Ealing Common (Average rating: 3.53)
This was the first Nando's to open in the UK on 1st April 1992!
Parking is only a short walk and is FREE or very cheap! Free parking on weekday evenings down Granville Gardens.
Lifetime Ratings (10-50 Combined Visits from 4 Nandoers):
| Friendliness of Staff | Speed of Service | Quality of Food | Decoration and Cleanliness |
Rating | 3.5 | 3.25 | 3.88 | 3.5 |
Meaning | Not bad. Did everything I asked of them | 10 - 20 minutes had passed | Above average - noticeably tastier than normal | Standard Nando's, nothing bad, nothing exceptional |
Individual Ratings:
Date of last visit: Sun 01/01/11
Number of Visits?: My first visit!
How busy was it? Almost full
Time of day? Weekend dinner
Additional Comments: Parking was very easy in a side road, and it was free! I think you might have to pay during the day though.
This was my 99th Nando's and an interesting one since it was the first UK Nando's branch. This shows, since the restaurant is very small (similar in size to the 2nd branch: Earl's Court), and it has some interesting writing above the grill to mention its historic interest.
Staff and decoration were distinctly average. The branch had clearly had a refurb in the last couple of years, but there wasn't anything particularly eye-catching, and the tables had that sticky Nando's feel to them!
Speed of service wasn't great considering how empty the branch became as we waited for food. It seems that like Gloucester Road, this branch gets a lot of takeaway orders, and has trouble prioritising these with sit-down orders. We kept seeing people coming in and getting their food, while we had to wait for a disappointingly long amount of time.
When the food eventually came, the annoyance at the wait was compounded by my chicken being luke-warm at best. I tried it, and immediately sent it back for a reheating. This was done promptly, and the chicken was then as it should be. It was covered in sauce and a big piece, so I was quite happy. Rice was slightly above average, chips were piping hot but without very much peri-spice. This again had to be corrected by the waitress. My girlfriend also complained that the chips were cooked in a different oil to normal, making them not as nice.
Overall, not a bad branch...but given how many other Nando's there are to be visited, I won't be returning in a hurry. Now which one should I visit for branch 100?!
| Friendliness of Staff | Speed of Service | Quality of Food | Decoration and Cleanliness |
Rating | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Meaning | Not bad. Did everything I asked of them | 15 - 25 mins - Where is the food? Might have asked a staff member | Average - just as you would expect | Standard Nando's, nothing bad, nothing exceptional |
Date of Visit: Mon 8/8/11
Number of Visits?: My first visit!
How busy was it? Almost full
Time of day? Weekday evening
Additional Comments: This turned out to be an interesting visit due to the outrageous scenes of violence in London which have affected huge areas of the capital (and the rest of the country).
As for location, the first Nando's in the UK is located next to Ealing Common tube and free parking was easy enough to find on a weekday evening just outside.
The staff were very friendly and accommodating. On entering the branch I was struck by the curly writing above the grill (see Photo Gallery below) which explained that I was in the first Nando's in the UK. It is surprising that it has taken me this long to visit some a historic branch especially considering I live in London but now it is done!
A logistical point to consider when meeting someone for Nando's in Ealing is that there is (at least there was, not sure how bad the damage to Bond Street is) another branch on Ealing Broadway and this one is officially in Ealing Common. Luckily the confusion created on this visit was quickly rectified as I ordered for my friend who arrived just in time for her chicken pitta to be placed on the table. I used a free quarter chicken and obviously ordered another quarter with 2 peri chips, I wasn't massively satisfied with the portion sizes and was far from full on completion. This was twice in 2 days as the same thing had happened at Edgware the day before. This time, I was about to order dessert (chocolate cheesecake obviously) when Assistant Manager Monica asked us to leave as soon as possible as the rioters were on their way and she had been told to close the restaurant as soon as possible. Obviously this was in the interest of everyone's safety and so we quickly left the area and fled for our homes! Let's hope these rioters get taught a lesson and stop causing completely unjustified civil unrest. I do not take kindly to being denied dessert because some clowns want to loot a shop!
One quick word on decor: this Nando's is rather quaint and the atmosphere is unique. I really had the feeling that everyone there was proud to be in the UK's first Nando's. There are 2 or 3 booths and all other seating is standard and on one floor. Some colourful artwork lights up this branch too. | Friendliness of Staff | Speed of Service | Quality of Food | Decoration and Cleanliness |
Rating | 4 | 4 | 3.5 | 4 |
Meaning | Good stuff. Very polite | 5 - 10 mins - Some conversation had begun | Average but with lots of peri spice | Very clean, newly furnished, impressive artwork and lighting |
Submitted by: Raph 
Date of Visit: 22/10/10
Number of Visits?: 10 - 50 visits
Additional Comments: Very good in this branch but better at Westfield | Friendliness of Staff | Speed of Service | Quality of Food | Decoration and Cleanliness |
Rating | 4 | 4 | 4.5 | 4 |
Meaning | Good stuff. Very polite | 5 - 10 mins - Some conversation had begun | Great - Very tender chicken,piping hot, not at all burnt, dripping in sauce | Very clean, newly furnished, impressive artwork and lighting |
Submitted by: Terry D
Date of Visit: 04/02/09
Number of Visits?: 5 - 10 visits
Additional Comments: Good location, almost next to Ealing Common Underground station. | Friendliness of Staff | Speed of Service | Quality of Food | Decoration and Cleanliness |
Rating | 3 | 3 | 4.5 | 3 |
Meaning | Not bad. Did everything I asked of them | 10 - 20 minutes had passed | Great - Very tender chicken,piping hot, not at all burnt, dripping in sauce | Standard nando's, nothing bad, nothing exceptional |
Photo Gallery: