Serengeti

We dropped in on a Thursday night and they snuck us in despite being heavily booked. To be that busy on a weeknight can only be testament to the delicious food people travel from all over Auckland for.
There’s nothing quite like taking a trip back to my childhood with a glass of crème soda and some delicious ribs & chips. I was only sorry my appetite wasn’t bigger for their huge meat platter! They also brought a warmed facial cloth instead of a cold bowl of water to wash greasy fingers with. Definitely like that idea!
The African décor, sea views over Murray’s bay and painted animal prints leading up to the front door make this place really sparkle with charm.
Definitely coming again :)

Serengeti
Murrays Bay, Auckland
Dec 08, 2013
POSITIVE

Hooray first review. Visiting from melbourne and having been born in Cape Town, we were very excited to try this place.
It did not disappoint. Excellent portions, beautifully cooked South African meat and EXCELLENT service. The hippo chicken burger was the clear winner, and even I couldn’t finish it!
Arghhhhhhhhhhhh, I want to return immediately. Too bad I don’t live in NZ.

Heard of this place and always wanted to go there. There is heaps of parking outside. i went there on a Saturday Nite with family and it was packed. Got reservations for 8pm and a lovely table facing the sea. the waitress was cool friendly and honest as she could not pronounce a few of the specials and openly admitted it. After a few round of drinks while we waited for the mains to b served up as was aware that d portions r large so we did not bother with starter. The ribs are simply yummy and all mains come with veggies or salads (one can get from d salad bar) sauces, chips or rice, baked potato with a choice of sauce. I went for the king prawns and ribs (combo meal), the fish of the day was lovely too. Best option for people is to go for the combo meals as tasting d ribs is a must and one can have the ribs with chicken, steak, prawns or fish… there is a play room for kids which has PlayStation as well, a big screen TV near d bar with sky while u wait for your table and yes a fully stocked bar. Def a revisit I say.

Always an excellent meal! Staff are awesome and the food portions large. A particular favourite is the ½ calamari ½ ribs. Great little salad bar also.

Amazing steak !! Defiantly a nice place to have dinner with friends and family: D I recommend that anyone go to eat here… To really empty out their stomach !! They have great big portions and should be handled with care !! :D overall I give this place an awesome 4 stars and we didn’t even have to wait long for the food to come in !! Deffinatly coming back again !!

I love the atmosphere of the Bays crowd. Not sure how authentic the dishes are but the accents tell you that this is where South Africans in NZ come to dinner, in fact the place was full and we waited some time on a Tues night for a table. I had the ribs, which with a bowl of chips and the salad bar was a good deal at $ 32 and my guest had the fish of the day which was gurnard. Plus a bottle of South African Merlot at $ 38. All up $ 104 for a great dinner, lots of conversation in a happy noisy local eaterie. I am proud to call this my local although it was the first time I have been in here. It won’t be the last.

Mostly great South African food (I’ll get back to that later), good atmosphere and large range of food on the menu.
The food portions are nice and big and very well flavoured the way we South Africans like it. I have pretty much tried their whole menu and I can honestly say most are winners. Unfortunately there have been a few hiccups along the way… Their prawns are often under cooked (sticking to the shell) and on 3 occasions I had to return the hippo burger because the patty was still ice cold in the middle (chicken patty is the main culprit).
Also after you’ve eaten you often get the feeling the staff (including the owner) tries and push you out of the restaurant as quickly as possible… Suppose they need the tables… come on guys make us feel welcome before AND after our meals.
Overall good family dining with a couple of issues that can be fixed.
Bushman’s grill is better and friendlier.

If the influx of South Africans to the Bays on the North Shore means more places like Serengeti then bring them in! I have a little confession, I used to work here, when it first opened. I was behind the bar for a total of about five weeks. And I feel ashamed to say it now, but I used to be a bit embarrassed of working here. I don’t know why. I’m silly.
But I take it all back. I went here a wee while ago with some friends who absolutely love the place. I am a huge fan of ribs and when I told them this they said there was one place I had to go. Crikey these ribs are good. Like meaty and sticky and there’s heaps of them for a good price — yes!
I really like the service here. I remember that it is a family owned place and this vibe is definitely clear. They have hired friends and children of friends as their staff and there is a great feeling of respect, professionalism and fun.
The meals here are really hearty, like pub food but more interesting. They have South African beers and soft drinks among the usual suspects and everyone here seems to be having a good time. Great addition to the Shore.

All you can eat ribs is like my Disneyland — ribs being my favourite food and unlimited being my favourite amount. If I know I am going out to eat in an all you can eat rib restaurant I become excited, it is like an occasion. Quiet a popular restaurant, we had to wait for a while to get a table, obviously a favourite for the South African population on the shore, you can here the accent coming from random directions. The service was very good, our waiter was well spoken and friendly, not much need for a waiter or menus in our case, 3 of the 4 people at out table ordered the ribs without even looking at the menu. Our expectations were high and we were not disappointed. The ribs were delicious, tender meat with tasty marinade. I only managed to get through two plates, not my finest all you can eat hour. Next time I think I will go for one of the combination meat plates I saw going round on some of the other tables.

Ever since Serengeti opened, the whole Shore’s been abuzz with excitement. Finally there’s a place where you can enjoy big hearty meat dishes, ribs and chips and creamy dreamy veggies. In fact, I can’t think of any of my friends who haven’t been there yet. And they all rave about this place.
So how come my experience wasn’t so good. Was all the hype just too much, did people oversell this restaurant to such an extent that every meal they serve were destined to be a disappointment? I don’t know, but I’m reluctant to go back.
I ordered the oxtail, and it was dry, the ribs good, but not great. Is being such a talked about restaurant doing them harm? I don’t think they care, because business is booming. As for me, I will rather make my own oxtail; at least it will be tasty and not dry.

Having rather a lot of African friends here on the Shore that go on about this place all the time, it was an inevitability that one day I would succumb to temptation and visit Serengeti. I was not disappointed. I was dragged along on a Thursday night, which means one thing — $ 30 all you can eat ribs special. While I daresay my mouth was a little larger than my stomach that night, I highly recommend it. Top value, and the ribs are big and incredibly tasty! Just be sure to work up an appetite before you head along, because the owner gives you a friendly ribbing (pun intended) if you don’t get more! Speaking of the owner, what a top bloke! Clearly takes pride in his establishment and he’s friendly as. Makes for a very cheerful restaurant!

The place is one of my favorite restaurants in Auckland, the ribs are absolutely — dare I say it — AMAZEBALLS! To be honest that’s all I want slash need slash will ever get at Serengeti. It truly serves up a delightful taste of Africa that leaves puts my homesick heart to ease.
I been to Serengeti with my boyfriend, with a friend and with my family and on all those occasions I have been wowed! It just keeps getting better and I can sing praises from here till the end of the earth. The owners of the restaurant Mark and Charleen are absolutely amazing, also ensuring that guests are well looked after. They also have the most genuine interest in getting to know each and every person in the restaurant.
Their selection of drinks has my little heart doing the rain dance as it is the only place that serves Hunters Gold in Auckland (please do not quote me on that). As for the menu you have your ribs, your steak, your chicken, your pap, your things and a whole lot of that! And if you are like me and suffer occasionally from indecision you can get the combo which can be ribs and chicken, ribs and steak and so on and so forth.
I recommend the ribs and if you are brave enough visit them on a Tuesday or Thursday night for an all you can eat rib special!