La Petite Colombe — Restaurant in Stellenbosch Local Municipality

How would you identify a good and bad restaurant? Which factors play an important role in successful dining experience? Is that venue? Staff? Food? Company you are in? Service? Location? Unfortunately, all the factors of a successful dining experience are wrong at La Petite Colombe at Leeu Estates. Arrival Upon arrival to the gates of Leeu Estate we were greeted by a guard who run through the formalities with our driver and let us in. Just before turning right, we saw yet another guard who was dressed and armed like a Rambo, suddenly, the relaxed atmosphere was gone. Could he hide himself somewhere in order not to scare the guests? The door of the restaurant was opened to us by a friendly staff who asked for our reservation. The lady at the desk was a bit shy and lacked an experience. She asked us if we want to proceed to the table or have an aperitif at the lounge. We have chosen for a table sitting which was not expected by the staff. Two minutes after being sited we already got our amuse bouche. Wait what? Yes, we were not even ready to order our aperitif but we already got our amuse bouche. Décor Décor is plain, minimalistic and sterile, there are no carpets, curtains or tablecloth. By consequence, the acoustics is so bad that you cannot hear the waiter explaining the offerings and you nod to every word he says just to be polite. There is also a chance that you are going to ruin your dinner experience because you have to shout at your companion who might think that you are angry at him/her. But there is no other option but to shout at this noisy place. As dinner progresses and the alcohol level in guests’ blood increases you feel that it is time to finish the dinner asap and leave. Sitting When you drive through a beautiful Leeu Estate with its immaculate gardens you anticipate a dining experience which is connected to beautiful surroundings. Unfortunately, the restaurant has no terrace and even windows cannot be open to enjoy a fresh air of the near hills and mountains. You are locked in the air-conditioned box during your dining experience and the only option to enjoy outside is to leave your table and walk outside. I still cannot understand who created this place? A nature hater? Food and presentation Not sure if that is because of COVID but the choice is poor for a restaurant that wants to be on the level with Micheline star eateries. During our visit, the choice for main was either salmon or filet de boeuf. Is that original? Did South Africa run out of its local produce? Delicious local fish, vegetables or wild game? Never heard of it? The presentation on the other hand is astonishing. But I do have a problem when the same presentation dishes are used for every table. It is just not hygienic to bring food on the presentation plate that was just used at the other table. Plus COVID guys! Weird and unhygienic! Service I did not notice any special attention or service during our stay at La Petite Colombe at Leeu Estates. Was that because we hardly could hear the staff? Lack of training or pure lack of interest from the staff? We did like to try a top of the range Chardonnay of Leeu Estates and the waiter promised that we would get to sample it. Unfortunately, the promise was forgotten the moment waiter left our table. A real low point was when at the end of the dinner a beautiful trolley was rolled at our table with small deserts presented on display. A kind female has presented the trolley and said: “You can only choose two items from a trolley”. Needless to say, that we have passed on the offer. Miscellaneous Would it be a good idea to introduce a dress code in such a restaurant? Is that OK, that some guests come in shorts and t-shirts? There is a cognitive dissonance between what restaurant is trying to be and the audience that it allows. Departure Our departure was less spectacular. No thank you, no good buy, no opening the door and wishing a very nice evening. Why bother? The invoice is already paid. Right? Summary A pure disappointment from the start to the end. A tourist trap...

This is a mixed review. This is without a doubt an exceptional restaurant. The most stunning location, the excitement begins as you walk down the path, fabulous sculptures, stunning gardens set on the edge of the vineyard. The restaurant is stunning, huge windows to take in the view, fabulous tables seating by pierre coronje, the attention to detail is phenomenal. The staff were attentive, friendly and professional. The food was delicious, and was served with drama, which added to the excitement of the evening. We chose the tasting menu with the fine wine pairing, so it was a special, albeit a very expensive meal. personally I think there were too many ingredients at times . One of my favourite dishes was the wagu beef, in main becuase it had less going on. Unfortunately from our party of eight, two of us ended up with food poisoning. Our first dish was an oyster and I suspect it was this. I don't like oysters, but as there was only one I decided to try it. As I tasted it, I thought it tasted OK, however I did wretch a few times. I put it down to me not liking them and told myself 'just get it down you and stop being so silly'. In hindsight I should have listened to my body. From 2am that evening I was projectile vomiting. We were only away in South africa / holiday for five nights, this took two days and one night out of my holiday. When I look at the cost of flights, accommodation, time off work etc. loosing this time was at a huge cost, never mind this being the most expensive meal I think I have ever had. My tummy a week later is still not quite settled. My friend unfortunately is also the same. The rest of the party are fine, so I suspect a couple of off mussel. It has put me off restaurants such as La petite colombe, too many ingredients, too fussy. In future I shall seek out places that serve simple honest food using the best ingredients cooked beautifully. Hopefully this will be better for my system as well as my pocket. I also feel that a restaurant at this level, should never serve food that has even a possibility of causing food poisoning, so I hope this feedback ensures future customers don't have the same issue. My friend who paid the bill did email the restaurant. I don't know if he has yet had a response. I know when we left a few days...

La Petite Colombe – A Good Conclusion, but Not a Highlight

This review is not an easy one for me, as I had high expectations for La Petite Colombe. I chose it as the grand finale of my fine-dining tour through South Africa, a restaurant that undoubtedly aims for recognition in the upcoming Michelin Guide. However, in my opinion, it reveals certain weaknesses that cannot be overlooked.

The concept of the restaurant is undeniably well thought out, and the individual courses are of high quality and well-executed. The highlight of my meal was undoubtedly the lamb main course: buttery tender, of exceptional quality, and melting in the mouth. The ingredients and their preparation are a testament to the expertise of the kitchen. However, compared to other fine-dining restaurants in South Africa, I must honestly say that La Petite Colombe fails to reflect the diversity and essence of South African cuisine.

It lacks finesse, the courage to experiment with spices, and the boldness to take risks. While the dishes were visually impressive, they fell short in terms of innovation. The flavors were enjoyable, but they did not reach the level of excitement or discovery I experienced in other restaurants in the region.

The service also contributed to my mixed impression. My head waiter often seemed distracted and not fully present when presenting the dishes. The team as a whole rarely showed passion; I often felt that the presentations were mechanical and lacked emotion. There were exceptions – one or two servers stood out for their genuine enthusiasm – but compared to other establishments, the overall service felt impersonal and somewhat detached.

La Petite Colombe will likely earn stars, as it adheres strongly to classic fine-dining standards. However, for me personally, it reaches a maximum of one star. The quality of the dishes and ingredients is excellent, and the ambiance is pleasant, but it lacks innovation, personality, and the soul that makes fine dining truly unforgettable.

I do not intend to criticize the restaurant harshly, as it has its strengths and provides a solid experience. However, in my personal ranking of fine-dining establishments in South Africa, it unfortunately finds itself...