Old Street - Damien Review

The 28th RYN reviewer event at the new Old Street branch was my first Nando’s 2016. Back in the day, I used to work in this area. Seems that since I last passed through the place, it’s been bulldozed and rebuilt beyond recognition (at least on the Nando’s side of the road). The restaurant itself is striking from outside, with fancy light fittings and swanky architecture visible from the window, facing on to the stairs and down to the basement area, where we were seated.

Being a RYN event, it’s hard to get a full picture on general regular customer service, but all the staff I dealt with were smiley and friendly, if often seeming like they felt they were tiptoeing on eggshells. The tables were already piled with napkins and sauce bottles when my group arrived, and pitta starters, drumsticks and wings soon arrived. The free chicken was probably the hottest thing I’ve ever touched in Nando’s. Probably should have been a little less keen ^^;

After the raffle, we made our way to the tills. I was first there, had no troubles ordering, and received my food first. When it arrived, everything was present and correct. Some others around me had a little less luck, some being overcharged, and some having their orders muddled up. Food-wise, the churrasco thigh burger was very sloppy. It arrived sitting in a pool of pink, milky gunk (presumably from the coleslaw) which rapidly spread around the plate. I attempted to pick the burger up (that’s how you’re supposed to eat it, right?), but the bottom of the bun was so soggy, it had broken in to pieces. I resorted to eating the meal with a knife and fork, which kinda’ ruined my enjoyment. Other than that, the food was all piping hot and top notch. It’s just a shame that the halloumi slices were a tad smaller than what I’m used to.

After everybody had finished eating, we partook in the RYN Quiz. My team came second, and I was happy with that. As the RYN group was segregated from the other customers, I had no real indication as to how busy a night it was there. All I can say is that the designers of the place have upped their game. Added to this is the touchscreen drinks machine (which spurted sideways, somewhat) and what we have here is a new benchmark for UK Nando’s restaurants, possibly a flagship branch.