Spoon Eatery & Pizzeria — Restaurant in KwaZulu-Natal

Spoon is a beautiful restaurant nestled above the hills in Assagay. It is difficult at times to not be too critical but I feel that the hype surrounding the restaurant had left me expecting more. I however must remember that being populist is not all bad and if you can execute it competently one shouldn't complain. So let's begin.

The restaurant itself is beautiful with large shaded verandas and a fantastic view of the surrounding hills. All the decor is tastefully done and adds to the ambiance. The wait staff are fantastically friendly and helpful. The speed of service didn't stand out but that mostly means the foods coming at a reasonable rate which gives you time to soak in the beautiful scenery. Two large friendly ridge backs lazily patrol the veranda looking for scraps. Overall I love the ambiance of the restaurant.

The food was good but not exceptional as cliche as that sounds but I honestly can't fault the pizza. It wasn't neopolitan as the menu claims as they are either running their ovens too cool or are parbaking the bases but it was delicious pizza and the base wasn't dry. For my taste the heavily cooked down sauce on the pizza wasn't my favorite but each to their own. If you want a good pizza you won't be disappointed. The croquettes were good the potato was pureed perfectly however the jalapeños could have been chopped finer if I must nit pick however they were tasty and we devoured them quickly. The potatoes bravas were well seasoned with paprika and topped with a delicious homemade mayonnaise / aoili. Over all the food is good. The only true complaint I have is with the tiramisu which sorely lacked flavor. Classically tiramisu is made with mascapone and has a very dense texture however there are recipes the opt for more of a whipped cream mousse. (and to be honest a lot of tiramisu is Italy is done this way) However this was neither it was finger biscuits soaked in coffee and alcohol layered with what as far as I can tell was only whipped cream and then topped with a rather bland cocoa powder before service. (this didn't allow the cocoa to hydrate). Asides from the dessert the food is very good and they have an exceptional drinks menu to accompany it. I must applaud them for doing classic cocktails as that is a woefully rare thing in Durban as mixology has become a dying art.

Overall Spoon is a good restaurant if you want a relaxing place to enjoy some drinks and have some tasty food definitely pop in. The wait staff will take good care of you. I must just remind myself that I sometimes have incredibly high standards and sometimes I need to shut up and...

Shew I was very saddened by mine and my friends dinner experience at Spoon last night. We love to get together every month a try a new place out and I have been longing to try spoon out so it was my suggestion to try it out and boy was I sad at the outcome. Firstly my friend booked us a table ( we got a confirmation SMS and email) on arrival we were met with no booking and a bit of annoyance that they had to "make a plan "for us. We were pushed in the furtherest corner of the restaurant and basically ignored. Never once did the owner or hostess check in on us ask how we were or how the food was (she was around and checking on tables we saw her do so was looking forward to her greeting as it's usually a really nice touch) we had to ask for drinks, for cutlery wait ages for starters, even longer for mains, were also told that two of their main specials of the evening were out and by the time we wanted dessert didn't get offerd if we wanted to have any had to ask for the menu and got met with the kitchen is closed so hurry up. So we fully understood and we duely did. We were still eating out desserts that were begrudgingly bought to us when we were told do we want the bill to pay as everyone hurriedly packed away around us, making us feel unwelcomed and watched. We were basically chased out the outside area while the inside of the restaurant was busy and bustling? Not great at all. When we asked our waitress to please take a pic of all of us as we do at the end of each get together as they are special to us all the one lady jokingly stated "I hope I look skinny in that picture" to be met with a reply "No, you don't at all" to say we were all mortified is an understatement. Rude and disrespectful. The food as good not out of this world but for the way we were made to feel and spoken to I am deeply saddened and will never go...

We just finished a beautiful lunch at the stunning Spoon restaurant, and it’s honestly hard to say what was more breathtaking — the food or the view. Nestled in the lush green jungle hills of Hillcrest, this spot feels like a serene escape, with every detail of the décor thoughtfully designed and full of charm.

The owners are friends of my in-laws, and I’m so grateful they introduced us to this hidden gem. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with genuine warmth and incredible hospitality. Our server, Thando, was an absolute delight — attentive, kind, and always smiling. She anticipated every need, refilling drinks, resetting our table for each course, and doing it all with grace and ease.

We began our meal with a few tapas: the chili prawns and patatas bravas. The prawns were juicy, tender, and perfectly spiced — with just the right amount of heat — and served with beautifully toasted bread to soak up the flavorful sauce. The patatas bravas were some of the best I’ve had (and I’ve traveled through much of Spain!), crispy and seasoned to perfection with the ideal balance of sauce and spice.

For our mains, two of us had the pan-fried hake in Cape Bitter, and two had the grilled lamb chops. Both dishes were divine — perfectly cooked, beautifully seasoned, and absolutely satisfying. Not a single bite was left behind!

Though we were quite full, the owners as friends of my in laws sent us home with a heavenly tiramisu, a sweet gesture that perfectly ended our meal.

Before leaving, we explored the on-site art gallery, which added another layer of beauty to the experience.

If you’re ever in Durban, I highly recommend visiting Spoon — it’s not just a meal, but a truly memorable experience surrounded by nature, art, and heartfelt...