Well, after a short self inflicted exodus a group of friends dragged me back to Nando's

I had Spicy Mixed Olives to start, they were awful. Clearly had been incorrectly stored and tasted totally off, just horrendous. Was told by a waiter...this is how they are supposed to be, maybe you aren't used to them. 13 years in Spain, I am aware of an olive mate...

For the main I went for the speciality '5 chicken wings' with sides. Apparantly it was Piri-Piri. The chicken was dry, overcooked and generally rubbery awfulness. I assume it was flame grilled in something very burnt. Again I commented on the food to the waiter and was told...well, its BBQ

I tempted dessert assuming it would be bought in and impossible to mess up a chocolate mousse...well, wrong. The mousse was almost like yoghurt. Horrendous

I've tried to like Nandos but even the wine was shite. It was horrible food at vastly overpriced (though not expensive) prices that is pandering to people who can't be arsed to queue in KFC

Vile chain food and utterly souless. I don't mind mass produced cheap-ish food if they cook it properly but this whole meal was a mess and if they can't even produce a decent wine list...why bother

A giant thumbs down and I think it'll be another 5 years before I even consider it again...at least

Are you Michael Winner by any chance?

I guess if you're not going there again there's not much you can do but if you were to, have to, dragged to etc. then it maybe an idea to speak to the managment about the waiter(s). Sounds like they have no passion for the job and are just fobbing off unhappy customers with arrogant and ignorant stock replies.

A different Nando's restaurant could be completely different. They're all franchised so I expect the quality would vary greatly from one to the other.
I applied to work for Nando's once (in Australia, I assume the process is the same here) and their recruitment process is very long and strict, it included physical, team-building, and mathematical tests, I've never been to an interview like it! I'm amazed they had bad food/service, they only employ the very best of the best (apparently) ...needless to say, they didn't take me on, so I'm a tad bitter

Try for one in the UK

There are two nandos restraunts within 15 mins of where I live. One is awful, pretty much as described by the OP, the other is fantastic and I use it often for a cheap meal out, that both myself and my fiancee enjoy everytime we go.

Food tastes fantastic, well cooked and staff are very helpful. Now the other one, the food was rotten, staff least helpful I have ever come across and messed up the same order 3 times in one night.

Me and my sis love Nando's - we often nip in there when we meet as we're the only people we know that do actually like it (and its cheap - but a step up from Maccy D's)

I normally have the piri piri (medium hot) chicken breast in pitta with chips and coleslaw - and it's always delish!!

Xscape at Braehead by any chance?

Nope, Islington North London

Is the original psoter crazy???? Nandos is FANTASTIC. I LOVE it.

I LOVEEEEEEE Nandos, sounds like a bad franchise, ive been to roughly 6 Nandos restaurants all with varying quality but none as bad as the OP states, feel sorry for them!

My experience of Nando's is similar to the OP, overpriced shite in a place that isn't even a proper restaurant.

OP, stop trying to be so posh and get yourself down to KFC

There's no comparison between Nando's and KFC.

Out of all the fast food restaurants, KFC seems to have moved with the times the least.

McDonald's has done some good work to clean up its image and Burger King have made their food better.

Nando's is nice. The first time I went there I got some chicken wings and I didnt like them. I went again about 2 years later and tried the quarter chicken it is delicious and the spicy rice is nice too. KFC is awful the chicken skin is so greasy and the chicken it's self is dry. No comparison for me.

My cousin got food poisoning from Nando's and was in hospital for a few days on a drip

In your opinion there's not. I think KFC is miles better than Nando's and their fake Portugese food.

I doubt that very much, the waiters probably don't get many tips as you pay at the counter when ordering - that would put off the best waiters from working there!

I went to Nando's, ONCE, 5 years ago with a friend who raved and raved and guaranteed I'd enjoy the food.

It was so bad - disgusting dessert, although I can't remember what it was - I've never been back!

KFC for me, every time.

Unclear. What do you think of Nando's?

Forget all of these and go to Chiquito's Mexican Grill, they are amazing, prob the best chain reasturante ive ever been to.

I had BBQ chiken wings with sour cream for starter and the wings were beautifuly sticky and the meat was moist.perfect BBQ flavour and the sour cream was freshly made.

The I had sizzleing fajitas for main and they were literally sizzeling, they bring it out on a tray all individually and you make your own, they had a tray of sizzeling onions, peppers,fillet steak and chicken mixed together, a tray with warm tortilla wraps and then a tray with salad,sour cream,salsa and guocamole.

Trust me If you ever go you will not want to leave its brilliant. Never been to Nando's but with a reasturante as good as Chiquito's aroung I dont really need to.

hey here's a whacky suggestion - buy a cheap chicken for £3 cut it in half, slap some piri piri sauce on it and grill it - a 1000 times nicer and you actually get a half chicken each not 1/3rd chicken calling itself a half!!!!

That would be far too easy.

Still not got the bottom of Nandos "Loyalty card" that you get stamped whenever you buy a meal.

The whole point of the meal deals (like everywhere) is that it's cheaper than buying the bits on their own; but with the loyalty card; you clock up enough for a bit of chicken - which is great if you just want a bit of chicken on its own; but to complement it with chips and a side means it ends up costing as much as a meal on its own.

OK, I suppose you could use it to buy a 1/4 chicken meal deal and then add another piece of chicken with the card; but that's a lot of food and way more than i'd want to eat; and as is normally the case you're eating with a partner / friends then ditto applies.

Love Nandos. Stupid loyalty card.

I agree, the loyalty card is pointless. I got one today and it's not something I'd want (I like their burgers) and you'd still need to get sides. Something like a side free would be more useful, but I guess that's why they've done it.