Madiba Restaurant

Great South African restaurant serving up eclectic, flavorful fare. If you're in the mood, go for the steak, it's amazing.

So homy, service was outstanding,Didn't really try the food, but it looked good, drinks are inexpensive, not watered down, best wine I've ever had in my life

This was my first South African meal. A friend ordered a variety of dish as tasters. It was a good meal. Thoroughly enjoyed it, flavorful and wholesome. There was a crowd after we arrived. You'll have to be there early to get a table. Service was prompt and the waitress was always checking on us if we needed anything. After a while we ended up chatting with the couple next to our table discussing the meal and the restaurant. They were regulars and love the place. And I like it too!

Had a.big gathering there. A sister friend was moving out of NY. Made the reservation for 12 When we arrived our table was waiting. We were greeted with by a warm friendly gentleman. The night was magical! The food was great, the garlic bread outstanding! We felt free. We laughed, toasted our sister and broke out in songs a couple of times. Then the desert came. OMG !!!! The best!. I am a difficult person to please in this setting. However, I had no complaints, nor did any of our 13÷party. This place get every star available. Continue to be charming and hospitable!

This restaurant is the type of place where if you removed the chairs and tables and put in couches, you would feel like you were at a South African friend's place hanging out in downtown Brooklyn. The brothers that own Madiba are the most friendly, down to earth, loving and energetic South African guys and restaurant owners you will ever meet. When you meet them you immediately feel like you've known them for years. They made my South African girl feel like she was back home in Durban. The food was amazing and my South African date could attest to that. It was authentic, very very tasty and cooked with love. The atmosphere was down to earth with no pretension, no fuss, no frills and time just flew by enjoying the great food, the amazing company and the positive energy. I highly recommend going to this place if you love being yourself and having a good time with great food and good friends. I am coming back here every time I come back home to Brooklyn guaranteed. Get the Malva pudding! Thanks my Brews!

One of my favorite places in Brooklyn. Unique decor, feels almost like eating in someones kitchen. The food is wonderful as the flavors slide over your tongue you will close your eyes and wait for the next mouthful. Everything is delicious but my favorite is the steak with monkey gland sauce, smh. Desserts are wonderful as well but the liquid desserts are banging😃If you are looking for something different and really good, this is the place.

Great food and cocktails at a super cool spot on Dekalb. Try the chicken wings. ostrich carpaccio and butterflied prawns. Staff is super friendly, there's fun music playing and when the weather is nice, there's tons of outdoor seating. Killer spot for those in the know.

This place is great. The food was good. The service was top notch. The drinks are delicious. I was accommodated with a combination of Ceres juices with rum. The restaurant has great character and energy. A nice place to hang out.

The Obama mama is the best cocktail I've have in a long time! The nshima (or pap to South Africans) is really good! I'm just excited to find an African restaurant that serves the food I grew up eating!!! Not as good as mom's but pretty damn good! Service is excellent. Great staff, ambiance and food. Couldn't ask for better! The Obama Mama makes a really good brunch cocktail!

We went there today for a dinner. The food was delicious! Something new for as because we'd never tried African food. Very nice and helpful waitress, original decoration. Definitely we'll back there with friends.

My Madiba dining experience was one of the cornerstones of my New York birthday turn-up!!! My receptionist and waiter were spectacular! Now the food was an out-of-this-world experience. I enjoyed the music and the ambiance!

This place is incredible. I popped in with a few friends for a quick snack and emerged 10 hours later after a delicious feast and some fantastic wine. The atmosphere is great and the service is friendly. I just wish I was a local.

Madiba is the full package. The atmosphere, service and food are all top notch. I came here for the first time today and can't wait to go back. The atmosphere quickly transports you to South Africa: drums, tribal blankets and portraits of Nelson Mandela adorn the walls. A quirky Coca-Coca bottle chandelier hangs from the high ceiling in the main dining room. Attached to this is a small, cafe-like space with a bar, lounge chairs, and wall of African specialty items for purchase. Our server alone made the experience well worth it. He had this incredibly down-to-earth, genuine friendliness and enthusiasm. If only all servers were like him! Last but not least, the FOOD! My friend and I were both blown away by how good everything was. We shared a plate of Slap Chips (fries soaked in vinegar and salted). It took some serious self control not to devour the entire basket before our food came. For a main, I had the Boerewors Roll which was just scrumptious. In addition to the sausage and chutney, it had a slab of the yummiest baked beans. Even the roll itself was delicious. My friend got the Vegetable Curry & Saffron Rice which he also loved. He was particularly enamored with the saffron rice. Clearly Madiba cares about the quality of every ingredient and component of their dishes and restaurant experience. I'll be returning soon!

As far as I know, the only South African bar and restaurant in New York city. This place has a distinctive atmosphere and a lively and diverse crowd. Dishes are based upon South Africa's multi-ethnic cuisine, and include Indian-derived curries, African mashes, and Afrikaner meats. The Mozambique prawns are delicious. On a summer day, the sidewalk tables are a great place to people-watch.

This is one of my favorite spots in Fort Greene - the best lamb I've had in NY. A bit expensive but a very authentic neighborhood spot, the hosts are always super friendly and accommodating and trust the waiters' advice on food. Try the bunny chow curry & the samoosas.

The first time I've tried South African food and it was a great experience! I clearly can't speak to the authenticity of the food here, but it feels like South African comfort foods and specialties with a Brooklyn flair (hearty but healthy, lots of vegetarian friendly options). The vegetarian bobotie was nice but the Instagram showstopper is the Durban bunny chow, which is curry that comes in a hollowed out loaf of bread. Good drink options as well; I was amused by the cocktail named Obama Mama.

Very nice staff, the food was great, music was great and a nice overall environment. We had a group of 30 people. Would definitely go back again. I wish I took pics.

I had been meaning to check out this restaurant for years. Recently, a friend of mine brought it to my attention again, but said that she only goes when she's flush because it is quite spendy, but well worth it. Luckily, it's Restaurant Week in Brooklyn and Madiba was participating. We had a ball. Every morsel of food I put in my mouth was a delight. There was a distinct East Indian influence featured in some of the dishes (vegetable biryani, mango chutney made from green mango) and I really enjoyed experiencing brand new flavors. I cannot wait to go back.

South African fare has not tasted as good as the delectable treats at Madiba. We had the Safari Platter which consisted of biltong & droewors(cured, salted and dried beef tenderloin) with a mix of sun dried fruits and nuts, and the Durban Samosas. Both were very tasty. This place has a great feel to it and the staff is super attentive. Extra points for the mason cups!

Up until visiting Madiba, I haven't had South African food and now I'm hooked. With amazing options like Durban samosas, biltong, and pap and droewors, you going to want to try everything. They of course have a great selection of wines and the guava cosmo is where it's at during brunchtime. The staff is super friendly and attentive and atmosphere is very lively and fun.

Good crowd, nice music. Haven't eaten here yet but I heard the food is great. Can't wait to try it.

Really laid back, quirky, unusual restaurant. Food is unique and hearty and good. I am looking forward to coming back to hear some live music!

The only South African restaurant I can find in NYC. Serving authentic great food in an almost artisty atmosphere. It can be a bit hectic on a Friday or Saturday night.

I really enjoy this place. I went here once about 2 years ago with my Fiance and we loved everything about it, the food, the ambiance, and the staff were great! I recently placed a catering order with Madiba and had the same great experience! Mark was great and quick with getting me a menu of what was best for me. Upon picking it up on a Saturday evening the staff was very welcoming, they offered me a glass of wine as I waited for the food to be finished. The only reason I can't give 5 stars is we had ordered a cake with the meal but instead received cantaloupe and I did not realize until my return home. Other than that everything was great, food tasty and experience with catering was great! Thank you to the Madiba staff!

The service is a 5 but the food that I had is a 3. My friend Kim Allen loves it and I had the pleasure of eating with her here. I had the Salmon and I must say the presentation is wonderful. What is unique about it is that it is in a quiet area which is beautiful to sit outside the restaurant in and eat.

I am always so eager to try some foreign dishes over the weekend and this place surprised me. South African food!! I was not sure how it tastes like. But I loved it after my first sip of the seafood soup. It was a traditional soup from ?Mary Cape? (don't really remember that city name) but I will never forget the special taste of it. It is a little bit sour and sweet, which made it the perfect thing to start with. It was also full of seafood - fish, shrimp. The size was just big enough to share with three to four friends. Another course I tried was called ?bobofie?. It was some minced beef with almond flakes on top of it, paired with 5 different sources. They have a secret source called 'Monkey source'. It is free, but you gotta ask them separately, because it is NOT on the menu.

Every time I went to this restaurant, I've always received wonderful service. My favorite entree is the durban bunny chow; it's a hollowed out loaf of white bread filled with a savory curry. I recommend saving room for dessert because the "Jenny's Malva Pudding" dish is super delicious. The decor is interesting and definitely something to take in while you're waiting for your food. Also make time to see the South African items they sell in the lounge area.

African themed restaurant with a sizeable imports section of Authentic African food products. Indoor lounge as well as outdoor seating. Extensive wine list by the glass and bottle, beer available by the glass or pitcher for sharing. There are also Africa inspired cocktails that are pretty tasty. As for the food there are inspired takes on things like fries (Chips w/ Curry and Peri Peri sauce, anyone?) and the portions are generous and well prepared...Great for a group and taking your time on your meal.

Had an amazing time here celebrating my wife's birthday with friends. We had been to South African on our honeymoon last year and this definitely brought us back! The food is great, simple but tasty - ordered two lots of the biltong!The decor brings a real flavor of South Africa and the importance of Nelson. Highly recommended for those looking for something a little different or just to re-live memories.

Great south African experience with authentic dishes like Peri Peri sauce prawns, best chichen wings in Brooklyn. Atmosphere rocks service is laissez faire at time which correspond to the South African Experience. Prices are moderate , wines are very good with many varieties . Over all this is a great family and friends restaurant with good entertainment a friendly service and confort foods well prepared . Thumbs up for this staple in Fort Greene .

Was interesting to try South African fare. Ostrich carpaccio - fun to try a red meat poultry. Tasted like beef carpaccio. Wish the carpaccio were warm tho or at least room temp. Worth trying if u never had ostrich. Fries with vinegar - i don't get the fuss. Barely tasted vinegar. And I've had similar fat finger fries at a deli that tasted about the same. I don't like the way it's brought out in a paper wrap, b/c it steams over time and gets soggy. Curry was decent, with Indian fare chutneys to taste/add. Lamb in it was fine, but could've been more tender/stewed longer. I prefer curry a bit more "wet" or "saucey". Comes in a bread like bowl. It u ask for spicy, it's really spicy. For curries, I still prefer Indian food or Thai or Japanese curries, imo. Best was the prawns in Lorenzo sauce. Everything excellently flavored, and I love that they leave the heads there for juicy strange bits of flavor. Try eating the prawn heads, shells, tentacles, eyeballs and all - it's nice and flavorful. Bread - i don't mean to nitpick, and i certainly don't expect every place to make their own bread, but they should at least warm it up - tasted a bit stale. Wine was fine - tho I would prefer non-recognizable brands (vs Indaba), that way I can not notice the markup vs how much I can get it for retail. Service was excellent. Value left a bit to be desired. Not sure I'd come back due to price point and location, but if I did, I'd stick to the prawns, and also some other entrees like their Lamb chops, baby back ribs which I'd imagine are good. Bathroom is disgusting. Make sure you go at home beforehand.

Salmon cake overcooked and slightly burnt and over priced. Ordered a fish dish. Manager recommended for two people to share. It was suppose to be a whole fish. $25 later a small piece. After I discuss this with manager she ask me to not to "freak out".

Ostritch burger was great. Had a reservation, yet still waited almost 2 hours to be seated. Took too long to get food. Umputu.. Salty.

Visited on 1/4/2017 for my anniversary,returned exactly a month after on 2/4/2017,prices were increased ,menu changed.Quite disappointed!!! My meal usually would come with my sides where as now I have to pay $6 for each side. A meal is supposed to come with sides & a choice to add more sides for an additional charge.Plus drinks are seriously way too small & way too expensive. I am deeply saddened by this change ,unfortunately I won't be returning due to these outrageous changes.

I know this place is popular and always has a crowd on the weekends, but I found it rather overpriced (portions are small) and underwhelming. I'm not an expert on South African food, but I get the impression you're paying a premium for the exotic factor.

The waitress who seated us seem to have no idea about how customer service is and how to wait tables. when you answer your guests what and and the manner in who you speak to them using WHAT and I dont know as responses as though you're there more of your friends than customers speaks volumes. Not what I remembered it being

Caveat emptor - "Let the buyer beware” I choose to eat at Madiba restaurant in Brooklyn, December 2015 to aid its cause in keeping the restaurant open, at least, according to them. I went there alone. While there, I went to the bathroom, which was the only time I was absent from my table. Upon paying my check and preparing to leave, I could not find my black cashmere shawl. I'm not trying to accuse anyone, but requested to see its security cameras, still waiting. After a few days or so late, I had to file a police report and still waiting for the results of an investigation. The owner has yet to contact me although has my contact information; the waitress certainly had my contact, and I had to request that she not contact me but the police. I reported all of this to 311 as well. The shawl has yet to reappear. My interest was not in accusing patrons or employees, but the shawl is missing. For security purposes, especially those who want to aid the “cause” of “Madiba at risk of closing,” if that's even true, eating at that restaurant alone, patron, “caveat emptor “-- "let the buyer beware.”

I am neighbors and Food and Beverage industry person. I ashamed to say this food was so bad. Frozen Roti which was a not Roti . I know what is Roti looks like and test like . Service was joke to me and Curry was cooked like left over food from yesterday. Its like asking a Pizza guy do you make your own pizza no we don't we buy from store and we heat the food at microwave. You should go learn how to make good curry and Roti from Dosa place who is 2 blocks way from you.

I came to this restaurant hungry and was anxious to try something new. We were a large party, so I was able to try a variety of different dishes. It was a letdown. The curries were bland and tasteless, which is pretty hard to do. The ribs were OK, but similarly neutral. I am a huge condiment fan and they had a special tray of condiments to go with our dishes and even those were not good. I tried Denis' Tin Cup drink and that was weak also. The ambiance was nice in hipster Brooklyn, but other than that, the food here is really a letdown. Mostly just tasteless, cooked mush.

Took us 20 minutes to get two coffees and I know the place isn't known for it's coffee but they shouldn't have agreed to serve it in the first place. Also when it arrived, the mugs were dirty, coffee was cold & iced coffee had no ice. Disappointed as I went with some expectations!