Elephant & Castle (Average rating: 3.25)
Parking is considered N/A due to this branch being in Central London.
Lifetime Ratings (10-50 Combined Visits from 7 Nandoers):
| Friendliness of Staff | Speed of Service | Quality of Food | Decoration and Cleanliness |
Rating | 3.07 | 3.43 | 3.43 | 3.07 |
Meaning | Not bad. Did everything I asked of them | 10 - 20 minutes had passed | Average but with lots of peri spice | Standard Nando's, nothing bad, nothing exceptional |
Individual Ratings:
Submitted by: Joe
Number of Visits?: 2-5
Additional Comments: The chicken was so burnt it was quite unbeleivable how on earth they though it was OK to serve it.
My half chicken was a bit crispy, with a few burnt bits but the chicken was very chewwy and dry - it had obviously been left somewhere for ages. My friends half chicken looked OK, but once turned over the whole chicken was completely charred black carbon - not possible to eat. We were in a rush and so I ate my dish - but they replaced my friends once he turned it over! Bad show.
| Friendliness of Staff | Speed of Service | Quality of Food | Decoration and Cleanliness |
Rating | 4 | 3 | 1.5 | 4 |
Meaning | Good stuff. Very polite | 10 - 15 mins - Nando's average | Very disappointing - cold, flavourless, burnt | Very clean, newly furnished, impressive artwork and lighting |
Date of last visit: Mon 12/12/11
Number of Visits?: My first visit!
How busy was it? Half full
Time of day? Weekday lunch
Additional Comments: I went to this branch for a late lunch, about 3pm. It’s pretty easy to find from Elephant and Castle tube station, easy to see, but hard to get too. It’s on the other side of a huge roundabout which is seemingly impassable, me and my girlfriend nearly went the wrong way before we realised there was a big subway going under the roundabout, once we found that it was easy to get to. As for nearby things, there’s a market and a shopping mall, though I’m informed that it’s a rubbish shopping mall, and the market is pretty rubbish too, not a very nice area of London.
When we arrived the branch was nearly full, but we were seated immediately onto a nice table for two near the front window, we were so glad they didn't cram us on a different table for two which was closer to the entrance, but we would have been right next to some other people, so I was grateful for that. The person that greeted us was nice and friendly, explained how to order even though I told him I'd been before. There was one person in the queue when we went to order and I got served in no time, the guy serving me was lovely and was happy to change my order when I forgot to ask for peri-chips. Friendliness of staff 3/5.
The food took about 10 minutes, it was awkward when he brought it over because my girlfriend had ordered so much food for herself he though one of the meals was for me, I had to tell him they were both hers and embarrass her (I found it pretty funny though). Speed of service 3/5.
The food was really good, better than I expected it to be; my extra hot butterfly chicken was huge and was drenched in sauce. They had plenty of extra extra hot bottles so no complaints there. The garlic bread was cooked just the way I like it, slightly burnt and crispy. The portion of chips was pretty big but I was extra hungry so I still wanted more after, so I stole some of my girlfriend’s massive horde. Only complaint I have was the drinks machine, it kept spraying coke all over my hands when I used it. Food a definite 4/5 !!!
The decor was ok... But the dark wood ceiling and the blinds being down slightly left the room feeling dark and dull, nothing special really stood out, and the dullness drained the atmosphere slightly. I'll give the decor 3/5.
Overall, what really matters to me is the food, and since it was delicious, I'll say I enjoyed this branch! Don't much fancy returning to this area of London though. | Friendliness of Staff | Speed of Service | Quality of Food | Decoration and Cleanliness |
Rating | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
Meaning | Not bad. Did everything I asked of them | 10 - 15 mins - Nando's average | Above average - noticeably tastier than normal | Standard Nando's, nothing bad, nothing exceptional |
Submitted by: Lizzy
Date of last visit: Mon 12/12/11
Number of visits?: My first visit
How busy was it? Almost full
Time of day? Weekday lunch
Additional comments: This branch is fairly close to the station, and easy to find once we got onto the right side of the road. We were enthusiastically welcomed and seated straight away. Although the branch seemed hygienic, the décor was archaic and made the whole restaurant feel gloomy and enclosed. When ordering my food I felt disregarded as the server answered questions from customers behind me, and stopped to ask other workers questions irrelevant to my order. He also seemed perplexed when I ordered two portions of peri-aise. The other guy on the tills seemed much more competent and courteous. I thought it peculiar that tucked between the drinks machine and ice machine was the frozen yoghurt machine. I confess I almost ended up with diet Coke and vanilla frozen yoghurt; luckily I noticed in time. The sources seemed averagely arranged in this branch, nothing special or unique.
When my single breast hot chicken pitta with pineapple, two portions of chips and quarter chicken breast medium arrived ten minutes following ordering I was exceedingly self-conscious when the waiter placed half of this in front of me, and the other half in front of my boyfriend. Pointing out the quarter chicken and chips were mine, the waiter tried to switch the meals over before being informed that all of this was for me. Embarrassing. The waiter was fortunate I was in a excellent mood or I may have been dreadfully impolite.
Besides this I enjoyed my meal, the pitta was lovely and the salad inside was fresh. I had not tried this pineapple before and I would defiantly get this again. The quarter chicken was very succulent and tender. The chips were not to be faulted, and perfect with my peri-aise - even though this is irrelevant to this individual branch, I would like to argue that Nando’s mayonnaise should come free with your meal, as nearly all the other condiments in Nando’s are complimentary. Staff acquired once how our meal was wich was polite and friendly.
When leaving this branch, no staff members acknowledged us and there was no one by the door to say thank you to or see us off. Overall the food was very good but the staff were not always on the ball – the décor could do with an update. | Friendliness of Staff | Speed of Service | Quality of Food | Decoration and Cleanliness |
Rating | 2 | 4 | 4.5 | 2 |
Meaning | Quite rude, Ignored me as they walked past | 5 - 10 mins - Some conversation had begun | Great - Very tender,piping hot, not at all burnt, dripping in sauce | An old Nando's, needs some investment |
Submitted by: Fulcrum
Date of last visit: Thurs 13/09/11
Number of visits?: 5-10
How busy was it? Almost full
Time of day? Weekday dinner
Additional comments: I am yet to have a disappointing experience here... this is a great Nandos.
On my recent visit I had an extra hot chicken burger of outstanding quality and the attractive staff were super-friendly... even offering table service for drink orders.
This establishment is a beacon of light in a very dreary area of London. | 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, piping hot, not at all burnt, dripping in sauce | Very clean, newly furnished, impressive artwork and lighting |
Submitted by: Metronome
Date of last visit: Thurs 13/10/11
Number of visits?: 5-10
How busy was it? Almost full
Time of day? Weekday dinner
Additional comments: Very friendly and enthusiastic staff. Ideal pre bowling dinner! | Friendliness of Staff | Speed of Service | Quality of Food | Decoration and Cleanliness |
Rating | 4 | 4 | 4.5 | 3 |
Meaning | Good stuff. Very polite | 5 - 10 mins - Some conversation had begun | Great - Very tender, piping hot, not at all burnt, dripping in sauce | Standard Nando's, nothing bad, nothing exceptional |
Date of last visit: 08/06/11
Number of visits?: 1st visit!
How busy was the branch?: Half full
Additional comments: My first time to the Elephant and Castle branch and its safe to say I won't be coming back - almost to the point where I would seek a different branch even if I was in the area. The area itself isn't great. The huge roundabout makes getting from the station to the Nando's unnecessarily difficult (I realise this isn't Nando's' fault), and there is nothing to speak of in the immediate area other than Ministry of Sound, which would be arrived at too late to make this Nando's practical.
Once seated I went up to order and had a free whole chicken. I wanted half lemon&herb for my girlfriend and half extra-hot with mango&lime on top for myself (my new regular sauce option which has so far been obliged to effortlessly whenever asked for - highly recommended for the slightly fruitier, yet spicy combination). The man at the till had a very limited grasp of English and I had to explain the order to him very slowly and carefully at least three times. Having thought he had grasped it I was satisfied and completed the rest of my order.
Shortly after, the whole chicken was brought and it was as such: half lemon&herb and mango&lime, quarter mango&lime and quarter extra hot. Clearly my careful explanation was not enough to ensure a successful order (which had gone through perfectly just days before at Birmingham Paradise Forum branch). I explained what I had actually ordered to the woman and she complained 'oh my god', and walked away with the chicken; very unprofessional! I then heard her explaining the order in an annoyed manner to the man who had served me at the till; again very unprofessional and not something I want to hear being talked about while I wait (now impatiently) for my food.
Around 5 minutes later the chicken was brought back and prepared correctly this time. My girlfriend could now tuck-in with her lukewarm chips. With that over, the wait began for my burger. It did not arrive for another 10 minutes! How can there be such a delay on meals for a party of two when ordered at the same time?! It wasn't even the usual reason of having to wait for a new batch of chips, since when the burger finally arrived, the accompanying chips were soggy and lukewarm. Overall the food was the most disappointing I have had in a while.
As for the decor, apart from an interesting bronze cock statue on the way to the toilets, it was unremarkable and average. We didn't have our table cleared for a good ten minutes after we had finished eating, and it was only then that we got asked if the meal was ok and the cock taken away. Low staff rating is mainly based on unprofessionalism and not being attentive to the table; I dare say they are polite enough people.
This branch needs to up its game! | Friendliness of Staff | Speed of Service | Quality of Food | Decoration and Cleanliness |
Rating | 1.5 | 3 | 2 | 2.5 |
Meaning | Quite rude, ignored me as they walked past | 10 - 15 mins - Nando's Average | Quite disappointing - seems rushed, may have some parts burnt, luke warm | Standard nando's, nothing bad, nothing exceptional |
Submitted by: Dom Lerner
Date of last visit: 26/08/09
Number of visits?: 1st visit!
Additional comments: We felt unwelcomed initially but then started talking to the Portugese manager who was rather friendly. It's a 2 minute walk from the tube station. Even though we forgot to order peri-peri chips, the man kindly brought it over and was very generous.
| Friendliness of Staff | Speed of Service | Quality of Food | Decoration and Cleanliness |
Rating | 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 3 |
Meaning | Not bad. Did everything I asked of them | 10 - 20 minutes had passed | Average but with lots of peri-spice | Standard nando's, nothing bad, nothing exceptional |