Soul Souvlaki Rosebank — Restaurant in Gauteng

We came expecting an outstanding experience, but all we found was slow service, small portions of food disappointing to average, and only a really nice atmosphere. While visiting from out of town, we always try places that have good Google reviews, and we usually find them true to the rating, but this one was a major letdown.

We came in just as the rain was starting, as the restaurant was almost empty. Shortly after that, the place filled up, with people standing and others coming in for takeout. A busy restaurant is usually a good sign. Our server was attentive and took our orders right away, but cautioned us that they might be out of the squid we had ordered.

That great beginning was also the end of the nice part of the experience. With the place bustling around us, our server did not return for quite a while. A good while later, we managed to ask him if the squid was still available, which he acknowledged in passing, while serving another table. It took forever to get our sangria, which turned out to be just rose wine, with a few pieces of strawberry, a generous amount of ice, no trace of orange curacao, all diluted either with tap water or very flat soda (the soda was the listed ingredient) . It was cold and a good way to hydrate, but rather tasteless and uninspiring, very much like the ice water it mostly contained.

By the time many others around us had finished lunch and left, another server noticed our empty table, approached us, and asked if we had already ordered. When she heard that we had ordered seafood, she nodded understandingly, as if the delay was not surprising – something our server never mentioned. It is possible that the kitchen staff did not want to cook our seafood until they finished serving the meat dishes ordered by others, we guess.

When our appetizers finally arrived, they were pitiful in size and rather disappointing in taste. We had the taramosalata and the harissa tahini, each served on a two-inch plate, enough for a few bites. Also, it is not clear why serving these dips took so long, as they did not need to be prepared, but just dispensed. On the "positive" side, neither was tasty enough for us to regret the small size. Once we finished the dips, we settled back and waited some more for our main dishes.

By the time our server returned to tell us that our food should be arriving in five minutes, most tables around us were empty. The squid was good, in a small quantity, but not outstanding, while the hake was better tasting and a bit more substantial.

As a side note, the restaurant has WiFi, but our server would not give us the password, telling us that WiFi is not intended for customers. One of us would have needed to connect to a meeting, given the long wait for the food. Later on, we found another review from last year, compliaing about the lack of WiFi, where the restaurant's response assured the patron that WiFi was supposed to be available. But maybe no longer available?

Overall, we enjoyed the nice setting and watching the torrential rain outside, but the service and food experience were highly disappointing. We were planning to give the place another chance in trying one of the lamb dishes, which seemed to be served more promptly, but the opportunity did not arise before...

I quite enjoy this restaurant – it’s become a bit of a go-to spot for my partner and me since we first discovered it back in 2024. We’re both big fans of the chicken souvlakis – they’re full of flavour, grilled just right, and always served fresh. The overall vibe of the place is really charming too. There’s a mix of indoor seating, an outdoor area downstairs, and another outdoor space upstairs, which gives it a lovely, relaxed feel no matter where you sit.

We’ve also brought a few friends along on different occasions, and they’ve all loved it just as much as we do. The atmosphere is friendly and laid-back, perfect for casual dinners or little celebrations. My partner and his brother are also obsessed with the bifteki – it’s become their staple order and they rave about it every time.

The only downside is the parking – it can be a bit of a mission depending on when you go. But honestly, once you’re seated and that food starts coming out, you forget all about it. The service has always been great!

If you haven’t been yet, I’d definitely recommend popping by. It’s the kind of place that leaves you satisfied and planning your next visit before you’ve even left. Great food, cosy setting, and always a good time – you...

Beautiful setting, perfect for an informal meeting. The food that I ordered was average to say the least, light snacks that aren’t bad.

The service started off really well when we walked in, and then finished entirely. Honestly, it came to a point that I didn’t even know who my waiter is because he disappeared. After our meat platter was finished we waited 10 minutes for someone to clear our table but nobody came. We decided it might be better to get up and go to the entrance to settle our bill. If it wasn’t for the background music skipping and jumping making it a really irritating to endure the wait we probably would’ve waited patiently for our waiter.

I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit again.

You’re probably better off heading up...