Wednesbury - Junction 9 - Ryan Review

Couldn't make it for opening day... but made the second day! :)

This Nando's is on the Gallagher Retail Park in Wednesbury... which, if anybody has ever driven past Junction 9 on the M6 on a weekend before, can have long, long queues of cars with people wanting to go to IKEA... There are other very large retail stores such as a big Decathlon, Next, Currys etc and other eateries like Burger King, Pizza Hut and McDonald's. Nando's is in a brand new building, created right in the middle of the car park so it is easily spotted. There are thousands of free parking spaces, with up to four free hours parking. The Bescott Stadium train station is the nearest - just over a (horrible) mile walk away (through industrial estates and under flyovers).

Arrived here around 7:15pm and was surprised to find it quite empty. Only a quarter of the restaurant in use which meant no time to queue. There was a surplus of staff and the food was ready in under five minutes but could see it sitting under the heatlamps for a while as was sat right by them. It was brought out over 10 minutes later which meant the chicken and rice had gone a bit dry sadly. This was an all round bang average meal. The chicken portion size was average, cooked sufficiently. The chip portion size was average and were a mixed bag - some cooked, some not - and the rice was an average size, but was a bit dry.

Staff were friendly enough and doing everything expected.

There were quite a few tables outside... but nobody wants to eat in a car park. Inside it was quite like the new Stratford-on-Avon one. These booths with pillars/canopy with lights hanging down. On the outside of these is some wooden lattice work - which is then also clad all over the wall above and around the till. Around the top of all the windows are rows of these little wooden squares at different angles. It looks like they could all be lined up to make a blind, but I imagine they are just for show... Lot's of dark red tiles on the walls too - including behind the sauces/drinks station. Lots of seating variants too - including plenty more booths at the back of the restaurant to cater for larger groups. Toilets were clean and tiled in white and blue.