Sydenham - Ryan Review

Opening day at Sydenham!

Stopped into this Nando's early afternoon and it had only just been open for a couple of hours on its opening day, so it wasn't too busy just yet. It probably goes to show the sort of area it is in, as there was a security guard on the door...

I parked in the free car park in Girton Road, which is under 0.5 mile walk away. There wasn't any signs I could see or machines about to pay, so I can only assume it was free! (hopefully...) Nando's is also almost next door to Sydenham train station. Being Sydenham, you are less than a mile or just one train stop from Crystal Palace, which is a nicer place to go out in... There's a cinema in Crystal Palace as well.

There was an abundance of staff - all being friendly and chatty... and, being the opening day, all chicken on burgers and wraps was doubled up for free! That's what you call good service ;)

From the oustide, there's not the black/red we've come to know, but rather beige/brown and this theme continues inside. There's hexagon tiles up in the ceiling in a wavy pattern. There are three large square booths in the front section and then in the back section behind the drinks station are further booths. There's a bit more colour in the back section, with some paintings on the walls. Toilets are upstairs and the staircase has a large metal dividing pattern with bare bricks walls and more paintings. The toilets were clean and had triangular mirrors and patterns on the wall.

The food came in under 5 minutes and I went for a (double) chicken burger, chips and rice. The chicken breast fillets were a good size, although the 'free' one was considerably smaller than the not-free one... But they were both cooked beautifully - really moist and really smothered in sauce. They were so smothered it was impossible to eat with your hands as they slipped out! :) The chip portion was an average size but were all piping hot and crispy and the rice was piping hot too and nice and moist.

All in all, a cracking stop off on my way home.