A father has slammed Nando's for leaving him feeling "ripped off big-time" after paying nearly £5 for a side dish containing a meagre four pieces of broccoli.
Shock at the Table
Ben Long, 35, from Hemel Hempstead, was enjoying a meal with his partner at the local Nando's branch on December 8th when he decided to add a healthy option to his order. Using a loyalty card reward for a whole chicken, he opted for the Tenderstem broccoli side, priced at £4.25.
His shock was palpable when the plate arrived. "I just couldn't believe it when they only brought out four stems of broccoli," Ben explained. "I was disappointed. I've been going to Nando's since it came out. The servings used to be so much bigger." He questioned whether the tiny portion could even count as one of the recommended five-a-day.
A Question of Value
Ben, a father-of-two, immediately felt the price was unjustifiable. "When you go into a shop you can buy a pack of broccoli for 70p to 90p," he noted, highlighting the stark contrast with the restaurant's charge. He believes that for £4.25, he should have received at least double the quantity.
This incident is part of a wider trend he's noticed at the popular chicken chain. "I used to order the Perinaise all the time - that's £1 now and it was only 50p about two or three years ago," Ben observed, pointing out a 100% price increase on the condiment.
Put Off for Good
The experience has had a lasting impact, deterring Ben from returning to Nando's in the future. "Where I live there's quite a lot of similar chicken places," he said. "The chicken in these places is so good and you can literally get three times as much for literally the same price."
While he and his partner enjoyed the rest of their meal, the broccoli side left a sour taste. "I remember saying to my partner that if we have to go out for lunch again then I would rather just go somewhere else," Ben stated. "It's put me off going to Nando's again in the future."
Nando's has been approached for comment regarding the portion size and pricing of their Tenderstem broccoli side dish.
