Nando's Peri-Peri South African/ Portuguese Restaurant Opens in Hyde Park Chicago

After Stunning Success at Oakbrook Center Mall Nando's Celebrates Launch of New Hyde Park Restaurant

Free Peri-Peri Chicken for the People 

by Dwight Casimere

Just a day after the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Weekend, Nando's continued celebration of the Grand Opening of its sparkling new Hyde Park location at  1447 E. 53rd St. with an historic give-away that would have made the civil rights icon proud; on Tuesday, January 17, students, faculty and staff who presented a valid University of Chicago ID were able to enjoy a free spicy flame-grilled 1/4 chicken, chicken sandwich, wrap  or pita. January 17 will go down in the history books as the birthday of renowned Chicagoans Michelle Obama, Dwayne Wade and, yes, Al Capone. And now a new chapter is written. For Tuesday, January 17, will be the day Nando's PERi-PERi invites the University of Chicago to eat at Nando's new Hyde Park restaurant, for free.


Nando'sl officially opened its doors in Hyde Park-at 1447 E. 53rd Street-on Saturday, January 14. Nando's paid it forward that day by donating 100 percent of opening-day sales to the Kenwood Academy High School in Hyde Park, to help fund college visits for students at one of the best public schools in the city.

The lighting design and interiors of Nando make customers now that they're truly in for something special. Colorful intimate booths also add a special touch. Every Nando's is painstakingly designed and completely unique, with earthy textures and bright colors that reflect its sunny African-Portuguese heritage. With thousands of pieces of original works of art that are a constant reminder of where the restaurant came from, Nando's has become the largest collector of South African contemporary art in the world. Nando's new Hyde Park restaurant features one-of-a-kind South African artwork, too, including a corrugated-metal mural that was hand-painted in Hyde Park by South African street artist Kilmany-Jo Liversage.

Nando's has built an intensely loyal following, from London to the Loop, by providing fresh food in a relaxed atmosphere with friendly service. Nando's is known worldwide for its succulent PERi-PERi chicken, marinated for 24 hours, flame-grilled to perfection, and basted to the customer's preferred flavor and spice. 

 
ABOUT NANDO'S PERi-PERi
The first Nando's restaurant opened its doors in 1987 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Since then, the Nando's flame has spread to 23 countries on five continents. Nando's is known worldwide for its succulent PERi-PERi chicken, marinated for 24 hours, flame-grilled to perfection, and basted to the customer's preferred flavor and spice. It's equally renowned for its spicy PERi-PERi, the Bird's Eye chili pepper that indigenous Africans introduced to the Portuguese centuries ago.

Just a few months ago, Nando's opened a new location in Oakbrook Center Mall, right next to the new AMC Omni theatre on the upper level.

The star of the show at the this, the Hyde Park and every other Nando's location,  is the succulent,  flame-broiled PERI PERI chicken, which is marinated for 24 hours in fresh spices, and served with your choice of marinades and spices, including the PeriPeri pepper that is native to South Africa, where the Portuguese were first introduced to it and the fabulous flame-grilled chicken. The new Oakbrook Center Mall location is the tenth in the Chicago area, including one in downtown Naperville on Jefferson. The chicken is basted to the customer's preferred preference of spiciness. There's also a table with an array of pepper infused sauces from mild to super hot, that also be added to the dish by the customer. Besides the flavoerful chicken that can be served in halves, pieces, in wraps, salads,. or any variety of imaginative ways. The starters and sides are just as exciting and flavorful as the chicken. Start off the meal with the restaurant's signature starters, the spicy mixed nuts and spiced olives. That's just enought to get the taste buds excited for what's ahead...a plunge into the South African flavor forest of Peri Peri's signature marinated chicken. Whether bathed in your choice of heat, from mild lime and herb or mango and herb to regular to super hot peppers, then topped with a dazzling array of spicy marinades and toppings.

Nando's PERi-PERi made its U.S. debut in 2008 with the opening of its first location in Washington, DC. Nando's PERi-PERi now operates three dozen restaurants in and around Chicago, Washington and Baltimore. For more information, please visit www.nandosperiperi.com, follow @NandosUSA on Twitter or Like Us at Nando's PERi-PERi USA on Facebook.