Review Bambanani - Melville

What a lovely gem, with such a special play area for children! Truly a wonderful place for children to safely explore, and the child minders are excellent. Food has improved a great deal since my first visit - the chips are especially excellent.

Child minders are really good with the kids so parents can actually have a break. Beer selection needs to be improved as it was very limited perhaps just on that day stock was low. Overall service and food was good.

Lovely place for a family outing. The humble street view is very deceptive. Once you enter the establishment, you find a whole new world inside. My child loved ALL the amenities on offer. We spent a good three hours there. The service and food were good. I also think that we may have had the best seats in the house :) The kiddies' burger and chips portion was a little smaller than expected but delicious. It was an afternoon well spent. We'll definitely be back!

The perfect place for parents to enjoy themselves with their kids and friends whilst the kids are playing in a safe and fun environment. I won't recommend Bamanani unless you want to enjoy a meal out with your or friends' kiddos. It is very much family orientated. The menu caters for a variety of dietary needs and drink options are extensive from coffees, juices to wines and beer. Unfortunately what I wanted to order was not available and communicated to me slightly late but other than that, I had a pleasant time with friends and their toddler.

Place is great and child friendly. Service and food was good. Unfortunately,there was no water on the day we went. Otherwise, it's a great restaurant.

1st Time we went there. What a nice place. We ordered chicken livers, nachos and a pizza. All delicious. Great wine selection. Best part is the play area for kids and great staff to entertain the kids. We will return soon.

Fantastic place, great atmosphere. There aren't many child friendly restaurants with child minders in Joburg. My daughter had the most fun, I was able to play with her and also spend time with my sister and gran while she was taken care of. There will be many more visits.

Bambanani is a family-friendly paradise! The lively, colorful ambiance is perfect for kids and adults alike. Their menu caters to all tastes, with delicious options from burgers to healthy salads. The staff's warmth and attentiveness make dining here a joy. Parents can relax while kids play in the safe play area. It's a place where family time and good food combine seamlessly, making every visit a delightful experience. Bambanani truly lives up to its name - bringing families together with great food and fun.

I loved the aesthetic of this place, I took some really great pictures, we were a big group and they accommodated us. We were comfortable and free with no restrictions, the manager is doing a great job honestly, she even came to bid farewell as we were leaving. The pizza is top tier! And everything is super affordable

Not the best food I have tasted, I enjoyed nothing and was not impressed with our (waiter), Child minders are good, and environment is most friendly and welcoming for the kids, security is good too.

Very family friendly... and like most super family friendly places the focus is on entertainment for kids. This is one of few establishments that takes kids entertainment seriously - they have a calendar of events just for them. On our visit on 29/01/2022 they had organised a disco night for the little ones and a mini indoor games night. The other upside is that their food menu is designed to keep the adults happy too. I was very impressed with their menu options which cater to different pallets and budgets. The food experience was chalk and cheese compared to my previous visit (they've definitely upped their game since I was there in 2020). There are plenty child minders on-site (please don't forget to tip them 😊), so you can literally sit down for adult chat over a good meal, knowing your child is safe and well taken care of.

Great family orientated space. So many different toys and activites for the kids to enjoy while parents chat it up. Outdoor area very relaxing and lots of fun. Child minners are super friendly and good with the kids. Load shedding restricted some items on the menu but overall great outing. Will definately be back

So lovely to go to a place where kids and parents can relax, the kids can have fun and adult can really get done work done if that is required! Delicious food.. try their fresh garden salad for your green energy boost.. and their home made pasta is outstanding! Best for this cold weather!! Its also frozen, take some home and pop out in the oven for dinner.

Lovely spot. Was so warm and toasty inside with the fire place going. Beautiful decor and aesthetic.

What a great experience. Adults can sit back and relax, have a good meal while the kids are enjoying themselves under the watchful eyes of caring ladies minding them. Truly a win-win situation 😁.

Nice family restaurant for Melville and its residents. Food and service were good. The play area for kids seems to be a big attraction. The "make your own pizza" for kids is an interesting option.

Loved loved loved this place! We went with my 2 year old nephew and he wasn't in the greatest of moods so it didn't start off too great when we arrived, but as soon as he went back there to the play area his mood completely changed and he was so happy - which made us all happy too. That was the number 1 reason why I loved my experience here. Secondly the food was absolutely perfect. I can't think of anything that wasn't good. Definitely the best place for kids - and for adults too as you can enjoy the best of both worlds. I highly recommend Bambanani. ��

Would'nt recommend or go back there! Our food came before simple drinks. Asked for condiments and they only came when I was done with my meal, the waiter who brought our food just left it on the edge of the table and went away. Asked for a cocktail, it was clumsily made. It was just horrible.

The concept, the choice of color, the food. Everything was impeccable. Really enjoyed having a real alternative where kids can play freely and parents can enjoy and relax ! I strongly recommend it :)

Love this place. Great for the whole family. Great food ( even for me as a vegan). Excellent service and very secure and safe play areas for the kids. I highly recommend this place.

Just had our first Bambanani experience and how utterly disappointing. Super rude manager and staff, not at all helpfull. Squeezing 6 people in a little uncomfortable corner, we waited an hour for a table. Refusing to seat us at tables that were standing open for more than an hour. We would have been in and out before your bookings arrived. Telling us they don't take bookings but not allowing us to sit at BOOKED tables and giving seats to other people arriving after us. We won't be back and surely won't recommend to anyone.

It's a great place for parents with toddlers etc, child minders are so helpful you actually get to sit down and enjoy a meal! They are highly recommend.

Went there yesterday for the first time for breakfast, food is amazing and the staff and facilities are fantastic for your little ones :)

The service coming in after registration of the number of kids we had needs to be looked into! People don’t mind paying if the service is available from the time you walk in until the time you leave! Nonetheless, it’s a fantastic outing for the whole family, my teenage girls were also entertained and kept busy the whole time we were there. I was a bit concerned about them once we got to sit to order but this place is just awesome and out of this world 🌎!! We are definitely coming back again with a bigger family!! 😂 The dj, lights and music were our highlight!!! 👊🏼🙏🏻✊️

We had our first Bambanani experience today, traveled all the way from Heidelberg for it. I was very impressed with the way they put safety of the kids first. Sandile, our waiter, your service was excellent, thank you. From the moment we walked in, we had lovely service, friendly staff, delicious food. THE PLAY AREA is the best! Love how well Bambanani is geared for the family specially for kids - your attention to detail is amazing. We were also amazed at the variety of things for the kids to do. We will be back very soon! Xxx

Visited bambanani on Saturday 2 September 2017; the food is great, the service was excellent and most importantly, my son was kept entertained throughout! Definitely will visit again and recommend bambanani to others!

We had a stunning afternoon here. The lovely childminder kept our grumpy teething toddler entertained complete with dress up and sand art while my husband and I enjoyed some good food. It came highly recommended and didn't disappoint!

A very beautiful and cosy place for families especially for the kids. If only there was room for expansion, the space isn't enough.

A very lovely place to spend with family and kids be enjoying all the activities....Not talking about the child minders the best. Thank you for the great service we received.

Awesome experience. Kids loved it and wants to go back again. Waiters were on point and more importantly the security is excellent! Food is good and reasonably priced.... Will defnitely visit again.......

Good food and good service. Safe environment for children and lots for them to do, nice and warm on a cold day

Awesome place for kiddies. Great food and nannies is so amazing with the kids. Super IMPRESSED :-)

Our little 1yr old Hannah had a blast. Good food and relaxed atmosphere. Will always commend child friendly establishments!

Great place to go if you’re a large family with with kids. The food does take a while to prepare but it’s all worth the wait!!!

I saw good reviews online especially when I searched for family friendly restaurants. It kept on popping up. And it really lived up to expectations 😁 The setting is inviting, cozy and so child friendly. There are kids roaming around freely and there is a sense of safety. There are child minders as well at the 2 play areas which is super cool!! I give them a 5/5 for the ambience.<br/><br/>The service let them down, I would give it 1,5 out of 5. Our server even left the plate with food on the edge of the table so far from when my husband was sitting 😱 The server was also slow.<br/><br/>Hubby had the rib and chip meal since he wanted something light. He complained that it was bland and dry. He gave it a 2.

Bamabani has truly improved in the last year. The food now matches their fantastic childcare staff. This is the go to spot if you and your partner/friends enjoys eating together. Nothing makes a mom happier than having her hot coffee and breakfast hot. The Jozi scramble hits the spot!

Lovely, cozy restaurant with indoor fireplaces and pretty decor. Perfect for children with a huge play area. Also safe for children. Parents can watch them. Food is average.

Food was underwhelming and the ingredients used was beautiful just not executed correctly so quite disappointed.My wife’s meal needed so much seasoning and it’s really annoying when you pay for a meal that needs to be fixed by the diner.I can’t speak for the rest of my family and friends but our food experience wasn’t worth the drive from Centuiron.Kids play area is amazing and the Manager is amazing with her clients ,she came to check on us quite often.So the ambience was amazing.

Great service and child minders, but overpriced French toast (you literally just get French toast and a few tiny pieces of fruits, no syrup, bacon or banana) and R52 for a large sparkling water will not send us rushing back.

Lovely place to take baby and the little ones. The food is great and they have excellent child minders. If you sit outside you have an excellent view to see your little one play at all time. The play area is top notch and is clean regularly. They got awesome baby chair and they don't mind if you ask for warm water to warm up baby food or ifyou baby decides to empty out the suger all over the table. Definitely will be go there again.

Awesome kid friendly restaurant, good service and good food! Desserts were delicious. We spent 2,5 hours there for dinner, the kids were fully occupied and happy!

I feel like this place has SO much potential but doesnt living up to it. It COULD be lovely with the facilities available. Food (breakfast) isn't worth it as we were starving afterwards. It's great having time to eat while childminders can watch your children BUT the weekend ladies seem more passionate than the weekday. They were chit chatting and not interested at all. The one lady kissed my child ON THE LIPS as we left. This is not acceptable but the manager didn't seem to take our complaint seriously. Please work on the weak points, this could be a gem....

Great venue for kids, child minders are superb. Could enjoy our breakfast while the little ones were being entertained. Food not brilliant but above average. Will definitely be back.

The venue is lovely but if you have not been there before advise people who don’t know where to sit and how it works <br/>The service is ok the child minders are great <br/>The chicken Prego is good , the pizzas are above average and the chicken salad good <br/>Great place for young children

Lovely place for the kids !<br/><br/>Vietnamese spring rolls were great<br/><br/>Mexican quesadilla said spicy mince but it was just bland & lacked any flavor, beef Prego was also just ok<br/><br/><br/>Child minders need to be a bit more enthusiastic, seem more interested in chit chatting with the waiters

So happy to have found this place. Kid friendly restaurants are few and far between in Jozi. They have a great play area and a lovely menu, such variety. We shared the Vietnamese spring rolls to start, absolutely phenomenal. So tasty. And then the Chimchurri steak and Morroccan lamb for mains. Really great. Will be sure to return time and time again.

Went here for a family lunch, food was OK nothing spectacular. <br/>Service was bad - waiter knew nothing about menu and failed to mention there would be ingredients missing from dish this was only disclosed once we received food and asked about it. <br/>No attention to order details.<br/>Great play area for the kids.

Great atmosphere, the most amazing place to take tour children as they have child minders that watch them constantly. They not only have an amazing outdoor set up, which includes an insane jungle gym and play area, but they also have an indoor games room for those rainy days.

This place is awesome for breakfast. There is a large playground with child minders and it has good food. My meal was spicy mince on toast and it was very tasty, but service was not the fastest. I enjoy the food and parents can have a calm breakfast while children play.

The restaurant is great for kids & the minders are great; however the food is really not good. My pasta was so bland, I left more than half of it; the butternut salad was mostly lettuce.

Very disappointing! Was looking for a new place to take the kids. Drove all the way down to Melville, but all I got was cold coffee out of a dirty cup, bad service and the kids playarea needs a good clean.

Wasn't given the opportunity to visit the restaurant because they would not take a booking for us to sit by the kids area when I specified I have small kids and it's a 1st birthday party! They clearly don't need the business of they can have an attitude like that!

Have been coming here for years - bit they seem to be under new management as a few things have changed.<br/>All definitely for the better.<br/>It wasn't ever bad before, the food has always been rather good, but the service was always lacking.<br/><br/>Today, it has been a great experience.<br/>The food ( I had poached eggs, asparagus and bacon) was delicious, service was better and of course, the main reason is parents frequent the place is due to the wonderful playground and kids activities that are available.<br/>There is decent WiFi so you can even get a little work done while your kids happily play in the background. <br/><br/>All in all, a great place for parents to come and bring the kids

There aren't meant kid friendly restaurants in Johannesburg. This one is also baby friendly. What a nice surprise. Such a fun play area for the Kids and lots of toys to play with. When busy it's rather cramped though. Extensive menu available

I would suggest this place to any family with kids who want to enjoy a good meal while kids are busy playing. Fireplaces created perfect ambiance on a cold and wet winter day. Lovely food and great service. My suggestion, try the Singapore noodles. Keep up the good work !

It's taken over an hour to get our food. Service is slow and inattentive. Will definitely NOT be back here again!!!! We were made to wait outside for an extended period only to not receive food for over 65 minutes. We eventually walked out.

Myself and wife with our "co-parent" friends were blown away today. Food was amazing at affordable prices and our waiter Singbongile was just so attentive ! Best place for parents to relax and unwind while the good trained child minors watch after the little ones. Only issue was there was one group that was "Vaping" which in our eyes is seen as a form of smoking which must not be allowed specially in a child orientated setup.<br/>

worst service ever. i called during the week to make a booking for mothers day lunch i was then told that they are not taking bookings for mothers day and that it would be on a 1st come 1st serve basis. i then went to the restaurant on mothers day on the 14/05 at 12 to the restaurant. i was then told that they were full and i would have to wait for a table which was not a problem expecting that it is mothers day and they would be relatively busy. while i was waiting i noticed that people were walking into the restaurant with bookings which i found to be unfair when i was told that they were not accepting bookings on mothers day, anyway i let it slide. 45 minutes later and still relatively patient nobody came to come and check up on me or offer us drinks while we were waiting, on top of that i have been monitoring the in and out flow of the restaurant and by now i would have expected to be seated. i found this pre-waiting service to be horrible and would definitely not be going back to this establishment. customer service is just as important as the food on your menu and people often enjoy a restaurant based on the customer service that they experience during their dining experience. i was looking forward to trying this place out as it would be my 1st experience. what a shame

I love the vanilla caramel cake - really good. The pizza's are also really good, thin crispy base with really good ham. I need their ham suppliers name to buy direct. It is lovely sitting out in the 'garden' area whilst my daughter plays. Great play area for kids. They have this really cool little house kids can go into and play - it's a hit.

Amazing place to take your child. Child minders are fabulous and the ratio of child minders to children is perfect. The waiters took a bit of strain once the restaurant got busy so the service was slightly slow but friendly nonetheless. The food was great so we will definitely go back

The friendly child minders and the large play area make this spot a popular one for parents. But you tend to visit for the kid's facilities on offer. As a food destination Bambanani doesn't hit the spot. The staff are rushed off their feet (maybe a few more would help?), my cappuccino was messed in my saucer on delivery and not even a "sorry". Our coffees arrived at different times despite being ordered at the same time. The pizza was average. Overall, the place is looking tired and the outside area is very crowded.

This is our regular spot for obvious reason....play areas!!!! The outside area has been upgraded which is great. The inside area works for rainy days and chilly evenings. It does get rather busy over weekends, so my favourite time is week day evenings. The menu is good

I was at Bambanani to celebrate my mums 72nd birthday. All I can say is that the food was amazing and the service truly impeccable. I had the lamb chops, my wife had the salmon and my mom the chicken. 10/10 for all 3 dishes. I have only before had service like this at Pigalle in Melrose. Well done to the team!

Having a little one makes you go to different corners of town to find child friendly spots with child minders and good food. OK. Mediocre food. We made a booking but because we were 15 minutes late, they gave it to someone else, as we walked through the door. I understand it being a kiddie joint, but it doesn't mean the service has to be sooooooo bad.The staff just couldn't give a hoot. Food was average. Arrived cold as well. I had the beef burger. The fries looked as if they were from yesterday, and the bun as stale as can be.

This is our second visit to Bambanani. We were greeted at the door and our waitress was very friendly.<br/>My husband ordered the hot chocolate and had to send it back because it was all watery and honestly the second hot chocolate wasn't much better and it was cold.<br/>I had the Cappuccino and it was horrible. I got a chair that's back was broken and pinched my skin broken. So our visit did not start off all that well.<br/>My husband had the Egg Benedict and it had a generous amount of hollandaise sauce and he really enjoyed it.<br/>I had the Bambanani Breakfast and it was really good. It's a great place for the kids, our little one really enjoyed the visit.

If I could give this place a lower rating I would. The service is just so ridiculously slow. It took 45 minutes just to get our drinks order and it's now taken and hour for our food to arrive. Our waiter is probably in a coma. <br/><br/>Update: When the bill arrived the manager was kind enough to admit fault, giving us our food for free :)

With two young daughters it was the ideal dinner with great service and delicious food. Definitely to be recommended for an evening out with kids.

Great lunch, menu has expanded since my last visit. If you have kids and want to have good adult food, try Bambanani.<br/><br/>We will definitely be back.

This is a great place for children. I au pair and whenever I need to take kids out for lunch, I come here. Even the slightly older kids enjoy it here. You can sit and relax while the kids go burn off their energy only to return for drinks and food and maybe to ask for money to do sand art.<br/><br/>The food here is quite underwhelming but it's more for the kids than you. Their iced coffee is pretty good though!

Please can i be a kid and go to Bambanani<br/>?!  I have no kids, however got invited by friends, with kids. The play areas for the kids is very interesting, and different.  It made me want to be a kid all over again, and the food was the best i have had any kid friendly restaurant of this kind.  <br/>The decor is fresh and welcoming with a lovely fireplace, perfect for a winters day or night.  It's very charming.<br/>The starters were excellent, the mains average. I'd go back to try some other mains.<br/>We shared the plates of halloumi popcorn (crumbed fried halloumi with relish made complete with freshly squeezed lime juice), and the chicken and vegetarian gyoza (dumplings with a sweet soya sauce).<br/>For mains i had their special, a lamb pie which was accompanied by a salad, i found this rather bland. My husband had a caesar salad which he thought was pretty good, and our friends had a parma ham and rocket pizza and the lamb pie.  They enjoyed their meal too.<br/>Pretty sweet place .... Oh, and they serve Horlicks! <br/><br/>Food - 3.5/5<br/>Ambiance/Decor - 4/5<br/>Location - 4/5<br/>Service - 2.5/5 (service was slow)

What a great concept for families with young kids. You get to have a great meal while the kids have a blast in their extensive 'play area'. The child security element is also very reassuring. Great venue and the kids are always asking to go back!!!

It is hard to come by child friendly restaurants that aren't absolutely manic. Bambanani offers tables right near the play area as well as inside if you need some space from the noise! The menu has a decent amount on offer. The food is good. The flapjacks are rather yummy I must say! The service is rather laid back, not sure how it translates on a busy day.

Loads of fun for children with dedicated child minders and interesting areas for them to play. Wide variety of options on the breakfast menu and well suited for the family. The parmesan mushrooms on ciabatta was tasty although the ciabatta slices were rather small. French toast with fruit and nuts was a nice choice for the kids. Reasonable prices and service was good at this visit, previous visits on weekends were not great in this regard. Inside is warm and inviting and there is a fireplace for colder days.

What a gem!  I popped in on a Sunday with my two toddler nieces in tow.  The restaurant is geared towards the little people and their attention to detail is spectacular.  Like serving hot chocolate in a plastic cup with a lid for little hands to pick up with ease, unlike the heavy glasses most restaurants give to children.  The playground area is a delight (even for the big kid in me!) and the decor does not assault you with bright primary colours like other similar restaurants.  I may have to go back - with or without kids!

Excellent place for mothers to bring their little ones for some play time and a scrumptious meal . <br/>The service is excellent and the caretakers watching over the little ones as they enjoy play time are friendly and compassionate! <br/>Definitely a playful vibe and a wonderful place for the kids to play around with friends and have a good time <br/><br/>The milkshakes were delicious and I recommend the Tasty Slushies for a summer treat . The pizza's are delicious although I found the tomato base to be a tad bit sweet ,other than that I was impressed with the food and service . Not to mention the little ones thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Bambanani.

As a one of its kind in the area, it is a lovely little restaurant which should translate in the service offering, but it does not unfortunately. <br/><br/>Parking is an issue. There is an allocated parking infront of the restaurant but it is "reserved" for staff even though it's public parking. Makes no sense.<br/><br/>Atmosphere: Charming setup. Lovely fire place burning in winter. Mums can dine while kids play with the child-minders watching them<br/>Busy kids and mums especially after 12 and on school holidays <br/><br/>Food: tried the quesadilla, halloumi wrap and margherita pizza - all good <br/>Chai tea not so good<br/><br/>Service: disappointing, very slow, nonchalant attitude of the staff. Obviously as its a kid friendly place there is bound to be spills - took us 3 attempts to get someone to help clean the floor. <br/><br/>It would be a wonderful place if the service improves.

I must say that we have found the best place to eat out with the kids!!! They have so many axtivities that the kids won't be bored at all...which makes it nice for mommy and daddy to have a chill session.<br/><br/>The staff was quick and efficient, and the manager assisted every waiter where needed.<br/><br/>The food was delicious...I had the Argentina steak, which was so soft that it melted in your mouth on every single bite 😍<br/><br/>The kids loved making their own pizza, and playing in the sand art corner. They felt asif they were in "play-heaven".<br/><br/>The cakes were absolutely delicous...if I could, I would have scraped the plate out with my mouth.<br/><br/>Truly a gem for a family outing! 🍾

You must have the lamb cutlets. It's by far the best I have ever had. Come prove me wrong!! It's a really great place to take the family and perfect for the little ones.

What a lovely place for kids to play while the adults eat. The play area were wonderful for my 18 month old and the child minders full of energy and very attentive. I ordered the Vietnamese spring rolls with peanut ginger sauce and they were spectacular,highly recommended. My partner orders the salmon linguine which was sadly lacking some flavour and needed spicing up. All in all a good experience otherwise.

Very nice place to go to with kids. Better quality food than the regular kiddie restaurants. Nice to sit outside by play area. Very cute little shop for kids to go play shop shop in. Nice play area and sand art for kids.

We were a largish table and none of us enjoyed our meals. Very bland, boring and uninspiring food. The dough of the quesadilla was undercooked and stomach cramps ensued for the rest of the day post-meal. The lamb was bland. The salads boring. The pizza lacked flavour. We won't be back. The only plus side is that there's a cool area for kids, but I still don't think it's worth it for the sub par food.

Sunday afternoon was busy so we waited a bit for the food, maybe because we were so hungry, my son ran to the play area as we walked in, which was unusual as he always takes about 10 to 15 minutes to warm up to a place. He ran and he was moving from one area to the next. He found his favourite spot that was by the book shelves, he found a couch and he was in paradise. I loved everything about the restaurant it is child friendly but doesn't comprise of deco and food. Excellent and will be going back soon. Child minders are awesome and waiters are great too. Maybe go a bit earlier on a Sunday to get a good table close to the play area.

It's a great place for kids- however, the service is slow and the food less than average. We all ordered a chicken pasta, and we'll each dish had less than 8 TINY pieces of chicken. But, if you have kids and want to burn some energy, this place is great, really. Moms and dads try this place. Love. Jambo.

Bambanani is a charm I hadn't prepared myself to when I drove to Melville on a Wednesday night. I needed a quiet area to read my book whilst having a "bottle" of wine. After a good walk I finally found this charm, and I needless to say, I was satisfied. I was served by Tino, a young gentleman who suggested the pasta campagnola to go with the wine. It also caters to families and children. Luckily this evening it was very quiet, just what i needed but i assume it gets busy during weekends. Great venue for a party as well.. (already thinking I could have my fiancé's birthday at Bambanani in August).

Went out for lunch with my girls. The food was mouth watering however the service was very slow. Had to wait almost 30 mins for my coffee milkshake.

This is a restaurant that really caters for parents. It's beautifully designed with lovely kiddy play zones. The food is good and the service is fair. What makes it exceptional is that it gives parents adult time while kids run feral.

Amazing FRESH food! Really great place with tasty food! Had the avo wrap which was full of fresh veggies and avo! came with a garden salad that was topped with proper Danish feta! Will def be back to try out the rest of the menu!

Went there for Sunday breakfast. Service was slow even though there were no other customers. Ordered the ham and cheese croissant (not on the menu although they have a bacon and cheese croissant). Our meals arrived in intervals of 20 minutes of each other. Bill arrives and we are charged astronomical prices for the croissant as these were made to order. I won't be going back not unless I feel like getting ripped off.

A lovely little spot perfect for couples our families with young kids! I love the setting. Great service and food. Lots of activities for the little ones! It's a must if you have small children. Average pricing.

I have been here a few times due to different reasond and the service has been bad eaxh time.It does not matter what time of the year you go. It's a great concept but there service is really poor.

A lovely restaurant for the entire family. Was here after the Avon walkathon. Although it was full, it was well managed. My second time here and we thoroughly enjoyed it

Bambanani is strictly a family and kids affair. We have visited this place before and on this occasion we were with family friends and their kids. <br/><br/>Ambience = 5. For what it is, a definite 5. Not only is this place a kids friendly haven, it is about them. The most distinguishing feature from all other kids' places, is the book-room where little ones can unwind and enjoy Roald Dahl books among others. Cool stuff...<br/> <br/>Food = 2.5. Normally, the food is good here. I used to enjoy their salmon teriyaki which I no longer see on the menu. All around the table agreed that on this occasion, the food was bland and not much effort put into it. They were serving a buffet meal - roast lamb, roast chicken, greens, roasted potatoes with cream, and corn. The seasoning didn't quite come through and the meat was tough. <br/><br/>The deserts saved the day though. I found their tiramisu quite delectable. The chocolate cake also seemed to be a favorite around the table.<br/><br/>Wine = 3. The wine has been selected with caution. You can tell only the firm favorites around feature on the list, which means even though there's Merlot there, it might not be your brand 😅<br/><br/>Service = 5. Service was on point on the day. There was a dedicated waitron to the table, and more importantly, the kids were well looked after, which was a big plus 'cause they left the parents to hobnob in peace.....<br/><br/>All things said - Bambanani is an entertainment paradise par excellence for kids. This is the sole mission of this place. All other things said - they are just extras. My view.

I went with my daughter today for lunch. Ordered a kiddies regina for her which was good, the Fetoria pasta I ordered was underwhelming, barely any chicken in it and very bland in flavour. The service is very slow and we had to wait long for drinks and were serves by at least 3 different people and had to constantly look for someone to assist. The bill came and there was an additional charge for the linguine pasta on top of the price for the dish I ordered. The child minders don't look after your children, I walked my daughter to the play area and told the minder where I was sitting. Next thing I come out the ladies and my daughter is standing at some random ladies table. Wouldn't visit again.

Visited Bambanani for my niece's 3rd birthday yesterday and this restaurant has to be the creme de la creme of kiddies entertainment. I was really happy with the way you check your kids upon arrival to ensure that your child is safe. I enjoyed the pizza but found the pasta to be a little oily. And although I wasnt too happy about the service, the kids had the time of their lives. My favourite thing about Bambanani is the reading corner that is filled with Roald Dahl books - I mean, we all grew up loving  Roald Dahl. They also have a cot for you to put your little one once they have passed out. I also enjoyed their happy birthday day song. Bambanani really is every child's paradise and every parents dream.

Love the idea of "checking in" your child, before you enter the restaurant, which ensures you leave with the child you came with. Decor is really beautiful inside. We sat outside on a hot day, where the play area is, not alot of shade outside on the deck though. Play area itself quite entertaining for the little ones, but can get quite overwhelming for the little ones (and adults) with all the kids screaming etc, similar to a Papachinos vibe as its not open, its a enclosed play area outside. Service was very slow on the day and food quite average after the long wait. Staff wad friendly though. Overall not an exceptionally great experience and needs to up their game if they would like to stay competitive with all the new entrants with similar concepts.

I have seen this place a few times and bought I would try it out yesterday. <br/>It was an odd day I think because of the water not working ect. <br/>It was very relaxed and some times the staff were a bit too relaxed. We waited a little long to be served, but when we ordered is didn't take too long for our stuff to come ,so it evened out. When we asked out waitresses for the bill she was preoccupied with a van full of children yelling at a table of women having some sort of special lunch. So she told someone else to get it. The other lady never brought us the bill, and after waiting for a very long time our waitress finally came to check. The rest of the time the service was okay, but very uninterested. <br/>I had the chicken curry and I am pretty sure it had more potatoes than anything else in it. It's was ok, but most certainly not amazing by any means. <br/><br/>My conclusion about this visit was that the food, service and experience was average in general. <br/>I do think I would go again maybe just to see if under different circumstances things would be different, but not incredibly expectant.

Spent the morning at Bambanani, at what a lovely spot hidden in Melville! The atmosphere and food were great, the play area is incredible and the child minders are very attentive! Service was a little slow but it was super busy so that might have been the contributing factor! Will definitely be back, a must for play dates and family lunches

Such a stunning concept ... Excellent play area & activities for kids of all ages plus lots of care staff to help/watch over the kiddies <br/>And the food is excellent- lots of variety & everything is so yummy. <br/>We had a brilliant waiter (unfortunately forgot his name) so friendly & helpful

This place is amazing for kids. Like paradise really. The food is good, but unfortunately the service is unbelievably slow and that is a deal breaker for me

Just have to praise Bambanani - the acceptance and care of children with special needs is amazing. Came today with our friends little girl with cochlear implants - she is busy and can't hear anything when she takes her 'ears' off. She was so well taken care of and it was relaxing to know that she couldn't escape the restaurant - despite her best efforts. During the few hours we spent there I saw a visually impaired child and a child with cerebral palsy. They were well looked after but also given freedom by the caregivers - the patience these ladies showed to all the children playing was remarkable. Not to mention the food was great! Most impressed.

I love coming to Bambanani but today and the last time I was here with my twins I have found the child minders to be lacking in energy! They are not very observant, I have had to get up and run to stop my children from falling down the stairs. I think if you offer a service of people watching small children the child minders have to love what they do and make sure they are on the ball so to speak.

Food and coffee was really good! Just a pity about the service. <br/>Arrived at 9am and was told to sit outside, when i enquires about the masses of empty tables inside, I was told that they had a really large booking for 12:30 that day. Eventually convinced the waitress that I would not take 3 hours to eat my breakfast. <br/>

Always an absolute pleasure going to Bambanani's. One of the few restaurants that has managed to maintain an excellent food quality whilst also providing the kids play area. To often one forgoes good food to entertain the kids!

We were looking specifically for a toddler friendly restaurant so that our little one could have some fun. We found this restaurant on Zomato & it met all our requirements perfectly. It's a kids heaven. Kids stuff everywhere. <br/><br/>It was a chilly Sunday morning & the place was packed to the ceilings with kids & parents. We ended up sitting outside on the upstairs platform. It was chilly in the shade but it was close to all the kids fun toys so we could be with our little one all the time. <br/><br/>The main gate to the restaurant is locked & admission is controlled because of the safety of the kids. There's an inside & multi-level outside with wooden tables & plastic chairs. There are inside & outside kiddie play areas & also TV's. <br/><br/>We ordered eggs benedict & an omelette for breakfast. The eggs benedict consisted of poached eggs & crispy bacon on a muffin. The hollandaise sauce was in a bowl on the side. It is an unusual presentation of this classic dish but tasted really good. <br/>My wife loved her bacon & ham omelette. They not shy with the filling. <br/><br/>This restaurant is a brilliant spot for a kid orientated meal & visit. I highly recommend it for this purpose.

Bambanani is one of my favourite family friendly restaurants. It's also perfect for hosting a babyshower or kids party. I love that my kids can play, watch movies or read and still be safe while we enjoy our meal. <br/>They have a great menu and I especially love the baby marrow laces and their grilled salmon is always my main course choice.

We were meeting up with friends who all had children. This is how we landed up going to this baby friendly restaurant. It has a noisy buzz filled with lots of kiddies running around. They have little play areas and child minders which is fantastic for parents. <br/><br/>The service was very good, never mind having to navigate around kids, they were also able to get our food and coffees to us in a timely manner. The portions were decently sized and tasty. I had the smoked salmon bagel which could have done with a little more salmon and cottage cheese. Other than that the eggs were done to perfection. The meals were also very reasonably priced. If you have kids, I would definitely recommend this bustling spot.

I don't usually have to go to children friendly restaurants so this was a rare occasion for me. <br/><br/>A wise man once told me that you're only getting old when your friends start getting pregnant on purpose. I seem to have reached this age...<br/><br/>I had Eggs Benedict (it seems this is my usual when it's available). It was done really well, the eggs were poached just to my liking and the hollandaise was yummy (slightly more toffee tasting than others though). The waitress did a great job of managing a large(ish) table where 3 of the patrons were insistent on throwing and banging their cutlery while dismantling their food on the table. Her effortless calm amongst the carnage caused by small children can only come from practice. The parents among us seem to have been issued with tickets which I think allowed them to later reclaim a child of their choice from the carers.<br/><br/>All in all an eye opening, and abstinence encouraging, experience for me :-) A really good restaurant that allowed the parents to relax for a bit.<br/><br/>P.S. I have a new found respect for my parents. They are clearly SuperHuman

Nice venue for kids, not overcrowded which gives u peace of mind - assistants are great with the kids. Found the waitrons a bit slow - food was mediocre (mince on toast could be improved) but overall it is a great venue

Dessert saves the day! Bambanani is usually a good spot when you need somewhere to entertain the kids and have a decent bite to eat. I like my aloo gobi (cauli veg curry) cooked for longer to create a more complex flavour so last week's visit unfortunately wasn't as good as previous. I'm pleased I ordered dessert - a delish triangle cheesecake from the same recipe my mum used to make :) Thursday pottery is a great drawcard.

School holidays can bring panic to any working parent, but not with Bambanani around. The decor is elegant and warm in winter with fireplaces adding a country feel. It easily caters for frenzied kids with a comfi TV room, fab little library as well as a contained outdoor play area. The Wifi allows for work to be done or enough privacy to have a chinwag with friends. Flapjacks were ordered with syrup, cream AND ice cream, all beautifully presented before the kids tucked in. They passed their test and of course they wanted more! I had Florentine with an English muffin, poached egg, buried under Hollandaise sauce with fresh rocket. All fresh and hit the spot. The Americano had a kick being a dark roast. Baby sitting three kids is no easy feat but my morning has been a breeze with kids having fun as their spoil day begins.

Love this little gem. Breakfast was amazing and the service was great! <br/>Will definitely be recommending it to all my friends. Will be coming back

Found this little gem by accident as we were looking for a place close by in Melville for a quick breakfast. Had no idea of the wonderful play area hidden in the back. Dont have kids myself but I will be recommending it to everyone that does. It has to be said that the place is pretty packed on weekends so service is a tad slow, but I think this is the kind of place u visit more for the setting and experience than the food (not that the food was bad, just not anything to write home about)

The chicken quesadilla heavenly!!! Pity about not having hot chocolate & chicken livers. Come on guys! A lovely place being spoilt by silly things! The cappuccino super though! I can't remember when I last enjoyed a cappuccino

Very nice vibe with good food. The service with the kids and the play area is great. A worthwhile visit for parents seeking a lunch or dinner in peace.

Such an awesome vibe here. Their chicken curry is to die for, I order it every time I go without fail. The kids area is among the best in Joburg with the biggest jungle gym and all sorts to play with indoors for the colder days - even books. <br/>Pricy but worth it

I don't have any kids but this is a great place if you do. I have been here a number of times for breakfast with a friend of mine and her child. The kids love the large play area and there are enough child minders overseeing their activities. The food is not outstanding, their cappuccino and cakes are good but to be honest you don't go there for the food but rather for the child friendly environment.

So it seems that if you have children it is acceptable to have to deal with terrible coffee, very average service and a shockingly long wait for food. An amazing place for kids but not really very good at much else.

We were recently in South Africa visiting family and spent a lunch time on 11 Jan 2015 at Bambanani re-connecting with friends. The service was excellent but drink prices were way over the top.The price of a Rock Shandy was not on the menu, so very nicely created price of R45  which compared to a whisky R19 was completely over the top. I was not impressed.

The service and quality of food on a busy day can be questionable, but this morning it was great. Attentive waitress, perfect eggs and crispy bacon! Kids wolfed down their pancakes and the coffee was just was the doctor ordered :)

Bambanani is a safe haven for desperate parents! The food isn't great the service isn't remarkable all in all as a restaurant it's average. The food can be a little erratic so don't expect consistency and don't order anything too complicated when they are busy. BUT it's a great place for kids of all ages, ours is 18 months old and it is our little haven of sanity on the weekends, the child minders are kind and helpful and the wait staff do try their best, and as every parent will know, you'll be quite happy with average if your kid is happy and entertained! Also there is wine and that helps :) The prices aren't bad either. They would benefit greatly from management as it seems to be lacking. But as I said the kids are happy and that's worth a lot!

If you have kids this is possible the best place in the universe for you to go. I have never seen a restaurant more equipped to cater for kids, from libraries to TVs to toys to sand painting to a three story, massive jungle gym (that's all netted and safe of course) it just can't be beaten. The food there is also good, with a nice variety in the menu from Israeli dishes to thai curry. It's the best family restaurant around.

If you have kids this is the place to go. The food is fantastic fresh plus the service is excellent. They have great entertainment for kids.

We went to Bambanani's for breakfast this morning. I love the set up and, having two kids with us, this is a great place for children! I had the salmon, goats cream cheese & rocket bagel with poached eggs- The Royal. The food was really delicious! We also enjoyed cappuccinos, carrot & ginger juice and a pot of tea. Our waitress was really lovely and the service was great. Overall, I think this is a great spot for families/parents/kids. We can't come wait to bring the kids back - and get enjoy more of their delicious food too! This is a real gem.

I took my niece and her adorable son for lunch to this here venue on Voting Day. Yes, I did do my duty as an upstanding citizen and casted my all important vote - two weeks after I still have my ink to proof it lol.<br/><br/>Bambanani is a family-friendly eatery where everyone gets to have a good time - Moms especially. Kids get to play in the spectacular triple story jungle gym / kids apparatus thingy to their heart's content and under the very watchful eye of the childminders. Foodwise, It was pasta all round for us : my niece had the chicken and mushroom penne, I had penne arrabiata and Riyadh had mac-n-cheese (all of which were very tasty). The waiters were a bit on the slow side though, they took long to take our order and they weren't attentive after our meals arrived. Other than that - it was all good. Bambanani has moved to the top spot of my 'kids friendly' restaurants.

Great for kids, but poor adult menu selection and tiny portions of bland, not-fresh food make this useful as a "coffee-only" sort of place.

Kid friendly yes, but definitely NOT the place to eat. Be prepared, the main meals are starter size. My kids (4 & 6) who are not big eaters at all left there still hungry. It's not about the money, I don't mind paying for good food but when you going out for a family lunch you at least want to leave satisfied.

been there twice, both times the food was below par. lamb cous cous bland & chicken ceaser salad lettuce soaked in the dressing. Kids loved it however yr food has to be good enough for the adults to take them back

Was my "local" until they introduced a R30 cover charge per child. So just to get in the door I now have to factor in an extra R60 to my usually hefty, bill. Will go elsewhere from now on....very sad that introduced that charge, and you can see it reflecting in the lack of customers, you used to battle to get a table on a Friday, now you battle with choice. VERY over-priced

Found this place accidentally whilst in Melville once. I don't have children, but if I did (or if I was a child), this is where I would go, all the time. The service was a bit slow when we were there but the food was really good, and I still think about it sometimes. They have a children's area and child-minders, dont know what the kid's menu is like, but will be sure to take someone small with me next time to try it out.

Bambanani is the best-known child-friendly restaurant in Johannesburg. It has its strong and weak points, but I'm giving it a 3.5 until somebody comes up with a better formula than this:<br/><br/>- kind childminders<br/>- tables that look directly onto the play area<br/>- children's menu (I know, it's not perfect, and sometimes the food is cold, BUT it's palatable)<br/>- a wine/beer license (sometimes Mommy would also like a treat)<br/>- open in the evenings (a real boon and someplace easy to go after a stressful day)<br/><br/>The 3-story climbing gerbil maze of tunnels and nets appeals to children, and they can always call down to their parents to say, "Look at me!"<br/><br/>Bambanani is tolerable for those who don't have children, so it's a good place to meet with your single friends while your own children run about.<br/><br/>I particularly appreciate the basement pretend-play area with a shop and a dress-up cupboard. It's thoughtfully constructed.