Verdict: I think it was in an interview a few years back that Rio Ferdinand said Nando's was the one thing he'd bring with him if he could only pick on thing to bring to a deserted island for the rest of his days. Already a staple in England, it's good to see that Nando's also has a firm hold on Melbourne as well. Watch out USA, you're next.
Star 1: How was the service and atmosphere?
Walk to the front, place your order, grab a number, and wait to be served. Nando's is about as easy as they come, and the setup in Australia is no different from that in England. At this particular location, service was both prompt and friendly. Star Granted.
Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost?
Here's where I do have a bit of an issue with Nando's. Yes, Australia is expensive, especially if you're a foreigner from the US or Europe, but at the end of the day, this is chicken. Yes, it's grilled in the unique Portuguese style that is Peri Peri, and at Nando's it's made fresh to order, but does that really warrant a $10 price tag for four pieces of chicken? $15 with a regular side and a drink? Frankly, I don't think so. For $15, I got the following, and at the end of the day I frankly would have rather had two burgers just about anywhere else or some fresh fish right down the street. No Star Granted
http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=3AuHc2RlfYPXQoaJmMjeMA&userid=OKX-V5j_qfuOebeHeWGrHg
Stars 3 and 4: How was the food?
This is a tale of two dishes. Yes, my chicken really was excellent, and was made even moreso by the fantastic selection of sauces available at Nando's. However, my side dish was a huge disappointment. Advertised as "Spicy Rice", and costing $3, I was expecting something a bit more than just plain old Spanish rice, but this was frankly exactly what I received. One good dish one bad? We'll call it even. Single Star Granted.
Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could?
I'm a bit stuck here. On one end, Nando's isn't particularly an excellent value, but at the same time, it's consistency and flexibility in serving either a single person or a massive group of people is a welcome sight especially when you're in a foreign country. Did I get pretty much exactly what I was expecting? That is, a slightly overpriced chicken dish? Absolutely. However, was it still the first place I went upon arriving in Australia? You bet, and I guess that right there is proof that I could easily come to Nando's on a daily basis. Star Granted. read more