Nando's PERi-PERi Hatches in Oak Park April 30

    OAK PARK, IL, April 22, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Nando's PERi-PERi, the South African-Portuguese restaurant known worldwide for its spicy flame-grilled chicken, is hatching in Oak Park, Illinois, on Saturday April 30. During its opening weekend, Nando's will donate 100% of all sales to support the Oak Park and River Forest High School. All proceeds generated Saturday April 30 and Sunday May 1 will fund programs that mentor Oak Park and River Forest high school students and help them prepare for college.

The restaurant, at 1138 Lake Street, is Nando's second in suburban Chicago. The first opened last month in Naperville. Nando's now has six restaurants in the Chicago area.

"As our neighbors, the Oak Park and River Forest High School is helping local students discover their potential and prepare for college," said Burton Heiss, CEO of Nando's PERi-PERi USA. "We are delighted to support both the high school and its College Knowledge and Discover programs, and can't wait to share our fiery PERi-PERi chicken with even more Chicago-area fans."

Community giving is at the core of Nando's DNA. The opening in Naperville last month garnered more than $21,000 for programs at Naperville North and Naperville Central High Schools. Nando's has raised more than $75,000 for Chicago area schools and non-profits since arriving on the scene last summer.

Nando's has built an intensely loyal following by providing fresh food in a relaxed atmosphere with friendly service. PERi-PERi, or African Bird's Eye Chili, is the heart and soul of the Nando's experience. "We marinate our chicken in PERi-PERi for at least 24 hours, so the flavor goes right through to the bone," Heiss explained. "Then we grill it over an open flame it and baste it with PERi-PERi sauce to our customers' preferred spice. That's what makes our chicken so addictive."

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.

Oak Park is no exception. The newest Nando's, which seats 150 guests, includes a large outdoor patio. Unique features include exposed coffered ceilings, design elements using reclaimed Chicago brick, bright African patterned fabrics and lighting and chandeliers adorned with colorful yarn and beads.

Nando's other Chicago locations are in the Loop, West Loop, Clybourn Corridor section of Lincoln Park, Lakeview and Naperville.

Regular store hours are: Sunday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. During opening weekend only, hours are Saturday April 30, 11am-3pm and 5pm-9pm; and Sunday May 1, 11am-9pm. The phone number is: (708) 434-6296.

WHAT: Nando's Opens in Oak Park
WHERE: 1138 W. Lake St., Oak Park, IL
WHEN: Opening Weekend, with 100% of Sales Donated to Oak Park River Forest High School

**Saturday April 30, 11am-3pm; 5pm-9pm
**Sunday May 1, 11am-9pm

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.

Nando's PERi-PERi made its U.S. debut in 2008 with the opening of its first location in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, DC. Nando's PERi-PERi now operates 31 restaurants in and around Chicago, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC. For more information, please visitwww.nandosperiperi.com, follow @NandosUSA on Twitter or Like Us at Nando's PERi-PERi USA and our Oak Park Facebook page.

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