As a child, I would beg my parents to take me to Wagamama, where I always got the same thing - Chicken Katsu Curry.

They invariably said it was too expensive - but when Wagamama asked me to try their new menu I saw a chance to realise childhood dreams.

Wagamama describes the new autumn menu as “trend-led” (as opposed to trend-setting) and it does nothing extraordinary.

My colleague and I first figured out that the new menu was about 10 new items added to the old menu, including a few starters, cocktails and dessert options.

The spiced plum and orange mocktails with salty rims (Image: Newsquest)

We both went for a new mocktail to start - a mix of orange and plum juice, with spices added and salt around the rim to give it a sophisticated I'm-not-just-drinking-a-glass-of-juice feel (£6).

I ordered a plate of new prawn crackers (£3) opting for them over the other new starter, a plate of pickled veg (£3.50).

Keen to stay positive at the time I admired that they were freshly fried, evident from their greasiness. They were dusted with red powder that looked a lot like the stuff around my glass of juice.

But at the end of the day, they were prawn crackers, an item so standard that it is given away free at many Asian restaurants.

My friend got the only new main on the menu, billed as a collaboration between Spoons and Wagamama.A collaboration with 'Spoons' was not at Spoons prices (Image: Newsquest)

It took us a while to figure out it was not a Wetherspoon collaboration, but it tasted like one - plain tomato sauce, plain rice, and some plain chicken and egg, it would be perfect for fussy kids (£16).

Having come to try new items and having only got the Katsu Curry before, I decided the whole menu was new to me - so went for a pork noodle soup (£16).

I love the fattiness of pork, and this did not disappoint with big chunks and plenty of them - but the whole bowl was disappointingly lukewarm, and the noodles were overcooked.The ramen looked good but got a lukewarm response (Image: Newsquest)

You may wonder why we got only mocktails, one small starter and no dessert - the puddings looked good.

But the £40 voucher Wagamama had given me for the purpose of trying their menu did not cover any more. It seems the menu is a bit too expensive even for Wagamama to cover.

It turns out my parents were right - Wagamama is expensive.

Swindon’s Wagamama is in the Designer Outlet. For starter, main, dessert and drink expect to pay just over £30 each.

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