Nando's Ipswich - Cardinal Park — Restaurant in Ipswich

I arrived at Nando’s Cardinal Park, full of excitement for the chicken based goodness that I knew awaited me. Little did I know of the horrors I would confront once inside.

My friend and I were seated in what appeared to be a quiet restaurant by a polite waitress. ‘Did I have any allergies?’ ‘No’. ‘Had I been to Nando’s before?’ ‘Indeed’. So far so good, dear reader. The classic Nando’s music was getting me in the mood for food and I enjoyed the art on the walls- kudos to Nando’s for their decorative choices. What could be about to go so wrong?

The table QR code took me to the Nando’s site and of course I honed straight in to the Fino Pitta. What else would any self respecting connoisseur of peri peri choose? My dining partner also made the same, and excellent, choice. A bottomless drinks, 2 sides and halloumi and I’m all set. I knew chicken heaven would not elude me for much longer. I settled myself in for the short wait that is such an integral part of the Nando’s experience. Bottomless drinks glasses arrived very quickly. Excellent. Thirst somewhat quenched, I eagerly anticipated the food I thought was being tenderly grilled on my behalf. My crucial, fatal, mistake.

Around 15 minutes after first ordering, or perhaps a little sooner, the first fino pitta arrived at our table- alas, it was not mine but I knew it would be just behind. My friend eagerly tucked in to his pitta. Who could blame him? I nabbed an obligatory chip and expected my food to be flying to my table imminently. 5 minutes passed. No food. 10 minutes passed. Where could it be?

At 25 minutes after the arrival of our first pitta, the waitress, as baffled as I was to the whereabouts of my much longed for pitta, arrived at my table side and informed me she would enquire with the miracle workers in the kitchen as to its location. She promptly returned. ‘It’s next on the list’. A little frustrated, but excited for my first fino mouth full, I settled back into my chair.

Another 5 minutes and I could see the takeaway and online orders continue to appear from the kitchen, and yet my pitta remained elusive. By this time, my empty stomach was crying out for chicken satisfaction and yet there was no way I could feed this growing beast. My table mate, pitta complete, was lounging in his chair- sharing my frustration but happy with the dining experience he had just enjoyed. My pitta had not been next on the list. This saddened me.

Another 5 minutes and the pitta appeared. The sheer joy. Relief. I was ready. This was it. The moment. Here I go. But wait? What’s this…

As I eyed the flag atop my pitta, I noticed a problem. The incorrect spice. Oh dear. My joy shattered, I told the waitress, who promptly returned my pitta to the kitchen. She soon returned, clutching a piece of paper with an order on it. ‘Was this your order?’ It wasn’t, but belonged to my dining colleague. Oh dear, again. It seems the restaurant had lost my ticket. The correct fino appeared roughly 8 minutes later. I bit in. Satisfaction at last.

So where do I end this tale of toil? The fino and it’s accompanying sides were indeed delicious, but the wait unfortunately tarnished the experience I had been craving all week. It breaks my heart, but I cannot recommend this Nando’s. If you need your Nando’s fix, and we all do when that feeling strikes, I suggest you choose an alternative location.

As I rose from my seat, I did shed a tear. Goodbye Nando’s Cardinal Park- we shall never cross...

They told us they couldn’t serve us as they were short staffed . If I couldn’t see an extremely quiet restaurant with more staff than people I would have believed this.

Thinly veiled attempt to discriminate and lies

we went to Five guys next door who served us professionally and punctually , long story short as we walked back past Nando’s they were letting people In and the place was now infact busy . I watched people going in far too quick to have made a reservation for example.

Anyhow before that

I questioned about getting a takeaway instead , which I was allowed to do apparently (clearly they didn’t want us on their untidy premises , I actually know why too but I’ll save the reason for head office )

Then I asked extremely politely that why could we not order a takeaway and sit quietly at one of your many empty tables then ?

They were absolutely stumped , didn’t have an answer except for “ you just can’t “

Think his name was Jonah his badge was near his crotch making it hard to read .

This is the only Nando’s I’ve EVER had an issue with and after a 330 mile trip didn’t need such poor customer service . They can review the cctv as well at the time I gave to show that there was no altercation or big drama. Just clear questions not satisfactorily answered.

I don’t dispute you may have been short staffed your customer service is appalling and your restaurant was virtually empty .

I’m not a Karen but I won’t tolerate being lied to . This has left a bad...

On arrival at Nando's ipswich all looked good fairly busy for a thursday evening so we waited while a table was cleaned and made ready for us all blokes out to have a few beers and catch a film so all was well until we ordered our food (I dont like sweet food or hot spicey food) I thought safest bet would be steak but was told not to expect a steak but strips of steak cut up in a wrap "ok can i have it plain no spice?" "Yes of course" came the reply my food arrived covered in peri peri sauce in a wrap with sweet peppers possibly the worst combination i could have had. I did ask why mine wasn't plain only to be told peri peri is as plain as they go cheers!!! After un wrapping my wrap i discovered a total of 6 peices of steak ranging from about 3cm by 1cm squared up to about 6cm by 1cm squared I'm 17 stone and really like food especially when I've just paid almost £20 for this and around 30 chips i also had a cider on that but come on call me old fashioned but if you are paying with hard earned english pounds I think I shoild get the say on how it's going to be served and what sauce you have ffs I tortured myself to eat this vastly expensive overpriced shite much to the amusement of my friends as i was hungry and bouyed by a few pints but it ruined my night I'll never go back...