Cape to Cuba (Kalk Bay)

Tuesday, September 30th, 2014

Reviewed by Tim Watkins

We never got to taste the food last Friday night as we were unceremoniously ushered out of the restaurant by the manageress after being led to a table by a waiter. We were trying our luck a bit by turning up without a booking, and asked the waiter at the door whether they could fit us in, which he said they could (just my wife and I, so not a huge group). The waiter grabbed two menus and asked us to follow him, we only got a few paces when a woman appeared, almost out of nowhere, asking us whether we had made a booking and after finding out that we hadn't, shook her head and barked "No!". I don't know whether it was the look of horror on our faces that prompted a belated and somewhat forced "sorry" out of her, but I was certainly stunned into silence and could almost feel the embarrassment of the waiter from where he stood. Without a further word from her, all we could do was turn around and sheepishly leave like dismissed school children.

We have been to Cape to Cuba before, only twice over many years (we live in the area), and I have always been underwhelmed with the food, and frankly disturbed at the attitude of much of the staff (especially at the bar) who seem to think they grace us with their mere presence, let alone deign to serve us. My experience of the owner (and I assume the woman to whom I am referring in this article is the owner and not just a manager) has been anecdotal and not very flattering. I had also read a very scathing article about her where patrons had actually been kicked out and told not to come back for not tipping enough. In short, her reputation had preceded her. This still did not prepare me enough for when we had to finally encounter her face to face. We should have known better to go back in the first place. We eat out a great deal in the southern peninsular and also further afield, and this has once again reinforced my opinion of the restaurant. They rely on their location, gullible tourists, and twenty-something (and perhaps younger) patrons that go there only to drink.

We will never, but never, go there again. I promise.