Plymouth - Barbican - Ryan Review

Plymouth Barbican Leisure

Another day in Plymouth means another Nando's! And after running the Half Marathon what better way to refuel? This time it was the Nando's in the Barbican Leisure Park - which meant free parking in the hundreds of spaces on the complex. In the complex you'll also find a Tenpin Bowling Alley, Vue Cinema, Oceana club, Nuffield Gym and other eateries.

This was another good sized branch, which should be able to easily accommodate the cinema crowd. About 30 tables inside and up to a further 10 outside. Bench seating running alongside the left hand wall by the entrance covering about 8 tables. To the right of the entrance are further tables/chairs and bench style seating. Towards the middle/back there are 6-seater high tables and a four booths right at the back as well.

Above both the left and right benches are a mixture of full wall length mirrors and full wall length wooden slats, pots, plants and some sort of big long tusks. The ceiling is made up of a big wavy wooden effect from the front right to the back of the restaurant. The very back wall is all panelled in dark wood. The lighting consists of long dark wicker cones and long beige cones. It's a very brown and beige - no real colour anywhere in the restaurant. Toilets were out the door at the back and upstairs. In the stairwell was a huge bright canvas painting - the only one in the restaurant so it was a shame to tuck it away in here.

Staff were pleasant enough but doing as expected.

I arrived about 12:45 and the branch was a third full but by 1pm this quickly filled, so much that there was then a waiting list. The roads had only just re-opened from the Half Marathon so I imagine it's normally this busy anyway.

Despite my order going in while it was a little quieter, the food came in 24 minutes even after other people who arrived after me... but hey ho - it was worth the wait!

Everything had just finished cooking. The chicken was piping hot, the rice was steaming and the chips were scorching. It was almost as good as Plymouth Old Town Street - only the chicken portion just wasn't as big - but truly delicious. The chicken was lovely and moist inside and there was also just the right amount of charring on the outside. It had been heavily dabbed in marinade too, so it really was a welcome meal after a little run!