Fountain Park                                           

Dundee Street

Edinburgh

EH11 1AF

0131 221 1861

Star Rating

3 stars

Intro sentence

Some like it hot and others prefer it toned down slightly which is why Nando’s caters for all taste palettes. Famed for its peri-peri chicken, the restaurant offers a modern and fun way to eat out but table service is not on the menu.

The venue

Situated in the Fountain Park complex, Nando’s is quite difficult to spot at first glance but it sits beside the bowling complex.  The only interaction you have with the waiter is when he shows you to your seat and the rest is up to you.  To order your food you go to the till and you pay as you go.  You collect your own drink and pick up your cutlery on the way back to your table.  There are booths available to sit in which could hold up to around six people, offering a more secluded dining experience. 

The atmosphere

There is certainly a quick pace associated with this restaurant which is mainly due to the diners hurrying to the till to place their orders.  Nando’s attracts a younger clientele as well as families who enjoy no fuss food and simple dining.  The staff are friendly enough and because the table service you would normally expect in a restaurant is not there, you are left to enjoy your meal with no hassle to leave in a hurry, making it a pleasurable place to eat out.  Nando’s is the perfect place to meet friends after work as the mood is mellow and very relaxed.

The food

The biggest decision to be made when ordering food at Nando’s is how hot can you handle?  Using the peri-ometer you can opt for mild, medium, hot or extra hot.  Chicken burgers and toasted chicken pita’s will set you back around £5 on their own but you can add a side for an extra £1.25 which could include chips, spicy rice, garlic bread, coleslaw or corn on the cob.  The chicken burger marinated in the medium peri-peri is still rather hot so for those who like to enjoy their meal without their eyes watering should opt for the mild marinade!  Veggie burgers and pita’s are also available, priced at around £5 on their own or just over £6 if you fancy a side dish.  Platters to share are also on offer from £14.25 up to £36.80 for the jumbo platter.  There are a variety of salads available which can be ordered with a grilled chicken breast to give your dish a kick.

The desserts on offer are simple and typical of a dessert menu including a coconut tart, a variety of ice-creams, chocolate mousse and a toffee cheesecake, ranging in price from £1.20 up to £3.40.

The drink

Nando’s offers a selection of soft drinks which are available on tap, which is probably just as well as more than one drink is needed to cool down the fiery heat from the main courses!  The drinks include the usual coca-cola, fanta, sprite, fresh orange and lemonade which cost around £2.  The wine lists offers red, white, rose and sparkling wines reasonably priced from around £5 upwards.  There is a small selection of beers and ciders available but sadly these are not on tap!

The last word

If you don’t mind not having the personal touch of table service and you enjoy customising your food to exactly how you like, then Nando’s is ideal.  Very reasonably priced with good-sized portions this restaurant is the perfect way to start an evening off especially if you are heading to the cinema or the bowling alley within the Fountain Park complex.