Nando's Soho — Restaurant in London

I am very saddened to write this review as I am a loyal and regular customer of Nandos and of this particular restaurant and have not had a bad experience here this far.

Tonight that was not the case. I always come with a group of my associates and we generally sit at a large table downstairs. We have never booked or been asked to reserve a table.

Tonight 10 of us attended at approximately 20.45. we waited to be seated and a server took us downstairs where there were no customers and all the tables were empty. To our surprise the server told us we could not sit at the long table we normally sit at and that our group would have to be split up in the booths. Obviously we have come to have dinner and conversation together as a group.

We asked why this was and the server said she did not know but this is what her manager MK had instructed her to do. None of the group wanted to be split up and we asked if we could please sit together and she said no and that she would call her manager to explain the rational to us.

MK came and spoke to us. She stood on the stairs and spoke down to us. She seemed rushed and impatient. She interrupted us as we asked questions and became very confrontational when we voiced our desire to please be seated together.

The explanation she gave as to why we could not sit together made no sense to none of us. Saying that she needs to allocate a person to serve us and it's easier for that person to serve 2 or 3 booths rather than 1 large table of 10.

When her rationale was questioned by my pregnant associate, MKs face became aggressive and confrontational and accused the woman of raising her voice and I can unequivocally state that she did not, if anything it was MK who was starting to raise her voice and interrupt customers with concerns.

2 of our party felt so uncomfortable with the situation they chose to leave. We were then told that we would need to go upstairs and order individually from the till. I always have the chicken livers and I know they take longer than any of the other meals. The gentleman at my table, as we were now sat on separate tables in an empty downstairs section, ordered a chicken burger. I received my livers ate them and ordered a takeaway away bag and his food was yet to arrive.

When MK had calmed down, I had a private word with her and asked her to explain to me in a calm way why we could not sit together. Her rationale was that we had not booked and those are the rules for large parties. Like I have said, we have never booked. Not at any of your restaurants.

I stated that I would put my concerns into a review at which point MK tried to circumvent this by writing down her email address and asking me to send it to her directly. Why? Are customers not encouraged to leave reviews. Both positive and negative constructive reviews so that you will know when you have done something well and when areas need to be improved on? I think she was trying to save her hide.

The one positive thing that did happen was that our waitress Sonya spoke to us kindly. Was attentive and listened to our grievances and did not interrupt us.

I hope MK can appreciate that this feedback is given so that she may reflect on her professionalism and improve on it as we will be attending your restraunt as we always have and we do hope to have more positive interactions with her.

We are group of sober associates who regularly come to your restaurant after our Thursday meeting for fellowship and good food...

Review of Nando's Soho: A Culinary Delight with Exceptional Restroom Facilities

Nando’s Soho is a top-tier dining destination in London, famous for its mouthwatering Peri-Peri chicken and vibrant atmosphere. But beyond the delicious food and lively ambiance, there’s an unexpectedly standout feature that elevates the experience—the restrooms, particularly the hand dryers.

Let’s start with the basics. The toilets at Nando’s Soho are meticulously clean, stylish, and spacious, which is impressive given the high traffic this popular spot sees. The design mirrors the restaurant’s modern yet cozy aesthetic, with sleek fixtures and soft lighting that creates a welcoming environment even in the restroom.

However, the real highlight is the hand dryers—specifically, the Dyson Airblade models. These aren’t just any hand dryers; they’re a game-changer in terms of efficiency and hygiene. The Dyson Airblade uses a powerful stream of air to dry your hands in just about 10 seconds. Unlike traditional hand dryers that blow hot air, the Airblade uses a high-speed sheet of air to scrape water off your hands, making the process not only quicker but also more hygienic. This technology minimizes the spread of bacteria and is more eco-friendly compared to paper towels, aligning perfectly with the sustainability concerns of many modern diners.

The experience of using the Dyson Airblade is surprisingly satisfying—it’s fast, effective, and leaves your hands completely dry, avoiding the awkwardness of damp hands as you return to your meal. It’s a small detail, but one that Nando’s Soho has clearly thought through, adding an extra layer of comfort and care to your visit.

In conclusion, Nando’s Soho excels not only in delivering exceptional food and a vibrant dining atmosphere but also in providing thoughtful amenities like its well-designed restrooms and high-tech hand dryers. It’s these little touches that make your visit more enjoyable, leaving you with a sense of satisfaction that extends beyond the plate. I Would buy this for my home and honestly would go to nando’s just to use the...

I've never been a big fan of Nando's, and have only been once or twice, usually to just have a simple roast chicken with no problems. Last time I went - which will be my LAST TIME - however, was a different story.

I went up to order and was feeling a bit nauseous, so I figured I'd just get a caesar salad with grilled chicken. They were out of caesar salad? Okay, sure, I'll have the mixed leaf salad instead - with grilled chicken. But I can't have spicy food at the moment, so is it possible to just get it PLAIN with no spice?

The cashier said sure, so plain chicken it was.

A few minutes later (gotta love the speedy service!) the chicken came out, marked plain. I took a bite, it was spicy, and my stomach turned a bit. Shame, because I'm sure I otherwise would have liked it.

My friend said something to the cashier, who came over and told me that all the chicken is marinated before cooking and the spice is unavoidable.

Look, if that's the way you run your restaurant - with solely spicy food - that's fine. But at least tell me that when I say I can't have spicy food, that I'll need to order something else.

Eventually the manager came over, because another waiter came over to ask why I wasn't eating, and the manager said I had two options:

1. He could bring me some sauce to hide the spiciness, or
2. He could give me a refund

I opted for the refund, since at that point my friend was done with his meal and I just wanted to get out of there. He gave me a refund, alright: I paid about £6.70 for my salad - but because the mixed salad on its own is about £4.15 and the "step up fee" to include chicken is £2.55, he only gave me back £2.55.

I realise £4.15 isn't something to freak out over, but the fact that the staff made me feel a little dumb for not knowing that spiciness is unavoidable in their restaurant combined with them only refunding me part of a place and making me feel a bit like a cheapskate for them doing so? I'm pretty done with Nando's. Or, at the very least, I'm done with...