VeggieReviews: VEGAN NANDOS?!

I've been to a Nandos once or twice in my day, that was back in the rare times that I did eat meat. I realised that for most of my life I've been a non-meat eater. I just don't like the taste. I have due to family and outside pressures, but now, I don't bother with it. I'm happier and healthier being veggie only. That's what matters, right? I wish there were more vegan/vegetarian options at places other than salads. It's like, come on. Yeah, we like those, love them even, but sometimes we want a little more. Why pay to go out to eat something we can easily make at home? I knew that during this trip, I'd really have to look for meat-free and dairy-free options, carefully reading menus before planning to go to places or not. It felt really limiting and it was. If I went off the map at all to check something else out and wanted to change my mind on the type of food I wanted to eat, it would be a struggle to get WIFI and read through all the places and menus. Just because you type "vegan near me" into Google maps, doesn't mean it's actually it. Or you go there and there are only salads. I think more fast food type places should offer more alternatives to meat and cheese dishes. Veganism is on the rise with more people choosing not to eat meat for moral, health and any number of reasons. I was in Ottawa when I spotted a Nandos. I'd not seen one outside the UK so I was curious to see about them. I knew there were ones outside the UK I'd just never thought about it. I headed over to check it out, see how it was different and see if they maybe had some veggie options; I didn't have my hopes up knowing what kind of restaurant it was, but to my surprise, they had veggie options. I needed to go in. I needed to try it. 

So many of these can be veganised easily; swapping the mayo-based perinaise for a vegan mayo  (veganaise) and the milk based yoghurt with a cashew or almond based one. Simple, not that expensive and they've opened themselves up to an entirely new customer base. Upon inspecting the menu, I decided that I wanted the veggie burger, just without the sauce. I explained to the woman that I can't eat it, she told me it wasn't an issue. It didn't take long after we ordered to have our plates brought out. Maybe 15 minutes. It didn't feel long at all. I wasn't expecting it to come with a grilled pineapple ring on it along with the tomatoes and lettuce. I was shookith. I wasn't sure what to expect but I decided to try it anyway. I like pineapple. What's the real harm? Me being me, I poured ketchup over the burger and bit in. It was an explosion of flavour. The sweet of the pineapple, the tang or the ketchup and the Earthy veggie taste of the burger. I loved it. The crunch of the lettuce just was the icing on the top of the cake. The chips were perfectly done; I love me a fat chip with some ketchup. And no, that's not a metaphor for my sex life either, though it kinda is used as one...thicc, covered in ketchup and me wanting to eat it. I wasn't expecting it to be this good, I really didn't. I'm not really all that much for public eating, but this-it won me over. Sometimes the Portuguese rolls you get are too hard, but not this one. Perfect crispy outside and soft fluffy inside. The service was wonderful. No one to hover around asking me how my meal is when I'm trying to shove it into my face hole. I was left to enjoy my meal. Thankfully, the restaurant was quiet. It was immaculately clean as well. I loved that. I don't like walking into a dingy place to eat; makes me think I'm going to get sick.

I need to do different editions of this for Delectables with Dan! I want to try garden burgers, veggie burgers (yes, there's a difference) and more with some of their flavour ideas. See what I like that I can make vegan and budget friendly. The balance of sweet and salty was amazing. I've made a note to return to this Nandos when I return to Ottawa. Ottawa people! Have any vegan suggestions for me? Let me know via Tweet, DM or email daninterviews@gmail.com 

Onatio Nandos Menu: https://www.nandos.ca/eat/menu/ontario