Please note that this work is the property of Independent Newspapers and may not be reproduced in any format.
Writer: Vanessa Finaughty
Commissioned by: Independent Newspapers
Printed: Weekend Argus, May 2007
Famous for its peri-peri
sauces, Nando’s in Long Street (Nando’s Chambers, situated
opposite Mama Afrika's), forms part of the JV Group, which is part-owned
by the holding company, Nando’s Chickenland.
At Nando’s, tender
chicken is marinated over a 24-hour period for that “ultimate”
taste sensation, and is then flame-grilled after all excess skin and fat
has been removed.
Nando’s chicken
has its own unique flavouring, such as lemon and herb, mild, hot and extra
hot.
Nando’s heritage
is rooted solidly in the Portuguese community that moved to Johannesburg
from Moçambique. Flame-grilled peri-peri chicken was once one of
the “best kept secrets” among this community, until two friends,
Robert and Fernando, visited Portuguese-owned Chickenland in Rosettenville
and made the owner an offer he could not refuse and, thus, Nando’s,
as we know it today, was born.
There are currently
more than 240 branches of Nando’s around South Africa, but, even
so, Nando’s remains proudly “a truly South African restaurant”
and its Afro-Portuguese styling fits in extremely well with the Long Street
vibe.
Nando’s range
of hot sauces are also available for purchase, should you wish to “experience
the flavour” on other foods at home. Nando’s Chambers is open
seven days a week and its extended trading hours make it a “perfect
place” for late night partygoers to find good food.
From Sunday to Thursday,
the restaurant opens at 10:30am and closes at 10:30pm, and on Fridays
and Saturdays the doors remain open until midnight. Nando’s Chambers
also trades on public holidays.