Dino's — Restaurant in Gauteng

My wife and I have eaten at Dino's regularly during the past ten years. The service is always excellent. The maitre-D and his staff are welcoming and always make their clients feel special. During the past week, we have taken friends for their first visit there, for a Saturday lunch, and been taken there, on a very busy Monday evening. The winning specials menu board has changed little in recent years and the formal printed menu has always been an exceptional backup. Worth mentioning is that the oxtail I enjoyed on Saturday was the best I have enjoyed there - and the food preparation is always of a high standard, so that was no mean feat for the chef! My wife chose her favourite - prawn risotto - and our friends loved their pasta off the specials board. (They live some 30 kilometres away but are determined to return and to combine their meal with a visit to the second hand book store next door - that we also frequent!) Monday night saw us eating pizzas and salmon rosti. What was not eaten went home with us. Dino's have a good wine list but are also happy for us to bring our own, subject to a corkage charge. Every visit is a happy experience and, whilst we like to sit outside in summer, winter evenings are spent cosily inside, chatting about the artworks and enjoying the buzz. Dino's is frequented by many locals, on a regular basis, and so we reserve our favourite tables...

My husband and I were out shopping with our newborn when he started crying because his formula was too cold. I rushed into Dino's and asked the barista if they could help warm up the bottle. Without even a second thought, they just said, "No, we don't have a microwave," and left it at that. No offer to help in any other way, no empathy… nothing.

The place itself feels just as cold and uninviting as the staff. It’s dark, cramped, and honestly, I don’t know how anyone enjoys spending time there. Thankfully The Daily Coffee next door was a different story. They quickly gave me a container of warm water to heat the bottle, and our baby was able to eat peacefully.

With such dismissive service and a gloomy atmosphere, I’m surprised Dino's is still around. This isn’t the kind of place that our...

Not the most friendliest staff. They also do not know their own specials when asked. The waitress even forgot what we ordered and also after 30 minutes of sitting here even forgot to order it. This place should be avoided at all costs. I have never had such a bad experience in my life. Did not even get a proper apology. Then to put the cherry on top after showing them with my fingers 2 and saying that we both (my wife and I) will each have a spare rib special, they bring us one spare rib. Now considering there are 2 of us did they think only one was eating and what happened to me indicating both of us will each have a spare rib special. Even the couple next to me asked what with these waitresses. They heard me clearly. I am sorry but this is...