South African chicken

I was at Vivocity for their anniversary celebration just now and had a lovely time at the specially-commissioned Dick Lee musical and fireworks celebration by a French pyrotechnic guru. However, couldn't say the same for dinner.

It was quite late by the time the event was over, and I hurriedly rushed down to the restaurants before their last orders of the day. I settled on Barcelos, a new grilled chicken restaurant from South Africa.

Unfortunately, as nice as their corporate branding was, the food was way below par. Think of it as Kenny Rogers but without the huge juicy cuts of chicken and generous portions of coleslaw, with free muffin thrown in for good measure. Barcelos wasn't bad-tasting but their portions were miserable for the price and they only had their 4 "special peri" sauce to choose from, no ketchup, no chilli.

Let's take a look at the photos:



This is their Quarter Chicken meal. $11.95 for this!! I was appalled! Kenny Rogers' quarter chicken is so much bigger in size and whilst Barcelos only gives ONE side, Kenny gives 2 and with a muffin as well. I had to wait quite a while for this mind you, wasn't prepared for this outcome...



The chicken burger tastes better and seemed more substantial ($8.95), but look at the way the bun has been manhandled. Sigh, it looks like something I made in a slipshod way at home. And wait, is that three pieces of lettuce with one thinly-sliced cut of onion?



Spicy wedges $3.95 i think...it wasn't spicy and whilst they look homemade with the different sizes and the skins still attached, it also looks home made in the morning....and reheated over and over again until I ate it at 930pm.

The next time you see that wonderfully drawn graphic of the red and white chicken on the huge lightbox outside their store, walk away. Walk on the opposite side of the pathway, don't be tempted to the dark side.