Food Chain Kolonnade — Restaurant in Gauteng

I took my wife and mother for a breakfast buffet at Foodchain Kolonnade this morning (11 May 2025 at 08:45) The restaurant was overcrowded, with half of the warm trays empty. Other eating customers plates were overflowing with excess food, and needed to be thrown away as a result of it beign not eaten. This happened on countless times as I watched in dismay. In the end I only had the opportunity to dish once (left over potato bake, few grilled onion slices, 1 tomato, 2 sausages, 2 small egg bread pieces.) I had the luxury of enjoying only half of the desert menu, as everything was grabbed away. My mother and wife also only had 1 plate of food each, and a chance of eating something else was out of the question. When I addressed the matter with the manager (lady) she didn't even felt sorry in the slightest although she said sorry with no care. They were all just chasing around like headless chickens. I was however still obliged to pay in full per person for enjoyment of 33% of the full buffet we paid for. This is utterly disgusting service and atmosphere. It really looked like people were on a fasting for the last month and only started now. On specific table, the waiter came by and took back 3 plates full of food not eaten (I could easily guess about 30 sausages, half the tray of bacon some pap and sauce) and to be thrown away. The manager said that she is charging these people extra, but as I monitored the proceedings, all paid the normal price and happy when they left. Another table took almost a quarter of all the desert on display, and sent back half of it to the kitchen. I wanted to spoil my mother and wife, but in the end just felt ashamed and humiliated by this behaviour and no care attitude from the staff and specifically...

The food was fantastic, as I've come to expect from Food Chain. The buffet was varied and all the items I chose were prepared perfectly. In addition, my cocktail was as strong as if I had poured it with my own hands. However, what made tonight a truly special experience, unexpected on a Monday night hefore payday, and cemented my loyalty to this restaurant was the caliber of our waiter, Alfonso.

Alfonso seems to have effortlessly reached and exceeded the level of quality service I so valiantly attempted to reach throughout my years in the industry. All other waiters I will ever encounter from today onwards will have to work exceptionally hard to muster even a fraction of Alfonso's charisma, knowledge, and hospitality. Furthermore, I will forever be comparing the waiters of other restaurants to the waiters employed by Food Chain, and I am saddened by the fact that I couldn't afford to tip Alfonso more than 16%. I plan to come back and dine again, even if only to make up for the lackluster tip I left tonight.

If I were guaranteed Alfonso's service, I would drive out of my way to the Montana branch every single time I intended to eat out, and due to his exceptionally graceful demeanor, I will almost certainly be visiting this specific branch far more often than only once a year.

To the owners of the Kolonade Food Chain: you have a magnificent management. To the management: you are exceptional at training your staff. To Alfonso: you brought light to a painfully dark night without even having to try, and I thank you. I genuinely hope to see you the next time I dine...

I don't know how to rate the atmosphere as the setting and all is not a problem. 1st time I went I was sitting inside closer to the door that's leading to outside "balcony". It was fine no noise. But yoh the 2nd time we decided it's hot let's sit outside shuuu worst mistake my friend and I couldn't even hear ourselves think with the noise of the go carts and it went on for the longest of time since we have been there so we decided to move inside. I mean self the place is noisy coz of the customers I thunk fact that they usually come in groups. But besides that the food was delicious. The service by TK was nice and I felt bad that another customer next to us started to shout at him and saying sorts of things which were really unnecessary I felt it was really unfair coz as we overheard the things they were complaining about some are irrelevant and some untrue. Sometimes waiters are really being mistreated unfair and unnecessary. But the place and the vibe I'd definitely recommend and I'll come again, just stay away from the balcony close to the go kart coz omg no ways!!! Oh lastly, they have nice shots. I didn't quiet enjoy the cocktail but it was ny first time having it. Othertimes the cocktails I had I really enjoyed. Affordable menu too. Love the platter options...