Fast together, feast together @ Nando's

It is impossible to spend Ramadan without having our heads turned by the sheer number of meal deals offered by every restaurant in town. Iftar and sehri have taken on a different significance as people flock to the gastronomical hubs in the capital instead of going home for that first date with the family. 

With routine check-ins on social media around dusk and before dawn, one does begin to wonder about the diminishing essence of Ramadan – where abstinence during fasting hours is meant to feed the soul and strengthen the spirit, instead of giving into gluttony. 

There, however, is a welcome break this year — a new hope where one can fulfill their desires in a guiltless manner. This year, Nando's has launched into the Ramadan spirit by embarking on a new iftar campaign titled "Fast together, feast together." 

The campaign features three different platters that vary depending on the number of people they cater to. The Very Hungry Together platter for four is priced at Tk2499 has one whole chicken, four sides, one hummus with their famous peri-peri drizzle and pita, four chicken wings, fresh fruit and dates. 

For a more intimate iftar, there is the Very Hungry Platter for two, Tk 1599, which omits the hummus and pita but features their Nandinos Chicken Burger. And for the lone, hungry wolves, there's the Hungry Meal at a very reasonable price of Tk 899, which consists of the same items as the Very Hungry Platter, but suitably quantified for one. To round off each meal, the offer includes a dessert of brownies with ice cream, and chocolate sauce drizzled on top. 

True to their word, Nando's "fasts" along with their desired customers by refraining from posting pictures of food before sunset. From 4pm onwards, the restaurant's social media page uploads a picture of empty serving dishes, and as fasting draws to a close, the pictures build the platter by adding items one by one, before presenting a complete, mouth-watering meal at iftar time. The clever tactic which not only holds customers back from temptation doubles the fun as the anticipation grows along with their appetites.

As the adage goes, all good things come to those who wait, and the incredibly generously portioned platters delivers on that note. Nando's lovers can expect the same juicy, peri-peri spiced delectability, but with an added bonus of variety. The quantity and array is sure to gratify your hunger after a long hard day of fasting, and at such reasonable prices, it won't put a dent in your wallet.

By Robina Rashid Bhuiyan