Casa do Frango

 Posh Nando's

Casa do Frango

Nandos. the grill chicken restaurant concept is one of the few success stories in the casual dining world. I do enjoy their peri-peri chicken every once a while, but the quality can be very inconsistent, depending on which sites you visit. Casa do Frango is basically a supercharged up version of Nandos, it offers only 1 main course, which is the grilled chicken, along with a range of Portuguese inspired sharing dishes. The sharing dishes are much less mainstream with many uncommon dishes you would find on a high street, such as the Bacalhau fritters and African rice. I have been there once in London Bridge in the past and it has since expanded with a second site in Shoreditch. 

Bacalhau & Chickpea Fritters

Almôndegas

Half chicken, oregano

I ordered a range of dishes to share for 2, the most impressive small plate was the almôndegas, the slow-cooked tomato meatballs. It was rich in red wine and savory taste, the meat absorbed all the lovely robust sauces and the little touch of thyme offered a nice balance of freshness. The African rice is somewhat a showstopper dish from Casa do Frango, and it was easy to understand why. It contains chorizo and dry chicken skin, which delivered some really powerful umami aroma with an awesome crispy texture, then we have the plantain that delivered a mild sweetness. The grilled chicken was a letdown, however. It arrived warm on the table and I could tell it was pre-cooked in advance so it was a touch dry, the lemon and garlic seasoning also lacked the sharpness I was seeking.

Half chicken, lemon

Heritage Tomato Salad

African Rice

Casa do Frango is clearly a step up vs Nandos, better service, greater selection of food offering, and overall better execution. However, it must not become like Nandos in the long term. Restaurants always fall into pieces once they over-expand and acquired by an investment company. Now 2 sites strong, is hard not think the owner of Casa do Frango is planning to turn the business into a chain business. Should they do so, they must ensure the quality remains without cutting corners. I wonder the pre-cooked chicken was a one-off or is how they do things now to turn dishes out faster (and in term and turn tables faster).

Food 2.5/5

Average cost without drinks and services:
20

2 King John Ct, Hackney, London EC2A 3EZ

https://www.casadofrango.co.uk/