Nando's PERi-PERi — Restaurant in Naperville

I love Nandos food. Twice now at the Naperville location I have had substandard service. This particular day, I entered the restaurant and was not greeted nor informed of any changes post COVID. As such my mom and I sat down at our desired table, after sitting there for about ten minutes without so much as a menu or mumbling word from one of the ten staff members present. I asked a staff member passing by if ordering had to be completed at the front counter to which he responded yes. I went to the front counter and placed my order and went back to the table and set down. While sitting at the table, I noticed the ten or so staff members doing nothing and congregating in the back of the restaurant near the kitchen. It was fascinating to see so many staff with only 9 customers dining in. I noted that cutlery had not presented nor offered. One of the staff members brought over my blood orange twisted lemonade and two sauces (which I did not order) when I explained, I wanted sauce on the chicken thighs(the way I ordered it) she apologized but made no effort to inform the cook. When the food arrived it was tasty but incorrect. I noticed a man exit from the kitchen area wearing a black button down with Nandos logo on it (unlike the flipping the bird logo tshirts the rest of the staff wore) I assumed the man was the manager, since the ten staff members who were previously doing nothing, eagerly got to work. Fascinated I continued to watch, two staff members who were previously dancing to the restaurants music, began to ask if dining customers needed anything. Continuing to watch the now hard at work staff members, I signaled to the man who I assumed was the manager. He came over and I asked if he was the manager and he replied he was, I explained my experience and disdain thus far, to which he replied that the team consisted of "college kids" and that when he was not around they would slack off. He apologized and introduced himself as Ziggy the manager. As I finished my meal and stood to leave, he asked how everything was, either ignoring or neglecting to acknowledge the conversation we'd had a mere ten minutes ago, I said the food was good and exited. Nandos' food is good but I'm not sure it's worth the unpleasant visits not sure if I will dine in...

My wife and I were walking downtown Naperville doing some shopping and looking for keto friendly options for lunch/dinner.

Walked by this place which had this great open patio like seating area at the front of the building, that caught our attention. I decided to read the outside menu and search for something that sounded good and keto friendly. Read, whole marinated grilled chicken on open flame, and that's all it took to convince my wife and I.

We decided to come back after working up an appetite a bit more. Came back, waited to be seated, and decided to sit outside, which ended up having a great fenced patio area in the back.

Once we sat down we were asked if we have been there before, and explained that we would need to go back inside to place the order and then it would be brought out to us. That threw my wife and I for a loop, just on the fact that we waited to be seated thinking a wait staff would be taking care of us the whole time. If this were a full wait staff service of explaining the menu, taking the order, refilling drinks, this place would be a 5/5 rating.

After reading over the menu and deciphering how everything works, we decided on a theie olive mix appetizer, a whole chicken marinated in mango lime sauce, with a side of coleslaw, and macho peas. Went inside placed the order then walked out side since our food would be brought out to us.

The food was great. The amount of flavor that backed into the chicken was outstanding. One you took that first but you were able to tell that they do in fact marinade everything for 24 hours. The crispy grilled skin, the juicy inside meat even on the chicken breast was just cooked perfectly. The sides were great too, coleslaw had the right amount of refreshing creamy texture that is welcomed with some of the spice that was in the marinade. The macho peas, were also fantastic, great flavor, to go along with the chicken, a recommendation for first timers. The olives were a great pregame to all the food. Right amount of salt, oil, and seasoning.

Overall this turned into finding a new place to enjoy some great food, and great atmosphere. Will be returning again that is for sure. Just wish it was a full wait staff versus, being seated only to get back up to place the order, and refilling...

Worst Nando's ever! Don't ever ever order from here.

Customer Service is horrible, I place and order on the phone, and the person who took my order said it was going to be ready in 10-15 mins, I arrived, by the way the STORE MANAGER as soon as he saw me walking in just looked at me and carry on doing whatever he was doing, not even a "hello, ill be rigth there with you" noooo nothing! After 5 mins he then said, hi, and I told him I'm here for a pick up order, and he said ok, cash me out and told me " ok your order will be ready in 20 Mims!

I'm sorry but what ? What is the point of ORDERING AHEAD? AND PLUS THEY HAD TOLD ME MY ORDER WAS GOING TO BE READY IN 15 MINS WHEN I CALLED ON THE PHONE, NOW , I LIVE 30 MINS AWAY, SO THEY HAD DOUBLE THE TIME TO GET MY ORDER READY.

BUT NO, HE DIDNT APOLOGIZE, HE WAS THE MOST DISRESPECTFUL IGNORANT STORE MANAGER IVE EVER ENCOUNTERED.

HE SAID YOU WANT TO WAIT 20 MINS OR ILL GIVE YOU A REFUND!

LIKE SERIOUSLY, IS THIS THE TYPE OF CUSTOMER SERVICE THIS RESTAURANTS GIVE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS?

THIS IS RIDICULOUS, ON THE OTHER HAND THE KITCHEN EMPLOYEES ARE ANOTHER THING. THEY WERE EMPATHETIC, THEY WERE KIND A FELT SORRY FOR THE GENERAL MANAGERS ATTITUDE AND THE WAY HE HANDLE THE SITUATION.

IF ANY BODYS IS READING THIS, PLEASE DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND TAKE YOUR BUSINESS SOMEWHERE ELSE. IF THE STORE MANAGER DOESN'T CARE AT ALL ABOUT HIS CUSTOMERS, DO YOH THINK HE CARES ABOUT HIS EMPLOYEES??

NOOOO HE DOESN'T!! I SAW HIM GIVING A REALLY BAD TREATMENT TO ONE OF HIS EMPLOYEES. AND SHE JUST TOOK HER HEAD DOWN AND LISTEN, I FEEL SO SORRY FOR THE GIRL.

I HOPE THE STORE MANAGER GETS FIRED AND SOMEONE ELSE COMES TO HANDLE THE RESTAURANT IN A MORE...