Mugg & Bean Salta — Restaurant in KwaZulu-Natal

I rarely if ever write restaurant reviews, but my experience at Mugg & Bean Marine Walk in eMdloti was so disappointing that I feel compelled to share. After a long drive from Johannesburg, my family and I (2 adults and 2 children) were looking forward to a familiar, reliable dining experience. Unfortunately, this visit was anything but that.

Despite the restaurant being 90% empty, our meal took almost an hour to arrive. Even drinks, which should have taken minutes, took over 20 minutes to be served, leaving us sipping on what little we had left by the time the food finally arrived. We were stunned by the lack of urgency, especially given how few patrons there were.

The food itself was nothing short of awful. The Spicy Wings came with expired sauce, which is not only disappointing but concerning. The Local Braai and Rump dishes were a disaster the meat was either tough or dry, and the onion rings were burnt. The entire meal was subpar at best.

When we approached the manager to address our concerns, we were met with weak excuses. He blamed a lack of waitstaff, despite the fact the restaurant was virtually empty. This explanation didn’t justify the poor quality of the food.

As a frequent patron of Mugg & Bean at other locations, this experience was a complete letdown. What should have been a pleasant meal turned into a frustrating and unsatisfying ordeal. This let down has put me off Mugg &...

The lack in staff training is evident. From management to waiters, all need proper training.

Drinks and food is served and the restaurant must be super confident about their products because nobody checks on you after you receive your order. I received my lukewarm Americano and when I picked my head up the waitress was gone, I had to ask another waiter for sweetener. Thereafter receiving my food which was toppled over(understandable with the Big Ben,it is stacked high) so I learnt from my beverage order and asked for a sauce while she was there, received it and then I was left to fend for myself, even if I was dissatisfied with the meal, there was no waiters in site to even ask for assistance. My waitress arrived 35 mins after I was done eating so obviously a bit late to upsell anything. I immediately asked for the manager, after 15 mins I was told that’s she’s coming just now, so I asked for my bill and I said tell her not to worry. She arrives the same time as my bill apologising for so many things but I hadn’t even complained yet. So I politely said I’m sorry I didn’t complain about anything please can I have the card machine to pay. I paid and left.

Mugg and Bean online portal seems to be broken so let’s hope this post helps this establishment before everyone starts boycotting it.

Also, there were 4 dissatisfied tables that I noted while waiting my 35 mins...

Fantastic Service from Sphe at Mugg & Bean

I had the pleasure of being served by Sphe during my recent visit to Mugg & Bean, and I have to say, he made my experience unforgettable.

From the moment I walked in, Sphe greeted me with a warm smile and made me feel so welcome. He was attentive, checking in just the right amount to make sure I had everything I needed without hovering. When I wasn’t sure what to order, he offered some great recommendations, and he really seemed to care that I enjoyed my meal.

What stood out most was how genuine he was—he wasn’t just doing his job, he was going the extra mile to make sure I had a great time. It’s not every day you come across someone who clearly loves what they do, and it showed in every interaction.

If you’re ever at Mugg & Bean, ask for Sphe. Trust me, he’ll make your day just that...