DB
De Baba Eatery
Unclaimed Business
DB
De Baba Eatery
Unclaimed Business
5 Reviews (last 12 months)
Does not respond to reviews
Performance(last 12 months):
Ranked In Restaurants & Food
#14NPS Score
0Unlikely
Ranking
#14
in Restaurants & Food
NPS Score
0
Recommended: Unlikely
Review Distribution
1|5 Reviews
Jun '25 - May '26
5(0%)
4(0%)
3(0%)
2(0%)
1(100%)
5(0%)
4(0%)
3(0%)
2(0%)
1(100%)
Recent reviews (5)
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your ExperienceVH
Verashni H
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
19 Feb 2026, 07:47
Repeated attacks on customers by owner and chef
I'm quite startled by what just happened. I've visited this restaurant before and kept reading a book at the counter after eating with no problems. I've never been informed there is a policy that you have to order something every thirty minutes or leave, it's not told to you when you sit down or noted anywhere. I ordered a full breakfast, a beverage and a second drink which all arrived around 8:30. At around 10:30 I was told by a waitress about the policy. I asked for half an hour to pack up, pay the bill etc and offered to move to a smaller table while I did so. But at that point the head chef started shouting at me telling me to order or leave immediately. I tried to say I just needed a few minutes but she became increasingly aggressive and insulting. The owner came over and when he explained the policy I said I agreed but pointed out I just asked for some time to pack up. I also noted I had asked the waitress when I set down if I should move to a smaller table after eating and she said not to worry. For some reason me offering this info enraged him. He said I had interrupted him and started shouting and told me "Get the **** out!!" And several staff members came over threateningly and demanded I leave immediately. I had to stand awkwardly in a corner of the restaurant and try to pay my bill. I later tried to smooth things over with him but it wasn't successful. He first asked me to stay while he explained his side but as soon as I explained mine he again told me to leave again. I was so shocked but have since read other one star reviews of similar experiences on Google. The owner and his head chef are extremely volatile, angry people who seem to pick a fight with their customers weekly, if the reviews are anything to go by. If they have such a policy they should declare it up front. I don't know a single other restaurant in jhb that has such a policy or in this area. Two hours to eat is surely reasonable. I was doing a little work on my laptop and was planning on leaving soon after but would have left sooner had I known the rule. The escalation and aggression was completely unnecessary including the head chef and the owner telling me what a terrible person I am over this completely minor issue. It was beyond bizarre but in keeping with others experiences.
Helpful (0)
|Replies (0)VH
Verashni H
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
19 Feb 2026, 07:47
Repeated attacks on customers by owner and chef
I'm quite startled by what just happened. I've visited this restaurant before and kept reading a book at the counter after eating with no problems. I've never been informed there is a policy that you have to order something every thirty minutes or leave, it's not told to you when you sit down or noted anywhere. I ordered a full breakfast, a beverage and a second drink which all arrived around 8:30. At around 10:30 I was told by a waitress about the policy. I asked for half an hour to pack up, pay the bill etc and offered to move to a smaller table while I did so. But at that point the head chef started shouting at me telling me to order or leave immediately. I tried to say I just needed a few minutes but she became increasingly aggressive and insulting. The owner came over and when he explained the policy I said I agreed but pointed out I just asked for some time to pack up. I also noted I had asked the waitress when I set down if I should move to a smaller table after eating and she said not to worry. For some reason me offering this info enraged him. He said I had interrupted him and started shouting and told me "Get the **** out!!" And several staff members came over threateningly and demanded I leave immediately. I had to stand awkwardly in a corner of the restaurant and try to pay my bill. I later tried to smooth things over with him but it wasn't successful. He first asked me to stay while he explained his side but as soon as I explained mine he again told me to leave again. I was so shocked but have since read other one star reviews of similar experiences on Google. The owner and his head chef are extremely volatile, angry people who seem to pick a fight with their customers weekly, if the reviews are anything to go by. If they have such a policy they should declare it up front. I don't know a single other restaurant in jhb that has such a policy or in this area. Two hours to eat is surely reasonable. I was doing a little work on my laptop and was planning on leaving soon after but would have left sooner had I known the rule. The escalation and aggression was completely unnecessary including the head chef and the owner telling me what a terrible person I am over this completely minor issue. It was beyond bizarre but in keeping with others experiences.
0
Replies (0)AN
Aneshree N
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
26 Jan 2026, 10:54
Utterly disappointed
This morning I ordered an iced coffee which tasted extremly watered down and not drinkable. When I politely asked if it could be readjusted the waitress refused and did not offer an alternative or solution. The interaction felt dismissive and lacked basic customer service. I understand that mistakes happen and I expected a reasonable effort to resolve the issue. I am utterly disappointed with this experience because I usually love going there.
Helpful (0)
|Replies (0)AN
Aneshree N
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
26 Jan 2026, 10:54
Utterly disappointed
This morning I ordered an iced coffee which tasted extremly watered down and not drinkable. When I politely asked if it could be readjusted the waitress refused and did not offer an alternative or solution. The interaction felt dismissive and lacked basic customer service. I understand that mistakes happen and I expected a reasonable effort to resolve the issue. I am utterly disappointed with this experience because I usually love going there.
0
Replies (0)IP
Indrani P
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
12 Dec 2025, 16:03
I’m extremely disappointed with the “cheesecake” I received for R78
I’m extremely disappointed with the “cheesecake” I received for R78. The portion was honestly shameful — barely 2 inches thick, and nowhere near worth the price charged. For an establishment that claims quality, sending out such a tiny portion feels disrespectful to customers. I expected a proper slice, not something that looks like it was cut as an afterthought. Definitely not ordering this again
Helpful (0)
|Replies (0)IP
Indrani P
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
12 Dec 2025, 16:03
I’m extremely disappointed with the “cheesecake” I received for R78
I’m extremely disappointed with the “cheesecake” I received for R78. The portion was honestly shameful — barely 2 inches thick, and nowhere near worth the price charged. For an establishment that claims quality, sending out such a tiny portion feels disrespectful to customers. I expected a proper slice, not something that looks like it was cut as an afterthought. Definitely not ordering this again
0
Replies (0)KK
Krinisha K
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
25 Nov 2025, 15:44
Shock horror customer service
Starting this off by saying absolutely LOVE the pastries ❤️ you can never go wrong with a pastry from De Baba's! Unfortunately the same can't be said about their savoury offerings. I ordered their cheese burger with their panko crumbed chicken breast as I'm a non-beef eater. The Brioche bun was soggy because of the amount of relish on the burger bun. The chicken tasted old/stale - almost like minced meat style chicken. the chef came out and confirmed that there were delays in their pass service and hence when the food sits before being served, it gets soggy. She insisted that the chicken was the supplier's problem and that there was no fault of their kitchen's. I had ordered a takeaway burger for my brother however after tasting how bad the chicken was, I asked that they allow me to pay for one burger and cancel the other due to poor quality however I was forced by their staff to make payment of all items. Yes, I did try the burger that I ordered and after finding that it was of poor quality, I reported it. No accountability taken whatsoever as a service provider and poor customer skills by staff.
Helpful (0)
|Replies (0)KK
Krinisha K
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
25 Nov 2025, 15:44
Shock horror customer service
Starting this off by saying absolutely LOVE the pastries ❤️ you can never go wrong with a pastry from De Baba's! Unfortunately the same can't be said about their savoury offerings. I ordered their cheese burger with their panko crumbed chicken breast as I'm a non-beef eater. The Brioche bun was soggy because of the amount of relish on the burger bun. The chicken tasted old/stale - almost like minced meat style chicken. the chef came out and confirmed that there were delays in their pass service and hence when the food sits before being served, it gets soggy. She insisted that the chicken was the supplier's problem and that there was no fault of their kitchen's. I had ordered a takeaway burger for my brother however after tasting how bad the chicken was, I asked that they allow me to pay for one burger and cancel the other due to poor quality however I was forced by their staff to make payment of all items. Yes, I did try the burger that I ordered and after finding that it was of poor quality, I reported it. No accountability taken whatsoever as a service provider and poor customer skills by staff.
0
Replies (0)SN
Sheleza N
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
6 Jun 2025, 16:20
So much hate from a stranger
I was met with an insane level of hostility by the ugly white lady with scars on her face, whom i was told is the owner. Decided to get some pastry on my way to work. got there and i picked the almond croissant from they're display window for a takeaway. the staff was very friendly, and it was a quick transaction, so when i got to my cab i opened the box and the pastry i got looked very different from what i had seen from the display shelf, it looked burnt and signifyingly smaller from what i saw in the display. So i return back inside to show them, and they could see it was not as fresh and the other. As he was preparing to package another croissant, this lady came out from the kitchen guns blazing doesn't greet and start questing me, seeing the hostility i didn't give her much, i stuck to the facts and just listened to her hound at me like I'm a child. basically told me to **** off i bought it so it mine now, she takes off back to the kitchen, at that point i was stunned. the guy in the front desk apologize to me as he had witness the whole confrontation, so i left without my money on pastry in hand.
Helpful (0)
|Replies (0)SN
Sheleza N
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
6 Jun 2025, 16:20
So much hate from a stranger
I was met with an insane level of hostility by the ugly white lady with scars on her face, whom i was told is the owner. Decided to get some pastry on my way to work. got there and i picked the almond croissant from they're display window for a takeaway. the staff was very friendly, and it was a quick transaction, so when i got to my cab i opened the box and the pastry i got looked very different from what i had seen from the display shelf, it looked burnt and signifyingly smaller from what i saw in the display. So i return back inside to show them, and they could see it was not as fresh and the other. As he was preparing to package another croissant, this lady came out from the kitchen guns blazing doesn't greet and start questing me, seeing the hostility i didn't give her much, i stuck to the facts and just listened to her hound at me like I'm a child. basically told me to **** off i bought it so it mine now, she takes off back to the kitchen, at that point i was stunned. the guy in the front desk apologize to me as he had witness the whole confrontation, so i left without my money on pastry in hand.
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Replies (0)ML
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KH
Kerry-Leigh Hibberd
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
6 Mar 2024, 05:18
Yummy food, great service and dog-friendly
Excellent bakery and restaurant in the creative suburb of Melville in Joburg. We had the French toast with coulis, the bread with mushroom topping and a blondie for a takeaway. All scrumptious! The service is friendly and bonus - we could bring our dog along to sit outside with us. Can't wait to go back!
Helpful (0)
|Replies (0)KH
Kerry-Leigh Hibberd
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
6 Mar 2024, 05:18
Yummy food, great service and dog-friendly
Excellent bakery and restaurant in the creative suburb of Melville in Joburg. We had the French toast with coulis, the bread with mushroom topping and a blondie for a takeaway. All scrumptious! The service is friendly and bonus - we could bring our dog along to sit outside with us. Can't wait to go back!
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Replies (0)