Tokara Restaurant — Restaurant in Stellenbosch Local Municipality

Having loved my visits to Tokara in the past couple of years, I was so disappointed to find things had changed when visiting last Saturday (9th Nov 2019). We arrived to see a beautiful sunset outside where we took drinks before dinner. Our drinks came 15 minutes apart meaning 2 of us had finished before our friends had started! We asked to view the food menu outside before taking our table inside and were told no. The beer was not chilled and when asking for a description of the 3 Rieslings on the wine menu, our server did not know and said simply that one of the names was ‘usually good’. I took his recommendation and the wine was not good, worse because it was not chilled enough and I wasn’t offered a taste before it was poured. When one of our friends ordered tea instead of alcohol he was made to feel uncomfortable. We then unexpectedly were given a menu for either a set 4 or 6 courses. The first 2 courses were gone in 3 mouthfuls and were not at all of the previous standard of Tokara. We asked for some bread and were told the kitchen didn’t have any (after waiting half an hour for 3 small mouthfuls of melon/avocado I was ready to eat my own arm). We felt like we were eating a menu catered for a large event. The beef was ok but again lacked excitement, and the dessert was an almond cake much like my grandmother would make (great for afternoon tea on her sofa in 1990 with a large mug of Yorkshire tea, but not with Tokara prices in 2019). Service was pretentious, insincere and staff seemed rushed. On a final note - what is happening with serving 75ml of wine by the glass! Very sadly we were glad to leave and I won’t be returning. Tokara - what has...

Worst experience in the world.There are two reasons for writing a review. It is in the hope that no one will ruin their precious evening in the beautiful Cape Town with unpleasant experiences, and that Tokara's service will improve. I expected a lot because it is a winery well known for its beautiful scenery and quality wine and Kentridge's works. Since there were people who came before us in the restaurant and we could see them served, we wouldn't say this was our illusion or narrow-minded idea. We ordered four courses and pairing, and when they first brought us the menu and didn't explain anything to us, we thought this could be a mistake. We asked for an explanation, and the staff reluctantly explained. We knew this wasn't their mistake when the next menu came. Another employee served and he also left without any explanation to us. Everyone else in the restaurant was being explained about the ingredients and how to cook whenever the menu came out.Except for us. The staff gathered and chatted, and the behavior was rough when putting down water or food. .We've been to numerous Michelin and fine dining around the world, so we didn't think it was a service that had to be requested . I know there is no Michelin in Africa, but Cape Town has great fine dining such as La colombe and fyn. I didn't want to recognize this as a big problem related to race, but did they think we didn't understand English because we are Asian? Or because just don't like us? How should I accept this situation? I still don't understand. Of course, we received an apology from the manager and Chef, but we were already offended and couldn't...

Was here two years ago and the food was not overwhelming but decided to give it another go. Lunch to celebrate my wife's birthday. Whilst the setting is delightful (happy to sit inside with the Aircon on this occasion as it was 38c!) with beautiful long views over the countryside, the food again was the main weak point. We had to send back both our main course dishes as they were seriously overcooked! The FOH staff dealt with this in a perfectly appropriate and professional manner. When the replacements arrived, my wife's Atlantic salmon was perfectly cooked. My lamb rump was cooked as I had asked, pink. It was, however, very dry. I did not want to upset my wife by sending it back again so I wrongly said nothing and ate it. Luckily, lamb is one of the few meats that I can eat even when over cooked for my taste. I had previously informed the restaurant that I would like a little something to recognise my wife's special day and they, in writing, stated that they "usually provided a complimentary dessert with a candle in it". I happily accepted this offer as perfect for the purpose. It never arrived!!! Needless to say, to save any embarrassment to my wife who me nothing about this, I again said nothing. Having requested a couple of espresso coffees, what arrived, were not espresso as I know it. Zero crema on either of them and tasted stewed. Not the experience I was hoping for. I rarely write "bad" things about establishments as by so doing it could jeopodise peopled jobs but the truth is the...