Atlanta’s BeltLine crowd is about to get a lot spicier. Nando's PERi-Peri is bringing its flame-grilled, African-inspired chicken to Krog Street Market, giving Atlantans their first in-town taste on Tuesday. The chain has taken over the stall that once housed Bar Mercado and is setting up a food-hall counter just off the Eastside Trail.
The restaurant is slated to open on Tuesday and will be Nando’s first location inside Atlanta city limits, as well as its third in the metro area after outposts in Dunwoody and Peachtree Corners, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
In a prepared statement, Nando’s CEO Kimberly Grant said the brand has "really been looking forward to opening in Atlanta proper." The company says the new space will feature an outdoor terrace, a terrazzo-topped bar wrapped in woven African panels and artwork from Nando’s African art collection, per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Preview Events And Pop-Ups
Before flipping the lights on at Krog Street Market, Nando’s tested the waters with a two-day "PERi-PERi Portal" pop-up along the BeltLine. The preview offered tastings, chips and a peri-peri sauce bar for in-town diners eager to see what the hype was about.
Local reporting and event listings highlighted the pop-up and early sampling events as Nando’s readied the new counter inside Krog Street Market, according to Global Atlanta.
How It Fits In The Krog District
Krog Street Market, at 99 Krog St. NE, sits just steps from the BeltLine and hosts a rotating mix of restaurants and stalls, according to Discover Atlanta. It is the kind of food hall where turnover is part of the story, and big-name tenants do not stay vacant for long.
Bar Mercado, the Castellucci-backed restaurant that previously occupied the Krog-facing unit now claimed by Nando’s, closed at the end of December 2022, opening the door for a new tenant, as reported by Eater Atlanta.
What To Expect
Inside the stall, Nando’s is sticking with its signature formula: 24-hour-marinated, flame-grilled chicken with adjustable peri-peri heat, served as plates, sandwiches and bowls. A modest drinks program and a mix of indoor and outdoor seating are planned to cater to BeltLine foot traffic.
For more on the preview events and the menu approach planned for Krog Street Market, see Global Atlanta.
