We went to the THE VIEWS WILDERNESS HOTEL for my birthday and anniversary for DINNER in August 2015 When I say it was a SHOCKER I mean it.. the food was quite uneatable. we ordered a SEAFOOD PLATTER each and the first warning sign we should have had was that it took very very long to come out. I suppose busy defrosting..(there were only 2 other tables occupied) old cooked food.???? it consisted of 2 PRAWNS SO OLD THEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE SHELL A PIECE OF HAKE SO WATERY I WONDERED IF IT WAS DEFROSTED IN WATER CALAMARI LIKE RUBBER - WE ASKED FOR FRIED AND IT WAS SNOW WHITE TASTELESS 1 BURNT FISH CAKE YOU COULD NOT CUT IT.. ROCK HARD 6 SMALL MUSSELS IN A PACKET SAUCE ! AWFUL POTATO WEDGES THAT WERE STILL RAW AND HARD we just pushed it aside, there was no way we could eat it. My husband just tried to eat some.. but no... no go We did not complain, it was a special occasion for us, and that would just spoil the day and that evening. We just paid and left.CRAZY.. I would like to add - we wanted to order a bottle of "MOET" champagne which is my favourite we often buy it at the bottle store @R400 so we know at the hotel it would be much much more..R800 - R900 we expected to pay.. BUT NOT R1400 !!!so we ordered something else which was the only good thing that night!! I have been fighting with myself to do this review but eventually decided to do so. So when I saw someone else's review re "HEADLESS SHIP" YES THATS EXACTLY WHAT IT IS!! what a shame as the Views are wonderful.. Is it still part of the MANTIS COLLECTION?????

South Cape restaurant launched auto pilot project- see reviews on success rate

It seems like the management or owner of the Views (Sails) restaurant in Wilderness have launched a project between October 2013 and June 2014 to see if a restaurant in a 5 Star establishment can be run successfully on auto pilot (No management)
It also appears that they are commitment to continue with the project regardless of the reviews that reflects the success rate. In my opinion the project is failing badly and a “pilot” needs to take over the controls to avoid an inevitable crash.
I have written a letter to the General Manager on 1st October 2014 to give him feedback on the “project”. As can be seen on the poor and terrible reviews on Trip advisor management/owner have no comments, also no reply on my e-mail by the GM. See below the letter to the GM.
“Dear Mr Horner”,

“We were looking forward to have a holiday again in Wilderness and to wine and dine at the restaurant. We had quite a few lunches and dinners at the restaurant last year October and the service from all the staff and the food were of the highest standard.

We were thus looking forward to a good evening on Monday, 29 September after the long drive from Cape town, arrived at our venue at 18h15, had a quick shower and been at the restaurant at 19h15. I was in the mood for a good steak and ordered a fillet, asking for medium rare. The fillet arrived more than well done and I had to sent it back, the second fillet was better but I would rate it as at least well done. So one cant really sent the food back again, appetite etc. lost at that stage and what about one's partner which by the time finished her “average” meal.

Last night, 30 September we went back in the hope that it was a once off case, we were the only people in the restaurant and after we have been seated we waited nearly 10 minutes for a waitress to attend to our needs for drinks and starters.

I decided to walk out and the host us if we would like a table for 2, I told her we were already seated but due to the lack of service and the bad food the night before we were leaving. She convinced us to stay, promising 5 star service and food. I had a sole and my wife had calamari. The food was OK, nothing to complain about, but nothing better than the average café meal.

I don’t mind high prices for eating out, wine and dine frequently at Rubens and the best restaurant in Paarl, if not in Africa (Terra Mare) you are welcome to read the reviews about Terra Mare on Trip Advisor.

Please see my review of last year October for the Sails restaurant.. Unfortunate I am agreeing 100% with most of the comments of a reviewer dated 16 June 2014 “Disappointing service -experience”

Truly a disappointment. The location and setting are sublime but, that is where it ends. Service is appalling as is the food hygiene - dead fly in the food. The manager did not seem too concerned when we reported it to him. Arghh!