Nando's Casuarina — Restaurant in Northern Territory

My family of four dined in tonight - the restaurant was almost completely empty, although the kitchen was busy with takeaway orders and there were 5-6 staff working, several of whom were standing around leaning on the counters, none of whom greeted us or offered any service. Many of the tables hadn’t been wiped down yet, and the floor of the restaurant was greasy and slippery.

The service and food quality was mind blowingly awful! One of our mains was brought out with no side, we then waited over ten minutes for two more of our mains to be delivered with their sides, and the fourth person got his side with no main, although we could see it under the heat lamps waiting to be brought to the table. We weren’t sure if it was ours, as the kitchen was packing boxes for takeaways and there was another table getting their food in dribs and drabs, or we would’ve just gone up and asked for it.

Another ten minutes passed before they got around to bringing the last main to the table, I asked about our drinks and my side of peri-peri chips - they brought our drinks and a few minutes later, served me a bowl of peri chips with a few frozen chips scattered on top, which I noticed when I picked up a chip to start eating and it was frozen solid and ice cold. I returned the bowl of chips to the kitchen and complained about it being contaminated with other raw food, they argued that the rest of the chips were cooked and offered me a free dessert and it only grudgingly remade my chips when I insisted they be replaced - a serious food safety issue! Someone came to the table a few minutes later and offered me a free bottle of sauce (????????), which I declined. An absolutely insane compensation offer for a dreadful experience.

Overall, a very disappointing experience at a restaurant we used to enjoy. But hey, at least it was expensive - $115 for four of us! Not a cheap dinner. We’ll be going elsewhere next time.

Before Nando’s auto replies and instructs me to contact them through their feedback form on the website, I already have - I’m posting here to warn other members of the public about what they can expect. Looking at all of the reviews for the past few months, it seems this is a typical state for them.

Edit : and the franchise owner has replied to my review instructing me to reach out to their feedback form and they’d do what they can to resolve the issue. I DID send the feedback form, as I mentioned a week ago when I wrote this review - I got an email advising me they’d notified the owner and they were closing the enquiry. Nando’s don’t care, obviously. Save your money, Grilld is right next door and is...

Typically I would dine in at Nando’s (Gateway) in Palmerston, which I highly rate. Though seeing as they are currently undergoing renovations I have come to casaurina Nando’s.

I have spent roughly $3000 at Nando’s gateway over the years, safe to say I’m a frequent flyer and know my Nando’s!

Initial thoughts walking in to this casuarina Nando’s.... yuck! I don’t think this place has been cleaned since it was built. Fluff and mould all over the roof directly over the eating area. Floor was filthy bits of food under vacant seats and pieces of gum stuck on the bottoms of tables and seats.

The lady taking our order (Kim K) did not greet us as we approached the counter, instead my partner and I stood in front of her for 2 mins whilst she battled with the computer. She also failed to scan my Perry perks correctly upon order, I figured this out after seeing my receipt. No big deal, I added them manually- not the point.

As we were waiting for our food I explained to Kim the perks did not scan and explained how to scan them properly. Turns out she is actually very nice. She is just a new employee. I understand that we all learn somewhere! I do not believe this was a fault of her own, but the fault of Nando’s and the lack of training given to a new employee.

A half hour wait for our food (full chicken, large Perry chips and x2 mini pitas) with only 3 other people who ordered before us waiting for their food.

The pitas were a 4/5 Chips were 4/5 The Chicken was overcooked and had no basting (I asked for extra basting upon order) 2/5

There was no tomato sauce, instead we were given small tomato sauce satchets.

The chairs are flimsy and feel like they’re going to snap! (80kg person sitting on it)

Overall I give it a 2/5 rating. It would’ve been a 1/5 rating if not for the well cooked pitas and chips.

Please learn how to clean your unsanitary store. I don’t think the health inspector would be impressed! I won’t be returning any time soon.

Ps- bring back BBQ ribs to Darwin!

EDITED- I’ve changed my 2 star review to a 1 star review for the simple fact that I’ve just read all other 1 star reviews and it seems after 9 months, this franchise still has not gotten the point about cleaning!!!

We will be contacting the food safety hotline...

Amazing Meal at Nando’s Casuarina!

Food: Our meal at Nando’s Casuarina was absolutely fantastic! We ordered chilly broccoli, serious large peri-peri chips, garlic bread, pitta bread with hummus, and a full extra-extra spicy chicken—and everything was perfect.

Chilly Broccoli had a great smoky, slightly charred flavor with just the right amount of spice, making it a delicious and healthy addition to our meal.

Serious Large Peri-Peri Chips were crispy, golden, and packed with that signature peri-peri seasoning—every bite was full of bold flavor.

Garlic Bread was soft, buttery, and had a rich garlic kick that paired beautifully with the meal.

Pitta Bread with Hummus was fresh and warm, and the hummus was creamy and well-balanced with a smooth, nutty taste.

Full Extra-Extra Spicy Chicken was the star of the meal! Cooked to perfection, juicy on the inside, with that fiery heat we were craving. If you love spice, this is a must-try!

Service: The staff were friendly, fast, and attentive. They made sure everything was spot on and served our food quickly despite the busy atmosphere. It’s always great to see such a well-managed team ensuring a top-notch dining experience.

Atmosphere: The restaurant had a lively and welcoming vibe. It was clean, well-organized, and had a comfortable setting to sit and enjoy a meal. The background music added to the experience without being too loud.

Overall Experience: This was a perfect Nando’s experience—flavorful food, excellent service, and a great atmosphere. Everything was fresh, tasty, and cooked just right. Highly recommend Nando’s Casuarina for anyone looking for a delicious meal with bold flavors. We’ll definitely be...