Olive and Oil Pavilion — Restaurant in KwaZulu-Natal

I had a very disappointing experience last night (Thursday, 19 Dec 2013) at Olive & Oil Glenwood. I arranged a special birthday dinner for my friend and had chosen this restaurant because I previously enjoyed a delightful dinner there. Planning weeks in advance, I contacted the restaurant and made a reservation. I communicated with Trey and agreed upon a tailor-made 3 course menu; the deposit was paid and a signed confirmation form was emailed. This form stipulated, amongst other things, that we had to confirm the final number a day before the function (via email) and that a 10% gratuity fee will be automatically added to groups of 10 or more.

On Wednesday, the day before the dinner, I sent the email confirming the final number of people attending the function, but no response was received. On arrival at the agreed time, we were surprised by the lack of preparedness. They had prepared a table for 8 patrons instead of the requested 9 and had their regular menu on the table instead of the specially agreed upon menu.

When I went to enquire about what was going on, no one had any idea of the arrangements. They knew nothing about the special menu and after repeating what was arranged, they quickly cobbled together a page with the menu we had previously agreed upon.

The waitress assigned to our table seemed completely out of her depth -- as if it was her first time at the job. We constantly had to try get her attention to receive any sort of service. When requested to open the wine, she looked lost, but struggled valiantly to open one of the bottles. She didn't appear to know how to use the corkscrew, but to her credit pried out the cork with brute force. She then disappeared, mumbling that she will find someone else to open the rest for us. We had to wait for the maître d' to eventually do his rounds before again having to request that they open the remaining wine. She performed none of the usual duties such as refilling glasses, etc. It was a breathtakingly underwhelming performance.

This was unfortunately not where the fiasco ended. While the starter was excellent, with the main course, the steak appeared to be hastily prepared. The medium-to-rare was blue-rare and the medium-to-well was beyond well-done. This could be understandable given that it was a very busy night for the kitchen, but the desert provided the cherry on the proverbial cake. The Choc Chip Dom Pedro's that were ordered appeared to be vanilla milkshakes with a some Nuttikrust cookies sprinkled in them. When we called the manager's bluff regarding their creative use of the terms "Dom Pedro" and "Choc Chip", we were given shots of Kahlua on the house -- which provided a bitter-sweet end to the evening. Or so I thought.

When the bill arrived, there was no reference made of the R720 deposit that I had paid. If I hadn't already been on my guard, I would have been overcharged by this amount. A 10% gratuity was also included without my consent. When I queried this, the manager was adamant that this was charged for all tables with 8 or more people -- it apparently said so on the menu, a document that I had neither signed or been provided for my perusal. Given the substandard service, I had no intention of giving such a generous tip.

Needless to say, all members of the group will think twice about visiting this establishment again. Olive & Oil Glenwood certainly made it a memorable evening, but not for the...

This afternoon, my partner and I decided to visit Olive & Oil at The Pavilion to satisfy our cravings after a long day of shopping.

We arrived without a reservation, and while the restaurant was fairly full, there were several empty tables — most without reservation cards. Upon approaching the usher at the front, I was met with an attitude that felt unwelcoming and unprofessional. He seemed visibly frustrated and reluctantly offered us a table near the entrance. I politely asked if we could be seated a little further inside, at another empty table, but was told (quite abruptly) that it was reserved — despite there being no sign indicating so.

When I tried to clarify, I was repeatedly ignored until I had to gently tap him on the shoulder to get his attention. His response was dismissive and curt, again stating that the tables were booked. We were then seated but left unattended for several minutes until I approached another staff member to request a waiter.

By the time our waiter arrived, we were quite hungry and placed our order immediately. A few minutes later, another staff member informed us that a table at the back was available — which turned out to be the very same table I had initially requested.

When our food arrived, it was cold. Throughout our meal, no one checked on us or asked how we were doing. Even after requesting condiments, they never arrived. What should have been an enjoyable dining experience turned into a disappointing one marked by poor service and lack of attention to guests.

I’ve always enjoyed Olive & Oil and have visited several times before, but this experience was truly disheartening. Unfortunately, after such service, I’ll be reconsidering returning to...

Dining at Olive & Oil Pavilion was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. The food was nothing short of delicious — every dish was beautifully presented and packed with flavor. You can tell that quality and attention to detail are a top priority in their kitchen.

The service was equally impressive. Our waiter was attentive without being intrusive, and the entire team came across as friendly, accommodating, and genuinely passionate about what they do. It’s refreshing to dine somewhere where the staff not only deliver great service but are also knowledgeable about the menu and happy to make recommendations based on your preferences.

An experience that truly stood out was their honesty and integrity. I had accidentally lost my purse during my visit and assumed it was gone for good. To my surprise, nearly two weeks later, I received a call letting me know it had been found and kept safely for me — a rare gesture that speaks volumes about the kind of establishment Olive & Oil Pavilion is.

In terms of pricing, it’s standard for a great night out — fair for the quality of food, service, and overall experience you receive. The ambiance is warm and inviting, making it perfect whether you’re dining as a couple, celebrating with friends, or enjoying a family meal.

Olive & Oil Pavilion effortlessly combines exceptional food, friendly service, and an atmosphere that makes you feel welcome and valued. It’s the kind of place that leaves a lasting impression — not just for the food, but for the people and experience as a whole. This is definitely a restaurant worth visiting, and one that I’ll be returning...