PAUL Melrose Arch — Restaurant in Gauteng

Would have given a 3 but they never have all things in stock and service was lacking.

The 'chocolate cake' was dry and felt burnt.

I could tell the waiters are not being rude but they are not well trained and have no appropriate 'demeanor' about them. Let me list the concerns which I wish management takes note of to improve service delivery.

1. waiters should smile and be approachable

2. waiters should know the difference between the different type of food or pastries.

I asked the waiter if there was flan she said no. And I even indicated that I came there along time ago and that they didn't have flan. I ordered something else.

We asked what cakes there were then she said that there was chocolate cake, coconut flan cake and red velvet.

We ordered the chocolate cake which we found out as we walked out was actually some sort of mousse dish which was not a simple chocolate cake.

When we told the manager or senior at the restaurant that the 'cake' was dry then he said it was supposed to be moist. So I said yes I agree but it is not moist and he looked confused as if he did not know what moist meant- I'm not sure it there was a language barrier there or he just did not know generally about the pastries etc and was taking a chance. He offered to swop it for the red velvet which was nice.

Secondly, I thought that I don't know about this new 'flan coconut cake' but I chose not to try it. When leaving Paul's we saw that this was not a coconut cake...it was just a simple coconut flan. And I had asked for the flan at the beginning and she said that there was no flan.

People who work at a restaurant needs to be moderately familiar with the type of food served.

3. The lighting at night needs to be synchronized

4. Interpersonal skills with patreaons need to be improved. I understand that they were not meaning to be rude and that there may have been a communication barrier of some sorts but it just comes out as unprofessional and lacking basic service delivery. Training in changing mannerisms will help. For an international franchise people pay a premium for...

I recently visited PAUL in Melrose Arch for breakfast, drawn by its elegant Parisian charm and the promise of classic French fare. The venue itself is absolutely beautiful — from the moment you step in, you feel transported to a chic café in Europe. The décor is refined, the atmosphere stylish, and the aroma of freshly baked pastries fills the air.

I started with the French onion soup, and I must say, it was exceptional — rich, deeply flavoured, and comparable to what I’ve enjoyed in Montpellier. The French toast was equally delightful: golden, fluffy, and perfectly balanced in sweetness. The kitchen clearly knows what it’s doing when it comes to traditional French cuisine.

Unfortunately, the experience was let down quite severely by the service. From the moment we arrived, we were met with cold stares and a noticeable lack of warmth from the staff. Getting their attention felt like a chore, and when our meals were brought to the table, they were dropped off without so much as a word — as if we were unwelcome. It’s disappointing when such a high-end setting is undermined by staff who seem disengaged or even irritated by patrons.

Adding to the discomfort was the clientele, which included a number of new money types who clearly don’t know how to behave in public. Loud, obnoxious, and lacking any regard for the atmosphere, they made it difficult to enjoy what should have been a peaceful breakfast.

Overall: An exquisite menu and beautiful setting overshadowed by poor service and an off-putting atmosphere. I’d return for the food, but likely only for takeaway until the...

15.12.2018 I recently joined a Food Photographer and a Chef to learn some tips and tricks to taking better food pics on our cell phones. It was a great morning meeting new people and learning a few new things. The breakfast menu was specifically designed for our morning session, as well being extremely halaal friendly. Although Paul's is not Halaal, they are very conscious of the Halaal Community and are more than willing to assist with any special requirements you may have. Speak to the manager and staff for assistance, and they will be more than happy to oblige. We received such great service from them on the day.

The Food itself was delicious. We had a choice in each course. We started off with drinks, i got to try a Cafe Medici - Espresso Shot with Orange Zest, Chocolate, Froth Milk and Cocoa powder. First course was a Parfait - Passion Fruit Yoghurt with Passion fruit Pulp, Pumpkin Seeds, Linseeds, Almonds, Walnuts and Roasted Granola. Absolutely tasty and of course healthy. Next up was Croissant Chėvre & Mile, a croissant filled with Goats cheese, Spinach, Honey and Walnuts. Fresh and full of flavour, the salad dressing was a bit tart, i would have liked some cherry tomatoes to cut through. We were do fully stuffed to the brim, i couldn't fit in dessert. They have a fantastic variety of goodies for all tastes. I took the Strawberry Tart, the tart base was amazing. Love it. Thank you to Devin and the team for a great morning and to Shootcake and Chefpreneur for the...