Nandos in the Golden Mile has closed. (A shame).

Initial review

Part of the first wave of establishments opening on the Golden Mile and Nandos is proving to be an early winner. Perhaps that is unsurprising. This is solid, earthy, sustenance that appeals to pretty much every nationality. It is moreover something of a scarcity on the Palm – relaxed, family friendly, alcohol free casual dining that is – relatively – inexpensive.

The full menu is on offer – from Butterfly Chicken to chicken wings, from BBQ skewers to chicken liver.  If you like your chicken, there is very little not to like in this Portuguese themed (actually South African) restaurant. If you don’t like chicken, well Nandos is not for you. There are salads, roast vegetables, a veggie wrap… but it’s slim pickings once you move past the staple Nandos ingredient.

We are however fans of the food. It’s a simple concept – but it really works, and the wings, chicken breast, and full and half chickens are always very well cooked. The chicken breast (in the butterfly chicken) is always moist, never dry, while the wings are crispy without ever being greasy. The wraps and burgers are always good, and if you’re not worried about your carbs, just delicious.

The Palm restaurant has been fitted out well, with little expense spared, however because it opens up onto the mall corridor (a section of the restaurant is on the other side of the aisle), this is not a cosy, intimate affair. It’s noisy, especially while the younger ones are up and screaming. Still, this is Nandos, and energy and noise are part of its charm. We actually really like some of the art on the wall – all if which comes from young South African artists, while the interior design, with its vibrant colours, is both fun and charming, and really works well with the food on offer and the ambiance of the restaurant itself.

Our only complaint is the service which is still very much bedding in. It’s slow, and can be quite painful to watch too many staff managing to be busy not doing very much at all. The food is however always Nandos perfect – soft, tender, beautifully flamed. Overall this is very much a welcome addition to the Palm.