D48 Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Gauteng

Having anticipated for years the experience that the venue’s Instagram presence so confidently markets, I finally decided to gather a group of friends to enjoy what was promised: dining, drinks, dancing, and a vibrant social atmosphere. Unfortunately, the reality fell significantly short of the polished image promoted online.

Service On arrival, it took nearly 30 minutes before our table was attended to. The establishment does have a structured system involving a head waiter supported by runners, which in theory should enable efficiency. However, in practice it was poorly executed. Drinks, including a single cocktail, took 43 minutes to arrive, and our assigned waiter never proactively checked on the table unless we deliberately made eye contact. This lack of attentiveness undermined what could have been a seamless process.

Atmosphere The venue appears overly bottle-orientated, which clashes with the authentic essence of a chisanyama establishment. Traditionally, chisanyama culture thrives on the pairing of meat, beer, and lively music—yet here the experience felt misplaced. Promoter hostesses created an illusion of vibrancy, but their presence felt transactional rather than genuinely welcoming. Sporting events are screened on just two televisions, making it difficult to follow matches in what should otherwise be a communal and engaging environment.

Food Although I did not fully explore the menu, the food I sampled was satisfactory. It was perhaps the most consistent aspect of the visit.

Overall Experience The venue misses the mark on delivering the authentic chisanyama atmosphere it claims to offer. Instead, it feels caught between two identities: the aspirational bottle-service model and the rooted African communal dining experience—ultimately failing to capture the essence of either. While the wait staff are personable in appearance, service standards lack refinement. The patron experience is further diluted by the reliance on paid promoters to sustain the brand image.

Having experienced it firsthand, I would not consider returning for the venue itself; only perhaps if friends chose it as a meeting point. Unfortunately, what was promised online and what was delivered in reality were...

This place was on the short list of places I wanted to visit but based on the complaint that hostesses/waitresses are rude, specifically Nela/Neilla or whatever her name is....and this is a clear sign of management being ignorant to customers' cries about her service let alone the whole team. Poor sign of training of stuff and mismanagement of the entire place. Multiple cant be complaining about one person. It's okay if she is there to service VIP members only but at least there should be a better way of letting customers know without attitude or the rudeness that I feel most people are complaining about. Quick suggestion to management, Can your VIP stuff members have tags with their names and specifically should state that they serve VIPs ONLY.

As for me, unfortunately I wont set...

I am deeply disappointed with the treatment we received during our recent visit to this establishment. We came in with my sister, who uses a wheelchair, and from the moment we arrived, we were made to feel like an inconvenience rather than welcomed guests.

The hostess and staff were not accommodating or friendly, and they made what should have been a simple outing feel uncomfortable and frustrating. There was no effort to assist us or make us feel at ease—in fact, we were taken for granted and treated with a clear lack of empathy and respect.

Accessibility and kindness should be basic standards in any public space, yet this experience showed neither. I hope the management takes this feedback seriously and commits to improving both their customer service and...