Nando's (Bethnal Green)

I have to say that if we're just talking about cooked chicken (and please note the use of the term "cooked" not "grilled") it's not the worst you can get...

The one, simple, BIG problem with any Nando's you might come acrross with is it just isn't Portuguese style in any way and they sell it as such...

Stating "Come inside if you want to feel portuguese" is not only offensive to portuguese people it's also sheer old-fashioned, straight to the face lying.

The real BBQ chicken cooked in Portugal (but also in Angola) and Nando's so blatantly lies about and (not even) tries to mimic is ALWAYS cooked over live coals, ALWAYS takes more than 10 minutes to cook, ALWAYS comes with crispy skin, ALWAYS brings a salad as a side (and the option would be not to have it, not to pay extra for it) and is NEVER as spicy hot as some of the options offered (although that part I'll admit because of market demand).

You wouldn't find any sane portuguese person anywhere in the world selling this chicken as a Portuguese styled one.

this rating is given taking my personal taste as criteria and I'll say it again. If we talk food "per se" it rates 4/5, if we talk labels and labeling it Portuguese it rates 0 because it's the lowest I can go. If I could I'd rate it -10 and present charges on the owner of the chain for tradition murder.

One note on beverages. As a beer drinker I have to say they have available one of the best portuguese beers, but even what should be a simple thing they managed to get wrong. Super Bock is a (as the name says) Bock, which means it's a slightly sweet beer and can be served not so chilled and still won't taste bad, but again if someone says "Come inside if you want to feel portuguese" then all they have to do is serving it as it would be DEMANDED anywhere in Portugal, CHILLED almost to freezing point (pass the exageration) "freshish" Super Bock, again, is offensive...

All in all go to Nando's if you like the food, run from it like a priest would run from the devil if you're looking to experience portuguese food.
Comment on this reader review

Filipe - View all reviews by this user
1 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Friday, April 30, 2010

lovely as usual......food is good and self service is handy as usual, brilliant value for money
Comment on this reader review

9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, April 28, 2009