Zambeze - One of the Most Disappointing Dining Experiences We've Had
We came to Zambeze after seeing it recommended on TikTok, expecting authentic Mozambican cuisine and a great experience. What we got instead was poor service, lack of communication, and a deeply uncomfortable atmosphere -- especially as a Black group of diners.
From the moment we arrived, the service was below standard. We were seated outside but asked to move inside due to the weather. The waiter seemed reluctant but eventually agreed. Once seated, we were ignored for over 15 minutes -- no one approached us, even when we tried to get their attention. One of us had to physically walk over to the counter to ask for service.
We ordered just water and a jug of sangria -- which took another 15 minutes. Our food then took over an hour to arrive, even though the restaurant was not busy. Shockingly, one member of our group was brought a completely different dish -- without warning -- because their original choice (prawns) wasn't available. No one informed us beforehand. Another dish came out cold and had to be sent back to be reheated.
Even more frustrating, we watched another group -- who arrived after us -- get served quickly, eat, and leave before we had even been given our food. The difference in treatment was painfully clear.
As a group of Black diners, it felt like we were treated with indifference, while white diners were prioritised and warmly served. The racial disparity in service was obvious -- and incredibly disappointing. The higher-level staff were mostly white or Portuguese, while Black staff seemed relegated to the background, with little to no interaction with us. One staff member finally approached us towards the end of our meal with a small bowl of chilli sauce -- which we never asked for -- assuming we wanted it. It felt like a lazy stereotype more than a thoughtful gesture.
To add insult to injury, after the entire poor experience, a waitress had the temerity to tell us we could still leave a tip. Absolutely not. We removed the service charge, and rightfully so. The apology we received felt mechanical and insincere.
The food itself was bland, lacked authenticity, and felt heavily whitewashed -- completely missing the bold and rich flavours of Mozambican cuisine. For a place that claims to celebrate Mozambican culture, it was incredibly performative and tone-deaf.
This is not a restaurant we would ever recommend -- especially not to Black diners, whether local or visiting. We didn't want to play the race card, but the signs were too blatant to ignore. Zambeze needs to take a hard look at how it treats people -- both guests and staff -- and how it chooses to represent African culture read more