Nando’s is a safe bet when the hunger pains are real: tasty, affordable, and omnipresent. But nobody told me they also throw a damn good hoedown.
The old Liberty Social club was barely recognisable following the six-month renovation job and probably because I don’t ever remember going there. Nevertheless, from its desiccated corpse on Flinders Lane arises the new Mill House venue. R.I.P. Liberty Social, you were weird.
A new Melbourne venue is only fitting to transform what I can only assume is a gilded perception of Nando’s from the general Melbourne public: devout providers of thy chicken. Transcend those peri-peri layers as a Peri-perks club member, however, and be prepared to swap peri-peri for party-party. Nando’s teamed up with Pedestrian TV to throw a secret V.I.P. party for its Peri-perks members and party is what peri-peri people do very well.
huge balloons – photo courtesy Nando’s
Greeting you was a Mill House rep ready to give Nando’s Peri-perks members the lowdown: spanking new venue, peri-peri chicken on the menu, beer, wine, and basics from the venue, snaps from Lady Drewniak, and Melbourne’s electronic duo Miami Horror on the decks. Chicken on the mind and Feral Brewing Hop Hog in hand, I soaked up the surroundings: two bar areas, large Nando’s and Pedestrian TV balloons floating around, peri-peri chicken service from Nando’s reps, ‘Is this the old Liberty Social joint?’, decent beer selection, and tunes for hips to move. Booths and long benches provided sufficient placement to sit and talk about chicken as Nando’s reps darted around with literally crates of peri-peri goodness.
Some of the delish food – photo courtesy Nando’s
Miami Horror took over at 9:30 p.m. to a packed floor and eager reception of peri-peri lovers cutting shapes and working off chicken and beer. Chicken, beer, and beats on a school night should probably be a weekly thing. Melbourne forms part of an east coast event tour from Nando’s, whom after this event I have learnt are a major food chain dedicated to showing the public they can, and will, party.
Miami Horror DJing – photo courtesy Nando’s
Ate: Macca’s. Jokes. Peri-peri chicken.
Drank: Feral Brewing Hop Hog.
Pros: Free food and booze; new venue.
Cons: Chicken is religion, so food ran out early.
The aim of this article was to say ‘peri’ at least 20 times. I think my work here is done.
-Matt M.
Matt is a mad scientist by day and beer connoisseur by night. When he’s not devouring a new set of craft beers you will find him in a dankly lit room plotting his approach at the next alcohol-related festival.
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