The Hussar Grill Stellenbosch — Attraction in Stellenbosch Local Municipality

My recent visit to Hussar Grill in Stellenbosch left much to be desired, particularly given its reputation as the second-best steakhouse in town.

Despite securing a reservation six months in advance for a birthday celebration, we were disappointingly seated at an awkward table in the stairwell, where both staff and patrons continuously brushed past throughout the evening. While the establishment did acknowledge the special occasion with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine—a gracious touch—this gesture was unfortunately overshadowed by what followed.

The crux of the evening's disappointment centered around a 500-gram sirloin steak, which became an exercise in frustration rather than the celebration of fine meat it should have been. Despite clearly specifying medium-rare (and having the server repeat the order back), what arrived was a cut that could only be described as blue-rare—a temperature far below what was requested and clearly detailed in their menu.

What ensued was a comedy of errors that spoke volumes about the establishment's quality control and customer service. The first attempt at rectification returned with tepid accompaniments and a center that remained virtually unchanged. When the manager suggested butterflying the steak—a technique that fundamentally alters the cooking experience and presentation of a premium cut—I declined, maintaining that a steakhouse of this caliber should be capable of executing basic temperature requests without resorting to such measures.

The situation descended into the realm of the unconscionable when my third steak arrived clearly butterflied and reassembled in an apparent attempt to deceive. Upon bringing this to the kitchen's attention, I was met with audible disdain from the staff and a defensive response from management, who initially insisted the steak was prepared as requested—until confronted with physical evidence to the contrary.

While the establishment attempted to make amends with a complimentary bottle of wine, it was far too little, too late. The evening—meant to be a birthday celebration—had devolved into a series of increasingly disappointing interactions that spoke to fundamental issues with both culinary execution and service integrity.

In the competitive landscape of Stellenbosch's dining scene, such shortcomings are particularly glaring. A restaurant of Hussar Grill's purported standing should be able to execute basic temperature requests with consistency and handle service recovery with grace rather than attempted deception. Based on this experience, I cannot in good conscience recommend this establishment to discerning diners seeking a premium steakhouse experience.

Rating: ★★/5 Price Point: $$-$$$ Visited:...

It was our first experience at this branch. We have visited other Hussar Grill restaurants & were not as satisfied with the Stellenbosch restaurant. When the booking was made we specifically mentioned it was for an anniversary dinner & therefore would require a "quieter', corner table. We were not seated in a corner & the table we were allocated to was quite uncomfortable & small for a family of 4. Unfortunately because of the location & setup of the restaurant there is not much space for bigger, better spaced seating. We were moved to a more "comfortable" table, which was the same size as the previously allocated, but just in a different spot in the store. The small space was quite an issue & left us feeling uncomfortable for the whole evening. It was difficult to cut into your food without clashing elbows with the person next to you. The host was also a little less pleasant in asking us " what is the problem" when we asked to be moved. However, our waiter was excellent!! He paid careful attention to detail & was very welcoming. The food was absolutely amazing & did not disappoint from the usual standard associated with the Hussar Grill brand!! All 4 meals were prepared perfectly & thoroughly enjoyed!! Also great value for money. Unfortunately because we were so uncomfortably seated we chose to cut our evening short & left immediately after dinner. I would recommend the restaurant based purely on the food. The small, tightly packed seating is not comfortable or conducive for an...

Worst experience ever! Don't try it because I did! 1.Long time waiting to be served even though only 3 tables were having drinks. 2.Asked for a fresh fruit juice and I got a bottled juice, but the waitress said it was freshly squeezed...few days ago I would add. 3.Decided for a coffee and got a very dirty cup as you can see in the photo. When I asked the waitress to bring me another coffee in a clean cup she said its only a few stains, but she did a big effort to take the cup and clean the rim. We also asked for a tea and the cup was so filthy like it wasn't even washed after the previous client used it. How can you not be ashamed when you come and serve me filthy crockery after I just told you that I am not happy with the dirty cup of coffee? And even worst, you expect a min 10% tips. But of course no one cares as long as they have clients...

I was about to cancel the order and leave, but my husband was starving and after seeing so many good reviews we decided to give it a chance. So we ordered some "fresh" meals: Roasted veggies were actually some green veggies microwaved for 10 minutes with some oil added at the end The sirloin had nothing to do with the photos you see on their social media. It was old/ stale and black and of course freshly microwaved Not to mention that the plates were also dirty with black fingertips

I cannot understand how this terrible restaurant gets to have so many good reviews and clients and its...