We have been going to Delheim for more than 40 years and have always had a great experience. But we have not been for a while, because of Covid. Based on past experience, we invited guests for lunch today.
The welcome and front of house...service was excellent. Friendly and attentive. As usual the wines were great and well priced. Of course the location and ambience is great.
However, that is where the compliments end.
The menu is limited and as our guests are meat lovers, we suggested that they try the lamb shank, but after seeing the dish at neighbouring tables, they went for the burgers instead. They just could not get themselves to have us pay R250 for what they saw. The burgers were apparently tasty, but at the price the small handful of sweet potato fries seemed stingy.
We have often had the cheese and meat platter before, but this time we were really not impressed. There were four small ramekins with fish pate, a butternut relish, a few olives and some hard potato chips. Then four slices of salami, two slices ham, a slice of apple and peach each and two slices of cucumber. Also two small dolmade which were more leaf than filling because of the small size. Then a few pieces of cheese and four huge slices of bread which dominated the plate.
What was on the plate was mostly good but definitely not generous. Especially the ramekins which barely gives each person a teaspoon of pate or relish each. We had recently had a platter at a mid-high end outside venue near Durbanville which was far more generous in variety and quantity for significantly less money, so comparison was inevitable. Perhaps a visit to the nearby Muratie (which was very busy) will give perspective.
When it came to desert that it was obvious that the kitchen had given up. The cheesecake was a smallish slice of quite hard cake on a white plate. That's it. No attempt at any garnish to make it look more attractive. Equally the ice cream was a disaster. A plate containing a sugar cone with a small ball of vanilla ice cream and two scoops of pinotage ice cream which was almost completely melted when served. Again no attempt at making it look attractive.
I did mention price a few times. I do not mind paying for quality, but the perceived value must be there. Unfortunately we did not this time experience the generosity Delheim was known for in the past.More