Karibu Restaurant — Restaurant in V&A Waterfront

Thanks for your concern. I'll add some notes about our experience so that others might avoid the same disappointment. Based on good reviews here we felt confident eating at your establishment.

What happened: Our server asked suggested two "specials" which were "not on the menu". One was a meat sharing plate and the other a fish sharing plate. We asked the price for the fish sharing plate, and our entire table heard our server say clearly "890 R". Thinking this might be a nice option, and with a price that suggested it would be shared by 2-3 people (we were a group of 5), we opted for the fish sharing plate and several entrees. Our server did pressure us not to order a 200 R chicken curry option saying it didn't have that explosive hand gesture and we should choose something else. But we ordered it anyway.

Then, we ordered wine. We asked about basic differences between the two least expensive reds on the menu. Each was around 400 R, in other words they were extremely expensive by local restaurant standards. Cape Town has such an abundance of inexpensive and high quality wine options that I could not imagine a single bottle on the list would be anything short of very good. However, our server expressed concern that we might make a bad choice and sent a person they said was a manager of the wine selection to discuss it with us. In short, this other staff person insinuated that the lower priced options were not good, and were only there for people who wanted a cheap option. When I asked why they would put low quality, "bad" wine on the list they had no reply except that they thought we wouldn't enjoy it, promoting instead wine of 800 to 1000 R. We bought the cheaper bottle (for only 400 R).

The wine came, and it was indeed low quality. We might ask how a restaurant which puts low quality wine which would be difficult to even obtain on the bottom shelf of a supermarket at high prices on their list obtains awards for the excellence of their wine selection. However, we were not perturbed and happy to share a glass together.

Then our food arrived. The meats (ostrich and springbok) were acceptable. The vegetarian plate seemed ok, and no complaints were heard about the chicken. However, the fish plate was embarrassingly bad, dominated by oily bland flavors and a sense that everything had been frozen it would have left me fearing for my health had every piece not been so dramatically overcooked.

This was all sort of acceptable for a waterfront location with a nice view. But the thing that led me to leave my initial one star review (a rare act for me) and also to respond like this in public (also exceptionally rare for me, given how embarrassing all of this is) was that we discovered on delivery of the bill that the actual price of the fish platter was 1890 R! And it was on the menu! We had been scammed by the server. We paid the bill, left a few rand in tip, and then had to haggle with the server to explain that we found the treatment unacceptable.

We then had to explain to our local host, who had the impression that your establishment is acceptable, if a bit expensive, should one want to eat on the waterfront, that they should never, ever suggest it to future guests (they have many international guests).

I feel embarrassed to have been a guest at your establishment. The best aspect was that we all have many hilarious memories of our experience there. And the view at...

We visited Kariba restaurant on the 30/12/2024. We were looking for somewhere to eat, however most of the restaurants in the V&A waterfront had a waiting time of about 15 to 20 minutes. As we had some kids with us and was on some time restraints (Transport to the hotel) we found the Kariba (South African Restaurant), which at this time was mostly empty. We thought we would try the local "South African Cuisine", what a disappointment. As the bill indicates we ordered a variety of meals, including very simple dishes for the kids. The Kiddies Chicken strips were dry and over crisped making it hard(R69), the Kiddies fish bites were about 5 or 6 little battered balls from an I&J frozen Box (R69), resembling KFC Pops from the drive thru, and so were the fish cakes ordered(R110). The Karoo Lamb Bredie, was tasteless and had very little lamb, but more fatty pieces.(R265). Some guest had Malay Beef Curry, what a let down, as there were about 4 or 5 cubes of beef and much potatoes, with no seasoning and taste of Malay spice.(R245 each). The worst was yet to come. I ordered a medium to rare 330g of sirloin steak - which is in my opinion the best cut of beef. To my absolute horror, what was served to me was a lump of beef , 3"x 3"x 2" in size, and definitely not Sirloin (I don't even know which cut it came from, as it seemed it was cut out of the hind quarter of the beef, grilled and presented as Sirloin). On cutting it open it was all sinew and fat and very tough. This was brought to our servers attention, and he politely removed it from the table. However, there was no remorse for even serving this dish, as the manager of the day was called, and told me he is waiting for the butcher supplier to come and see this disaster. The butternut/pumpkin was cold and tasteless.(R365) - Not sure of the pricing as i was just to annoyed at the time. The most enjoyable part of the dish was the corn on the cob. The manager asked for my details, (which i provided), and promised he will call me before we left on the 3rd January. To date I am still waiting for his call. It was surprising that this restaurant was so empty at the time, and the rest of the surrounding restaurants were all full. In my opinion, when this is the case, steer away from it. The total bill came to R2653.20 without the Sirloin. A service fee is automatically applied, which is R241.20, however a comment at the bottom of the bill states "If the service was enjoyed" please feel free to add an additional 10 to 15%, - seriously? Very disappointed, and will advise future patrons to view and read the reviews before booking a table. I will never visit the restaurant again, as it is my opinion that we were treated differently as local South African visitors from...

To the Wonderful Team at Karibu Restaurant, Words seem inadequate to truly express the joy and gratitude we feel after celebrating a very special occasion – my Mum's 80th birthday – at your remarkable restaurant. From the moment we stepped through your doors, we were enveloped in an atmosphere of warmth, genuine hospitality, and the vibrant spirit of Africa. The food, quite simply, was an absolute revelation. Each dish was a masterpiece of authentic African cuisine, prepared with such evident passion and skill that it truly reached a Michelin star standard. The flavors were rich, complex, and deeply satisfying, taking us on a culinary journey that we will long remember. Every ingredient sang with freshness and authenticity, a testament to your commitment to quality and tradition. However, it was the exceptional service that truly elevated our experience to something extraordinary. Every member of your staff was attentive, friendly, and went above and beyond to ensure our comfort and happiness. Their genuine smiles and warm demeanor made us feel like cherished guests in their own home. And then there was the truly unforgettable gesture for Mum's birthday. The beautifully prepared birthday meal platter was a delightful surprise, a thoughtful and generous touch that touched our hearts deeply. But the pinnacle of the evening was undoubtedly the special birthday song, presented with such heartfelt joy and beautiful harmony by your African choir. It was a moment of pure magic, a truly special and personal tribute that made Mum feel incredibly loved and celebrated. There were tears of joy in her eyes, and in ours too. You didn't just provide a meal; you created a cherished memory. You made my Mum's 80th birthday celebration truly extraordinary, filled with delicious food, exceptional service, and a genuine warmth that will stay with us forever. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for making this milestone birthday so incredibly special. We will wholeheartedly recommend Karibu Restaurant to everyone we know and eagerly anticipate the opportunity to dine with you again. With sincere appreciation and warmest wishes, Watson (Visiting from...