The Empire Steak — Restaurant in Windermere

Understandable that the restaurant is a steakhouse and undoubtedly makes an excellent steak BUT if you are going to put other items on the menu please ensure that they are given as much attention as the steaks you pride yourself in preparing. We've dined here previously and never had any issues but today apart from the tomahawk, ribs and gnocchi, the rest of the food was just plain disappointing, firstly no one to seat or welcome you, then ominous news from the waiter that no chips will be served as they have run out, so 3 other potato options or veg were given, a burger that tasted like gas, completely unpalatable, I've never seen my mum struggle to eat anything and this was her birthday supper and all she wanted was a burger which she painfully tried to eat and then there was the visually unappealing sad excuse for a calamari platter that I wouldn't even subject a homeless person to eating. Please specify the type of calamari you serve as in your starters you mention calamari rings for R75 however in mains it just says calamari with either lemon butter /garlic or peri peri sauce for R120 and one would assume calamari tubes for that price - also lemon butter sauce option was ordered and there was no such sauce at all, definitely the worst looking and tasting dish I've ever eaten in a very long time, it may come down to each restaurant prepares things differently but please, if this is your idea of a calamari platter then you are doing the restaurant a disservice, so kindly reconsider. Lastly, 3 teas were ordered, we appreciate that you're trying to give us more than one cup but please understand that if you dilute one teabag to 2 or 3 cups of water then all you are drinking is water :) I hope the above is taken note of so no one has to experience constant disappointments like this...

It is a nice place, the tables are big. The food was nice, my 19-month-old son enjoyed his big portion Margherita pizza. The base was very soft, and the cheese was generous. He wouldn't put his bubblegum milkshake down.

I had chicken nachos, and I'm glad they weren't made with Doritos chips.

The service from our waitress was not good. My friend and I had brought our toddlers with. We wanted to grab a bite before going to the playhouse.

There were enough saucers and cutlery to cater for 6 people. She did not bother to clear the table. We had to push all of them to one side of the table.

We asked for feeding chairs, and she brought one while there were two toddlers who couldn't reach the table when seated on the couch or chair. We had to ask for another one. She did not wipe off the crumbs that were on the feeding chairs.

She brought out the milkshake, and it was in a tall glass, I asked her for a shorted tumbler (kids glass), and she said they didn't have. She then gave me a plastic takeaway one, which was fine because I didn't have to wipe half of the milkshake off the feeding chair. My hand was already sticky from wiping the constant spill with serviettes that were on the table. This was the only good thing about having all the cutlery and saucers on the table.

I noticed that on other tables, there were candles to ward off flies except for our table.

When it was time to leave, she made a comment in isiZulu; "Now you know not to bring the children with you." I...

My mom and I came to the restaurant on the 21st of March just after midday, hoping to enjoy a meal together. As expected, it was busy but tables were available and we were happily seated inside next to a pillar and given menus by the usher who walked us in. Then he dissapeared and we sat for several minutes with no attention. I finally got the attention of a waitress who was waiting on a nearby table and asked for her to please call our waiter.... Several minutes past again and still no attention. We arrived at the restaurant at 12h05 and at 12h24 no one had come to take our order. We proceeded to leave the restaurant and while exiting a waitress standing at the steps enquired why we were leaving, so I replied with the situation.. She sed "ayy" and looked away....... Clearly there were enough staff available to attend to the customers yet we were overlooked and frankly ignored. Very disappointing as we are regulars at this restaurant and even encourage friends and family to support this restaurant.. To be completely ignored and given the impression of being unwelcome really disappoints me.

In good faith, we revisited the restaurant on the 26th of March and I am more than satisfied with the service and quality of food. Thank you for taking the time to read and reply to my previous review and well done to the staff for redeeming themselves and gaining our confidence back. Special shout out to Zubeida and Blessing, excellent service and an overall great...