Comments on: La Colombe and the cost of eating http://www.rossouwsrestaurants.com/la-colombe-and-the-cost-of-eating/ The independent, authentic guide to the restaurants of South Africa Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:46:40 +0000 hourly 1 By: Tom Cannavan http://www.rossouwsrestaurants.com/la-colombe-and-the-cost-of-eating/#comment-2071 Tom Cannavan Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:57:24 +0000 http://www.rossouwsrestaurants.com/blog/2008/11/la-colombe-and-the-cost-of-eating/#comment-2071 Jennifer, I'm happy to provide more detail of exactly what went wrong if it would assist in ironing out any issues - JP can furnish my email address if you do not have it. Jennifer,

I’m happy to provide more detail of exactly what went wrong if it would assist in ironing out any issues – JP can furnish my email address if you do not have it.

]]> By: La Colombe http://www.rossouwsrestaurants.com/la-colombe-and-the-cost-of-eating/#comment-2070 La Colombe Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:24:30 +0000 http://www.rossouwsrestaurants.com/blog/2008/11/la-colombe-and-the-cost-of-eating/#comment-2070 Dear Tom We appreciate the feedback and would like to respond. We pride ourselves on the quality of both our food and service and aim always to maintain the standards we set ourselves. We regret that you had an unpleasant experience but feel that the sacred cow reference is unrealistic. A restaurant such as La Colombe is of course succeptable to error and at times these things happen. Every step is taken to ensure a wonderful experience for all our guests, 'celebrity' or not, and we are not in the habit of 'fawning'. That said, one bad dinner is unnaceptable to us and we have addressed the issue with all concerned (those on duty). Again we thank you for your feedback and trust your next dining experience will be as wonderful as you'd expect from us at La Colombe. Jennifer Whittle Dear Tom

We appreciate the feedback and would like to respond.

We pride ourselves on the quality of both our food and service and aim always to maintain the standards we set ourselves. We regret that you had an unpleasant experience but feel that the sacred cow reference is unrealistic. A restaurant such as La Colombe is of course succeptable to error and at times these things happen. Every step is taken to ensure a wonderful experience for all our guests, ‘celebrity’ or not, and we are not in the habit of ‘fawning’.

That said, one bad dinner is unnaceptable to us and we have addressed the issue with all concerned (those on duty).

Again we thank you for your feedback and trust your next dining experience will be as wonderful as you’d expect from us at La Colombe.

Jennifer Whittle

]]> By: Tom Cannavan http://www.rossouwsrestaurants.com/la-colombe-and-the-cost-of-eating/#comment-2068 Tom Cannavan Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:59:23 +0000 http://www.rossouwsrestaurants.com/blog/2008/11/la-colombe-and-the-cost-of-eating/#comment-2068 I'm back in the Cape on holiday and have been eating out a lot. I was quite severely disappointed with dinner at La Colombe last week I must say, finding the service sporadic, including having to top up our own wines and water consitently, the whole dragging the blackboard menu around thing a bit pretentious (why not just print menus and let people take time over reading them?) and basically feeling like a second class citizen (though one spending considerable amounts of money) whilst the restaurant manager and staff fawned over a celebrity table to our, and everyone else's, detriment. The food? All of it was good (save some over-cooked scallops), and some was fantastic (the foie gras with rhubarb crumble and custard), but really that couldn't make up for service that was indifferent verging on poor and what, for me, came across as a 'couldn't care less' attitude. I know I am firing arrows at a sacred cow here, but it was just very disappointing, and I heard the table of four next to me expressing similar sentiments. On the other hand, the Greenhouse at the Cellars was terrific, the Pavilion at The Marine in Hermanus brilliant, and last night, The Tasting Room at LQF not totally convincing, but with three or four courses from the eight on the menu just scintillating. I’m back in the Cape on holiday and have been eating out a lot. I was quite severely disappointed with dinner at La Colombe last week I must say, finding the service sporadic, including having to top up our own wines and water consitently, the whole dragging the blackboard menu around thing a bit pretentious (why not just print menus and let people take time over reading them?) and basically feeling like a second class citizen (though one spending considerable amounts of money) whilst the restaurant manager and staff fawned over a celebrity table to our, and everyone else’s, detriment.

The food? All of it was good (save some over-cooked scallops), and some was fantastic (the foie gras with rhubarb crumble and custard), but really that couldn’t make up for service that was indifferent verging on poor and what, for me, came across as a ‘couldn’t care less’ attitude.

I know I am firing arrows at a sacred cow here, but it was just very disappointing, and I heard the table of four next to me expressing similar sentiments. On the other hand, the Greenhouse at the Cellars was terrific, the Pavilion at The Marine in Hermanus brilliant, and last night, The Tasting Room at LQF not totally convincing, but with three or four courses from the eight on the menu just scintillating.

]]> By: Oliver http://www.rossouwsrestaurants.com/la-colombe-and-the-cost-of-eating/#comment-1060 Oliver Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:32:46 +0000 http://www.rossouwsrestaurants.com/blog/2008/11/la-colombe-and-the-cost-of-eating/#comment-1060 I have had many meals at La Colombe. Simply put , it's good , damn good. Will delight any lover of fine food. I have had many meals at La Colombe. Simply put , it’s good , damn good. Will delight any lover of fine food.

]]> By: Paddy O'Doore http://www.rossouwsrestaurants.com/la-colombe-and-the-cost-of-eating/#comment-923 Paddy O'Doore Sat, 16 May 2009 14:57:47 +0000 http://www.rossouwsrestaurants.com/blog/2008/11/la-colombe-and-the-cost-of-eating/#comment-923 Dined last night at Wild Fig - good'ish & fairly priced but not a 'wow' experience. Lunched today at La Colombe (winter special)in filthy weather next to the fire; absolutely fabulous. Nearly twice the price but well worth the difference. Dined last night at Wild Fig – good’ish & fairly priced but not a ‘wow’ experience. Lunched today at La Colombe (winter special)in filthy weather next to the fire; absolutely fabulous. Nearly twice the price but well worth the difference.

]]> By: Rossouw’s Restaurants Three Star Celebration | Rossouws Restaurants - the independent guide to eating in South Africa http://www.rossouwsrestaurants.com/la-colombe-and-the-cost-of-eating/#comment-895 Rossouw’s Restaurants Three Star Celebration | Rossouws Restaurants - the independent guide to eating in South Africa Thu, 07 May 2009 16:01:05 +0000 http://www.rossouwsrestaurants.com/blog/2008/11/la-colombe-and-the-cost-of-eating/#comment-895 [...] Grande Roche (Paarl); Butcher Shop and Grill (Sandton); Ile de Païn (Knysna); Jardine (Cape Town); La Colombe (Constantia); Magica Roma (Pinelands); Mariana’s (Stanford); The Tasting Room (Franschhoek); [...] [...] Grande Roche (Paarl); Butcher Shop and Grill (Sandton); Ile de Païn (Knysna); Jardine (Cape Town); La Colombe (Constantia); Magica Roma (Pinelands); Mariana’s (Stanford); The Tasting Room (Franschhoek); [...]

]]> By: World’s Best in South Africa | Rossouws Restaurants - the independent guide to eating in South Africa http://www.rossouwsrestaurants.com/la-colombe-and-the-cost-of-eating/#comment-809 World’s Best in South Africa | Rossouws Restaurants - the independent guide to eating in South Africa Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:20:00 +0000 http://www.rossouwsrestaurants.com/blog/2008/11/la-colombe-and-the-cost-of-eating/#comment-809 [...] They are (with position in brackets): The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français (37) and La Colombe (38). It is not the first time for either of them, though La Colombe did fade off the top 50 and [...] [...] They are (with position in brackets): The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français (37) and La Colombe (38). It is not the first time for either of them, though La Colombe did fade off the top 50 and [...]

]]> By: Julia D http://www.rossouwsrestaurants.com/la-colombe-and-the-cost-of-eating/#comment-761 Julia D Mon, 23 Mar 2009 06:51:49 +0000 http://www.rossouwsrestaurants.com/blog/2008/11/la-colombe-and-the-cost-of-eating/#comment-761 Enjoyed a family dinner here last week and it was sublime. The chef treated us to a complimentary amuse bouche of chilled asparagus soup which was a refreshing start to the meal. I splashed out on a crayfish salad starter which was very generously proportioned and exquisitely flavoured. Followed that up with an apple and cider sorbet, and then the pièce de résistance; rare fillet of beef with a truffle "cafe au lait" sauce. Good God. It was deep, rich, creamy and fragrant, and the perfect compliment to a beautiful piece of meat. My fellow diners enjoyed a selection of gorgeous desserts - I tasted the lemon tart and vanilla bean créme brûlée, both heavenly. It was my first visit and I was highly impressed. It was absolutely buzzing on an unseasonably cold Monday night, the service was friendly and extremely efficient and the food simply divine. Cannot wait to go back! Enjoyed a family dinner here last week and it was sublime. The chef treated us to a complimentary amuse bouche of chilled asparagus soup which was a refreshing start to the meal. I splashed out on a crayfish salad starter which was very generously proportioned and exquisitely flavoured. Followed that up with an apple and cider sorbet, and then the pièce de résistance; rare fillet of beef with a truffle “cafe au lait” sauce. Good God. It was deep, rich, creamy and fragrant, and the perfect compliment to a beautiful piece of meat.

My fellow diners enjoyed a selection of gorgeous desserts – I tasted the lemon tart and vanilla bean créme brûlée, both heavenly.

It was my first visit and I was highly impressed. It was absolutely buzzing on an unseasonably cold Monday night, the service was friendly and extremely efficient and the food simply divine. Cannot wait to go back!

]]> By: Constantia Uitsig, Constantia | Rossouws Restaurants - the independent guide to eating in South Africa http://www.rossouwsrestaurants.com/la-colombe-and-the-cost-of-eating/#comment-447 Constantia Uitsig, Constantia | Rossouws Restaurants - the independent guide to eating in South Africa Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:42:30 +0000 http://www.rossouwsrestaurants.com/blog/2008/11/la-colombe-and-the-cost-of-eating/#comment-447 [...] Italy and Asia and find more edge. Or it can bat demurely along - with a hotel and the fabulous La Colombe on the premises, it may have little reason to try too much harder. VN:R_U [1.0.8_357]please [...] [...] Italy and Asia and find more edge. Or it can bat demurely along – with a hotel and the fabulous La Colombe on the premises, it may have little reason to try too much harder. VN:R_U [1.0.8_357]please [...]

]]> By: jenny johnson http://www.rossouwsrestaurants.com/la-colombe-and-the-cost-of-eating/#comment-309 jenny johnson Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:04:25 +0000 http://www.rossouwsrestaurants.com/blog/2008/11/la-colombe-and-the-cost-of-eating/#comment-309 WOW WOW!!!! La Colombe has to get some of the best awards this year! We took guests from Cambridge (U.K) and they too were quite simply blown away!. The best bread the best starters (mine a wild mushroom tart) and the most unbelievable piece of beef fillet (apparently from America?). The TOnka bean dessert (dont ask just go and order it) was an amazing combination of flavours. THis is my absolutely all time favourite restaurant and has been for a long time. WOW WOW!!!! La Colombe has to get some of the best awards this year! We took guests from Cambridge (U.K) and they too were quite simply blown away!. The best bread the best starters (mine a wild mushroom tart) and the most unbelievable piece of beef fillet (apparently from America?). The TOnka bean dessert (dont ask just go and order it) was an amazing combination of flavours. THis is my absolutely all time favourite restaurant and has been for a long time.

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