Cambridge - Retail Park - Ryan Review

Ryan's picture
How Helpful?: 
Average: 5 (1 vote)
Author: 
Number of Visits: 
This was my first visit
Date of Last Visit: 
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
Time of Day: 
Weekday Dinner
Rating: 
3.25 / 5
Friendliness of Staff: 
3 (Not bad. Did everything I asked of them)
Speed of Service: 
3 (10 - 15 mins - Nando's average)
Quality of Food: 
3 (Average - just as you would expect)
Decoration & Cleanliness: 
4 (Very clean, newly furnished, impressive artwork and lighting)
Comments - Stand out in our monthly competition! What did you eat? Unique aspects? Parking/transport tips?: 

This Nando's is a new addition to the Cambridge Retail Park - which is home to large shopping chains such as Homebase, Argos, Dunelm etc - and now a few eateries have been added such as Frankie and Benny's and Nando's. There are hundreds and hundreds of free parking spaces across the park, for parking up to 4 hours. There's an odd STOP barrier in the middle of the Retail Park, so depending on which way you enter the parking, you might not be able to park right by Nando's - but it'd only be a moment's walk anyway. Cambridge train station is just under 1.5 mile walk away.

Interested to see what this Nando's was like, as it is a "green" and eco-friendly restaurant. First impressions are good. There are quite a few tables outside underneath a big glass canopy. On the outside of the building is a wall garden with a neon-Barci on this. Being in the city of bicycles too, there are some 3ft high chillies on the approach to the entrance which were being used as bike racks. Inside it is very open plan - with a good mix of seating. Some booths to the right of the entrance towards the back wall and towards the back from as you enter is some banquette and table/chair seating. There are some big blue and orange dome shaped lightshades and also flowerpot style ones. There is an interesting wood sculptue on the wall by the booth seating - and a reasonable mix of artwork on the wall. Toilets are in the far back corner and are covered in reclaimed wood. A few things weren't working - the water machine, the hand dryer and the frozen yoghurt dispenser, but am sure these will get sorted. The staff were freely bringing jars of water to anybody who asked too and doing as expected. Good stuff.

Always keen to try new items to the menu, so this time opted for the Trio burger, which came in just over 10 minutes. This is a chicken breast fillet, grilled halloumi and portobello mushroom served on spinach and finished with a drizzle of date sauce - all bunged into a Bolo do Caco. I've never been a fan of rubbery cheese, especially halloumi, but thought this combo might work... but I ended up taking it off (my fault)... The chicken breast fillet was a bit on the small side but it was well cooked and very saucy. The mushroom tasted nice and was cooked well and the date sauce was really flavoursome. The problem was it just didn't stay together at all and most of it ended up on your hands... part of the fun I guess. The chip portion was a good size and they were generally hot and crispy. Probably won't have it again, but if you like chicken, halloumi and mushroom then this is for you!

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