Step Brothers Restaurant and Bar — Restaurant in Green Point

Very saddened by my experience upon arrival. Firstly before I express my disappointment let me mention that it's not the first time I dine at Stepbrothers. I've been there regularly for about 4+ times, and indeed, their service and food is always remarkable with no doubt. With great gratitude from a couple of relatives, colleagues and friends who have highly recommended this place to me I've no doubt been disappointed, only until today (20 August 2020).

I arrived at the restaurant and it was raining quite heavily, and it was around midday. As I approached the door there was a young and tall gentleman who sadly did not receive me as I expected. I greeted him, so did he. I requested for a table for myself and he immediately said unfortunately we have no table available. I was very understanding and I later on asked after how long should I expect a table to be available?, I insisted that I do not mind waiting. Considering the new regulations gazzetted by the government regarding to the Covid19 pandemic. However he completely ignored me and left me waiting at the door for a good 15 to 20mins. With absolutely no idea of what's happening. I tried to catch his attention however he seemed to not care. I waved at him asking for a response. But he totally ignored me. All the times I've been to stepbrothers this has never happened before.

I have no intention to bring in the race issue because with my past experience, the staff has always embraced diversity. However today i honestly felt like because I am a black African, I did not matter at that particular time. Bare in mind this is a restaurant full of White people, and perhaps 3/5 Black people as staff (Front of house staff to be precise)… and me, the one young black lady looking to have lunch... But seems not to be of importance at the time...

I would really like to express how I feel in words.. However I can't, I'm so hurt.. That 15mins of neglection, standing there and being ignored.. I really felt how it feels to be black.. You don't matter..

Thank you to the waitress and barista who made eye contact that I could come in. And made a place...

Last month (February 2022), we went to Stepbrothers for my dads 60th birthday. We ordered a bottle of Dimersfontein pinotage (a wine we regularly drink at home) and it was delicious. We loved it so much that we wanted some more! So, we ordered a carafe. Our carafe arrives in a wine glass (okay?) and after a small sniff and a sip even the most newbie wine drinkers would be able to say that the wine didn't just taste completely different, it tasted awful. It was corked. It happens. So, we call over our waitress to let her know that the wine is corked, expecting a normal response and for the carafe to be replaced. She tells us to speak to the bartender. We say no, that is YOUR job. We are then met by a frustrated (and actually kind of aggressive) bartender who says "Oh, so are you telling me that the entire crate of bottles is corked, after you have already had one?!" We calmly have to explain to this clearly very experienced, very well trained bartender that this is not in fact how corked wine works. Surely as a bartender, that is BASIC knowledge. After that awkward dispute between the bartender and us, we thought that perhaps we would receive our order... Unfortunately, our waitress just sat on the bar stool right next to us chatting away to the bartender, not lifting a finger. We actually felt ignored from that point onward. After asking for the bill, the wine was then marked as free, which is bs. A new carafe is a SIMPLE request, what is the point of tasting the wine before pouring? We would have happily paid for the wine and rather been treated with some basic respect. And in other events, our food was carried to the table in the waitress's apron...pretty gross. Stepbrothers, your food is good, I actually enjoyed my meal but the humiliating experience in your restaurant caused by your staff is cause...

Bad. Really bad. Arrived at 12pm on a Saturday and immediately ordered a pizza for a hungry child. Was told that pizzas only available from 12.30pm. Considering that businesses should be doing all they can to recover from Covid lockdowns this was surprising. Also considering that they are open from breakfast it is extraordinary that lunch doesn’t start at 12pm. We decided to wait.

Ordered drinks and food. Some 15 minutes later my orange juice had not arrived. On menu as freshly squeezed. It was not freshly squeezed but cheap catering orange juice pre purchased.

Covid Protocols (in line with laws at time of review) No check in or insisting on sanitiser. Cook in kitchen now wearing a mask while preparing food. Chef was sitting in main restaurant area pretending to work but was chatting to person standing with them not covering their nose with mask. Chef left table on two occasions to wander about restaurant and did not wear mask. Some waitresses were not covering their noses with their masks. No sanitiser on tables. Pizza cooks (2) arrived at 12.15pm sanitised hands at front door then proceeded to fist bump the seated chef this breaking the chain of infection. Asked waitress to advise cook to wear mask and she refused instead saying we should speak to chef seated by us.

For poor service and average food I’m not prepared to risk my health and recommend you don’t yours and won’t...