Nando's PERi-PERi — Restaurant in Niles Township

I really REALLY love peri-peri chicken, and Nando's - in general - is one of my favorite places to get it. There have been a few other locations that have great peri-peri and African birdseye chili chicken, but I particularly like how consistent Nando's is. Their chicken is always tender and juicy; their sides are always prepared nicely; and they're generally pretty fast when we eat-in. I've had better, but I've never had as consistently good peri-peri chicken elsewhere. Their Macho Peas are also one of my favorite dishes!

The staff here are very friendly, very accommodating, and work quickly. At times, I feel like they might be a little understaffed, but do their best to keep up with the demands during peak hours. They keep the restaurant clean, they always serve up the food as quickly as its put up (you can see the line from most of the seats in the restaurant), and the fruity iced tea always flows. The singular downside is that the food preparation is slower than at the Oakbrook Terrace or Naperville Nando's Peri Peri Chicken locations, both of which seem to have more staff on hand (at least from what I could see).

This Nando's location is moderately easy to get to IF you know your way around Old Orchard. They're near the former Bloomingdale's big white building in the North West corner of the Old Orchard mall complex. Park in the northeastern-most section of the Orange Garage on Lavergne Ave., then walk northwest past the management office towards the old Bloomingdale's entrance (there's a mall sign showing the entrance). Nando's will be just past that entrance. If you're carrying out, there's a service round-about there in front of the management office - just make sure not to park there. If you don't know the mall layout (and it's a little complicated), they can be a bit difficult to find being at one of the less-busy ends, and entirely invisible from the street.

As of May 9th 2024, Google Maps has two locations for the same restaurant. The pin at 4999 Old Orchard is correct, and the 117 E Lake pin is in the wrong location (though an update has been suggested). The Westfield Old Orchard website map has it accurately located.

I think their location holds them back a little, so I hope they eventually relocate to one of the more accessible entrances like how CPK or Epic Burger are located. If they were easier to get to, we would probably eat here more, and I think they'd get more casual traffic if the restaurant were visible...

Before I start a quick explanation I liked the food here tried it for the first time 2 days ago decided to eat there again just now.. With that being said..I am a huge fan of placing & paying from an order online so its quick & easy just sign grab your food & jet out of there (especially if your on a lunch break or a very busy with time restraints)...so i called in an order whixh was two days ago with no problems what so ever..but the reason why i called in is bc as i do with most restaurants I tried to place an order online first at which time the website prompted me & stated this restaurant at Westfield OO Mall is the ONLY place which doesnt allow online ordering. So I placed a call to order & pay over the phone (you know the old fashion way before smartphones 😝😝).. Today when I called a woman in a very rude manner the typical I dont want to be here, so hurry up with your order..anyways i place my exact same order as I had two days prior. Yes the food is good im not knocking on that..she puts me on hold like she didnt know what to do, came back & inna very cold manner stated "Nope cant do that over the phone"..i explained to her 2 days prior I placed an order over the phone thru an incredibly charming employee by the name of Nicole i might add. She had no problem with it & everything went fine. Food was delicious & I got charged appropriately & all... Well again in a cold manner again stated " Well Nicole is from another restaurant & I have no idea how she did it so sorry... I mean really you cant ask your manager or get someone to do it for you... Absolutely ridiculous... Again food is good but call me nit-picky but I wont be going...

I'm not sure what this location was like pre-covid, but it had to be better than what it is now, concerning customer service. Staff is doing their part on the mask and gloves side...and socially distancing when able.

Find a menu and table, and sit down...noone will tell you this. Instead, the cashier will stare at the line that is forming, while leaning on the counter.

If you can lean, you can clean...

Ok cool, you sit down, and there is outdoor seating.... If you're waiting for roughly 10 minutes, just go inside, noone will acknowledge you.

You must order inside and you also have to pay immediately.

The food comes out pretty quickly. Somone will bring it to you...you will remember and miss this moment.

Its Nando's so the taste is there, food could've been hotter, hot as in temperature not spice level.

You will have to ASK for water, you will have to CLEAN the glass before you realize it's just a bunch of old scratches..don't bother getting another one, they're all scratched.

If you order an alcoholic drink, you will wait. You will wait an unreasonable amount of time. You will also ask again. It comes, eventually. They bring it to you!! You WILL remember and miss this moment.

You will go inside one too many times to ask for things other restuarants just do. I don't like that.

Also, the staff is funny here. One minute they are super casual, leaning around, joking, not being busy then the next minute someone is asking about their order and they run around confused saying: "What's the name?"

Bruh.

I should apply to work here, because the culture needs to be changed all the way around.

This location is just not ready...