Butcher Boys Morningside — Restaurant in Windermere

UPDATED REVIEW Beware of these guys! You leave a bad review and they will literally have their FB lawyer try and threaten/intimidate you! Check their FB page to see the FULL updated review and photos of there attempt to silence me! Shame on you Butcher Boys!

I came to this place because I heard good things about their steaks. So I get there and the manager tells the waiter to seat me at table # something. She went to seat me and it was a table in the middle of the empty restaurant. I politely asked her for a booth and she goes to talk to the manager and he says they're all "booked." So I look at the girl like she's crazy as the place was completely empty and obviously not booked. Again I asked why I can't sit in one of the MANY open booths when there is no one in the restaurant to which she says "well he says it's booked!" So I said "are you serious? There is no one in the restaurant. I don't understand why I can't sit in that booth!" So she asked the guy again about a specific seat and he just says it's booked. So I said "fine I'll go visit one of the other steakhouses and proceed to leave not thinking much of it. I went down to Butcher Block one block South and had an AMAZING steak dinner with some of the best service ever! I'm on holiday so I'm going all out. Bottle of wine, appetizers, steak and all the fixings as well as dessert. It was almost 600 rand but worth every penny. So when I finish an hour and half later I walk back to my place past Butcher Boys and look into the restaurant and guess who was empty with no one sitting in the area I asked to sit in an hour and a half ago? No one. Why wasn't I able to sit there? This manager clearly looked at me and thought "oh this coloured boy doesn't have money and is clearly going to take up space that I could use for a customer who will pay more!" Jokes on you buddy as money is not an issue for me. There is absolutely no other reason why he would blatantly deny me the spot I asked for when the restaurant was completely empty. But they were booked right? Wrong. No one was sitting there an hour and a half later. Seems quite odd to me. Plus, I highly doubt that his "booked" guests specifically requested the seats I asked to sit in otherwise they would have been there by the time I walked back by which was not the case. They might as well put a sign that says "WHITES ONLY" because that's what they were doing. I've worked in the service for many years and this is NOT how you treat a paying customer! Period. It was pretty clear that they didn't want me there. I don't care if I'm black, colored, Indian or whatever these South Africa's choose to label people but you don't treat people like that. Especially when I make twice what you make in a year. Like give me a break. This place may be required by SA law to employ people of color but they obviously don't want them dining in their establishment as evidenced by the way I was treated last night. It's like being in America in the 1960's. Get over it dude! I could buy everything on your menu if I wanted to but screw this place and their veiled racists managers/owners or whoever this guy was. I'm not spending my hard earned money in a place that doesn't want me there. There's absolutely no excuse for it besides the guy was racist as can be. No one should give there hard earned money to such bigots. Do yourself a a favor and head down the street to Butcher Block were the color of your skin doesn't determine the tables you're allowed to sit in. You can get a better steak and better service than you can with these racist scumbags at Butcher Boys! Shame on you and everything you stand for Butcher Boys! This is why people think South Africa is such a horrible racist place and you only confirm that. You should be hiding under a rock, not owning a business. In summary, don't waste your time with place. If you feel like patronizing someplace that cares equally for all patrons then head to Butcher Block where they don't discriminate based on skin...

I've been trying to figure out an opportunity to review this place, since Yelp, which I use where I live does not bring up this restaurant.

I know how tough it is to eat vegetarian in South Africa; I've lived there on two occasions [Gauteng and Western Cape]. So, I made sure I reviewed the menu before our planned dinner and figured I could find something. So, the food is not probably the reason I am not giving it a one star.

It is the service we received. I am so aware of the sociocultural fabric of this country, and how the race relations determine who can afford dining, who dines where, and how one gets treated. 14 years since I last lived there [2000, 2010], RSA is still not a place for equal treatment; most certainly when you are an African from North of the Limpopo. Ironically, in RSA, xenophobia is intertwined with the racial history! So, Africans from north of the Limpopo (typically those who do not speak any of the local languages) are treated with animosity from black folks. So, you cannot win with either. Because of my American accent, I often get a pass, as do many African Americans from their social media stories about living/visiting South Africa.

I went to Butcher Boys with a group of East Africans for Friday dinner prior to our Comrades race. We were the biggest contingent in the restaurant that night of 30+; at least per my recollection while we were on site. IT is possible, we spent the most as a group that night on full dinners, and a service charge that is automatically added.

Except that didn't translate into stellar customer service --no surprises for me from prior experiences! Our group kept growing as more folks in our contingent showed up for dinner. Again, we made a reservation prior to arrival. So, we had to rearrange the sitting to create space for everyone around the table. We didn't wanna sit with our backs anyone. That didn't go well with the restaurant team - manager, hosts, and servers who were visibly irritated. Instead of lending a hand to help us reset the sitting, the servers told us that "we had disorganize the restaurant seating arrangement!" How ridiculous! Considering how much we spent that night! No special treat for bringing BIG business to the establishment that night...but scolding! Moreover, a service charge was automatically added to each order, even though that should be optional! Yes, even in America, I don't tip just because you feel entitled to it!

If it were up to me, no way I'd have reserved dinner in a neighborhood that typically doesn't seat many folks of my hue. I didn't recall seeing another black folks who was not on our contingent, except for one Kenyan guy who said he came from J'burg to meet-and-greet the Kenyan folks on our team he knew came to run Comrades.

Ironically, the servers were all/predominantly black! But that's the nature of South African cultural relations, where Africans not from RSA's neighbors aren't welcome by black South Africans, either! It's a double-edge sword. We were in a predominantly white neighborhood where the clientele was pretty much white (and possibly visitors). No respect for our monies. I don't care for places like this. And folks think America has it the worst? RSA is one African country I'm never enthusiastic to visit; beautiful, but estranged from the human soul! Especially, for those perceived an African...

I have been dining at the Florida Road Butcher Boys restaurant since many years. My favorite meal to date, remains their grilled lamb chops with mash. I often recommended Butcher Boys to my friends and family. Today 24 Oct 2019, we decided to pop in for a two course lunch and to my amazement I was highly disappointed. Our starters were good and much enjoyed. Although the mains were not, but the managers bad attitude was an even bigger disappointment. We ordered, steak and chips and Avo dijon chicken breast, with mash. The chips was oily and the oil used was of foul taste and smelled old. We requested the waitress for mash instead. I was already disappointed after sending back one meal to swop the chips. I cut the chicken breast only to find it was dry/overcooked and tasteless. I remained silent, ate most of my meal and requested for the bill. I also told the waitress that I was disappointed with the chicken and requested her to show it to her manager and bring it to his attention. She came back with the bill, we paid in cash and she asked us if her manager came to us? I replied no and asked to speak to him. The manager Bradley approached us displaying an arrogant mannerism. I told him that I wanted to bring to his attention that the chicken was a disappointment and not of the high standard that I've grown accustomed to at the very restaurant. I explained that the chicken was dry etc and his immediate reply was mistakes happen and added that if I wasn't happy I should have brought it to their attention earlier. He then insisted there was nothing wrong with the oil that was used for frying the chips. He also stated that perhaps the chips could have been drenched in oil but not old oil as they change their oil 2 to 3 times per week. (as if 2 to 3 times per week is good enough for a restaurant). I explained that I have paid my bill and I am not looking for anything for free, but I thought to let him know that their standards have dropped drastically, hence is a disappointment. His arrogant and defensive behavior spelled that he doesn't care about the customers or ensuring the customers walk out happy and satisfied. Bradley should know that, word of mouth is one of the largest form of advertisement, for any business. His obnoxious attitude and misjudgment of customers can be detrimental to the business. All I expected by bringing my experience to his attention was to check up on the chefs/meals going forward, a sincere apology and gratefulness for informing him. (as the restaurants reputation is at stake) Instead I was slapped with his defensive and arrogant attitude, as if I wanted a free meal, after I already paid my bill. Spoilt my day, I should have chosen Havana Grill or Joops Place, much more respect for customers and their honest opinions/feedback.... I will not be returning to Butcher Boys...