Butcher Block Restaurant - Umhlanga

We decided to give Butchers Block Umhlanga (opp The Pearls) a try for a nice chilled Mother’s Day lunch - just hubby and me! We ordered our starters soon after we arrived at about 1.15 and our mains shortly thereafter. Our starters arrived about half an hour later - longer than expected but acceptable (just to add at this point that although it was Mother’s Day Butchers block was not that busy!) and, even though the sauce on my calamari was not what I had ordered, it was still very tasty and I was prepared to overlook that! Once our starters were done, we were ready for our mains - one surf and turf and one steak with wild mushrooms and prawns. We watched the next door table get their starters, finish them and then get their mains which looked remarkably similar to ours, pay and leave. Our mains were still conspicuous by their absence! After an hour had elapsed during which time our waitron had told us the food was on the way once or twice, I started to get ‘hangry’! I demanded we were told what was happening and when our food would be coming! I was told it was being plated! My husband got up to go and have a cigarette and declared that if the food had not made an appearance when he returned we should rather just ask for the bill and leave. I passed this information on to the waitron and asked to see the manager! Hubby returned to no food swiftly followed by the manager! I told him it was unacceptable and we wanted our bill sans our mains. As he was apologising (sort of) but blaming the waitron for not telling us there would be an hours wait (how long does a medium rare steak and a couple of prawns take to cook I ask myself!) our food arrived looking slightly anaemic but more annoyingly sporting mashed potato in place of a baked potato for hubby! This was really the final straw! The food was sent back, the bill requested and we left feeling very hungry, deeply disappointed and annoyed that Mother’s Day had become a battle ground!I will never darken their doorstep again!

Absolutely terrible experience, booked restaurant week special but waitress and manager had no idea. Ordered off menu, wife got halloumi skewers, could possibly have been but definitely tasted old/off. I got bone marrow to start, was average but some of the deeper parts of marrow were stone cold and not cooked. Wife ordered sirloin which was fine, I ordered rib eye, arrived 5 mins after wife’s order and could’ve been any cut of meat, indistinguishable from sirloin. Ordered medium rare but meat was cooked blue, sent back and came back slightly more cooked. Ended up eating wife’s steak and taking undercooked rib eye home for dogs. Heard one other table absolutely slamming the manager for poor service. Will definitely definitely definitely never be returning here.

First time visitors and it had some ups and downs… Lots of out of stocks on the menu my wife had to reorder her main meal 3 times….Service was lacking especially with the drinks…The food was absolutely very good and i hope the service and short stocks get sorted and the we will give it another try..Till next time

10/10 presentation, staff, quality and value well done to this dedicated and well run Resturant in the middle of a sea of Resturant’s you stand out head and shoulders.

What a find. You need to experience this new venue, the food is exceptional and the ambiance is authentic, we’ve tried a few in town and this rates tops.

I thoroughly enjoyed a wonderful steak and a great bottle of wine during my stay in Durban .. this is a very nice places to go .. good food, nice wines, and very good service .. you won't be disappointed.

I had a blast at Butcher block Express,great food quality and great service provided by waiter Elton

So it was a Sunday and I had my little brother and a friend visiting.By the way this was unplanned. So the wife wanted to go out and I automatically suggested Butcher Block. Prompt friendly service. Food was great but for me the presentation really lacked. Would go again to try other stuff on the menu though. All together a satisfactory visit.

The menu offers a variety of meals, including salads, steak and more.I had the rump with bacon etc and it was well prepared and tasty.Assistance was friendly and efficient, making for a worthwhile experience

I would concur with Mark's comments. The food is superb and the staff magnificent. Would like to thank Reagan and Elton for looking after us so well. Jon