I normally am keen to try new venues, but I can't drum up any enthusiasm to try out Fogos. I think that it was a mistake to just move in to the premises and do absolutely nothing to it decoratively. They have even left the old tapas boards on the exterior of the building..... bizarre. I know that they are probably trying to do things on the cheap, but a lick of paint wouldn't have cost much here and there inside in order to go a small way to stamping their own identity on the place.
Mind you, talking of identity, they seem to be having a bit of a crisis in that respect - what with starting out with a rotisserie type venture and then altering course to middle eastern.
I hope to be tempted eventually to go there, but I have no inclination at the moment. They will need to do a fair bit more to get people flooding through the doors.
I have to agree with you. I keep walking past trying to drum up the enthusiasm to walk in but the outside facade is really uninviting and also rather confusing. I love new businesses in the area but you will always see them trying to fit in with the area rather than just expecting people to fall through the door with little or no advertising...
Even if they have changed hands quite recently I can't understand the lack of media presence it has had on the local people attracting them in to try the food. I'm sure the grub is fantastic but if the outside is anything to go by I don't want to go in. They must have viewed the property to know the vastness of the restaurant and what would be involved to bring it up to a satisfactory level to open to customers... Having old tapas signs etc isn't really that acceptable when you're paying for an ambience and good quality food.
They have prime spot in the triangle but seem to have pressumed people will walk in without questions asked! This is not the case. Crystal Palace has such an array of independent restaurants why will they want to go in a confused and lacking in ambience space!!!
