The moment you walk into the newest U.S. outpost of fast-casual chicken chain Nando’s, it’s clear you are in a different sort of fast-food joint. The South Africa-headquartered restaurant chain, known for its zesty peri-peri Portuguese-style chicken cheeky late night dinners, and friendly environment, has taken a turn towards the high-end in its ongoing expansion across the pond.

The space, set within an existing 3,500-square-foot storefront in North Bethesda, Maryland, just 12 miles outside of D.C., was designed by Brooklyn-based firm CRÉME. Studio founder Jun Aizaki was approached by the chain just over three years ago to work on the design, with just a few qualifiers: “They had a really non-compromising attitude for being creative and fun with the space,” says Aizaki. “They required we use at least some South African artists and artisans in the space, but otherwise emphasized the need for it to be an inclusive, unique, and fun place to be.”

To achieve this goal, the team started first with mood boards, looking at various colors, patterns, and shapes that were prevalent throughout South African design. “We were trying to dig deeper and look into arts and crafts that are rooted in South Africa as well Portuguese elements to try to trace back the history of the brand and find inspiration with that,” said Aizaki.