Middlesbrough - Damien Review

After a Nando’s drought of over two months, and three weeks of Lent, you’d think that any peri peri chicken at all would taste delicious. Middlesbrough Nando’s has proven otherwise.

We drove here from Manchester on a Saturday afternoon, parking for free about 2 minute walk away. The restaurant is located in the same building as a cinema and gym and across the road from a McDonald’s (for those less willing to wait). The place was almost full, but we were seated right away by spritely staff and there was no queue at the counter. Other than some large chandeliers, the décor doesn’t stand out against any other Nando’s, the whole place kinda’ reminding me of Parr’s Wood (though any other middle-of-the-road Nando’s also bears similarity). The wait for some of the food was rather long, especially frustrating as I could see my plate of chicken and corn waiting about ten minutes for its mash. When the food did arrive, I found the chicken to be rather disappointing and the corn to be overdone. As this was my first meal out for almost three weeks, I’d expected to enjoy it a lot more than I had. While eating, I kept an eye on the food waiting under the heater. It seems that they began to over-estimate the impending demand for creamy/sweet potato mash and had several portions drying out in little pots, waiting to be plopped into a dish and sent out with a meal.

After eating, I took a visit to the toilets, which were a bit of a mess. A “CAUTION WET FLOOR” sign and a mop replacing any sign of an attempt to clean them today. Other than the generally friendly staff, it’s hard to find any way that Middlesbrough Nando’s excels. One thing I can say is that the place doesn’t get too noisy, even when full of families. At least the next Nando’s on our list is a lot less further away!