Nando's Cowley Road

Reviews

Nandos is a world famous Portuguese chicken specialist restaurant. I'd never been so went to one of Oxford's two branches to check it out.

The venue is slightly cramped with a central wall housing the bottomless frozen yogurt and soft drinks and plates and cutlery and a weird raised area that directly overlooks part of the lower venue. Toilets are pretty small and unisex and to be honest best avoided, not nice at all – especially the difficulty in opening the door from the inside to get out. Service was okay though most of it is self serve.

We had ten small Nandos' chicken wings in their (fairly average I must say) spicy sauce; a side of rice (very small portion) and two corn-on-the-cobs. The meal with one soft drink was over twenty pounds which I'd say was terrible value as it was simply not enough food for that amount of money. The chicken was pretty decent quality but simple fact remains that better chicken is available either end of the Cowley Road. I will not be back.

Service: 3/5
Value: 1/5
Venue: 2/5
Food: 3/5

Total: 9/20

BarntheBarn 27 May 2013

I'm vegetarian and have no idea about the chicken. I go to Nando's for a veggie burger sometimes.

For a corporate chicken chain - they're surprisingly good at veggie burgers.
I was really surprised when I looked at the menu and not one, but three different types of veggie burger. I don't know anywhere else in Oxford that offers that. I don't mean toppings - I mean you get to choose the burger ingredients as well.

Add toppings, and a side dish of spicy rice and/or peas, both small but just enough for a tasty side, and it's a nice quick veggie meal.

Compared with some of the cheap takeaway places further up the Cowley Road that do veggie burgers, I found Nando's tastes pretty good, too.

Jamie 1 Jan 2011

The staff in this branch are always so lovely. Speedy service, nice atmosphere, clean tables. Despite the fact that the staff are often rushed off their feet as it's almost always pretty busy they are always welcoming, smiley and attentive.

chickenlover 27 Sep 2010

Extremely disappointing. I had heard many good things about "Nando's" and really, really wanted to like it. Sadly this was not the case and I felt very let down by all the hype.

First I found the concept of ordering at the "hatch", rather bizarre, considering the prices. Going to a cafeteria (which Nando basically is with a lot less choice) should be a lot better value and I would have expected full table service.

Now I love chicken. Great chicken can be a food of the Gods, but then again great chicken is rare because of farming methods nowadays. I grew up with a self sufficient great-grand-mother and great-aunt who reared their own chickens and a grain (and scraps) fed chicken has the power to move even the most reluctant chicken eater to waves of culinary ecstasy. Nando's does nothing else but chicken. Which means I assume they know their chickens? Not if the food served in the restaurant is anything to go by actually.

Hubby and I shared some Hummous (quite bland), and then some chicken wings, a chicken breast fillet burger and a chicken wrap. The chicken was bland in all three dishes and had little to no taste , the meat dry (even in chicken wings which are usually very moist) and the accompaniments (like ratatouille) barely deserving of mention though lack of flavour. I can see why sauces are highly necessary as this type of chicken meat will certainly require some embellishment and a kick of Peri-Peri becomes almost a must.

All in all an utter disappointment. I have had a lot of chicken dishes in both Portugal and Brazil and Nando's was beyond a pale imitation of the real thing. If offered absolutely nothing in the way of a cultural experience of culinary value whatsoever.

Pamplemousse 6 Jan 2010

I have enjoyed Nandos once or twice, but am now thinking about the ethics of such a place - for example: Are the chickens free range or welfare-checked?

BurgerEater2008 3 Dec 2008

Daily Info Staff Disclaimer, 2003 :
We love the Cowley Road and would like it to stay tatty.
Furthermore we detest corporate chain restaurants.
However, we have checked out this review.
The writer is genuine, doesn't work there, and loves his chicken.
So, in the interests of free speech, here you go:

The Cowley road has so much to offer the hungry diner. From Japanese to Italian, Polish to Portuguese, you will never be far away from a good feed. Nando's, on the corner of Temple Street is certainly no exception. Serving traditional Portuguese chicken, Nando's is a global concern, and has some 70 restaurants around the UK. Do not be put off by the corporate idea, this is no MacBurger Fast food joint.

Nando's signature dish is Peri-Peri chicken. This fiery dish involves flame-grilled chicken marinated in one of four chilli-based sauces. These range from Lemon and Herb (for the timid) to Extra Hot (for the exceptionally brave). For those of you who are not keen on chicken (and why not?) the steak rolls, salads and vegetarian options are also great. Personally, half a chicken (medium hot), some coleslaw and chips hits the spot every time.

The food is very good value, freshly cooked and delicious. There is a selection of interesting nibbles and desserts including help-yourself low fat frozen yoghurt. The service is friendly and welcoming, and the Portuguese beer is great.

Overall Nando's gets a wholehearted double thumbs-up. To sum up its appeal, think of going to a Macdonalds aged 12 - you would eat there every day if only your mum would let you. Nandos has the same sort of appeal, but now I'm a grown up. I could eat there every day - if only my girlfriend would let me.

Prices : £4.95 for 1/4 chicken and 2 sides. £7.20 1/2 chicken and 2 sides.

Doug Pendse 13 Jul 2003

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