News Cafe Umhlanga Ridge — Restaurant in KwaZulu-Natal

I wish I had never come to this place. Bad management made my experience such a terrible waste of time.

I was in Durban a few days and my uber driver brought me here for the nightlife. When I arrived, they asked for my bags, and I went along with what the hostess wanted and left my bags of souvenirs from shopping that day at the check-in counter.

i was seated upstairs, and the DJ and ambiance looked promising. I ordered a mixed berry margarita and found it extremely unpleasant. each sip I took was full of seeds. if they'd strained out the seeds first it would probably be a nice drink, but sucking a mouthful of seeds through a straw was making it take a long time with the drink. I asked the waitress if I could send it back for another drink. she agreed, and I got another drink that was better.

when i got the bill, I was charged for both drinks 😠 why would I pay for the barely drinkable seedy nonsense that they first served? I repeatedly asked her to take off the charge for the first drink and she refused. in the US, if you explain the problem with your food and send it back, they don't charge for it because there was clearly a problem with it.

On the way out I forgot that they'd taken my bags! when I got back to my hotel 20 min away, I called and a man answered, I explained the problem and he hung up on me. I repeatedly called back but the line was always busy after that. I was flying out the next day and needed to get my bags! i thought that maybe it was an issue with my foreign phone so I had the people at the front desk of my hotel call. they couldn't reach anyone and by now the restaurant had closed. first thing the next morning, I started calling (after they were officially open) the line was always busy. I went to my lobby and had the hotel try calling. the hotel found another number and called, and no one would answer. I had them call a different news cafe, and they answered, but they didn't have a direct phone number for the manager at this location. I was supposed to be checking out of my hotel, but instead, I was wasting time trying to reach this place that wouldn't answer their phone!

i got an uber and rode over there and found some people that got my bags for me and a manager busy talking on the phone! then I had to uber back to my hotel and ask for a later checkout. Thankfully, they gave me 30 more minutes.

i wasted so much time at this place! if they'd answered their phone, I could have verified that they had my bags and let them know I'd pick them up on my way to the airport. instead, I wasted my morning calling and rushing around in ubers instead of going to the gallery and museum I'd wanted to go to!

Some places just seem to throw a wrench in your plans and add unnecessary chaos to your holiday, this is one of...

A complete let down on our second visit to the establishment, ON MY SISTER'S BIRTHDAY. Sure, we didn't expect special treatment at all to be honest. We just wanted thay Newscafe vibe and the service was completely abysmal. I went downstairs twice myself to make things happen. The first time around my whiskey sour was too sour (no balance of sour & sweet cause apparently they use a ready-mix here) and the second time we decided to leave but the waiter took eons to come back to our table - as had been the theme of the night - so we actually went downstairs to go pay. And guess what!? We still had to wait downstairs as well before the waiter finally came to ring up her bill. So laughable, really.

The tempura prawn sushi was to die for. But everything else was lackluster. The waitress who served us was mediocre to say the least. She only came to the table to drop off orders and literally nothing else. Horrible service.

The crazy thing is the night before we were there and the short waitress (dark skinned with cornrows, I think her name is Mbali) was spectacular. She was very sociable, friendly, attentive and so inviting. We were hoping for a similar treatment but we quickly regretted stepping foot in Newscafe. Go at own risk and hope for the right waiter...

Title: Disappointing Experience Due to Alcohol Policy ( Does not serve alcohol for ages less in 23 )

I recently visited news cafe in umhlanga and was extremely disappointed with our experience. Despite looking forward to enjoying a relaxing meal with a glass of wine, we were informed that alcohol was only served for patrons who are the above the age 23 . This unusual and inconvenient policy completely soured our evening. Mind you we were well aware that alcohol may only be served to to pupil above the age of 23 at 6pm and later ..We had arrived extremely early (2pm ) but still weren’t served.. Your waiters had a disgusting attitude of not wanting to call the manager and questioning our behaviour

The staff were unapologetic and inflexible about this rule, which made us feel unwelcome and frustrated. Ithe overall experience was marred by this rigid and unreasonable policy. We had to leave and find another restaurant that serves alcohol for pupils over the age of 18 .Mind you we are all in varsity

I hope the management reconsiders this approach as it detracts from what could be a pleasant dining experience. Until then, I cannot recommend news cafe in umhlanga to anyone looking to enjoy a meal...