Nando’s PERi-PERi is gaining a flock of followers among diners in Naperville. Since March 2016, the fast-casual restaurant with Portuguese and African influences has been serving fresh, flame-grilled chicken and house-made sides, salads and sandwiches at its Jefferson Avenue location.
Peri peri, or piri piri, is the name for the African bird’s eye chili pepper. Visitors to the two-story eatery, which formerly housed Rizzo’s bar, place their order at the counter and it’s delivered to their table.
“We marinate our chicken in peri-peri for at least 24 hours, so the flavor goes right through to the bone,” said Burton Heiss, CEO of Nando’s PERi-PERi USA. “Then we grill it over an open flame and baste it with peri-peri sauce to our customers’ preferred spice. That’s what makes our chicken so addictive.”
The sauces, from plain to super hot — and everything in between — can be used to baste the chicken or added on the side. Here’s the dish on this local favorite.
What’s on the menu? Fresh chicken, marinated overnight and then flame-grilled to order is the specialty at Nando’s. Choose bone-in or boneless chicken and a house-made side, or try one of the pitas, wraps, salads or ample vegetarian options available.
About the owners: In 1987, friends Fernando Duarte and Robbie Brozin visited a Portuguese eatery in South Africa and tried peri peri marinated chicken. They loved their lunch so much they bought the restaurant. Today, the privately held company has 1,200 Nando’s PERi-PERi restaurants spread across five continents — including more than 30 U.S. locations. Justin Kipp of Palos Heights is the Naperville location’s general manager and runs the day-to-day operations.
A mission statement or philosophy? With an “our home is your home” philosophy, Nando’s offers food made from scratch in a relaxed atmosphere with friendly service. Chicken is delivered fresh and never frozen, and the marinade contains no preservatives, colors or artificial flavors.
What’s the decor like? Soaring ceilings, exposed brick, bright colors and an interesting blend of materials gives Nando’s a cool vibe that reflects its African-Portuguese heritage. Original South African art is on display, and eclectic accents and a salvaged tree trunk that runs through the second level floor give the interior space a unique and contemporary look.
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Food specialties? Nando’s is famous for its fresh chicken, marinated for 24 hours before being basted and grilled in PERi-PERi sauces such as lemon and herb, mango and lime, medium, hot or extra hot. Nando’s classics include a half chicken and PERi chips — or fries — which come with a tasty spicy mayo for dipping. There are more than a dozen sides that take center stage too, including the braised Brussels sprouts or the butternut squash and corn dish, which includes red onion, dried cranberries and fresh cilantro.
We’re different because: According to Heiss, peri-peri, or African bird’s eye chili, is the “heart and soul of the Nando’s experience.”
Extras: Enjoy a meal al fresco on the charming outdoor deck, which is open when weather permits. Love the sauces? They’ve bottled them so you can have peri peri at home. They also offer a full catering menu and carry-out options.
Price range: A quarter chicken and a side is around $8, or get a half chicken for $12.75. Pitas, wraps and salads start around $9, a tasty variety of sides for under $3 and kids’ menu items for the “nandinos” that are sure to please at around $5 and includes bottomless frozen yogurt.
Nando’s PERi-PERi is at 6 W. Jefferson Ave. in downtown Naperville. It is open every day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call 630-388-0193 or go to www.nandosperiperi.com.
Jane Donahue is a freelance writer.