Sandos recently reopened following a huge fire that gutted their original site last year and the response took me by surprise a little.

That’s because my previous experience boiled down to essentially two things: telling students that it’s not just a rip off of Nando’s and writing the story when the fire happened.

Beyond that I’ve got a friend who claims his takeaway he got from there after a heavy night in Warehouse (probably) was ‘delightful’.

With interest in the place at an all-time high due to that fire and subsequent revival, it made sense that I dragged same friend along with me on his lunchbreak on Monday. Still not the most unhealthy thing I’ve ever done on a Monday lunchtime.

More: Not a fan of takeaway food? Our Health Shack review could be for you

It’s only when I enter that I realise that I can’t actually remember the last time I went inside a takeaway during the day but it’s a pleasant surprise to see about half-a-dozen people in there eating.

I think I’d compare the experience of going to a takeaway when I’m neither hungover or drunk to that when I wake up at a festival on a Monday morning, observe the devastation and wonder what exactly I’m doing with my life. Two of the people here appear to be on the world’s worst Tinder date and I can’t really decide how I feel about it.

Still, two chicken shawarma wraps are quickly ordered and come armed with chips and red salt. They lose points for not asking if I want red onion before putting it on because if there’s one thing I hate it’s red onion. They also don’t take card so I need to make a quick trip to the cash machine.

As you can probably guess by this point, I was feeling pretty doubtful about how much I’d enjoy this but the food is actually pretty decent. It also doesn’t feel anywhere near as unhealthy as I was expecting. The chilli sauce is tasty and has a good kick to it. The wrap is light so I can eat it all without feeling like I need to take a nap in the afternoon.

Best of all, we get two of these, two portions of chips and two soft drinks for less than £10. That’d be the cost of 3 jagerbombs if I was on a night out and I know which I’d enjoy more.

And I do enjoy it. As much as one can enjoy a takeaway on a Monday lunchtime but I do. And my friend and I both remark that you’re probably not going to do better if you’re looking for a takeaway when you’re drunk in the city centre at the weekend (though I’m happy to be corrected on that). Even the ‘We Want Plates’ brigade will be happy.

More: Sandos officially open again

So no, I’m not likely to repeat my visit on a Monday lunchtime. But next time I’m merry in the city centre then I’ll probably head here for something just a touch better than the other offerings about.

Food: 7/10
Atmosphere: 4/10
Service: 5/10
Value: 9/10
Overall: 25/40

Our food reviewers pay for themselves and aren’t invited by the venue, if we are we will always say in the review.