A cheeky Nando’s can always go down a treat when you’re after a bit of comfort food - whether you’re after some freshly-grilled chicken, those crispy fries (PERi-PERi salt optional) or sauce that can go up to Extra Hot if you’re feeling extra brave.
I’m not afraid to admit that I’m a bit of a wuss when it comes to spice, so, whenever I go to Nando’s, I am not daring in the slightest. There’s no Extra Hot PERi-PERi sauce for me and I will pretty much always opt for the zesty tang of the Lemon and Herb slathered over some boneless thighs.
So when Nando’s recently unveiled its winter additions to its menu, I felt like it might be the perfect chance for me to venture out of my comfort zone and try something new at the famed Portuguese restaurant. What’s the worst that could happen, right?
READ MORE: Inside Sides, the new Manchester fried chicken spot from YouTube stars The Sidemen
READ MORE: We bought the same meal at Popeyes and KFC and one left us feeling disappointed
The newest additions are spread out all across the menu and include a new burger, a couple of sides, including a new mac and cheese, and a Chocolate dessert - meaning there’s plenty of stuff to try. So I headed to the Nando's at White City in Old Trafford to give them a whirl.
The new burger is the Garlic Churrasco Burger, and its biggest appeal is that it makes garlic bread the star attraction - using it for the burger bun. In-between the two slices of garlic bread are two flame-grilled chicken thighs, pickled red onions, mixed salad leaves and an all-new Smoky Churrasco PERinaise sauce. It’s available on its own for £10.25 or with two sides for £15.75.
As I was tasked with trying new things, I opted to have the chicken with the limited edition Churrasco spice - which is described on the menu as rich, spicy and smoky. On the “PERi-ometer” it sits right between hot and medium, which is already quite a scary prospect for spice-free me.
Whilst ordering, I tried to make light of the spice situation with my server and they recommended adding cheese to the burger would take it to the next level. A great upsell or a top suggestion, it worked either way and I added a slice of cheese for £1 extra.
The first thing that hit me when biting into the burger was the sweet and smokiness of the sauce. It tastes a bit like Barbecue sauce and, for a little moment, I think that maybe I’m not as much of a wuss on spice as I once believed. But then it hits me: My lips start tingling, my ears start warming up and I can feel beads of sweat forming on my forehead.
But this is not spice just for the sake of being hot - this is actually flavoursome. The burger's components, like the salad, the pickled onions and, yes, that extra cheese all add to the flavour and help balance it out. Sure, it’s spicy but it’s manageable and it’s got such a lovely taste to it. Considering my visit took place in the middle of a wet and cold day - with remnants of ice on the streets outside - the ability to feel warm inside with a bit of space was something I was actually quite grateful for.
The burger is incredibly messy and I dread to imagine how I looked to the other diners sitting around me at the time. It’s a five-napkin situation if there ever was one, but it feels totally worth it.
Alongside the burger, I opted to get two sides. The new leafy green salad did sound quite appealing (fresh mixed salad leaves in a sweet herby vinegar dressing with toasted PERi-PERi seeds) but I wasn’t prepared to ditch out the chips so went for my favourite side alongside the new PERi-Mac & Cheese.
It’s basically cheesy macaroni with a crunchy and garlic crumb topping flavoured with that famed PERi-PERi. The Mac & Cheese is available on the menu on its own for £4.75 or £7.50 for a large. You can also add it to your meal for a £1 extra surcharge, which is what I did.
Macaroni and cheese is not something I’m normally drawn to. It’s a bit middle of the road for me and always comes across as quite underwhelming. Tucking into Nando’s version, it’s oozy and cheesy and the garlicky crumb is a nice addition. However, it’s not enough to convert me into a converted mac and cheese fan.
Without the crumb topping, I feel this side would be quite underwhelming. I can imagine this is going to be a big hit for anyone who is big into mac and cheese, but for me, it’s not something I really feel the need to have again.
Then came time for pudding. I’ve never really thought of Nando’s as a place for desserts, but I’m optimistic about them getting it right. The new addition is the Warm Chocolate Pud (£5.75), which is a gooey chocolate fondue served with vanilla ice cream and a sweet orange curd.
From the first bite, it’s completely decadent and luxurious. It’s incredibly rich but it’s all the better for it. The melt-in-the-middle gooey chocolate is completely appealing as it escapes from within, and that orange curd is amazing. There’s a slight spiciness to the sauce but it’s truly amazing. The curd needs to be bottled up and sold on its own right away - it’s just that good.
All in all, I’m very impressed with the new additions to the Nando’s menu and I genuinely think it may have made me shuffle up my order. Like I say, I won’t be rushing back for the Mac and Cheese but the Garlic Churrasco Burger, the Churrasco spice and the Warm Chocolate Pud are all showstoppers in their own right.
I may still be a wuss when it comes to spice, but the sweet and smoky tang of the Churrasco sauce is enough to make me venture further afield than Lemon and Herb next time I visit. It’s just a shame the sauce itself is only on the menu for a limited time.
