Nando's Opening in Mahon Point

BArra

i saw that the old bennigans floor space in mahon point is reopening next month with a new resturant!

was never impressed by bennigans, overpriced, stingy portions, does anyone know anything about nandos? they seem to specialise in peri peri spiced chicken

anyone know what they are like? they seem to be all over the place in the UK

will have to give it a try when they arrive, though jalpeno peppers leave me gasping for air so not sure how i will bear with peri peri

and also will they be doomed to the same fate as bennigans? its a massive floorspace

http://www.nandos.co.uk/index.cfm

Barr

Never heard of Nandos but not suprised Bennigans failed. Over priced rubbish !!

D-Generate

Nandos is all over the place in London, there are about 3 within 10 minutes walk from me. Its alright food and of the same level/status as say Scoozis. That being said, after eating there in London I checked the menu prices for the same stuff in Cork and it turns out you pay about 1.5 times more. Rip-off Ireland in full effect.

London
Double Chicken Fillet Pita + Chips = £10.50 = €12.42

Irish Menu
Same = €15.15

Now I know there is different tax rates but surely it isn't that much of a difference?

murphym7

Just looked at the menu - I predict this place will go the way of the Dodo. I give it 12 months. Someone did not do their market research.

Dan Dare

I liked Nandos when I lived in London. Will visit MP.

Faith

Nando's is already in Dublin, so it's been successful in the Irish market so far.

castie

Aye the one in Dundrum is always busy.

gimmick

Woohoo. Nandos is the job.

-Corkie-

Barr wrote: »

Never heard of Nandos but not suprised Bennigans failed. Over priced rubbish !!

I could never figure out that place. We often called there early enough on a saturday and the place would be empty nearly. You had to wait at the door for a girl to come over and you tell her a table for two please and they start looking around as if the place was packed..:rolleyes:.

Roar

with regards bennigans, yeah it was awful. i ordered a fish and chips there one day. it came out 5 minutes later, barely warm, with cold chips. needless to say i sent it back, and changed my order! horribly over priced kip, so it was.

Barr

Roar wrote: »

with regards bennigans, yeah it was awful. i ordered a fish and chips there one day. it came out 5 minutes later, barely warm, with cold chips. needless to say i sent it back, and changed my order! horribly over priced kip, so it was.

It was in a great location with the amount of people that pass through the shopping centre plus the cinema.

Nandos sounds like a nice alternative to the food court.

Hogzy

D-Generate wrote: »

Now I know there is different tax rates but surely it isn't that much of a difference?

Insurance, rent, wages are all more in Ireland so IMO those prices differences are more than reasonable tbh.

Kazbah

Super excited. Love love love Nandos!

Nonoperational

I thought Bennigans was ok!

JohnMearsheimer

I went to the Nandos in Cardiff a few times (not by choice after the 1st time) when I was living over there and I wasn't overly impressed with it. Very meagre and over priced portions for what you get.

pow wow

People queue up to get into the one that opened not so long ago in Belfast. Never been a huge fan, the chicken is always scraggy and pretty gross. I'm sure it'll be popular for at least a while when it arrives!

Trashbat

Glorified McDonalds TBH.

You have to queue up at the counter to place an order and then do the same each time you want more drinks.

The chicken is pretty flavourless in my experience, although its a good safe bet if your with picky eaters, as they can have chicken and pick their own sides.

Wouldn't go there again by choice, it makes pizza hit look good.

Hogzy

Trashbat wrote: »

Wouldn't go there again by choice, it makes pizza hit look good.

Well i would never recommend cheap knock offs of any fast food franchise

TheDriver

i could never understand why you would pay 12-13 euro for a burger and chips in Bennigans when AbraKebabra did exact same thing upstairs for half the price and nicer tasting!
I remember one day that they were out of 8oz burgers but had 4oz left. I asked about how come freshly made burgers couldn't be made from twice the 4oz to which she obviously had to admit they weren't as freshly made as we predicted.

hurleronditch

Hogzy wrote: »

Insurance, rent, wages are all more in Ireland so IMO those prices differences are more than reasonable tbh.

Not compared to central london, where cost of living is sky high, as are rents. Im not an insurance buff so that im not sure of.

D-Generate

hurleronditch wrote: »

Not compared to central london, where cost of living is sky high, as are rents. Im not an insurance buff so that im not sure of.

The London living wage (i.e. the proposed minimum wage) is also higher than that in Ireland so again that costs are higher than central London and even the outskirts is not excusable.

run_Forrest_run

I hear this place is closed down in Mahon Point already, is this true? If so, what a terrible business move by some clown.

kingtut

BArra wrote: »

will have to give it a try when they arrive, though jalpeno peppers leave me gasping for air so not sure how i will bear with peri peri

Just don't make the classic mistake of drinking water if it is too hot! The 2 seconds of relief might be nice but then it spreads the heat around your mouth and makes it even worse (best thing to have is milk or cucumber to combat spicy foods)

gimmick

run_Forrest_run wrote: »

I hear this place is closed down in Mahon Point already, is this true? If so, what a terrible business move by some clown.

AFAIK it just has not been opened yet.

run_Forrest_run

gimmick wrote: »

AFAIK it just has not been opened yet.

ah, that would make sense, I feel thick now

FunkyMissMonkey

Anyone know when it's opening? I always enjoyed Nando's back home (around Leeds) and I'm really looking forward to trying them out here too! OH and I used to share a platter, chicken and chips + sides, IMO good value and very tasty.

BArra

yeah think its delayed opening, they have only recruited staff and have to send em away for training, shud be before the end of the year though? im sure they will heavilly advertise once about to open

Big Tone

Came across Nandos in London back in the early 90s, nice Portuguese food from what I can remember, I'll definitely be checking it out.

Owen

I think the location was a death sentence for Bennigans. The only reason you go to that part of the shopping centre is if you need the toilet. It's buried in a corner, behind the kiddie cars, under the escalators, I'd even bet a lot of people who went into MP didn't even know it was there.

I ate there a few times, and it was nice. Like an Irish version of an american steak house, never had a problem with it, and the food was great. Just hope the location doesn't hurt Nandos either.

babo9

PaintDoctor wrote: »

I think the location was a death sentence for Bennigans. The only reason you go to that part of the shopping centre is if you need the toilet. It's buried in a corner, behind the kiddie cars, under the escalators, I'd even bet a lot of people who went into MP didn't even know it was there.

I ate there a few times, and it was nice. Like an Irish version of an american steak house, never had a problem with it, and the food was great. Just hope the location doesn't hurt Nandos either.

I'd say location too, but for completely different reasons, I think the general location of mahon point isn't really a great place for a restuarant. Anyone in there shopping is going to go for a quick fast food/cafe meal, anyone at the cinema is getting popcorn/ice cream etc. Only times I went there were with herself as part of the cinema deal, and that was only once or twice!

Come to think of it I don't think I know any shopping centres in Cork with big restuarants, usually they are cafes/fast food places or the quick carvery style restuarants, I could be wrong though!

gimmick

Nandos is more of a fast food restaurant than what Bennigans used to be. Id say it will do well.

Bennigans main problem was that it was fecking disgusting.

Bill-e

I'd go there a good few times with a gang of friends and we'd all try to eat the Big American burger. I always thought it was grand out. Service was often very slow. Especially if you were intending on going to a movie afterwards.

H8GHOTI

I heard Nandos is open now. Anyone been? What's it like?

LETS BE AVN IT

Well is it defo open in Mahon Point yet ? Going down to Cork Thursday would love to try it .

kcb

I don't think it was open on Sunday, unless I completely missed it while walking past.

babo9

LETS BE AVN IT wrote: »

Well is it defo open in Mahon Point yet ? Going down to Cork Thursday would love to try it .

Don't think so, was going to go their Friday evening but when I googled about it I could find nothing indicating it was open bar H8GHOTI's post.
It's not even mentioned on the mahon point website or in the golden pages.
We went to mahon pt anyway and the place doesn't look anywhere near open!
H8GHOTI must of heard wrong.

bizzo

babo9 wrote: »

Don't think so, was going to go their Friday evening but when I googled about it I could find nothing indicating it was open bar H8GHOTI's post.
It's not even mentioned on the mahon point website or in the golden pages.
We went to mahon pt anyway and the place doesn't look anywhere near open!
H8GHOTI must of heard wrong.

Was there during the week too and saw that the door to bennigans is completely covered over so there is now no entrance to the building which would indicate that the space is not being used. Very dissapointing for a newish shopping centre only having a jammy food court.

They could have done alot more with the place!

bladebrew

it might be going upstairs in the food court, just past mc donalds the whole area is blocked off, they are working on something in there,

edit: as said below upstairs closed for refurbishment!

evilivor

bladebrew wrote: »

it might be going upstairs in the food court, just past mc donalds the whole area is blocked off, they are working on something in there,

Refurb upstairs according to website:

http://www.mahonpointsc.ie/food-improvements/

The refurbishment of the central Foodcourt (a shared seating area for KFC, Abrakebabra, The Bagel Bar, Eddie Rockets and McDonalds - the only one of its kind in Cork) is commencing in October. This upgrade of the existing facilities will see the foodcourt zoned into different areas: a combination of booths, family seating, high tables, benches, sofas and lounge seating to suit various eating occasions. Integrated into this specially commissioned plan is a green and walnut colour scheme with customised wallpaper, feature lighting and plants to bring warmth and atmosphere to the eating area. In addition, there will be a dedicated Party Zone for kids at the rear. The upgrade will considerably improve the customer eating environment of the foodcourt whilst enhancing Mahon Point’s reputation for continuous innovation.


This news coincides with work starting on Nando’s first restaurant in the Republic outside of Dublin in Mahon Point. The South African-Portuguese chain will provide 40 new jobs in a large ground floor unit in Mahon Point of 309sqm. This casual dining restaurant will have dedicated seating for 120 people and will serve its famous flame grilled peri-peri chicken as well as burgers, pitas, wraps and vegetarian options. Founded in 1987, Nando's operates in 26 countries and on five continents and already has restaurants open in Dublin and Belfast.

H8GHOTI

Ya I was mis-informed. Went to the cinema tonight (The Social Network, pretty good btw) & Nandos isn't open yet. It is being worked on though & the Nandos website says it's opening in October (But I think it said September last month). So......

morgana

Subscribed to that newlsetter of theirs and got mail back saying that they are scheduled to start grilling on 20th December ...
Looks good enough to try out at least once :P

ABajaninCork

YAY!!!! I've been wondering when Nando's would be opening as this has been in the works since last year.

I have to wait until I get home to get my fix of Nando's, so to me this is a right result!:D

PcAngel

on facebook - Nandos Update: Opening 26th Jan 2011 in Mahon Point- sure to spice up the new year.

craftypaddy

cant wait for nandos to open, i often drive to dundrum for my fix.

Big Tone

MahonPoint is the place to be next week for Cork's first sample of Nando's peri-peri chicken

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0118/breaking16.html

GiftGrub100

At Last, Nando's Mahonpoint is open for business, from today.

The chicken burger and spicy rice were delicious.

mudokon

GiftGrub100 wrote: »

At Last, Nando's Mahonpoint is open for business, from today.

The chicken burger and spicy rice were delicious.

How was it price wise?

GiftGrub100

Same pricing as the Dundrum Restaurant.

Chicken Burger and 2 Sides 11.95, Bottomless Softdrink 2.90, So lunch for two people was just under 30 euro. The quality was up to scratch with the other Nando's I have eaten in (Dundrum, Cardiff and Gloucester)

Not cheap when you consider that Abra upstairs have the 4.95 offer on a Wednesday which makes lunch for two under 10 euro, or if you go to KFC the fully loaded meal with a few extra works out at 20 euro for lunch for two.

However it is great to have another option rather than fast food in Mahonpoint again as it at least gives us a choice of where to eat.


Link to the Menu here:

http://www.nandosrestaurant.ie/pdfs/Irish_Menu_1283265901.pdf

A Link from the Guardian UK Paper, reviewing the chain:

http://www.nandosrestaurant.ie/pdfs/Irish_Menu_1283265901.pdf

and from Mondays Guardian:

I do not like restaurants where the waiter asks: "Have you eaten here before?" It implies a system you have to fit into, clearly for the benefit of the restaurant rather than the diner, and reminds me of that awkward first day at a new office, when someone has to tell you where the toilets are and who to see if you want a new pen.

And yes, I am talking about Nando's, where you take your seat as if it were a proper restaurant and then they tell you: "Nah, we're only joking, it's like McDonald's really. You have to order at the counter."

For some reason, Nando's is a favourite among Premier League footballers. Regular listeners to BBC Five Live's Fighting Talk will know my one recent brush with fame was when I saw Aaron Lennon in Nando's. (He was having the chicken.) Maybe the guy at the counter who explains the various sauce options, combo possibilities and tactics with the side orders is like a kind of substitute gaffer. So it was no surprise to find that the ubiquitous chain of retail-park poultry pushers is a favourite of Aston Villa's new £18m (rising to £24m) man, Darren Bent. Bent is in many ways the Nando's of the Premier League, a reliable goal‑scoring brand.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2011/jan/24/darren-bent-aston-villa-nandos

craftypaddy

fantastic chicken up there today, people waiting to be seated for an hour when i left, expensive but good quality

Cadyboo

craftypaddy wrote: »

fantastic chicken up there today, people waiting to be seated for an hour when i left, expensive but good quality

What time was that at?? Was there at about 4 until after 5 and there were only a handful in there. Looked very nice though. Havent eaten in Nandos before, but often tried to get into the one in Liverpool and there would be huge queues at all times of the day. Was going to go in there but decided to go to the east village for 3 courses for 20e instead.

Vinta81

Glad to hear postive reviews