Cafe Extrablatt — Restaurant in Green Point

Firstly, I want to express my admiration for the view and overall atmosphere at Café Extrablatt. I've visited the café about three times before, and this past Sunday, the 11th of 2024, would have marked my fourth visit. However, my partner and I collectively opted to try Tigersmilk instead. During our previous visits, we typically indulged in a meal, two hookah pipes, and a couple of drinks, amounting to just over 1000 rand each time.

Upon our arrival, we were greeted by a young black woman with braided hair. I couldn't help but notice what seemed to be an unpleasant expression on her face, which my partner also observed later. We requested our usual seating upstairs but specifically asked if we could occupy the large seating area in the far right corner of the balcony. This request stemmed from a previous arrangement where we were granted the space under the condition that we'd be willing to relocate if a larger party or one intending to purchase a bottle of alcohol arrived. Despite presenting the same negotiation terms, the encounter took an unfavorable turn, revealing a lack of flexibility and perhaps even greediness among the waiting staff.

The hostess who initially greeted us returned with the message from one of the waiters, a tall black man in a white shirt, stating that we couldn't sit there without purchasing a bottle. I attempted to reason with him, explaining our willingness to vacate the space if necessary. It's worth noting that this exchange occurred around 5 pm on a Sunday evening, with only two small groups occupying two tables in the entire establishment. However, he insisted on consulting the manager, who happened to be another waiter, an older, shorter black lady also clad in a white shirt. Her argument mirrored his, emphasizing the requirement to buy a bottle.

In an attempt to illustrate the inconsistency of their policy, I pointed out a white customer seated in the large booth on the left side of the balcony. He had a drink, a hookah, and a laptop with him. However, the manager justified his presence, citing him as a regular customer who was working. This explanation appeared unjustifiable to me and my partner, prompting our decision to leave. On that day, I felt silenced and frustrated, experiencing a sense of emasculation. Consequently, I intend to express my grievances through alternative channels.

It's disheartening to receive such poor service, particularly considering that my partner and I had begun referring to your establishment as "our new spot." I urge you to pay closer attention to such incidents and strive for improvement...

Update: My original review was made about a year ago and it still remains 5 stars for everything.

I went for the breakfast buffet on Sunday while waiting for a time confirmation on a tentative commitment in town. The breakfast was impressive and there was a variety - different breads, omelette and waffle station with honey / jams / peanut butter / Nutella, different cheeses and hams, hot section: sausages / bacon / baked beans / lasagne and rice, fruits / yoghurts.

I didn’t stay as long as I wanted to as my tentative got confirmed half way through my food.

Tabasco and tomato sauce were available. When I asked for mustard, I received it in a small tin sauce container. This is charged extra at R12,90. I wasn’t informed of this charge nor did it say anywhere on their website or menu that mustard would be charged extra. I understand pepper, mushroom sauce and the likes being charged extra. But for mustard….

In all fairness, I did make use of the mustard and it was nice so I paid. I did tell the waiter I did not know mustard was extra.

The omelette was an everything omelette, which I had with a croissant and I had the waffle with cream and Nutella. The breakfast was super filling and warm for a cold day. Pretty sure I would have skipped dinner on Sunday.

I also had a taste of the lasagne which I didn’t finish as I had to leave. Lasagne was flavorful.

100% would go back for the buffet again and I still recommend the place to everyone.

My all time favourite meal still remains their crispy chicken with Pom Fritz and / or salad. I have been going there since 2012 and their quality in service and food have...

I had a very disappointing experience at this establishment over the weekend. I visited on Saturday evening and encountered several issues that left a negative impressionin with, I was charged separately for hookah coals in addition to my bill, which I found confusing and frustrating. The hookah service was notably poor this time, with a wait of over 30 minutes for the coals, despite the fact that the hookah is usually a highlight here.

The service throughout the evening was subpar, with staff appearing disorganized and unresponsive. I attempted to address these concerns the following day by calling to log a complaint. Unfortunately, I was passed around to seven different people, none of whom offered a resolution or followed up as promised.

Given these repeated service failures and the lack of effective communication from the management, I am compelled to say that I will not be returning to this place. I strongly recommend that the owner reviews the performance and customer service practices of their staff. Based on this experience, I cannot recommend this...