Extremely Disappointing Experience at Cargo Hold, uShaka Durban

Very disappointing service from start to finish. When making our reservation, we were told the restaurant was fully booked and that the only available seating was a table in the centre of the restaurant. However, throughout our entire visit, several tables marked "Reserved" remained empty, and they were still vacant when we left at 7pm, despite the restaurant only closing at 8pm. This made the seating arrangement feel misleading and unnecessary.

Once seated, the service did not improve. After our meals were served, the waiter disappeared and never returned to check whether we were enjoying our food or needed anything else. There was a manager present, but he made no effort to visit tables, check on guests, or address concerns. Even when I tried to catch his attention, he avoided eye contact. The waitress eventually returned only to clear our table and bring the bill. She never asked if we enjoyed our meal, whether we wanted dessert, or if there was anything else she could assist with. When I queried the service charge on the bill, she was unable to explain it. For a restaurant charging premium prices, the lack of attentiveness, friendliness, and customer care was unacceptable.

Food Summary

The food was overpriced and extremely disappointing. The fish was dry, bland, and served with dry rice and vegetables that looked and tasted like a basic frozen vegetable mix. There was no accompanying sauce or anything to enhance the dish, and I found myself mixing the vegetables into the rice and squeezing lemon over the fish just to make it edible.

The lamb shank was equally underwhelming. It had an unpleasant smell and was served with a tiny blob of mashed potato and a few vegetables scattered around the plate. The portion was so small that I had to give some of my vegetables to my husband. Considering the restaurant's reputation and the amount we spent, the presentation, portion sizes, and overall quality were far below expectations. Spending approximately R1,500 for three people simply did not feel justified by the food we received.