Canningvale - Anonymous Review

It was my first time ever visiting a Nando's in all of my 31 years. I had heard so much over the years about how much people loved it, but as I was an early vegetarian and vegan for 9 years after, it was never in my interest to go to a place that sold chicken. But I had heard many, many a time how good the chips and the peri peri spice was. Another anomaly: I didn't like potato chips, choosing to go to Grill'd for their sweet potato chips, or make my own at home. Last year I discovered this new love for regular white potato chips, but still had never though of Nando's.
When grocery shopping at Woolworths near my parent's house Monday 11th February around 6pm, I noticed a Nando's store across the road and felt curiousity pull at me.
Long, descriptive story short, it was an amazing first experience all due to the woman who served me. Alicia was friendly, so helpful, patient, informative, kind, and willing to go beyond in all areas of her serving me. I am still a plant-based (vegan) eater, and also gluten-free. She was amazing!!! She was flexible, clear, direct, without ever getting impatient with me. She had a light, enjoyable, 'can-do', accommodating attitude in helping find and create something completely new off the menu that I was excited to eat. We made a bun-less burger built from the ingredients on the vegetarian burger list, adding extras in and taking away items. She was fun and made the whole process enjoyable and I never felt bad, guilty, judged or like I was a burden on her or her other staff member's time. It was amazing, and I was thoroughly impressed and felt really great and accepted. I ordered and she asked me to give feedback as it was the first time the item had been created at the store. A bunless burger, with sauces on the side, extra avocado, and she brought the packaging and information sheets out to double-check ingredients to make sure there was no gluten cross contamination in the patty. Absolutely unbelievable. I ordered two lots of chips with asking to have one serve with peri peri and one serve plain, as I had never tried the peri peri before and don't enjoy a lot of spice in my food. Again, amazing and accomodating, she was friendly and replied that it was 'easy as a breeze'. I could not feel more included, grateful, and I had the most enjoyable dinner experience because of her. AND it was REALLY TASTY!!!!! I returned last week to order three more lots of chips with peri peri and one without as I knew the service there was reliable, trustworthy, speedy, and lovely. I will definitely recommend, and will return whenever another chip or bun-less burger salsa craving takes my curiousity there. Thank you Nando's, thank you Alicia, please, if possible, pass this on to a Manager or higher staff member as I really feel Alicia made a new convert that day, and I will be glad to recommend all to the Canningvale store. Many thanks for making an-often-felt-outsider when it comes to 'Fast food' eating, feel included, welcome and accessible in eating sweet tasty tasty healthy goods. Thank you