This is a very honest review from someone who was here for their honeymoon and trying to have an amazing experience in their first time in Cape Town.

Our reservation was at 7PM and if you look at our bill, the entire meal took a staggering 4 hours for a mere 8 courses. Our first 3 courses came in the first hour and the last 5 took 3 hours to complete. There were over 30 min between courses with no acknowledgment that they were running behind. Have plans after? You better cancel them!

When we arrived our server welcomed us and congratulated us for our honeymoon and swiftly offered us a glass of champagne, no menu or price shown. So nice we thought and accepted what we thought was a complimentary glass, just to find out on our bill that it was not free and they just charged us for it. (See image of the bill) Now we can obviously afford $20 for champagne but don’t offer or make it seem like you were welcoming us.

The concept of the food is great, chef was inspired on his visit to Japan and wanted to bring back the Japanese influence using native South African ingredients. This is why we decided to come eat and experience his interpretation. However, when eating the food, it is very clear that either the chef only visited Japan without learning to how make the food properly or it is now executed by a team that never been to Japan or understand the nuances of Japanese cuisine. The food is ok, nothing will blow your mind and familiar items are executed poorly. If you have been to Japan or eaten amazing Japanese food, you will feel the food is flat. I do very much appreciate all of the local ingredients being used. There is a clear point of view for this concept but the execution is what’s lacking.

Service in the main room was handled by only 2 waiters for around 15-20 tables. You can imagine the lack of attention and I already mentioned the pace of the food and how slow it was. There didn’t seem to be any sense of urgency from the kitchen or wait staff even when it was clear that many tables have been waiting between courses for more than 30 minutes.

@50best I do not know how this restaurant can even crack the top 200 list. You either have to have inventive food, impeccable service, or usually a combination of both. I know it fell from rank 36 to now rank 60 but the experience that was just had when the restaurant knew we were here for a special occasion is unreasonable. I would not care that service is a bit slower today, or that the food was not amazing, but when you have been waiting for hours eating a lackluster meal and then the bill comes and they charge you for the champagne they made sound like was comped, it leaves you with a terrible taste in your mouth as you pay and leave. Not to mention they add a mandatory 12.5% gratuity that they do not deserve.

If you’re looking for fine dining in Cape Town, go somewhere else. You will be happy you did. Save your time and your money.