Nando's Penrith — Restaurant in Sydney

I very rarely leave reviews, but after my recent experience, I feel it is important to share what happened so other customers can be aware of the service they may receive. My visit to this restaurant was one of the most unpleasant dining experiences I have ever had, and it was made even worse by the fact that I had my young baby with me at the time.

From the moment we were seated, it was clear that Katy, the staff member who was supposed to be serving us, had no interest in making us feel welcome. She was rude, dismissive, and arrogant in her attitude. Instead of greeting us politely or even acknowledging us properly, she continued to carry on full conversations with her colleagues. It felt as though we were an inconvenience rather than paying customers.

When we tried to get her attention to place our order, she responded in a manner that was not only unprofessional but outright disrespectful. Her tone was sharp, and she gave the impression that she didn’t want to serve us at all. At one point, she even raised her voice, which was incredibly distressing because my baby was with me. The sudden shouting scared my baby, who immediately began crying, and instead of showing any empathy or concern, Katy carried on as if nothing had happened. No parent wants to see their child upset in a public setting, and to have that caused directly by a staff member’s behavior was completely unacceptable.

What made the situation worse was the underlying feeling of discrimination. We did not feel like we were treated equally compared to other customers. While others were being served with basic courtesy, we were made to feel as though we didn’t belong there. It was humiliating and extremely upsetting. Restaurants are supposed to be places where everyone feels welcome, regardless of who they are, but this was far from the case.

The management should be aware that experiences like this don’t just affect one table—they reflect on the reputation of the entire restaurant. Good food and ambiance mean nothing if customers are treated poorly. Respect, kindness, and professionalism are the foundation of hospitality, and sadly, none of those qualities were shown to us during our visit.

I want to be very clear: this was not a minor misunderstanding or a case of a staff member simply having a bad day. This was outright rudeness, lack of professionalism, and what felt like discriminatory behavior. For a customer-facing role, that is completely unacceptable.

If I could give this restaurant zero stars, I would. Unfortunately, the lowest available rating is one star, but even that feels generous for the type of treatment we received. I will never return to this establishment, and I would strongly advise others—especially families with children or anyone expecting respectful service—to think twice before coming here.

Customer service is about making people feel welcome, respected, and comfortable. Sadly, this restaurant failed on all of those fronts...

I have been coming to this Nando's for a while now with no significant issues till now. The worst experience of my life at any restaurant. Definitely the worst Nando's in Sydney and I have been to a lot.

Raw bloody chicken (there are other reviews stating pink chicken, undercooked etc) Lack of responsibility from staff 0 Compensation and understanding Ordering through the Nandos app allows door dash driver (Nando's delivery partner) to steal the order with no way of contacting them, and Nando's will not refund your money. (Confirmed by the manager)

Full story: I initially ordered through the Nando's app. The Nando's delivery person handed my order off to another person/house. I tried to ring the store and come to realise they had removed their number. Called the head office about 10 times and nothing, sent numerous emails. Ended up having to drive to the store.

When I asked them what is going on, they handed off the blame saying I need to contact the delivery partner. The option on the app was to contact Nando's not a delivery partner. I ordered through their Nando's app and not a 3rd party service, they refused to take responsibility. At this point I was mind blown at what I was hearing.

To make matters worse they acted like my $70 order didn't exist. I showed them the receipt and waited a long while. I then get told they can't hand out orders for free even though I had showed them my receipt and gave them the name of the delivery person that delivered my order! FREE!? I paid $70, drove all the way out there, waited for a whole hour arguing and all I wanted was my food. I couldn't believe I was accused of wanting free food when I came all the way out to the store!!

At this point they were attempting to steal my money. I was in a complete rage with the incompetence of every staff member there. I finally got told after spending nearly an hour there that they would re-make my order. I asked the owner, so if this were to ever happen again, what do I do? He said you won't get your money back next time. So technically it's useless ordering through their app/or their store as the blame is solely on the recipient and not the delivery driver. Mind you I have cameras at my house showing no one ever arrived. I got absolutely no compensation at all, just hell.

This is the worst part of it all. They made the order, I took it home and opened it up. Never in my life would I think I'd receive RAW BLOODY CHICKEN TO THE BONE! It ruined my stomach for days! 100% turned off from this store.

What a joke. Do not recommend the Penrith...

I recently dined at Nando's Penrith, which is a Afro-Portuguese mainly chicken restaurant,  serving flame-grilled chicken available in several different types of Peri Peri sauce. I was thoroughly impressed with every aspect of my experience. This restaurant offers both dine-in and take-away services, and I chose to dine in. The store is large, clean, and very well presented, with a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere.

I was served by a young lady named Georgia, who was an absolute pleasure to deal with. She was friendly, attentive, and provided excellent customer service. Georgia was fast and efficient,  quickly took my order, and the food was served without delay.

The chicken was absolutely amazing, cooked to perfection with the right blend of hot spices and seasoning. It was juicy and tender. The sides were equally impressive, with the chips being fresh and crispy.

In addition to the great food, I was impressed by the speed and efficiency of the service. Despite the restaurant being quite busy, Georgia and her team were able to keep everything running smoothly and ensure that all customers were served promptly.

Overall, I had an excellent dining experience at Nando's Penrith, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for delicious and satisfying food served in a welcoming and well-presented environment. Georgia and her team did a fantastic job, and I am sure to visit again soon.  One thing that did surprise me on that day is that they do not accept cash as payment, although they do accept the normal plastic cards etc.   The no cash payment thing may have been just that day, not sure, but I did...