Calisto's Umhlanga — Restaurant in KwaZulu-Natal

This Calistos in Durban Really needs to up their game. We decide to join for ifthaar came into the restaurant much earlier (prior to ifthaar) as we wanted our meals when it was time to break fast. Despite the restaurant being empty at the time of coming in , the table that we chose was told to us that it was reserved without a reserve sign. ( we sat through our entire meal next to that table and nobody had come to that table that we initially choose)

The restaurant itself seemed very dim and gloomy floors were dirty where we sat as well also some of the chairs etc were torn and needs some upkeep. I will give a thumbs up where it's due that the restaurant did provide complimentary milkshake and dates to break fast so they do cater for that. The waiter did give decent service but he didn't really know the menu, when we asked him about the meals. The Meals arrived a good 15 mins after ifthaar despite getting there early and ordering early hoping that it would be there on time. Orders were also incorrect upon arrival despite the restaurant not being busy, but our waiter did his best to accommodate for the mix up without causing us an inconvenience.

This is where the complete downfall is... The food, was definitely not up to par or standard for a Calistos franchise. The alfredo pasta was extremely bland, no salt pepper or much taste to it. The Don Antonio was extremely salty, Sirloin streak cuts seemed more of a rump cut and was literally one of the toughest sirloin steak I've had, really found it difficult to cut even with the large sharp steak knives provided.. The lemon butter prawns was extremely salty and overdone as they were really rubbery. The peri peri prawns sauce was horrid and not edible seemed like it was just peri peri sauce poured ontop of the prawns instead of it cooked in the sauce also, Their chips was not fresh at all and seemed to be refried or something. The rice was extremely dry. The only thing that was actually good or decent was the veggies. We were really unsatisfied with the quality of the meals from this branch, as the other calistos that we had tried prior was amazing service food everything especially the rosebank branch!. Wish I had taken pictures prior to starting to eat but everybody was hungry by the time the meals arrived. I honestly didn't even feel like paying for the meals as most of it was wasted but never the less, the restaurant needs a revamp and your meal quality really...

Ive spent the weekend to decide whether I should write a review or not however, I have come to the conclusion and feeling that because this was the 2nd time in a couple of years, it deserved a review. A few years ago, we dined at Calistos in Gateway, the food was horrible and vowed not to go back again. A few years later (Saturday 15 February 2025) we decided to give it a try again, maybe it has changed. We were fairly early at 11:30 and ordered a cappuccino and coffee freezo together with starters, one Haloumi and one Avocado Ritz. The starters were good. Waiting for the main course, it is noticeable that there is absolutely no atmosphere. No music playing in the background, it is dead quiet, and dull. For mains we ordered a Pepperoni Pizza and Chicken Pasta.

When it arrived it looked amazing, the presentation of the pizza especially looks mouthwatering. However, dont be fooled, there were two pizza bases stuck together which were still "doughy" and not crispy at all. I still do not know what meat was on the pizza but it was not pepperoni, it tasted like something in between of polony and bully beef. We notified the waiter who called the manager who was pleasant about it and offered to show us the roll of meat to which I said it would make no difference as it will still be whatever processed "meat" it is. He advised that he will notify the regional manager. He did offer to have the pizza with the base fixed to which I said no worries, it took so long to get here, but it was tasteless, flavourless and whatever that "meat" was gave a foul taste, so we left the pizza and sent it back.

The pasta was ok"ish" - the chicken was hard and dry with way too many sundried tomatoes mixed in. With other competition in the mall, one would think they would try to step it up a bit seeing that they are so hidden away and not in the restaurant section of the food court of the mall.

In the end we got the bill (R740.00) and left. No gesture of perhaps taking the pizza (R160.00 by the way) which was hardly eaten off the bill. As we left, we heard the couple that sat behind us also complain about the food. (Was good to know that I am not being a "karen" or over dramatic, and that other people agreed).

You had two chances but failed on both.

Signed, a...

Really disappointed.

Went during the festive rush and the place was the only one with seating available in a packed food court. Assumed this was because it was a sit-down restaurant compared to the slew of fast food take-aways surrounding it. Bad assumption.

The chicken liver starter was salty and lacked the lemony zing or chilli flavor that characterize Portuguese cuisine.

Ordered a Pepperoni Pizza and Calisto's Special Pizza for mains. Never spent money on food that was so un-palatable before.

The Pepperoni pizza was topped with basically slices of what can best be described as ultra cheap, ultra processed polony 🤔. The waiter insisted that they used salami and could even bring us the packaging, which felt a bit too laboured an effort to make excuses after we had eaten less than 20% of the pizza.

Likewise, the Calisto's Special Pizza was a culinary monstrosity. It was basically a pizza base, topped with oily vegetable pickle (never ever seen this anywhere before), tomato base sauce, cheese and then like 5% beef and 95% polony again. Again, I managed to eat a slice because I was starving after 3 hours walking the mall. About 80% wasted pizza again.

I have never felt so cheated before. Possibly I'm not the target market, but will definitely not be going back here. Should have just waited in the queues to be seated at the other restaurants.😔

Credit to the waiter Lewis for trying his best though, but good service can't make up...