Last week, I raised the indelicate question of whether Nando’s Peri-Peri had totally wimped out its concept for the suburban stroller and babyspit crowd in Silver Spring.

Yesterday, I got an official response from one Burton Heiss, managing director for the Nando’s Restaurant Group based in D.C. Heiss decided to kill me with kindness:

I was delighted to see your blog about our newest restaurant in Silver Spring. Of course, the title immediately grabbed my attention. Actually, my reaction was eerily similar to your wife’s first visit…holding breath, whole body quake, etc.. Kidding aside, I can assure you that we have not “toned down” our sauce. We use the same recipe today as we did for your first “nose dripping” experience. As well, our sauces are made centrally and thus all the locations use the same sauce.

I would like to personally apologize for your disappointment and annoyance. I am at a loss to explain the lack of spice you recently experienced. We have checked with the restaurant management, looked for other comments or complaints and tasted a whole lot of sauce. Yet, I have no explanation. The best I can suggest, is that you give us a second chance to “enflame” your palette [sic] and would like to invite you and your wife to dine with us again. When you have a moment, drop me your address and I will send a voucher.

Thank you for the feedback and the publicity. Again, I am sorry we didn’t deliver on your last visit. We strive daily to deliver an exceptional guest experience…with plenty of “heat.”

Best,

Burton Heiss | Managing Director

Incidentally, I declined the voucher, thanked Heiss for his generous response, and told him that I would give Nando’s another try soon.