Fogo's Peri Peri - Skokie

Read about Fogo's Peri Peri in a Reader article by Mike Sula, Is peri peri chicken the next battle in the poultry wars?, stopped for a quarter peri peri hot with rice.

Chicken was....ok, flesh slightly mushy, peri peri sauce one dimensionally spicy, slight crisp on the skin, an ok quicky lunch that I'd try again, but not rushing back.

In the same article Sula mentions Fat Rice is going to start peri peri chicken to go, which I'd love to try, and Nando's, a South African peri peri chain, is opening three Chicago locations this spring.

Fogo's Peri Peri
4915 Oakton
Skokie, IL
847-675-5000

Good stuff to know, even if disappointing about Fogo's. Thanks for the head's-up. Any word on the three Nando's locations?

Didn't mean to imply Fogo's was bad, it wasn't, just not culinarily motivating.

Sula, in the hyperlinked article, says Lakeview at 670 W. Diversey, New City at 1500 N. Clybourn, and in the West Loop at 953 W. Randolph. Kevin Pang, in the Tribune today, mentions the Randolph Nando's location will be first.

Gypsy Boy wrote:Good stuff to know, even if disappointing about Fogo's. Thanks for the head's-up. Any word on the three Nando's locations?

Not sure what info you are looking for specifically re Nando's, but at the bottom of Sula's article is the following:

Mike Sula wrote:No sooner did this post go up than it was announced that Nando's is opening three locations in Chicago this spring, in Lakeview at 670 W. Diversey, New City at 1500 N. Clybourn, and in the West Loop at 953 W. Randolph. War is coming.

Nando's is coming to Chicago? Awesome. The peri peri in the Fogo picture looks fairly legit, too bad it doesn't seem to live up to its photo. I discovered peri peri years ago in Johannesburg (and ended up eating it pretty much every day of the week I was there), but I haven't been able to recreate the flavor experience since (haven't had a chance to visit the Nando's in DC.)

Matt wrote:

Gypsy Boy wrote:Good stuff to know, even if disappointing about Fogo's. Thanks for the head's-up. Any word on the three Nando's locations?

Not sure what info you are looking for specifically re Nando's, but at the bottom of Sula's article is the following:

Mike Sula wrote:No sooner did this post go up than it was announced that Nando's is opening three locations in Chicago this spring, in Lakeview at 670 W. Diversey, New City at 1500 N. Clybourn, and in the West Loop at 953 W. Randolph. War is coming.

Wait. There's another neighborhood called New City? *looks it up* Looks like there is. Huh.

Binko wrote:Wait. There's another neighborhood called New City? *looks it up* Looks like there is. Huh.

When we lived in Chicago, the YMCA that used to be at Clybourn, North, and Halsted was called the New City Y. Not sure...erm, why.

Rick T. wrote:

Binko wrote:Wait. There's another neighborhood called New City? *looks it up* Looks like there is. Huh.

When we lived in Chicago, the YMCA that used to be at Clybourn, North, and Halsted was called the New City Y. Not sure...erm, why.

Interesting. I wonder how old the name "New City" to refer to that part of town is. I've always known New City as Back of the Yards + Canaryville, but, to be honest, it was rare to hear it referred to as such by the residents of the community (though you may see it in the occasional business name.) Anyhow, sorry for the hijack. Just learned something new.

So we've already had New City, and New Town. What next?

nsxtasy wrote:So we've already had New City, and New Town. What next?

New New City, of course.

(Lobster) Newburg? Sorry, couldn't help myself.

=R=

Went last night and got the Banquet, which was 2 whole chickens, 4 fries (changed 2 to cassava/yuca fries), 8 wings, and 2 sides (rice and hummus were our choices). Overall quite good, and perhaps they have refined their cooking techniques since opening, as the chicken (all parts) was firm and moist. The "medium" spicy glaze was flavorful and not too spicy for those who prefer less heat. The skin is not crisp, so if you're looking for that, you're not going to find it.

The rice, waffle fries, cassava fries (cubed, presumably for easier frying), and hummus were all fine, with the rice resembling some Indian seasoned rices. The dipping sauces, especially the spicy bbq, were all flavorful and not sweet.

I will note that our order did take quite a long time (30-60 minutes until all our items were out), and this was at Saturday dinner. It appeared there was no manager on site initially, which probably accounted for the delay, as the staff were working diligently but needed supervision to handle the in-person and phone orders. Luckily we were in no hurry, but this is something to be aware of. No idea if it's similar at other times.

Not a destination, but it's a solid choice if you're in the area and have time to relax. I'm looking forward to trying Nando's to compare.

At lunch today, the owner informed me that he's opening a second location in Schaumburg on Roselle Rd. Should be open in about four months.

The Evanston Lunch Group's lunch yesterday was mostly quite good. The medium-spice level chicken still carried some heat, and it was moist with good flavor. It was not mushy at all. The wings, which came with our "Family" dinner, were meaty and quite tasty. The chicken was not overly saucy. The dipping sauces were not really necessary, I thought, for the chicken. The BBQ sauce seemed straight out of the KC Masterpiece bottle; the garlic sauce was a mild toum (needed more garlic to my taste); the hot sauce packed a decent punch. The sides were less interesting. The waffle fries were okay, and the cole slaw had too much dressing. I have had the "special" rice with a takeout order and found it only ordinary, and the cassava chunks, called fries, were hard and unappetizing the time I had them.

They were doing a decent lunch business. It's counter service and plastic tableware.

If I lived closer, I could see picking up the chicken for a quick dinner on a regular basis. It's another good option in Skokie.

At lunch today, the owner informed me that he's opening a second location in Schaumburg on Roselle Rd. Should be open in about four months.

Walked by the storefront last night. Unfortunately, it still looks like it's a long way off from completion.

I was pretty underwhelmed by a lunch visit here a couple of weeks ago. The place felt antiseptic/corporate and the food didn't really veer from that aesthetic. Everything was fine. Nothing was great. Bird was very small. My companion asked "is this sparrow?" Rice and fries were largely forgettable. I did like the hottest sauce but it wasn't applied to the bird generously enough while it was cooking. It was fine as a dipping sauce.

I just can't see rushing back here for any reason but if I were to, it'd definitely be for carry-out. The space is clean and bright enough but it just somehow feels bleak to me; more of a trial concept than a place to eat.

=R=

Name changed to Porto Peri Peri. Definitely under new management. Menu seems pretty much the same - but service has definitely improved. Checking their Facebook page - they opened another location in Schaumburg.