Nando's expands presence in India, opens another outlet

Nando's, a chain of casual dining restaurants based in South Africa, has opened its third franchise of Flame Grilled Peri-Peri Chicken restaurant in Connaught Place here Thursday night.

The Nando's flame landed in India in 2010 and since then, the brand has got two franchises in Delhi including the first Vasant Kunj and second at Gurgaon.

The restaurant is know for it's chicken and that is the reason other type of meat or even fish remains elusive from the menu. The emphasis is on chicken and it can seen when the dish is served.

The restaurant, which was started in South Africa in 1987, also keeps health quotient in mind as the chicken is not fried but grilled.

"Nando's stand for chicken and chips and we are not diluting it to come to India. The product is the same across the world. The popularity has increased immensely with people getting over fast food and moving towards a healthier choice," said Deepinder Singh Batth, CEO, Nando's Delhi.

With eclectic interiors done in all-natural shades of wood and Afro music playing in the background, the restaurant promises to give a glimpse of the African side to the customers.

The dish not to miss out is Peri-Peri chicken which happens to be their signature dish. Their formula is to marinate chicken for 24 hours and grill it with the addition of various levels of chilli for a spicy style. One can choose from variety of sauces like lemon and herb, mild, hot and extra hot.

However, vegetarians need to get gloomy as there is also an array of decent vegetarian dishes too like Peri-Peri paneer kebabs. The place goes easy on the pocket with fairly priced menu.

"The idea is to provide a good and filling meal at a good price. Hence we have priced our food accordingly," Batth said.

A meal for two costs between Rs.1,200 and Rs.1,300.