Joostenberg Bistro — Restaurant in Stellenbosch Local Municipality

Having now gone to this venue many times over the months, it's time to advise that one should go for a meal here when you’re at your most patient, not hungry and definitely not on a timeline.

Though the food has always been incredible on each and every visit (well done to the Kitchen Team), I find that the one thing this establishment lacks in making it a great venue is the nonexistence of service and management.

There is seldom a manager around to seat you, therefore, leaving customers to make their own way to available tables and having to try and catch the attention of serving staff in order to be assisted.

When you finally have a waitron approach, the experience is: waiting 30 minutes for two coffee’s, an additional 22 minutes for a cup of tea, making it already close to 1-hour before you're able to place your meal order.

The meals take about 30 minutes to arrive, which is very acceptable considering the quality that is presented from the kitchen.

However, no waitron or management comes to the table to do the necessary approval check with customers – so, if you should require anything additional with your meal, we suggest you ask the staff on arrival of your meals. The management seems to be new during this last visit (August 2024), as they looked more uncertain about the running of the restaurant and mainly stood in the corner hiding from responsibility.

Again – the food is really worth the visit, however, this establishment definitely need to “up their game” when it comes to the multitude of Waitrons they have that just don’t seem to do their job at the standard you...

Worst food and service ever, I’m not sure if this place is selective about who they service, but we certainly had a very different experience from most of the reviews posted. Me and my team went there after our team building activity thinking we’ll have a nice lunch. We arrived there thirsty and requested our drinks to severed before we ordered food but they took an incredibly long time to bring our drinks. When the food was eventually served, I got liver spread that absolutely sour, I nearly vomited after one bite, I sent the food back and asked to order something else and was told I have to make sure the bill is settled in full even for the sour liver spread, I said well I’m starving so I will settle whatever was required, I then ordered fried fish, when that eventually arrived it was smelly and black on the inside, I couldn’t stomach that either, me and my team ended up leaving to get food at spur. I fell sick that same evening, I was terrified because I’m also pregnant, but they didn’t care as long we settled the R3000 bill. Although I have to give credit to the lady that I booked our table with over the phone, she was extremely friendly and helpful, but the experience once we got to place was awful, it left a literal bad taste...

I was very disappointed in the service. The restaurant had 80% of the tables reserved however was never at one point more than 60% full. For this I would have expected our waitress to have been more attentive. It really is annoying when paying the prices one does at a restaurant such as this to be asked which food is yours when it comes from the kitchen as well as to NOT be asked if you want a second drink when the glassware from your first is removed from the table. One has to wonder as well how a glass of water gets forgetten about, considering it takes literally 30 seconds to get it. Frankly it would be better to bring a jug when more than two people at the table ask for a glass of water. The atmosphere outside is very pleasurable, especially on a sunny, non windy day, the greens are great for kids to play on as well. The food is mildly average, so much so that I can't even remember what all was on my plate 6 days later. DO NOT ORDER THE COFFEE. It is shocking and doesn't do your taste buds any favours. I have to say that I wouldn't...