After a morning of retail therapy I decided to walk down to Nando at Printworks to have my lunch. Everything is absolutely amazing t the Printworks, as I walk through I thought I entered into film set. The whole building was decorated like an old street of New York, dark, narrow with shops on either sides of the street.
Nando store is opposite the Odeon cinema and next to Japanese Sushi restaurant. The weather was rather cold that morning. As I walk into the store, the air conditioning was right above of the door blowing lovely warm air onto my face. It was lovely on cold day like this, I guess that is what they called a warm welcome. I waited for few seconds by the door before waitress dress up like in Scandinavian style, with blonde hair and 2 buns tie on the back came forward and welcome me and show me to my table. I chose to sit by the window so that I can imagine myself sitting in the cafe’ in New York in the 1950’s.
The waitress was very polite and said to me, “Welcome to the best Nandos in Manchester.” That was nice touch. She handed me the menu and explained to me where to order my meal and so.
The restaurant was half full. There was a party of 15 people at the far end and a few other tables were occupied. It was in two levels with the dark wood old fashion stair leading to the upper level. The decoration in the restaurant was rather quirky. There were a whole row of large orange colour lamp, like the car head light hanging from the centre of ceiling. There were rows of lights with glass lampshades hanging from the sides of the ceiling. The ceiling was decorated with dark wooden beans and boards with air vent piping over the top. The walls was decorated with pictures and also the wall writings as usual. In the middle of the restaurant, there was a lift with glass penal and red light shining through. I thought it was quite decorative features well as allowed wheel chairs and disable customer to get up the stair to the toilets.
I ordered butterfly chicken with Peri peri chips and coleslaw. I did not fancy and fizzy drink at the time so I ask for a glass of water. I was so glad that the lady took the order did not give me funny look. Everywhere in the restaurant look very clean and tidy. The hand washing area and the cutlery area was tidy. All the sauces were well top up and line up in a roll looking quick pretty.
I did not take long before my food arrive. It was piping hot and smell rather good. The coleslaw was serve on a separate dish which is nice. This is the first time I have peri peri chips, I find them little bit too salty for my taste. I had to wash them down with lots of ice cold water. Perhaps I should ask for them to put less peri peri salt on them next time. The butterfly chicken breast is tasty and smell really good but bit on the dried side. I add a lot of garlic sauce on my chicken and a lot of ketchup on my chips. That is how I normally like them.
The toilets were all upstair. I had to walk up the big wide dark wood staircase to get up it. It was an experience by itself. I try to imagine myself as Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with The Wind. I was hoping that I may meet Rhett Butler the way down. No such luck I am afraid. The ladies toilets were a bit cramp with wooded painted doors. There were no toilet rolls left. All there was a pile of tissue paper t the back of the toilet seat, looking very untidy.
I like the quirky decorations, the service and the cleanliness in the restaurant area. I am not sure about the cramp condition of the toilet.