Coventry - Showcase - Blaynos Review

Stopped off at this Nando's on the way back to London from Anfield, having watched a dismal 0-0 Cup performance vs Blackburn. This is an outrageously well located branch, it's basically equivalent to a motorway service station - just a minute's drive off the M6 at Junction 2. It's in a leisure complex, which includes bowling and a cinema, and there's a giant Tesco too. It was about 8.30/9pm when we got there and it was still pretty busy - despite proverbial tumbleweed blowing through the rest of the area. Literally every other car park was completely empty, but by the the time we wound our way through to the Nando's, its car park (lots of spaces and free) and restaurant were packed.

It's a stunning branch too. High ceilings, great mix of lighting and seating (round booths, bigger tables, smaller ones etc) and an all-round well laid out branch. Large service station with well stocked sauces and cutlery too. For anyone making the trip between London and the North West (and possibly Birmingham too), this is a great place to stop - although I can imagine it gets extremely busy during more normal weekend hours.

Unfortunately the rest of the visit was rather mediocre. Staff were friendly enough... although the girl at the till initially refused to let me claim a reward on top of using my card for a 6th chilli on this visit (which she then realised was possible when I told her) and no-one came to take the black cockerel until after we were finished eating. There was also only one till open despite a couple of other Nandocas milling around behind the tills doing nothing. Food took a fair while to come and my halloumi was already lukewarm by the time it arrived. Butterfly burger was generously sized but it seemed a bit overcooked and rubbery. It also lacked sauce but I smothered it in some more. Peri chips were good.