Chicken First, Wine Very Much Last
· Atlanta · Fast Casual · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed August 9, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Nando's Peri-Peri’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Eight labels at a fast-casual peri-peri chain is exactly what you'd expect — and not in a good way. The list reads like someone grabbed whatever was on sale at the restaurant depot and called it a wine program. To be fair, the prices won't insult you, but that's the ceiling here.
The list leans Portuguese and South African, which at least makes thematic sense given Nando's roots — but execution is surface-level at best. You've got Gatao Vinho Verde and Borges Lello representing Portugal, Indaba Chardonnay and Braai Cabernet Sauvignon waving the South African flag, and a couple of Cara Viva bottles rounding out the whites and reds. The rest of the menu is occupied by Red Wine Sangria and Rosé Sangria, which tells you everything you need to know about who this list is designed for. There's no depth, no regional exploration, and zero reason to geek out.
All eight bottles are available by the glass, ranging from $7.59 to $11.59 — so yes, the entire list is effectively a BTG program. That's not a flex; it just means nothing is interesting enough to save for a full bottle experience. Rotation is nonexistent; this menu has 'set and forget' energy from a mile away.
Gatao Vinho Verde — $7.59
Vinho Verde and spicy peri-peri chicken is genuinely a good match — the slight spritz and low alcohol cut through heat better than anything else on this list. At under eight bucks a glass, it's the only pour that earns its place.
Indaba Chardonnay
Indaba is a legit South African producer making honest, food-friendly wine at an accessible price point. It's not flashy, but it's a real winery with real standards — more than can be said for the rest of the list.
Braai Cabernet Sauvignon
A big tannic red at a fast-casual chicken spot is a bad call on principle, and Braai Cab isn't doing anything interesting enough to justify it. Order the Vinho Verde and move on.
Gatao Vinho Verde + Extra Hot Peri-Peri Chicken
The light effervescence and citrus snap of the Vinho Verde acts like a fire extinguisher for your palate between bites of the extra hot chicken. It's the one pairing on this list that actually makes sense and tastes intentional.
The Bottom Line
Nando's is here for the chicken, and the wine list knows it — eight uninspired labels that exist to check a box, not to enhance your meal. Order the Vinho Verde, enjoy your peri-peri, and don't overthink it.
Brookhaven · Atlanta · New American/Southern
Roc South is a genuinely fun restaurant — the food sounds great and the vibe is undeniable — but the wine program doesn't give us enough to work with or get excited about. Until there's a verifiable list with real producers and fair pricing, let the bartender guide your evening instead.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · New American/Southern
Park 82 has a wine list in the same way a gas station has a wine selection — technically present, practically limiting. If you're a Pinot Noir devotee who doesn't mind paying restaurant markup for bottles you've seen at Kroger, you'll survive. Everyone else should probably lead with cocktails and ask what's on tap.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Asian
Tabla's wine list punches above its weight for an Asian restaurant in Atlanta. The white-heavy, aromatic-focused selection makes genuine sense with the food, pricing at the entry level is fair, and the BTG depth is real. We'd send a friend here for wine without hesitation — just order the Grüner first.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Other
MCK isn't trying to be a wine destination — it's a bar and restaurant with a list built for toasting and crowd comfort. The sparkling program punches above the list's weight, the by-the-glass selection is generous, and the markups on still wines are steep but not outrageous. Send a friend here if they want Champagne and something easy to sip; send them somewhere else if they're chasing a wine experience.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Gastropub/Tavern
Blue Moon Brewery & Grill is a beer bar first, second, and third — the wine list exists so your friend who doesn't drink beer doesn't feel stranded. If that's the situation, the Cava at $9 or the Elouan Rosé at $10 are perfectly fine. But if wine is the reason you're going out, go somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Thai
Pink Lotus has built a wine list that takes its cues from the food — acid-forward, bubbles-heavy, and genuinely curious — which is more than most Thai spots in town bother to do. Markups are fair, the by-the-glass selection is wide, and there are real finds here if you look past the Dom Pérignon showpiece bottles at the top. If you're eating Thai in Atlanta and you want something interesting in your glass, this list deserves your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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