Zai Restaurant Durban — Restaurant in Windermere

I write this review with such disappointment after my experience at Zai the past Saturday, 22 February 2025. We went Zai as a group of 4 ladies for brunch. I ordered their chicken wrap, the other ladies (my cousins) ordered a chicken burger, the other had that same Village Wrap that I had. The other one had a Salmon Teriyaki. Before I could even finish my wrap, I started feeling sick, sweating and feeling weak. I rushed to the bathroom and started throwing up. I was feeling so weak and breathless that I had to go outside to get air. We requested the ladies we were with to settle the bill. It was then that I realised that I had had food poisoning from the meal I had there and it could not have been anywhere else as that was my first meal. About 2 hours later when it became evident that we had all had food poisoning as we were all sick and the exact same symptoms. It was then that we call the restaurant to report the incident to the Manager at Zai. His name was Simba and he promised to call back to investigate the situation. However he never followed up on the matter. He showed no sensitivity to the situation and needless to say that he followed up any further after he was made aware of the situation.

I spent my whole weekend sick and even went to the doctor because at some point the situation became very critical and had to attend to it before I could drive back to Johannesburg.

It is disappointing that for and establishment of its caliber, Zai takes no interest on such matters and seek no intention to resolve such issues. The manager at the time showed no care or concern, neither did he resolve escalate the matters through the right channels. To think that we paid money to be served food that was of low quality, and I select my words carefully, because clearly there is an issue.

Not sure how you are going to mitigate on this and at this point in time it is neither here or there for me. The unfortunate part is the bad reputation that this whole incident has brought forth and left. Moreover my cousins do live in South Africa and it was my intention to afford them some of the finest experiences... at least that is what I...

We went out for breakfast as part of a team-building session with my Mechanical Building Services team from eThekwini Municipality. The aim was to relax and get to know each other better in a more informal setting. Our booking was made in advance and confirmed, so we arrived at the venue at 8:30 AM as planned.

When we got there, only a few other patrons were present. Shortly after, a waiter informed us that a large group of 55 people was also booked to arrive. Since we were already seated and our group consisted of 20 people, he assured us that our orders would be taken and served first, before the larger group arrived.

However, that didn’t happen. We waited over an hour for our breakfast. Meanwhile, the large group arrived and, to our surprise, started receiving their food within minutes. When we asked the waiter about it, he claimed he had instructed the kitchen to prioritize our group but didn’t know why it wasn’t followed.

By 10 AM, we were still waiting. Food eventually started coming out, but in small batches—and it was cold. By 10:30 AM, only half of our group had been served, while the other half had received nothing. Many eventually left without eating.

This experience was extremely disappointing. If your venue cannot handle multiple large bookings simultaneously, then double booking should be avoided. Alternatively, you should consider a buffet setup for groups larger than 20. This is basic operational planning and speaks to a lack of proper management.

Please improve your service delivery, as our experience left much...

We celebrated our grandmother’s 90th birthday at Zai Restaurant on Sunday, booking a private room for a more intimate experience. Despite the restaurant’s youthful vibe, the private room allowed us to relax and enjoy without distractions.

One downside was the steep steps leading to the private room, making it difficult for those with limited mobility. Wheelchair access is not possible, likely because the venue was designed with younger patrons in mind.

Initially, we were told there was another booking at 4 PM, meaning we’d have to vacate early, which was not communicated beforehand. However, the staff handled it professionally, and we stayed until 5:30 PM without issues.

Our waitress, Nonku, was exceptional—clear in communication, patient, respectful, and accommodating. She truly enhanced our experience.

The private room had a cozy ambience, and the smart TV allowed us to play music, adding to the celebration. The food was delicious, especially the salmon mains and prawn starters, though the portion of prawns was a bit small. We chose a set menu at R350 per person, which included welcome drinks and more than enough high-quality food. We also ordered additional drinks, which were well-prepared and complemented our meal perfectly.

Despite initial concerns about the restaurant’s youthful atmosphere on Florida, the private room ensured a comfortable experience for our family. Zai Restaurant truly made our grandmother’s day special—thank you! Keep up...