Le Bon Vivant — Restaurant in Stellenbosch Local Municipality

We visited Le Bon Vivant for a celebration dinner every December in 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2023. On 13 Dec 2021 we were the only customers and the restaurant was opened especially for our reservation made way in advance. We did support local restaurants even during those lockdowns and international travel bans. During our first three visits I always enjoyed tremendously the main courses, but my personal favorite was combination starters, with a classy, elegant presentation and delicious delicate flavors in every piece of hot and cold starters.

But our latest visit in 2023 was a disaster. I have severe allergy for certain food ingredients. As always, it was clearly communicated upon reservation and to the waitress before placing the order. While eating my usual combination starters, I tasted one of ingredients from my allergy list. One of the spreads on bread board also had some very strong spice. I asked waitress to investigate from the chef what was in that spice. She came back after a while and after reminder of the inquiry she announced scornfully 'it's just a spice!'. What a weird and unprofessional answer to get from top restaurant. Every spice made of certain ingredients.

By that time my allergic reaction started: my face turned red, severe pain in my stomach and difficulty in breathing. In meantime, the waitress kept on treating us as criminals committed the worst crime. Before finishing our starters, my husband hastily demanded the bill and rushed me out to get the medicine. I wonder if that waitress ever communicated my allergy list to the kitchen or it was a negligence on chef's side. No apologies or asking if needed to call for medical assistance.

I never had a similar issue in the whole Cape area, neighther during fine dining, no in ordinary restaurants, nor before or after.

This December we again had extensive fine dining in Franschhoek and Constantia, including famous La Colombe. Surely, we did not come again to Le Bon Vivant, after that dreadful experience.

I noticed that recently the waiters in many restaurants are asking if it is a real food allergy or just a dietary requirement. Indeed these are completely different issues. I do understand that some Chefs could be weary of current overflowing trend for numerous dietary requirements, but still they are very serious about food allergies. While a dietary requirement can be just a fancy whim with no physical threat for non-observance, food allergy can lead to anaphylactic shock, resulting in death within minutes to several hours. Allergy has no cure, while symptoms can be treated to curtain extent. The scale of allergic reaction is impossible to predict and even traces of allergens can lead to life threatening condition.

The chefs at such restaurant as Le Bon Vivant surely must have sufficient knowledge on the matter and waiters must be trained accordingly to treat it seriously. It is exactly the same as observing regulations for food safety to prevent food poisoning for...

Our experience at Le Bon Vivant Restaurant in Franschhoek was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with friendly smiles and attentive service, setting the stage for a delightful fine dining experience.

The relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant, with seating both inside and on the terrace, provided the perfect backdrop for a memorable evening. Opting for the terrace seating, we were treated to a candlelit ambiance that was truly heavenly, adding to the charm of the evening.

The menu offered a great variety of options, including two and three-course meals, with or without wine pairing. While we chose to forgo the wine pairing, we were impressed by the extensive selection available, ensuring that even those who opt out still have a fantastic wine experience.

The highlight of our evening, however, was undoubtedly the fine dining food experience. Each dish was expertly prepared and presented, showcasing the chef's culinary talents and attention to detail. It was our second visit to this restaurant, and once again, they exceeded our expectations.

Hats off to the chef and the staff of Le Bon Vivant Restaurant for consistently delivering an unforgettable dining experience. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a returning guest, this quaint restaurant never disappoints, and we can't wait to...

I had a terrible experience at Le Bon Vivant. The food was awful, the dishes were mismatched, and the portions were small. The only good thing was the service, which was nice and friendly, but that did not make up for the bad food.

The food was the worst part of the experience. We ordered the beef and potatoes for starters, but the beef was cold and bland. They did not inform us that the beef would come cold, which was a bad surprise. For the main course, we had the blesbok, which was tasteless and gamey. The sauce was not good either, it did not complement the meat at all. The vegetables were practically raw, they were hard and crunchy. For dessert, we had the raspberry tart and sorbet, which was another disappointment. The combination of pesto and raspberry was bad, it did not work well together. The tart was bland as well, it had no flavor.

The dishes were poorly matched. They did not go well together at all. It seemed like they just threw some random ingredients on a plate. The portions were small as well, we were still hungry after the meal. We paid a lot of money for this food, but we did not get our money’s worth.

I do not recommend Le Bon Vivant to anyone. It was a waste of time and money. There are many better restaurants in the area that serve delicious food and have well-matched dishes. Le Bon Vivant is not...