You'd have a better time chewing wet newspaper than eating here.

Now let me begin with saying that this is was their chance to redeem themselves. Lupa once had a sterling reputation in my eyes and I can remember with utmost fondness the first time I ever visited them.

Their food was incredible and the standard of service beyond impeccable.

But since they started worrying themselves more with expansion and becoming a franchise, I am absolutely appalled.

The first time I was willing to let it slide. It was Mother's Day the branch was busy, the staff were under pressure. I can forgive bad service and bad food once under the circumstances.

But I couldn't help but cringe when friends suggested we go to a different branch. I was willing to give it a go hoping that maybe it was a fluke or the branch we originally went to was just bad and this would be better. I'm all about redemption shots. And I gave you yours.

The food, for the price we paid, was abysmal. I'm honestly beyond words. The food we originally ordered from the first branch was better and one of our party left sick that evening.

I ordered the Chicken Livers to start, and for R100 a portion (considering this is actually a cheap food too) I was given a dismal portion (less than 3 mouthfuls) with soggy tasteless bread. My partner ordered Calamari starter which was poorly plated but we laughed it off and he began to begrudgingly chew the equally tasteless rubber you pass off as seafood.

Our waitrons worked hard considering how many people our table was hosting. But yes the service was not impeccable because we were one of the only tables in the restaurant. We will forgive that though.

Our table got fed at different intervals, as one person polished off their plate, another was only just being served.

And after waiting nearly an hour and a half for our Spago Pizzas to arrive, I was deeply angered by the lack of cheese, and excessively salty bacon that tasted like straight up brine.

I might as well have sucked back a Jar of pickle juice, I think the quality would have been better.

So not only was the effort put into the pizza abysmal but the quality of ingredients that we're paying top dollar for was similar to that of a ***** streetside trailer.

Did I mention the moldy cheese wheel? Yeah some sad table spent R200 on a pasta tossed in creamy green sludgy cheese wheel mold, I assume the exorbitant price is to cover the cost of the natural penicillin added.

Then we move to dessert. Again nearly R100 spent for a s****ful of cheesecake. Granted this was the only part of the meal that could have been worth the price if it was maybe a fraction bigger.

So two trips, two different Lupas. Nearly 1k for a 2 course meal on the last one and all I have to say is something needs to change

To me you're in the same league as the local KFC now. Overpriced for food the same quality as offal.

But unfortunately the only change the Lupa franchise is concerned with is the extra money they ***** from you for their poor quality food.

Rather go and splurge on a trip somewhere decent. A Panarottis perhaps? Because at least when daylight ******* occurs there you knew you weren't going for gourmet "Rome away from Home" experience and you won't be surprised or disappointed when the food comes out almost inedible.

Lupa if it was possible to give you a 0 rating I would. And frankly the only star you get from me is for your staff because they deserve better.