Bistro Sixteen82 — Restaurant in Tokai

Taken a couple of weeks to stew on this experience, but here goes: Previously, possibly our favourite restaurant in Cape Town really let us down, on my birthday. We booked for the evening and, upon arrival, were seated next to the door to the outside area. It was a cold evening and our group, including my 80 year old father-in-law and 9 year old daughter were exposed to the chilly air coming in through the open door. The door had to be kept open for people still outside. The waitron explained that the louts in the outside area had been there since lunch and they were trying to convince them to leave - they had given them a 20 minute warning (they were still there after an hour). LIES We were told the people in the outside area would not be served, they were; We were told the lights would not be turned on outside, the lights were turned on. UNCOMFORTABLE We asked to be moved, but were told this was the only 5-seater available - pure laziness from the staff as this they could easily have moved a few tables to accommodate one extra chair. We all sat there with jackets on, I took the brunt of it as the door could not be closed in the event of some of the desperate smokers/alcoholics from outside wanting to leave. The staff's empty promises and pleasantries continued, but as it was my birthday the group tried to keep things cordial. Eventually another patron, noticing our discomfort, closed the doors - however the succession of waitrons serving the outsiders who were 'not being served anymore' kept opening them. Eventually the door was closed, only for my wife to be verbally abused by one of the outsiders who the proceeded to clamber her pickled self over the water feature and exit through the wine-tasting area. AFTER ALL As usual the food was pretty good. However you would never pay this for food were it not for the place, the ambiance, the experience right? Bistro 1682, you handled this very poorly. You made us uncomfortable, and left a bad taste in our mouths. You've lost 5 customers who have frequented the restaurant dozens of times over the...

I love a good dinner special, so we decided to try the Tapas for 2 at Bistro 1682.

Firstly the atmosphere was impeccable. The sparking chandelier over the wine tasting bar is stunning 😍 and the aesthetics of the dinning area is magnificent.

The service on the on day could have been better. Towards the end of the night, I struggled to get someone to help with taking our order and getting us the bill.

Onto the food: The Soup was good, a little too sweet but enjoyable in small quantities. 4/5

The west mussels were okay, unfortunately they were underwhelming compared to the pickled fish that came with it. 3/5

The pickled fish was so delicious and was surprisingly the star of the show. I would definitely enjoy a bigger plate of this 5/5

Chicken livers: The livers were bland and overcooked. The polenta complimented the dish well but unfortunately did not make up for the lack of taste 3/5

Beff Potstickers: This dish was disappointing. The pastry was too hard, the beef was too chewy and the garnishment not being compatible. We ended up not fishing this dish the way it was so bad 2/5

If you got this far. Thank you for...

A Culinary Gem with Room for Atmosphere Enhancement - Bistro Sixteen82 at Steenberg.

We recently dined at Bistro Sixteen82 and were thoroughly impressed by the culinary offerings. Opting for a variety of tapas, each dish was a delightful exploration of flavours, perfectly executed to showcase the quality ingredients. The service was impeccable; attentive and knowledgeable staff made our dining experience smooth and enjoyable.However, while the food and service were beyond reproach, the dining ambiance could benefit from some attention. The proximity of the tables to one another slightly detracted from the intimate dining experience we hoped for, and the decor, particularly the old vines hanging overhead, felt more eerie than enchanting. A modern refresh could potentially elevate the overall atmosphere to match the high standard of the meals and service.Despite these points, the excellence of the tapas and the professionalism of the staff make Bistro 1682 a must-visit for food enthusiasts. We look forward to our next visit, hopefully to find the ambiance revamped to complement its stellar...