It would seem that the service at Mama Africa has not improved since 2008.

Our party of 4 were there on Saturday night for me to enjoy a birthday treat of a bit of "home food" and my 3 companions to try out some South African delights. Well the evening started out pretty well with the chef coming out to assist us with our wine selection but then things on the service side deteriorated to non-existent. As the restaurant filled up the 4 waiters just couldn't cope. Now I know that labour is expensive here in Switzerland but to be understaffed on your busiest night of the week, especially with the prices they are charging. Well lets just say I will not be going back. We had to wait 40 minutes, no exaggeration, for desert menus only to have the waiter complain to us because he didn't like the way he was called/gestured over to the table. In the same breath he says how if he is a paying customer he finds slow (nonexistent) service unacceptable. I have served my time in the hospitality industry and waited on more tables than I care to remember so this made my blood boil. When paying I actually asked him if he had been waiting tables a long time. He replied yes. I nearly choked. I politely (quietly away for everybody else) told him that if he wants to be any good at his job he should probably adjust his attitude and he may find people would be a bit more understanding that they are very busy. I said thank you and walked off. As I was walking away he started to say something so I asked him what his excuse was to which he replied he had no excuse. I said I didn't think so and walked off.

I am embarrassed if anybody else has had a similar experience to this. South Africa and South Africans pride themselves on their friendliness and this type of service would not be tolerated back home. I'm shocked. This treatment put a serious damper on our spirits that only many, many pints of Kilkenny could wash away later in the evening. The Kilkenny by the way was served fast and furiously by the owner at a little dive of a bar in Oerlikon. Maybe Simon should offer the Mama Africa staff some lessons in customer service.

I must in fairness give credit where it is due though. The food at Mama Africa's was quite good. But certainly not good enough to get me back to that service.