Nando’s - Elgin Street - Ottawa, Ontario

We wanted to go out for a bite, but nothing fancy or heavy.  Something quick and relatively healthy.  I kind of had a craving for chicken so Nando’s came to mind.  The Elgin Street location was the closest to home and we’d never been there so off we went.

When we arrived I was surprised at how busy it was.  Downtown parking is a challenge under the best of conditions; I didn’t think it would be so packed on a cold, stormy winter’s night.  There was a line-up!  The young lady taking orders at the cash register greeted us as soon as we walked in and said she’d be right with us.  Another waitress also welcomed us and apologized for the wait. When we arrived at the front of the line, the cashier asked if we had a table.  We responded that we did not.  She quickly looked around and there was one booth left.  She said she’d have someone clean it while we ordered.

We ordered the “Variety Plate” with the lemon and herb seasoning.  The plate includes: a half chicken, 5 wings, 2 skewers and 2 regular sides.  We also ordered a side of coleslaw. 

The booth was perfect.  A nice quiet corner at the back with a view of Elgin Street and Confederation Park.  It was cold out, but surprisingly there were lots of people milling about.  Many were probably heading to Parliament Hill to watch the sound and light show. 

We were caught off guard when the food arrived, it was really fast.  The chicken was tender, perfectly seasoned and delicious.  I’m not a huge fan of spice, so the lemon and herb sauce is perfect.  I love the peri-peri vegetables, definitely my favourite.  Their sauce has just the right amount of bite without overwhelming your taste buds.  You can also go hotter or opt for their garlic peri-peri sauce.  As a second side we chose the regular fries, my date’s choice.  He’d argue fries are a vegetable.  Lol  The coleslaw is creamy and not overly sweet or bitter, very glad we ordered it.  I much prefer this one to most of the ones I’ve had at other restaurants. 

I’d say for a simple and tasty meal, this is the place the go.  Prices are reasonable and portion sizes are good.  Definitely a family friendly restaurant.  Two of us ate for $37.00 plus taxes and tip.  It’s a relaxed environment with bright yet simple décor.  Staff is very welcoming and attentive.  Even though the restaurant was busy, the food came out quickly.  It was very clean and as soon as your plates were empty, someone came by to take them away.  Tea and coffee were a perfect way to end the meal while we sat brainstorming solutions to the problems of the world.

We had a really nice evening and a great meal.  Enjoy!

Carm the Foodie