Constantia Glen — Attraction in Cape Town Ward 62

Good Food - if you SURVIVE THE EXPERIENCE!

We visited Constantia Glen on December 21, hoping to stop by for a bite to eat and some wine tasting. We realized that they might be booked up, but they were able to accommodate us last minute and slot us in for an hour between 2pm and 3pm. Which we readily agreed to since we were only going to have a light bite and the tasting. However, things did not go according to plan, when we had to wait at least 15 minutes to get served. Then after ordering, the wine tasting took another 20-25 minutes to arrive, eating up half our time. Our food arrived promptly, but our waitress was not around to follow up if we needed anything else. (which we did, but that is extraneous to the main review)

It was a very windy day, and we were seated next to an umbrella as were other tables. Here’s where we had our issue. The umbrella was blown over by the wind several times and nearly fell on a table behind us. A nearby patron picked it up and righted it, declaring that the way he did it would ensure that it would remain steady. A nearby waiter, who had come to assist took his word for it and left.

Within a few minutes, the umbrella was blown over once again, and caught once again. Then the 3rd time this happened, it fell on my Mom seated next to me. It hit her head and back. She was shaken up and yelled out. Not a single staff member came around to assist, see if she was okay, or anything.

While this was happening, the wind had also blown over some glassware on a nearby table, who quickly paid and left (they were already in the process of leaving), so I can understand that the winds were high that day. However, I have a few issues:

Why was nothing done after the umbrella fell over the 1st or the 2nd time? Why did not one staff member check up on any of my party?

We then waited another 20-30 minutes just to get our bill, in order to pay. After a while we felt frustrated and went inside to the restaurant, in order to pay someone, anyone and then let them know what happened.

We spoke to the floor manager who we asked to have my Mom checked out by a doctor, but he did not have the authority to do so and brought out another manager, who was equally as unhelpful. Both asked me what I wanted them to do but were unable to do what I asked. So why ask?

I am appalled at the lack of concern, the long wait times and overall experience at Constantia Glen and at this time would not recommend anyone to go there. I feel that at this time, something more than apologies are in order. I have heard “sorry” and “ we can’t do that” too many times...

When we arrived, without a reservation, we were offered seating around a large tree outside or a seat at the bar while we waited for a table. The restaurant is set in a vista of lush green winelands and old Cape Dutch architecture. There was a steady flow of people from all walks of life. Vibby atmosphere.

Once seated we were served our SA Platter for 2, which was delicious and very filling!! There was babootie, biltong, dry sausage, snoek pate, stuffed pepperdews, potato salad. It didn't seem like a meal for 2 but it was more than enough and a most satisfying meal 😊

We ended off our meal with the wine & chocolate pairing. The waiter gave an extremely brief summary of the wines... No history about the wine nor the tale about how the wine came into being or why the winemakers chose those particular grape varietals etc. Very bare bones with no personal history. This may suit some people but I like to hear the back story.

There was no mention of the chocolate, why it was paired with each particular wine nor any explanation of how the different strengths of cocoa compliment each wine.

And this is where the pairing fell very short of the expected quality and why I rate 3, not 5 stars...

First off, the chocolate was so soft it melted in the wrapping and on our fingers. Not an inviting sight to see by fellow patrons and a clumsy tasting experience for us, licking chocolate off our fingers. It's summer, in SA, at a South African restaurant and they don't know how to store chocolate so it isn't served in this state? A minor, logical attention to detail...

Even more disappointing for a cocoa lover such as myself, all 3 "cocoa" blocks tasted exactly the same and, worse, it was milk chocolate, not cocoa...hence it's melting so easily... Definitely not worth the R85 per pairing.

Minus 2 stars for leaving an unpleasant taste of an otherwise lovely...

Upon visiting family in Cape Town 7 months after we had moved to the Eastern Cape, we were looking forward to visiting some of the familiar wine farms. As it was new year's eve, we settled on Constantia Glen with high expectations based on previous experience as my husband is from Cape Town and knows the winelands and Cape Town wines very well having worked on many of the wine farms himself.

Our experience was drastically marred by our waiter, Ebraim, who was condescending from the minute he started explaining the wine to us, cutting us off when we had questions, and wielding his limited knowledge on wine like a blunt sword. I decided not to address his terrible attitude with him on request from my husband who didn't want to affect the experience. But upon paying, when we chose to leave a 5% tip to reflect the below-par service and how we were made to feel like sub-standard customers, Ebraim quipped that the service must have been good considering how we were 'shorting' him. I asked him to repeat his comment, which he did loudly and with much contempt. This is when I told him that his attitude is terrible and that he had been condescending to us from the minute we sat down. It was obvious from his sarcastic and dismissive response to me that he did not care. However, he is doing the Constantia Glen brand a disservice and is not a good ambassador for the farm.

Our interaction with Ebraim ruined our experience at Constantia Glen, and we will not be back to the farm...