Red Sofa Café & Deli — Restaurant in Vredehoek

I'll start with the positives: the food here is really good, the drinks are also diverse, there's a super cozy sofa, and the generator provides reliable internet even during load shedding. What's not so great is that it's very loud. Since it's a single large room, the coffee machine or smoothie maker can sometimes drive you crazy. Noise-canceling headphones are a must in Cape Town cafes, though, as they are almost all incredibly loud. However, the reason why I unfortunately had to stop going to Red Sofa, even though I love supporting local businesses, is that the service is an absolute disaster! Not only do the waiters have absolutely zero motivation or knowledge of their job and would NEVER come up with the idea to ask you about your wishes or order, they are also so talented at completely ignoring you that you have to stand up and wave your arms wildly just to have a chance of being noticed. Unfortunately, this is a no-go, so I have to cross this place...

A friend and I, two middle aged women, met at this cafe last week. Neither of us will go there again. The service from the waiter was very basic, the coffee good and the breakfast acceptable. But what appalled us was the behaviour of the young owner/manageress. While she circulated and greeted various other customers, apart from a disinterested (verging on contemptuous) look thrown in our direction, we were completely ignored. I am a professional person, my friend the owner of a hugely successful business and we were treated like irritating intrusions into the restaurant. Apart from the deficient pragmatic insight into business practice - older people tend to spend more money than students and young people - the basic lack of courtesy was mind boggling. My friend and I value the limited time we have to meet and work hard for our income. We certainly are selective about where we choose to spend it. It will not be at the...

Will not return. I honestly can’t remember the last time I was served by a waitress who so blatantly ignored me. Despite my empty glasses, she walked past me several times without even making eye contact. When I eventually got her attention, she brushed me off and remarked, “Well, you didn’t ask,” even going so far as to compare me to other guests.

For me, the basics of good service are simple: keep an eye on the table, clear empty glasses, and ask if anything is needed. In this case, the opposite happened. I’ve eaten here before and always enjoyed the food—which is delicious—but I don’t need to be treated like a child.

What I had hoped would be a relaxed, enjoyable lunch ended up being a very disappointing experience, all because of the waitress’s poor attitude. She made me feel as though she was doing me a favour by serving me. That’s simply not acceptable in...