Madiba

I ate here once in the wintertime a couple of years ago and remember it being very good comfort food on a cold night. I wonder how it works in the warmer months.

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Let me preface this by saying the last time I was there was 2003 or 2004...

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Only been once. I found the food tasty but the price to quantity ratio kept me from going back.

I've eaten here a couple of times and I like it. It's a bit pricey, but is so much fun and interesting, I don't mind, as a treat. I don't care whether it's authentic or not, the spices and combination of familiar and new foods makes it something different, and I enjoy the multicultural vibe. I like the whole South African tradition of making something useful out of what's available, so the ambiance of the cobbled together decor, the interesting light fixtures of old bottles and tinware, even drinking from glass jars, is all part of the experience, and I would expect to have to pay for it. I'm not there enough to critique the regularity of the food, but I've liked the stews very much.

I always recommend it to friends here from out of town, and everyone has always enjoyed it. Hmm, I think I need to go back.

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alas..no more glass jars...that was definitely part of the charm..the new glasses are smaller..

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the first time i ate there was last year - we got really horrible service and the food was subpar. i'd like to give it another chance but haven't gotten around to it yet.

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The food Nelson Mandela ate in prison was probably better than what is served here, and he didn't have to overpay for it either.

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The food here is just so so. But the service is abominable. I don't mind a relaxed, casual atmosphere, but it seemed to me the waitress might actually have forgotten to place our order, it took such a looooong time...

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I haven't had dinner at Madiba, but I have enjoyed lunch there many times. It's a real treat on a sunny day in mid winter - the sun just streams thru those big windows in the front and service has always been great and friendly in the daytime.

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The food is always high quality, but the service and the price often keep me away. The food is pricey, the drinks are even more outrageous, and generally (except for my last lucky visit) the service is terrible, rude, slow, forgetful, condescending...i could go on. It is one place in the neighborhood that i never take friends from outside the neighborhood, and never guests from out of town, it is just too unreliable.

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I've eaten here and really enjoyed it. Pleasant waitstaff, good, spicy food. Sorry to hear they got rid of the glass jars--that was a neat draw. Glad they're maintaining during this economy. I'll have to gather some pennies and try to get there more often.

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I've been here twice and the food was pretty bad both times. Worse however was the service. Intolerably bad.

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I have been wanting to try this place for years. I had friends in college that swore by it and ate there once a week.

First time I tried to go here we were told the wait was long. Turned to my husband and said, "I'm starving, I don't think I can wait". The person who worked there and had just advised on the wait said, "oh are you pregnant?". Um, nice manners sir.

Second time was for lunch. We were there ten minutes before a waitress came over and said "what can I get you" - menus would be a good first step. The wait for the food to come was probably the longest I have ever experienced, anywhere - we were not offered anything for our trouble.

We never bothered to try it again. Note that this was a few years ago.