As a regular foodie who wines and dines all around our gorgeous city and internationally, I can say I am genuinely embarrassed by this abomination of a restaurant, that is riding purely on location to charge exorbitant prices for mediocre food and intolerably terrible service.
A group of 12 of us made a reservation for a special occasion. After some pre-dinner bubbly in the lounge area, which continued for an hour or so, no waitron making any indication or effort to show us through to our table, we were dismissively informed that our table had been given away….” would we be able to eat in the lounge?” Right. So because of your incompetence, I must eat off a knee height 30cm table….I don’t think so!
Following this ensued a series of extremely unpleasant conversations with an uncooperative management team, who failed to see why we were in the least bit put out and clearly suffered from a serious inferiority complex. After another hour of excuses, more waiting, and finally a conversation with the owner, we eventually got taken to a table and were offered some complimentary drinks for the hassle. Too late. sorry. By this stage we could have been served the best meal of our lives, and it still would have been hard to uplift our dampened spirits, but sadly as the previous two hours had indicated, the restaurant couldn’t deliver on any front including the food (limited to availability should be a footnote on the menu) which was decidedly unremarkable. Also one bathroom for a 150 seater restaurant is actually illegal. That is if you can find it in its unmarked secret location….directly off the main dining area. Eew.
…and the waitor was wearing orange crocs….need I say more. Please.
Geisha Wok & Noodle Bar / 47 Main Road / Cape Royale Hotel / Cape Town / Tel: 021 439 0533 / Email: info@geishawokandnoodlebar.com / www.geishawokandnoodlebar.com
I greatly enjoyed my experience at 1800˚, from the moment we entered along its red carpet to later that evening as we exited via the same well-appointed entrance. The decor is immaculate and the service excellent, just as you would expect from a restaurant sharing space with the Cape Royale Luxury Hotel and Residence in Green Point.
Throughout the whole evening, I felt like a star. We were greeted courteously by both the hostess, and well-groomed manager, as well as all other staff members we encountered. Each was able to competantly discuss all the aspects of the meal from cocktails, which we enjoyed outside, to steaks, salts, sauces and desserts.
The outside area is enclosed by a free-form marque style awning and vine wrapped fencing. Through this the red carpet directs the diner to the main entrance and small casual bar area. These, as well as the restaurant area, are all elegant, orderly and really quite beautiful in an understated way. Intimate dining alcoves have been created with dark screens which contrast, but also compliment the paler walls and table settings.
The menu is selective, and 1800˚ specializes in steaks, but you’re sure to find something to make your mouth water no matter what your tastes. I have to say, even though I don’t usually like rare or medium steaks, the cut and flavouring of my fillet was so good that I gobbled the dish down despite the pink centre! The meat itself was perfectly complimented by the sauce, from which there were several to choose, as well as the 3 types of salt the waitress brought to the table. Again, there were a wide selection of salts from across the world to choose from.
Wine was well-recommend, desserts hit just the right note and pricing, although fine dining orientated, didn’t break the bank. All in all, a wonderful experience we strongly recommend you try out for yourself.
1800˚ eighteen hundred / Cape Royale / Main Road / Green Point / Cape Town / Tel: 021 430 0506 / Email: info@18hundreddegrees.com / www.18hundreddegrees.com
