Two Oceans Restaurant — Restaurant in Western Cape

Food was okay, if I could give negative stars for staff/experience I definitely would.

We had a reservation for 3 at 12:45PM, for which we arrived at 12:40. Without asking our preference, the hostess took us to a table inside the restaurant which was odd as there were tables available on the outdoor patio and it was a beautiful, sunny, mild day. In fact, had we sat there we’d have been the only table seated indoors.

We asked to sit on the patio but she said the tables were all taken. We could clearly see one 4-top table that was open with place settings over in the corner away from the balcony railing. Additionally, there was a busboy clearing another 4-top table that was adjacent to the railing so we asked if we could have that one once it was cleared. She put the menus down on the (indoor) table we were standing next to, mumbled something, then walked away.

A few minutes later the table we wanted was cleared but 4 employees by the hostess stand continued standing around talking about their weekend plans. A server happened to walk by so we asked if we could sit at the open table outside. She said she’d ask and proceeded to the hostess stand. She came back and led us not to the table we wanted but to the one in the back corner away from the balcony railing saying “someone is coming” for the other table and seated us next to a loud group of Chinese tourists. Ok, whatever, at least we were outside.

20 minutes later the table by the railing was still open. Also, 20 minutes later, no one stopped by our table yet to take drink or food orders, yet I counted seven - that’s right, 7!!!! - wait staff standing around near the host stand chatting and looking out over the guests seated at tables but giving zero Fs about providing any actual service apparently.

We eventually found our server who was pleasant enough. Rather quickly (thankfully), our food came and it was good but I’d say it was average for a restaurant - not great but not awful. I ordered mussels which were presented in something like a flower pattern vs. a pile. I mention this because two of them were closed and heavy which usually means they’re bad or filled with sand but the way they were presented it was easy to spot them immediately and pluck them out. I would have expected the kitchen to do that but apparently they decided to include two mussels I couldn’t eat (cost savings measure?)

Dropping off our plates was the last time we saw our server.

Our plates were later cleared by some other woman that (I think?) was a manager as she wasn’t dressed in a server’s uniform. While taking away my plate she dropped it after not paying attention to her positioning and whacked it into the back of the chair leaving mussels, cream sauce, and food everywhere. Fortunately for me / unfortunately for the lady at the table behind me, almost everything splashed on her jacket with only some splashing on my backpack. No one made any moves to clean off her jacket until I said something and even then no one helped clean the mess off my backpack.

In the end, I’d say “avoid this place” but it’s the only restaurant there so you don’t really have a choice if you’re hungry. And maybe that’s why they really don’t care, they know you don’t have any options so why bother hiring staff that care? I guess I’ll sum it up and say “dine at your own risk” but don’t expect...

DECEMBER 2013 Day 3 of my South Africa tour, and just as I thought one day could not be better than the next, a new day would come and blow me away. I was driving along the Cape Point Peninsula, visiting the South Eastern most point of the African Continent, watching some ostrich and baboons blocking the road, and enjoying the views of False Bay. It was time for lunch, and at Two Oceans Restaurant, the southernmost restaurant on the African Continent, it was time for another wow…By the way, the google maps are wrong with the location. Google has its location 20 miles from the true area which is adjacent to the Lower Funicular Station, at the Cape Point Nature Reserve.

The view was astonishing to say the least. The restaurant was situated at the bottom of the hill leading up to the old light house, and once you go onto the patio, the amazement sets in with the views of False Bay. As I explored the menu, and was a little warm from the summer temperature and the hiking that I had been doing for most of the morning, I started off with a nice crisp glass of Sauvignon Blanc, labeled Two Oceans, from a local winery that the restaurant purchased a label of. A Swiss couple sat next to me, and we had a good conversation throughout our meal. I decided on three courses so that I could get a good representation of the menu, beginning with sushi. Their Sushi Master had a large menu of over 30 varieties to choose from. I began with Salmon Roses, very crisp and fresh, served with shaved onion, radish, and cucumber, with a dollop of crème fraîche, and a garnish of wasabi aioli.

For my second course, I first enjoyed a glass of KC Klein Constantia Rosé, (Scroll down below the main review to see wine tasting notes) with a seafood combo plate consisting of the line fish of the day, which was a Yellow Tail, and no, not the god awful wine from Australia, but an amberjack or Kingfish as it is known in South Africa. The dish was also served with some Langoustines which are Norwegian Lobsters, fried calamari, and a Greek Salad.

For the third and final course, since I knew that there was going to be no way in hell to fit in a dessert, I had the Ostrich Fillet, and I’m sure it was in no relation to the ostrich I saw on the road blocking my path to get to the restaurant. Prepared medium-rare, served with black garlic, beetroot mashed potatoes, Labneh which is a yogurt-cheese blend very popular in Lebanese Cuisine, beetroot puree, roasted onion, asparagus, and drizzled with parmesan foam and natural jus. A wonderful dish, that went well with a Cabernet-shiraz blend from Hartenberg Vineyards.

The Swiss couple next to me ordered the Prime Rib entrée, pictured below served with smoked Maldon salt, baby spinach, parsnip puree, parmesan potatoes and...

Avoid this restaurant like the (coronavirus) plague.

This restaurant does not seem to take Covid-19 seriously. We had an arrogant, rude front of house tell us to “just deal with it” when we asked to move tables when our neighbouring table was uncomfortably close, violating all reasonable COVID-19 protocols.

On arrival, we were told that every other table was not being used due to social distancing protocols being instituted, which seemed reasonable. Soon after we were seated, a group of around 8 people wanted to be seated at a nearby table in use. Unfortunately, this table seated 6, and so the front of house, Kuda, proceeded to join one of the unused tables near us to the in-use table.

This resulted in us being uncomfortably close to the neighbouring table. When I asked Kuda if we could then move to another table which was unoccupied, he informed us that that table was not in use, due to the restaurant’s COVID-19 protocols. After pointing out that if we were to move to the unoccupied table, we would in fact be further away from people than our original table, he rudely replied back, “you have to just deal with it.”

I was quite furious with this answer, and asked to speak to manager, Samantha, who apologized, and moved us to another table. While the service by the rest of the staff, including Samantha and our waiter Sven, was good, and the coffee excellent, the entire experience left a sour taste, and I did not leave the restaurant happy.

In summary, I was shocked at the arrogance shown by Kuda and his callous disregard of the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic. I also think the restaurant’s futile and inadequate COVID-19 protocols need a serious rethink. I would not go back to the restaurant, and I would recommend others don’t go either, at least until the pandemic is over. As for Kuda, I think he should consider changing careers, because I don’t think being a front of house is well suited to his...