De Vette Mossel Harties | Beach Seafood Restaurant Experience — Restaurant in Madibeng Local Municipality

Take the time to read this in detail - the 1 star rating has a number of facets to consider.

Honestly, I feel like De Vette Mossel could have done quite a bit more to share information about the "experience" on their website, during the numerous booking calls, or when arriving at the restaurant.

Overall, the place is quite vibey and relaxed. Staff are generally quite friendly, but that is about where I can stop the compliments. Overall, the food was also quite average which, to be fair, is what you can expect if food is made made in pots/broth.

Issues from my experience this past weekend: Issue 1 Although the website says, and I quote "Do not expect hand-crafted crystal glasses, or silver cutlery" there is no mention of literally not providing you with any cutlery for the 1st four courses. Absolutely horrible (and this will become more apparent in a bit). After conversing with a couple of people in the restaurant who looked to be returning customers, all of them brought their own cutlery with from home - it would have made my experience just a tad bit more bearable if I would have been informed. Note - take your own cutlery with.

Issue 2 There was no mention of being allowed to bring your own coolerbox, drinks, glasses, etc anywhere during the booking process. Most repeat customers were REALLY well prepared, with drinks being allowed to be brought in. The drinks at the bar are quite expensive compared to even the most premium of bars in the area.

Issue 3 - THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE The COVID-regulations are VERY poorly enforced in this place. I was absolutely appalled by the blatant disregard for the even the most basic of requirements.

To elaborate: Tables are definitely not socially distanced. 98% of people in attendance (yes I counted them and did some basic math) didn't bother to put on their mask when they got up from their tables to go get food. This was exacerbated by people literally jumping up from their tables when a new round of food was served, followed by closely packed queues, and people literally leaning over food coughing and digging into it. Might I add that sanitisation stations were present, but NO ONE used them before getting food.

The table cleaning staff were very respectful, always wearing a mask, however, the staff working the bar didn't have any masks on throughout the 3 hours that we spent there, nor did 99% of the people who queued to get served.

There is just something really gross about people being allowed in masses to dig through food. I would really suggest you get staff to dish up food.

This place was ultimately, a breeding ground for a 4th COVID wave.

To conclude: Definitely not what it is "reputed" to be. Tried it, but would NEVER recommend it to anyone else. The irony of this is if they addressed the COVID related issues this might have just been a tolerable experience, and a 1-star rating could have been a 3 star

*Addition - in response to restaurant response: Your main page makes no reference to bringing your own cutlery - I copied the quote directly form the home page, and verified the same. Food-related "cup of tee" issues aside - the main issue, as rightly indicated was COVID protocols.

The management and staff did NOT enforce masks to be worn upon entry, nor did they when food was dished up. Purely announcing to please wear your mask is NOT sufficient. I repeat - not sufficient. This was exacerbated by your bar tending staff also not wearing any masks or sanitisting when making drinks, not to mention the fact that almost no one wore masks or sanitised before they dished up for themselves. Ai Nee A!

Citing that no cases have been tied back to the restaurant given how bad our government is at tracking and tracing DOES NOT prevent you from accountable, nor does is limit your liability and moral obligation to do good, and to be a "good citizen". The lackadaisical approach towards enforcing COVID protocols is my main gripe, and your attitude towards "enforcing" protocols is an absolute joke.

Ek kan eerlikwaar nie glo dat julle so blatant en openlik nie...

The place has a great atmosphere with sea sand between your toes and Afrikaans music playing in the background. You can bring in your own cooler box at an additional charge.The staff and management are extremely helpful and friendly. You need to dish for yourself and only the first course is served at the table. Eating with only the mussel shell (no cutlery, though cutlery is available) is entertaining and makes eating the dish fun. Some additional entertainment in the evening would be nice, like dancing after dinner (or a beach party).

But unfortunately I was very disappointed with the food. It is not the type of food, but rather how it was prepared.

I was expecting a creamy white wine sauce with the mussel pot, put it is prepared in tomato base sauce (which wasn't bad but not great either), the pot bread was really nice.

I'm not sure how the snoek was prepared but is was very plain and pale in comparison of well prepared snoek I have had before.

The vegetable dishes, the sweet potato and mix vegetable bake was great, but unfortunately the seafood pot (main course) could be compared to a flopped dish I prepared at home and my family had to eat it not to waste the food. There was no prawn tails in the pot and even if there were you would not be able to taste it as everything was drenched in a pink sauce that made all the seafood in the pot taste the same.

The meat pot was so chewy my husband ended up just leaving it on his plate.

The coffee was really good, but unfortunately the koeksisters were not the best I've had either (like buying koeksisters at Spar or Checkers).

Everything considered, unfortunately I will not be back unless the food is better prepared (and the...

Atmosphere and service absolutely fine , no frills and vibey which I have no issue with. I hope this is taken constructively as this place has so much potential to be absolutely amazing ! When you hear seafood buffet you’re expecting out of this world flavourful seafood. Muscle starters and bread were probably the highlight. The snoek wasn’t good nor the sweet potato served with it. The seafood pot needs a lot of work. Served in some kind of pink sauce with rubbery calamari pieces and shrimp and essentially what feels like fish afval. Sides for that were fine. We ordered additional items (prawn, crayfish) each coming with their own charge- which is fine. Would have been tasty but the effort of deveining our own shellfish really took away from the experience. I understand a lot of prep goes into this and that cooking buffet style is not easy - but perhaps the menu needs to be reviewed. Again I really do recommend the experience for the vibe and the staff but patrons really need to manage their expectations regarding food as if you go in expecting greatness you will sadly be disappointed. My reason for actually taking the time to leave a review is because at the end of the day our host encouraged patrons to leave a review and receive a loaf of bread in exchange (the bread was good so i get it) however this could lead to a false representation of the experience.

As per restaurant response : as mentioned I am posting publicly due to host requesting reviews in exchange for the pot bread. I am entitled to have an opinion and share it without it being disregarded with sharing a good review from...