La Kasbah

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  1     

Avoid! Definitely not a place to celebrate. Terrible service, stale food, hidden costs. Eleven of us went here for a friend's birthday celebration. Half the items on the menu were missing and what was available turned out to be the more expensive meals. We were supposed to have given the restaurant a whole week's notice if we wanted those unavailable items.

The entree breads n dips were stale and one of the dips tasted almost the same as one of the mains. We had bought cake for the birthday boy which the server at the restaurant brought out with plates and forks. There had been no mention of any cakeage either on his menu nor when we actually brought the cake in before the dinner. But $50 appeared on the bill and on questioning we were told that such a ridiculous amount is actually charged in all Brisbane restaurants which we know is not true. He claimed it was for washing the plates and forks he brought out, only there was no mention of this throughout the evening.

When we said we wouldn't be back because of this experience he actually said 'don't come'. Some of the people even fell ill the following day owing to the stale foods. We left with a sour taste in our mouths and very garlicky breaths!

Dec 10, 2011 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  9     

Two of us dined here on a Saturday evening. We were welcomed as soon as we walked in and given our choice of tables (there were very few patrons). The place was spotlessly clean.

Service was prompt, friendly and courteous. The food was particularly good with the only blemish being a slightly oily entree. The chef came to ensure we were enjoying our meal, which we were. At the end of the meal the manager thanked us, shook hands, hurried to open the door for us. It was an exceptionally good experience and we would definitely return.

Aug 20, 2011 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  8     

My partner and I went for dinner on Saturday night. We got there a little too early because we booked at 6.30 pm and there was no one there.

The food was fantastic, really fresh and every dish we had was beautiful. We especially loved the Tunisienne salad with tuna and the Chicken with honey and Prunes. The manager introduced himself and was very friendly and explained the food. We loved everything about this restaurant and look forward to going back with a group of friends. Whilst it got busy towards the end of the meal the service did not drop off. Even loved the coffee which was quite strong and grainy.

Jul 25, 2011 

6.8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  6      Value  6     

La Kasbah offers authentic and traditional food that feels like home. While the meals are not cheap, and take a while to arrive (prepared to order, only one chef!) the meals are worth the time and money. The waiter didn't speak much English, but he was quick to seek clarification when needed. The live music in the venue was fantastic, and the atmosphere was very welcoming. Later on in the evening we even relaxed and enjoyed a drink and a chat with the owner who was very friendly! I would recommend going on a quiet night, as La Kasbah is best enjoyed as the quiet, homestyle, relaxed venue it is.

Jul 23, 2011 

1.8 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  1      Service  2      Value  1     

We had a 'Voucherbook Brisbane' voucher, why is this restaurant in the voucher book? We were overcharged on desserts, coffees and corkage, all not listed on any menu we were given. When I called to complain the next day after checking the bill I was told the corkage ($15) was that much Because we came with a voucher and he doesn't 'sell peanuts for people' ... I wish I'd read the reviews before we went. Will do so in future.

Jun 23, 2011 

1 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

Worse experience ever in Brisbane!

We had voucher bought on Spreets and were given the choice on a selection of entree and mains (the voucher didn't say we had a limited list of choice though).
We ordered and had to wait more than 1h before actually getting the entree to share. We then had to wait another 1h to get our mains which were awfully presented it just looked like a joke. The staff was rude and absolutely unprofessional.

When we had finished we were presented with a bill asking us to pay for the extra (we took an extra entree) but were actually asked to pay more than the entree because we picked a main that wasn't part of the deal (but was presented to us as one of the choice). When we started to ask questions because we were confused, the owner switched in French (we are french speakers) and started to insult and threaten us. We couldn't beleive it!

The owner swore at us so badly, but because we are honest we left on the counter our due (certainly not all what he was asking for) and left... 5 minutes after he was on the street looking for us and threatening us and swearing at us!

The food (we are french) is nothing french at all. It is tunesian cuisine, we can't deny it, it is but it is very poor quality, the chicken tastes bad, the sauce was cold, the bread served on the size isn't even french and would be unacceptable in any eatery in France.

This is an absolutely bad experience, pick another place they are so much more different places that actually worth it.

May 13, 2011 

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  7     

The restaurant had a unique atmosphere and the staff working were lovely. It was a great tunisian experience as they offered delicious entree and main nicely presented. p.s. they need to work on their timing more.

Mar 08, 2011 

1 Not Recommended

Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

Left the restaurant after 45 minutes without having anything to eat Or drink. Staff very rude and abusive when queried about time frame for drinks. Recommend giving this one a miss.

Feb 07, 2011 

3 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  1     

Went to dinner on Sat 5/2/11 and would not go back again! I would suggest that anyone considering to go - "Forget it" The service, well what service, I could have walked to the Valley and got a bottle of wine and a take away chinese meal and returned to the restaurant and eaten it before my partner and I had got served. What a Joke!

Feb 07, 2011 

3 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  3      Service  2      Value  3     

My boyfriend and I were given a voucher for this restaurant and we finally decided to use it tonight. We arrived at 8pm for our reservation and waited 5 minutes to be seated, which was okay. When served, we were asked for our vouchers, which the owner took, and told us to pick any table. It was not explained to us that we were only allowed to select a few menu items with our voucher, and our voucher did not specify this either.

There were no clean tables in the restaurant, and so we took the cleanest we could find, which still had glasses, water and some food on the table. We were not given menus or water, and had to ask for both after fifteen minutes, when a waiter finally arrived to clean our table. The two waiters seemed flustered although there were only a few tables seated, and no tables were cleaned for at least an hour after we arrived.

We had been in the restaurant for twenty minutes before the waiter even cleaned our table, and we siezed this opportunity to order some drinks. After twenty minutes, the waiter returned to our table to tell us that they were all out of every white wine, so I had to order something else. How did it take twenty minutes to discover this?

When the waiter finally arrived with our wine, we had to ask to order our meals. The waiter seemed surprised that we, customers, would want to order food, and had to go and get his notebook. Once we had ordered, the waiter asked if we had a voucher. We told him that we had already given the voucher to the owner. Then, over forty minutes since we had entered the restaurant, it was finally explained to us that we could only pick from one of the entrees and a few of the main meals to use our vouchers.

We were also told that one of the meals we wanted to change to was sold out, and then the manager came over and told us we could actually order it if we wanted. Terrible communication between staff, and why were we not told about the voucher limits when the owner took our voucher and seated us?

Our entree came out about half an hour after we ordered. We had managed to persuade the owner for the snails because we had not been told about the voucher limits. He had reluctantly obliged. To be fair, the snails were quite nice. However, our plate was not collected twenty minutes after finishing our entree. Our empty wine glasses were not collected either, nor were we offered any more drinks. This is simple hospitality service!

We then waited nearly an hour after our entree for our mains to come out. During this time, the waiters hid in the kitchen while the four other tables talked to each other about the terrible service. The table next to us was a table of eight who had arrived at 7pm and were still waiting on their mains, three hours later. Then all of a sudden, our meals came out although we had ordered much later than the 7pm table of eight. We questioned this and it was shrugged off because "Their table is the biggest table". The table was very unimpressed, and we felt really guilty being given our food so much earlier.

And finally, my boyfriend is allergic to nuts. We are always careful when eating out, and we specifically ordered mains which were not described as containing nuts. Unfortunately, our mains came out garnished with almonds. He could not eat either meal, and had to take his meal back. They offered to make another meal but after the hour-long wait since the entree, we cut our losses and left. The waiter did not seem surprised that we wanted to leave early, so I'm guessing they're used to this.

After over two hours in the restaurant, we left having consumed a glass of wine and 3 snails each. By 1020pm, there was no point going to another restaurant and waiting for more meals, so we had to have fast food for dinner. What a disappointment. We will certainly not be returning.

Jan 29, 2011