Harbour View Restaurant - St Helena Bay — Restaurant in Saldanha Bay Local Municipality

What started out as a nice supper ended in a total disaster. First reading all these reviews one thing is sure you wait a long time for your food. The menu is just to conplex for that kitchen todo. I ordered a lobster Thermidor, but on the plate was a crayfish, the menu clearly said Lobster. I complained to the owner directly and was asked what the difference is: he asked the kitchen to make me another plate when this plate was done the chef came to my table with his phone , he googled and challenged me that there is no difference between crayfish and lobster.

So I googled as well:

The main differences Lives Other crayfish characteristics • Also known as crawdads, mudbugs, and crawfish • Come in many colors, including white, red, orange, and blue • Some say they taste sweeter and less salty than lobster • Can be prepared by steaming, boiling, grilling, pan searing, broiling, or baking Lobster characteristics • Lobsters that live in salt water have claws • Lobsters that live in freshwater will eventually die due to the salinity difference • Lobsters are often boiled and steamed, and usually just the tails, then often dipped in butter Habitat similarities Both lobsters and crayfish are bottom dwellers and like to lurk under rocks and in crevices on the muddy bottoms.

When I asked the chef to see my findings he did not want to come and look and even you the owner got rude. I did not ask for your chef to become google happy , and challange me with his findings.

Your service is slow and I will not...

I ordered Indian Chicken Curry, after enquiring if the curry was ‘hot’ and not receiving any meaningful response… I decided to chance it. The chicken was tough, the curry sauce tasteless and very hot and the tiny poppadom was like rubber. I ate 2 small pieces of chicken and gave up. I mentioned to the waitress that the sauce was too hot and the chicken tough - inedible - clearly evidenced by the fact that I hadn’t eaten it. My feedback obviously didn’t make it to management. Extremely disappointing - won’t be back. I commented similarly on Facebook and it seems the restaurant deleted my comment and blocked me. So much for tolerance of an honest review.

Update after response from the restaurant:

They did not repeatedly apologise on multiple social media sites - the only place I actually commented was Facebook and Google Reviews. I did not see the ‘apology’ on Facebook because they blocked me before I could read it! I have friends who were also treated with disdain after ‘having the nerve’ to disagree with the owner/manager of this restaurant. And it seems I’m not the only person, judging by other reviews on Google, to have been disappointed with the food - and the attitude of the owner. And as to the comment that they hope I find a restaurant that satisfies my expectations - there are plenty of those to never have to contemplate returning to...

What a wonderful dining experience we had at Harbour View! From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warm smiles and a welcoming atmosphere that set the tone for a perfect lunch.

We ordered a variety of dishes – Chicken Schnitzel with Mash, Sirloin Steak with French Fries, Abalone on stir-fried vegetables with a side of rice, and a Salmon Poke Bowl – and every single plate was top-notch. The ingredients were fresh, the flavours beautifully balanced, and the presentation on point. Special mention to the Abalone – absolutely delicious, though the portion may be a little modest for a man’s appetite, but just right for a lighter meal.

The waiters were all incredibly friendly and eager to assist, creating a relaxed yet professional environment. Shoutout to Mandela for serving my family that day! We appreciated the option to bring our own bottle of wine, with just a small corkage fee – a lovely touch that added to the overall enjoyment of our meal.

What truly stood out was the attention to detail. From the elegant plating and stylish furniture to the selfie-ready bathroom and thoughtful decor, it’s clear that Harbour View takes pride in every aspect of the guest experience.

If you’re in this beautiful coastal town, Harbour View is a must-visit. Excellent food, lovely ambiance, and warm hospitality make it a standout spot we can...