Reviews Biru

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Amy Jennings
+5
Wonderfully fresh food, a fantastic experience and lovely staff. A great night out and a delightful meal. A must visit for anyone who is a fan of Japanese food or braaing.
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Leona Nel
+5
Absolutely the best restaurant I've been to... well done to the chef's and staff. Awesome vibe and the best food. Well done Lia Black for an amazing show. You go girl!!!!
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Richard Soares Da Silva
+5
Amazing concept, exceptional food and the quality superb. The entire team were very welcoming and patient with us being newbies, and extremely friendly. Highly recommended. Side note: leave space for dessert, the perfect ending to a fantastic evening.
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Rebecca Gafane
+5
Amazing night experience if you want to try something different, I enjoyed the food a bit different but u will enjoy. The waitress is always there to guide us in preparation for our meal. They have life bands, Will definitely go back.
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Cait Forde
+5
Amazing!! Wow, what a different experience � the food is sooo good �� and the vibe is awesome � definitely worth trying ��
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Jessica Jacobs
+5
Amazing evening and experience... live music, unbelievable food and great service!! Definitely spending more evenings at this awesome place!!!
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Caroline Stow
+5
Absolutely awesome experience, delicious food and wine and excellent customer service :D I will definitely be back again!!!
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Belinda Stroh
+5
Definitely one of my favourite restaurants. The service was exceptional and the food very tasty. Thank you Biru for a awesome evening.
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Sumentheran Naidoo
+5
Great food! Brilliant service! Awesome vibe! Wonderful concept! Can be addictive ;-)
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Ilze Reyneke Overbeeke
+5
Great place! Fantastic food and welcoming vibes. Definitely going there again 😊
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Valeska Katrina Muller
+5
Something totally different from any other restaurant. I go there often and always walk away satisfied and happy. Pino is a great host and never fails to help, having him on the floor definitely elevates the experience and service.
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Michele Leuenberger
+5
Awesome food! Awesome service! Can't wait to go again!
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Michael Klindt
+5
Fantastic food, service and staff.. Best restaurant in town!!
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Jen & Row
+4
Lovely restaurant. We had Korean BBQ and hot pot. There is a big sauce station with everything you need for your hot pot. It’s a bit pricey but given the area, service, good food and atmosphere, it’s well worth a try!
7 months ago
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Carole Craggs
+4
We had an awesome ladies lunch at Biru. Don't expect exceptional service, but the food is divine. We shared a hotpot filled with deliciousness, wagu platter and salmon sushi platter. Cooking your own food at the table is an experience. I intend to return with the family.
Oct 05, 2019
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Mari Prinsloo
+5
Wow what a great dining experience, I will definitely recommend Biru. And I just loved the entertainment tonight a Hunter woman Sjoe what a voice. I will bring my whole family here time and time again.
Jul 06, 2019
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Naushad Goberdan
+5
I decided to take my lady her on valentines for a nice dinner.

Expectations were blown out the roof! Very comfortably fancy, wholesome and genuine.

This place is a must for date night.

Of course hot pot was the go to and we were amazed!
Feb 18, 2019
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Kim Chi
+4
Highly recommended if you need to invite VIP 's , the ambiance are very comfy, love the atmosphere. Suggestions : Wagyu beef for BBQ , I'm not what other meat is there but Wagyu definitely.
Feb 04, 2019
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Stephanie Peng
+5
The BBQ is very good! It is quite pricy but I think it worths it. The macha ice cream is always my favorite! Sushi is average. But I always go just for the BBQ.
Nov 07, 2018
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Miguel Dos Santos
+4
What an awesome experience. We were so warmly welcomed from the time we walked in. The food was really fresh and of great quality. Our waitress Gertrude was so friendly and helpful even going out of her way to show us how it was done. Loved the hot pot as well as the grill. Sushi was really well made too. Chose set menu and have no regrets. Will definitely be here more times.
Jul 01, 2018
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Prianthe Naidoo
+4
Been wanting to try this place for a while and my expectations were met. Pleasantly surprised by the stunning venue and lovely ambience. Perfect for a date night or a group of sophisticated friends. We ordered some assorted sushi and the hot pot with veggies and lamb and beef. The broth of the hot pots we chose were chillie and bone broth. Flavors were phenomenal. My favourite part was the two types of dipping sauces made for the meat - a peanut butter based one and a chillie and soya sauce based one. Has a lovely balcony with superb view of Rivonia village shopping complex. Enjoyed our evening here - great friendly service.
Jun 22, 2018
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Lisa Pi
+4
It's a unique dining experience, which we thoroughly enjoyed with friends.

We ordered a set menu which came with way too much food - sushi, vegetable hot pot, a platter of meats for the grill and green tea ice cream.  My friends had the set menu, which they enjoyed, whilst i ordered sanma fish, aubergine and mushrooms for the grill.  This was more than enough for me, and the whole table was impressed with the quality of food, which in addition to being good quality, it is also beautifully presented. For anyone who has not tried sanma fish, it's a soft and fatty delicious fish which reminds me of grilled sardines.

Grilling and boiling (in the hot pot) one's food with friends or family  is a beautiful experience to be shared, it also makes for a longer evening out as one tends to eat slower.  
The restaurant offers a variety of condiments to compliment whichever vegetable or meat you opt for.

The owner was very friendly, and made us feel very welcome with his sense of humor. 
I absolutely loved this dining experience, something different, don't you think?!
Feb 18, 2018
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Deal Real
+4
Very nice indeed. Food is great, just wished that the staff knew what they were serving and even give recommendations. But it was very nice to eat there.
Nov 27, 2017
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Gary Greenberg
+3.5
Located upstairs in the building next to the Shell garage above the chinese restaurant is a very unassuming restaurant. Even though they are extremely overpriced there is a good variety of items on the menu for everyone including green tea ice cream that is beautifully presented. I would put this place in the fine dining category due to the ambiance and seating arrangement. 

Being a vegetarian I ordered a few fresh items for a hot pot which was more than enough for two meals. I tried some tofu, vegetarian protein - fish style, mushrooms and chinese spinach with some udon noodles in my hot pot.

The service here is suburb - the waitress really took care of me and explained everything that was available for vegetarians. It is nice to go somewhere different for a Japanese inspired meal where you can all share amongst business associates, friends or family - since this is apart of the culture.
Nov 26, 2017
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Paul Gray
+4.5
Had a great experience at Biru Rivonia today. Sure there might be a slight language barrier, but their effort makes up for it. We had the set menu for 4. The portion was huge and offered a taste of everything. The quality of the ingredients are great and the cost isn't bad considering what we received. Will definitely be back again soon. Definitely recommend
Nov 20, 2017
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Martin
+4
What a find ! A combination of Chinese hot pot, Korean street food and sushi all in one place, run by an Italian guy. Wow ! The spicy hot pot, exactly as served in western China, and mushrooms farmed fresh, vegaterian delight. Friendly service, loved it.
Oct 15, 2017
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TwoTastyTummies
+4.5
From braaing and fine dining comes Biru, homemade food with extraordinary ingredients away from home.
 
The food is a tricky one, seeing as we had to cook it ourselves we gave it full marks because we are bloody amazing cooks. All kidding aside, the ingredients were incredibly fresh, there wasn't a spinach leaf or a mushroom that seemed a bit old. Oh, and the Wagyu beef was absolute perfection. It doesn't stop there folks, the salmon sashimi is a definite must for a starter and always ask about dessert as they have a lot of dishes that are not on the menu, for instance, their pannacotta which is just top notch!
 
Biru made it feel as if you had your own personal waiter waiting on you hand and foot. Never making you wait, always helpful, very friendly and oh so attentive. Even though Biru is a place where you braai your own food, it doesn't mean you have to. If you get tired or just feel like enjoying a relaxing evening, your waiter will take over the cooking duties.
 
The restaurant was very classy as it was the entire third floor of the building, giving you access to a spacious living area and balconies that overlook Rivonia. Not good enough for you? Then how about sitting at the bar while enjoying the view? Or book your own private dining room for that special occasion. The music of the place was a bit of a buzzkill though, not that it needs to be vibey, but just not just Phil Collins the whole night. They mentioned that they do have live music on a Friday night - so that might be an option next time.
 
Regarding value, there is no such thing as cheap wagyu beef, and if there was you probably shouldn't be eating it. We feel that for the types of ingredients we got with the outstanding service that you truly do get proper bang for your buck at Biru.
 
TTT’s rating out of 5: Food - 5 | Service - 5 | Atmosphere – 4  | Value - 5
 
Biru gets  Two Tasty Tummies' stamp of approval
Sep 18, 2017
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Theresekruger01
+5
Best rib eye and fillet in JHB served raw with the ability to cook it on your table, amazing oysters topped with caviar. Best management, Pino is a treat and happy recommend to your pallet
Aug 19, 2017
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Carren Lamperini
+4.5
My favorite restaurant! The food is always fresh and amazing! I love the Italian manager there, he always calls me Bella. 😊 The service is the only thing that could be worked on.
Jun 16, 2017
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Marcel Pillay
+4.5
Decided to try Biru with a one of my oldest friends. Walking in Yoh are taken with the modern styling and finishes, but half the restaurant looks unused.

It was Friday and they had live entertainment, initially I thought it was a bit loud but loud, but it actually set the mood for a great evening with a collection of 90s and 00s hits.

The servers were attentive and I felt that they had a sense of urgency to ensure that our needs were satisfied. They were helpful and talked us through how things worked.

We started with Salmon sashimi and oysters. The the sushi was average but the oysters were very fresh and were delicious.

We orders some Kimchi and Misi Soup and then the Chefs selection of 36 cuts of Wagyu beef to share.

The soup was good, the kimchi lacked the heat I wanted but was still better that what I've had another places.

The beef was the real star of the show. It was real Wagyu beef... If you've never tried it, do so immediately!!!

With the table fire lit, we started to cook our neat. The succulent marbled meat took almost no time to cook a minute each side at most. The fat bastjg the meat and adding flavour we barely even needed to add salt. It was amazingly good, and ecery price of beef I eat from to today will be compared to the cuts I had at Biru.

One 36 piece main was enough for both of us and we were ready for dessert. We ordered the Tiramasu and it arrived in a wonderful round bowl... A bit heavy on the coca powder but delicious non the less.

Ambience - 4
Food - 5
Service - 5
Jun 10, 2017
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Razmataz
+5
Have been for lunch and dinner 5 or 6 times and will definitely be back. My family love the experience and we order both hot pot and self grilled meats. The menu has something for everyone, try the Wagu beef on the grill, the tempura veg and a variety of hot pot goodies are delicious. Always a treat, the service is excellent, the restaurant is spotlessly clean and Pinõ is always very welcoming. Try the timarasaru for desert it is outstanding. It's a stunning dining experience with a difference and is definitely a must for everyone to try.
Jun 07, 2017
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Pino
+4.5
Been there on 21st April we had a great time and a fantastic experience, finally something different , service need more training but very friendly.
Apr 22, 2017
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Diana Mak
+5
This was another great experience! Your BBQ your own meat as well as having hot pot and sushi! Or you could just have one of them. The food here was really fresh. Newly built restaurant with state of the art tables for the BBQ and hot pot.
Mar 29, 2017
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Meryl Bailey
+3.5
Lovely, authentic hot pot food. Service could have been better and background music selection was a bit dated, but overall a great treat in the heart of Sandton.
Mar 25, 2017
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Megan K
+3.5
This place has so much potential to be super cool! We visited last night with friends from overseas. It's a brilliant concept- order a variety of meats and cook it yourself on a gas braai built into your table. They also have a selection of soups, noodles and veggies to cook alongside your meats. Sounds very random, but was actually delicious! The flavors we delicious and service was great. The Resturant is pretty big with a cool view across Rivonia. We were one of 4 tables in the Resturant though... so not the best atmosphere as it felt very empty. With a few more customers, this place could be brilliant! We would definitely try it again though.
Feb 23, 2017
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Reynaert Dielwart
+4
Authentic Japanese experience. The food is great, having been in Japan, its one of the few restaurants in SA that serves food that tastes Japanese and not just a Chinese ripoff.
Jan 06, 2017
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Kelly Shannon Kamps
+4
Perfect night, was left very impressed by the authenticity and how amazing the food was. Their japanese beer is absolutely a must try! Love how you get to cook your own food and if you don't know how, there will be someone to guide you
Oct 12, 2016
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Liao
+4
Been there many a times, too many to Count, absolutely love the food and definitely a wide variety that will satisfy your taste buds and stomach
Oct 12, 2016
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Jason 'Plates' Smythe
+4.5
An authentic Asian BBQ and Hot Pot with a modern upmarket vibe. The menu has a good variety, with amazing presentation. The quality of ingredients used were top class and very fresh. We had a Wagyu Beef platter BBQ, my first time ever. Our waiter explained everything, made recommendations and helped with the BBQ😂. I would highly suggest making a stop here, I was thoroughly impressed.
Aug 28, 2016
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Karomatisch
+4
I like this place cause it's authentic, feels like a place in Tokyo or Yokohama. You can choose between BBQ or Hot Pot for both options can get the raw ingredients and you fry or cook on your own. They also offer Sushi but I never tried it.
It's in the thrird floor of an office building next to Rivonia Village. If you reserve you should ask for a table by the window!
Aug 11, 2016
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Leigh Dermick
+4
A nice upmarket alternative to traditional hotspot restaurants, however still manages to maintain authenticity. Another review mentioned hot pot is bland but there is actually an entire buffet table of condiments, sauces and herbs to add ( complimentary) we loved the hot pot. Also had sushi , salad and various wagyu beef in the grill all delicious.
Service was good and management visible and ensuring everything running smoothly. Only gripe I had was desert menu v Ltd and most was sold out.
Jul 09, 2016
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Julia Pyle
+4
It's a combination of Korean BBQ and hot pot :) it is nicely decorated and the service was fantastic ! It's a great concept of you cook while you eat ... It keeps you busy. Go in a big group, it's loads of fun!
Jul 04, 2016
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Candice
+4
Very cool concept, it's best to go with a group of friends. We booked ahead and they put us in a private room. I enjoyed the ambience of the restaurant and also the novelty of taking the lift to get there, similar to the restaurants in Asia.

I liked the selection from the menu, we opted for a dual hotpot with the vegetable broth and the chilli broth on the other side. Not bad at all, it makes a decent soup at the end of the meal too.

For the side plates we ordered a vegetarian platter with various Asian greens and tofu, beef, lamb, pork and seafood. I really liked the "Tien bu la" one of the Asian seafood side dishes that I grew up eating as a kid. Wish their serving sizes were a bit bigger though, but I suppose they are going for a more up market feel. If that is the case, it would be better if each person had their own individual hotpot.

We ended off the evening with Green tea ice cream. They got the ratio of sweetness to green tea right and the texture of the ice cream was smooth.

Definitely going back to try out their BBQ. Can't wait to try out their Taiwanese sausage!
Jul 04, 2016
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Dennis Chiang
+4
This very upmarket restaurant is on the 3rd floor in the same building as Taiwan cafe. First impressions: very clean, nice decor, well designed bar and interior. Menu is very extensive, wagyu beef is offered for the BBQ. Large variety to choose from on the menu. Hot pot and BBQ is available as well as sushi. Food is prepared very well, presentation of food is good too. Place is quite pricey, but the atmosphere and service makes up for it so you don't feel like you over paying. Avg 250 pp
Jun 05, 2016
5
LLL JAY
+5
Highly recommend the Waygu Beef selection! Melt in your mouth goodness. The waiter even assisted us to BBQ the meat, but you can do it own perfectly well. The dessert was green tea ice cream with red bean paste Do try it! It's a bit on the pricey side but you are definitely paying for not only top-notch quality ingredients but also a great experience.
5
Nat Go
+5
Amazing and very original kitchen. We really enjoyed the process ! Very nice atmosphere and friendly helpful personal . Nice view of Rivonia Village Junction from the window. Those choices of souses made my day! And it’s so so tasty ! Unbelievable! Love the way food is presented in raw .. and was enjoining to cook it by myself. It really was so so much fun ! Very huge and unique alcohol menu as well. Inside restaurants they have VIP zones for special guests and companies. Big and smaller. In general I put 5 stars and will recommend it to anyone who is into Asian cuisine!
4
Nerina Naik
+4
We had such a wonderful experience, kids thought cooking their own food was amazing… and surprisingly enough they finished it all which means it was great ! A really unique experience we shall be coming back for more
4
Nesh Mungroo
+4
Wonderful Asian dining experience. Only tried the hot pot this time but looking forward to the grill. Broth could be deeper in flavour but an excellent array of condiments props it up really well. All done at the table making for a great interactive evening. Excellent service from a cheerful team.
5
Patrick Claassens
+5
This was a very pleasing surprise. We booked a reservation for three. We struggled a bit to find the place but as soon as we walked in it is as if you entered another world. We got our own private lounge with two grills. We ordered a combo that came with a selection of two broths, meats and vegetables to grill and put in the broth, desserts and a sushi platter. The only reason I gave the food a 4 star is because the sushi platter wasn't up to par with the rest of the food. I think they left the sushi standing in sauce, so it was soggy. The entire experience is unique and I would love to come and have this experience again. I have been two a few other asian restaurants and I can say without a doubt this is the best one so far. They also have a place where you can blend your own spices and liquids to form a sauce, which is another fun mix and match feature that comes with the place. Another thing to mention is that they serve very unique foods that you wont get at many other places in South Africa, like blood cake and eel.
5
Dr Nyasha Gogoma
+5
This restaurant has such a calm vibe. Hotpot and Korean BBQ were so good. They serve the best sushi I've eaten too. 100% recommend 👌 👏 We also tried one of each flavor of ice cream they offer (except vanilla): chocolate, hazelnut, black cherry, and green tea. I loved the hazelnut and black cherry flavors, and the green tea was surprisingly pleasant.
5
Lauren Zeeman
+5
What a FANTASTIC experience! Food was incredibly fun and tasty! We were really impressed by our server who explained the “hot pot” menu in meticulous detail. From explaining the soup options to demonstrating to us how to compile our dipping sauce concoction! Food was a little pricey, however well worth it! Dining set up is classy, nothing we’ve seen before with table kitchen utensils and gas tops. We LOVED it! Being newbies to Asian cuisine, we will certainly be back!
5
Tebogo Mabye
+5
Amazing restaurant! Super experiential (interactive dining). This is a great place to go with friends and family to get an amazing Asian feel. The food was so fresh, the meat top quality! And our waitress (Portia) was so cool. Loved her. Surprise your girl or boy with a date night here or a place for a first date it's super fun. Try the Wagyu beef 👌🏽🤌🏽🤌🏽
4
Shakirah Jacobs
+4
Very nice place and concept, they serve roasted red skin peanuts upon arrival, we ordered the duck, chicken, ribs and rice. the rice we had with the food was amazing I could eat the rice alone as a meal. Only bad experience was the table behind us, the people was shouting not speaking so no one else in the restaurant could even hear themselves thinking. We then had to ask them to lower their voices because the waitress didn't have the heart to do it
5
Leighe Ogle
+5
Absolutely amazing restaurant. Amazing food and great service.
5
Ntombenhle Nyaba
+5
What a great experience! My waitress was amazing, attentive & patient. The food was tasty, not greasy with spices. I especially loved the bone broth hot pot! The place is quite big and relatively quiet and tidy. I’d definitely go back again!
5
Mpho Matlala
+5
Was my second time there. The first time we don't really understand what was potting. See what I did there? Anyway this time round we knew what we wanted. Awesome food and service. Really enjoyed. Such wild and varying tastes of everything. Very nice.
4
Thato Motlhabi
+4
A little bit of a rocky start when we got sat close to the kitchen and bathroom. But then things looked up after we moved tables. We were served by a wonderful young lady who took great care of us. The food experience was quite a ride, we had one of the set menus and that was ideal for us as novices. Fresh, tasty ingredients and well presented (loved the sashimi!) - the green tea ice cream could have used a better presentation though. Definitely going back and asking for the same waitress!
5
C S
+5
Awesome experience at Biru. Great restaurant with great service. The staff were very friendly and helpful. You get to cook your own hotpot and grill the sliced meat yourself. Lots of items to choose from to customize your hotpot. Will definitely go backnto try out different combos.
5
sumayah goolam rassool
+5
I cannot compliment this place enough! What an amazing experience... they've truly created something special and they have a menu that caters to all, I really appreciated their selection of vegetarian options as well. Their chilli broth is amazing and you ask for it to be fully vegetarian as well! Very tasty food and a lovely experience.
4
Po-Kai Cheng
+4
Biru is a great place to have Chinese and Japanese cuisine. They offer grill, hotpot, and sushi. I've came here a few times and tried quite a few dishes. The quality of food is top notch with very fresh ingredients. Unfortunately, the food is quite expensive. The last time I was here, we are a table of 3 adults, we had meat grill, 2 noodle dishes, and some cool drinks, the total came up to R1230.00 including tip. I would definitely come back but maybe only on special occasions due to the price.