Emboita Hotel

The restaurant’s atmosphere is hard to describe, but it made the whole experience feel special. I’d give it 10/10, and I’ll always recommend Emboita hotel. I stayed for a week, and every meal got the same care and attention. The food was a hit each time, especially the dishes the staff suggested when I couldn’t decide. I definitely ate too much, and don’t regret it. From arrival to checkout a week later, I was treated like a queen. Staff from reception to the waiters and chefs greeted me each morning and asked how I’d slept. They checked on my experience and the meals, and were keen to help. The housekeepers also noticed how I’d arranged things in the room. After I added the second duvet on my first night and pulled it up to my head, they adjusted it the next day to match how I’d placed it. I hadn’t asked them to do that, they’d simply paid attention.

The restaurant looked five star, but the service fell well short. We waited 1hr 30min for our food, and our waitress only took the order. She didn’t ask if we needed anything, not even water, before or after the wait. Her hospitality and customer service were poor. The prawn special came with a choice of potato or arrowroot fries, which made it sound like a side was included. We chose one, then found an extra charge on the bill. When I politely asked why we’d been charged and why the waitress had presented it as included, she answered dismissively, “Because I have to.” The whole interaction added to the night’s bad service and left us feeling ignored.

The food made for a really disappointing Valentine’s dinner with my wife. My sirloin came folded and overcooked on top of the mashed potatoes, with gravy poured over it. Her plate had just four prawns and very greasy hash browns, nowhere near enough for an adult meal, not even a starter. The food was bland and poorly presented, and dirty plates stayed on the table. We waited more than 30 minutes for each course, from the starter through dessert. The service was awful. I had far more complaints than positives, so do your own research before visiting.

The setting was lovely and the service was good, but none of us enjoyed the different dishes we ordered. We raised the issue and still came away disappointed. Based on that experience, I wouldn't recommend the food.