Nando’s – Southwark Arches

Great branch of Nando’s.
Friendly staff and lots of seating.
All Nando’s tend to be the same so you can’t rally go wrong.
Had my usual chicken pitta lemon and herb with peri peri rice.

I always love a good meal at Nando’s, but this branch is my personal favourite.
Nando’s is a chain of Portuguese restaurants specialised in chicken. They offer such a wide range of chicken dishes that anybody can find something to their taste. It’s rather inexpensive, and of good quality as far as i can tell.
As well as chicken they specialise in hot spiced dishes. Don’t worry though, they will always ask for your preference regarding the spicing (careful, hot is REALLY hot, and i do love spicy food). If you feel like adding more spice to it, they have quite a range of sauces in the drinks/​cutlery/​seasoning area. You can even buy them (which i recommend), to cook at home (it is oh so delicious !).
With every dish you can chose from one tot two side dishes (or none) for a bit more money. If you take the chips i would recommend you ask for a bit of their spicy seasoning, as well as their spicy sauce (i forgot the name), it’s gorgeous.
The only dish that did not convince me was the garlic bread. It was a bit stale or something. I could have asked for another batch but after the chicken and chips i wasn’t hungry anymore.
The orders are taken at a counter near the entrance, but then they bring your plate to your table. Remember to acknowledge your table number before going to order (i personally forget all the time, still getting used to UK customs i’m afraid). You can ask for an empty glass for water, and if you order a drink they should give it to you. Soda drinks from the fountain are unlimited.
This branch is more special than the others because of its interior design. Situated right out of the Southwark station, under train rails, it’s hard to miss it. I absolutely love the bird houses they have designed inside. They created some cage/​nest looking «eggs» (that’s what we call them) that turn out to be large tables for big gatherings. I always ask to be placed in an «egg» but they seem to be popular, so watch out the time you want to come, you might not get one (if like me, you turn out to be obsessed with these, which you probably won’t, i realise). The rest of the restaurant is beautiful as well, sort of a cave looking atmosphere, but in a good way. The arch making it even better looking.
The only problem i find with this location is the intermittent train noises that make the place shake. First time i panicked a little bit before i remembered we were under rails.

For their delicious chicken & chips alone, Nando’s in any location in London deserve 5 stars (I’m a Nando’s fiend, I must confess). I stumbled upon this location for the 1^st time last night while giving my American friends a tour of London, en route to the Tate/​Millennium Bridge. As usual, the food was great, the service was great, the ambiance/​décor– for a high-​street food chain– excellent. But this particular one gets the personal award for Most Brilliantly Designed Nandos.
Why? They have 2-​story tall «birdhouse”-looking structures that double as table sections! I thought that was completely cool and it really impressed my tourist friends, as they were with the food.
This Southwark location (right outside the Southwark station) might not be in the most prime, Central location, but I think out of all the Nando’s in London their interiors are a must-​see.
I do have to knock off a star for intermittent noise from the trains speeding above the restaurant. Having a Nando’s under the rail arches is a neat idea, but I can see patrons getting quickly tired/​disturbed by the grumbling overhead.

Very nice food, very good service. Best choice for a good lunch or dinner with friends and/​or kids.

Overall service and Portuguese style food was good. Different way in which to order food — haven’t decided if I liked that part. Enjoyed the all you can have frozen yogurt.