but my first time at Nando's Peri Peri, and I was impressed with food and service. My co-worker suggested we eat here for lunch and I'm glad we went with her recommendation. When you enter, the restaurant issa a vibe - bold, bright colors everywhere. A place of instant joy. No wait time, but we got there before noon. By the noon lunch rush, the restaurant was full, and a line was forming. So, let's jump right into this review. Note - food can be purchased, scanning a bar code at your table, place a takeout order, or online and pick-up. What did I have - 1. Mango Lime quarter chicken - breast and wing - chicken was flavorful and moist. Wasn't tough or rubbery. 2. Lavender Lemonade - refreshing, no after taste. Full glass, served chilled, no ice, which I liked. Total lunch cost - $13.74 Pros 1. Atmosphere. 2. Taste and quality of food. My co-worker had her chicken breast butterflied, no bone - NICE OPTION! 3. Extremely reasonable prices. 4. If you work in the downtown DC area or are a tourist staying in downtown DC, this restaurant is walking distance to many hotels and government agencies. 5. There is plenty of seating. Tables and booths. 6. Dine-in and take-out available. 7. Phenomenal customer service. Staff was pleasant and checked-in with us several times during our 45-minute dining experience. Cons Not a one. I'm glad I was introduced to Nando's Peri Peri. Great restaurant to eat at. Must try if you are in the downtown DC area. read more

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