What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Cafe Gannet
Review
About
Travellers' Choice
2024
The Café Gannet Restaurant is Mossel Bay's seafood House. Acclaimed for local seafood specialties, ingeniously prepared. Coastal oysters, black mussels and Mossel Bay Sole are delivered daily from the harbour to make a delectable and varied a la carte menu, which includes pizza, salads, meat dishes, light lunches and Rainbow Cuisine. For a relaxing afternoon, come and enjoy a cocktail overlooking the Indian Ocean... The Cafe Gannet is a great treat, which will please the most discerning palate - very trendy, so bookings are recommended.
Features
CUISINES
Pizza, Seafood, Sushi, Fusion
Meal types
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
American Express
Free off-street parking
Free Wifi
Full Bar
Highchairs Available
Mastercard
Outdoor Seating
Parking Available
Private Dining
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Visa
Waterfront
Wheelchair Accessible
Location
Free off-street parking, Parking Available
Save this restaurant
Hours
Open until 10:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 - 22:00
Monday
7:00 - 22:00
Tuesday
7:00 - 22:00
Wednesday
7:00 - 22:00
Thursday
7:00 - 22:00
Friday
7:00 - 22:00
Saturday
7:00 - 22:00
Contribute
4.3
2,127 reviews
Excellent
1,182
Very good
642
Average
186
Poor
72
Terrible
45
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Pyctus Media
Spain263 contributions
Apr 2024 • couples
We went with a recommendation from Spain so our expectation was high. The place was very nice, there was atmosphere and has many different spaces so that although there were people it would not feel burdensome. It is not the cheapest place in the world but it does not have exorbitant prices for what we asked, but there was a caveat. A dish of fish of the day was ordered, which appeared at a letter price, and when it came to charging us we were not notified that the "size" of that fish was not left, and we were not commented on anything, they directly put us the top size and that, obviously reflected in the price of the account. We would have liked to have been advised because the difference was substantial. Otherwise, no complaints.
Automatically translated
Written 28 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
glennpacc
40 contributions
Nov 2023 • couples
Superb food. Very fresh fish simply prepared. Just delectable. Actually quite healthy, which can be hard to come by in South Africa. Great bread and good drinks as well. We sat outside as found the ambiance better outside - the place is quite large inside and feels more like a large dining room but outside you get to take advantage of the luxurious beach view.
Written 6 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neale1810
Kingston-upon-Hull3343 contributions
Oct 2023 • couples
We were only in Mossel Bay for one night so wanted to make sure we went somewhere good. Previous reviews on TA and other sites wee great and it was simple to book online.
We parked opposite the restaurant in a car park so it was simple to get there. The restaurant feels large inside and has further tables outside and a bar at the back. Our server was friendly and helpful and we were soon sipping our drinks and eating our starters - bacon wrapped chilli peepers for me and mussels in a creamy sauce for my wife. The peppers certainly had a kick to them which is how I like it. The mussels were good though the creamy sauce tended to overwhelm the mussel flavour.
Our mains took much too long to arrive which was disappointing and took the shine off the meal. I had the ribeye steak (which was tasty but over cooked vs the medium rare I had requested). My wife’s ostrich was tasty too but not quite as melt in your mouth as other times we had it during our SA trip.
So overall there was a lot to like about the restaurant but there were some obvious areas for improvement.
Written 26 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scenic00198728978
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • family
We have two guesthouses in Mosselbay and always referred all our clients to Gannet.
We went out as a family and my son got the worst calamari starter, it really was not even a starter so small en tasted terrible. We waited hours for the food and always had to call the waiter for help. We really just had enough and checked out. I told my wife we can not refer thousands of clients anymore every year if this is the service we got. They did not know who we were and went anonymous as we did start receiving complaints from guests. Mosselbay just do not have any good restaurants I really hope it will change soon.
Written 29 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jason Moorcroft
Hi, Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear that your son did not enjoy his calamari. We have two managers on duty at all times and it would have been great if you could have brought this to their attention so that we could take the necessary action to remedy the situation. There are many ways we could have resolved this situation had we been aware. We could have, remade the dish or offered an alternative option from our kiddies menu. We are glad to hear the other food was satisfactory.
We are not without flaw but we always do our best to try and keep our guests happy. Our recent TripAdvisor choice award is a testimony of that.
It is a sad day for the hospitality industry of Mossel Bay if a fellow member of the industry decides to handle a situation in this manner and speaks so negatively of the town in which it operates. For the last 36 years we have served the community of Mossel Bay.
We will be launching our new Ala Carte Menu in the next two weeks and Executive Chef Phillips will be introducing some exciting new dishes.
Written 7 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stephan
Muri bei Bern63 contributions
Jan 2025 • friends
Our evening was just buffet. It was pure disappointment. The soup was fine. The roast beef was through, hard and brown, not pink. The vegetables are lukewarm, as is the rice. The slow cooked oxtail was tough and could not be detached from the bone. The next morning we had the Ox Hill again at the hot breakfast buffet. Likewise, the vegetables from the previous evening were found there. There was also toast bread, which was mouldy at the edge.
It cost the whopping price of 480 rand for this totally inadequate performance. The chef didn't show up and the hotel management wasn't willing to talk...
Better not anymore
Automatically translated
Written 24 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zahnré
5 contributions
Dec 2023 • family
The service was pretty good, no issues with the time it took to be helped or to get our food after ordering.
We were however very unsatisfied with the sushi. We ordered various sushi dishes with salmon. When the plates with the sushi arrived at the table only 1 of the 4 dishes that should have had salmon, actually had salmon in. The rest were replaced with prawn. For example the salmon roses were replaced with prawn nigiri on one of the platters we ordered. I had to ask what the reason for this was, as the waiters bringing the food from the kitchen not saying anything when serving the food.
After this I asked our waiter and she informed us that the kitchen ran out of salmon during the preparation of our sushi. So instead of asking us whether it is okay to make this change, which we would not have been okay with had they asked, the kitchen just went ahead without checking with us first.
To make things worse, when we paid and were busy leaving the restaurant about 30 minutes after our meal, we saw sushi leaving the kitchen with salmon in. I would have happily waited for the new salmon if being asked about this but no communication whatsoever.
One of the people in our party, received a meal she did not order and due to mistake the kitchen/waiter made, had to eat her meal after the rest of us already finished our meals.
Another ridiculous thing about this restaurant is that they charge R60 for a bottle of still or sparkling water. Such a robbery after paying half this amount at other nice restaurants in the area.
Heard such great things about the restaurant but was disappointed and will most likely not return in the future
Written 27 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jason Moorcroft
We are terrible sorry to hear this was your experience. We would like to inform you that corrective measures where taken with the waiter in question. On the day of your visit we had made all waiters aware that the salmon was sold out. This is by no mean our standard way of operating. If there is anything we can do to further remedy the situation please don't hesitate to contact us on admin@cafegannet.co.za.
Written 9 April 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dan T
4 contributions
Dec 2024 • family
Staggeringly bad on many levels. The kitchen had a nauseating smell that emanated about 30 feet away causing us to move tables. The waiter explained it as a sewer that always smells but the door to that back room was opened as people were hot. Items ordered not served. Two sushi soy sauce dishes soiled with food and oil and the waiter seemed unphased and unapologetic. Guests served up to eight minutes apart..leaving others to watch their food get cold. Fish on 2 plates overcooked. Sushi was an absolute joke. If you are from Asia, do yourself a favor and don't eat the sushi...it's a joke. Wrong rice, horrible tuna, fake and gross at all angles. Even the catch of the day was served on mushy rice. Just a big lousy experience. So many better options out there.
Written 29 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Navigate56104364127
2 contributions
Dec 2023 • couples
I took my wife for our 23 anniversary, I thought it would be a nice idea. From the time we arrived until we left we experienced nothing but HORRIBLE service. We actually got a waiter that has been there for more that 7years, her photo is actually used on the printed materials.
The prices are MUCH higher that any other place in Mossel Bay, I knew this before booking because I wanted something special. For the price I expected excellent service, but I would have settled for good service, what we got was none of these.
The food and atmosphere was very nice, but I expect friendly waiters, that is why we eat out.
I personally will never visit them again.
Written 14 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Freedom29779007446
1 contribution
May 2023 • friends
It’s beautiful place and friendly atmosphere, but nothing else. Quality of food not good at all.
Few months ago I had dinner here. I’m allergic to onion and always order plain steak to be safe. I asked waiter please, I can’t eat onion. My food mustn’t touch it, no basting sauce, no mixed spices, only salt and pepper. I repeat it few times. Waiter brought my plate of food where steak was served on the bed of raw onions!!!!
Yesterday I wrote this under the Cafe Gannet post on Facebook and this morning my comment was deleted as another negative comments.
We still remember great food when restaurant had good chef, since chef and his wife left this place we never have good food. But prices went too high for such a terrible experience. I don’t think this place will see us again
Written 3 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jason Moorcroft
We are extremely sorry to hear that the dietary requirements where not adhered to. We can assure you had we been aware the necessary disciplinary action would have been taken. We haven't and will never delete comments from our facebook. The Café Gannet has been under the same ownership for the last 36 years and have and will always strive to the same level of excellence that we always have. Over the past few months we have done extensive staff training and we will continue to do so in the coming months. We hope you will reconsider your position and visiting us again in the future. If there is anything else we can do don't hesitate to contact us at admin@cafegannet.co.za.
Written 9 April 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Pradeep B
London47 contributions
Dec 2024 • couples
A lovely part of M Bay with amazing views.The gardens also look lovely.
After reading all the nice reviews, we decided to enjoy our evening.After a 20 min drive we arrived.
Sadly the Service was not up to the Cape standards.They got our order wrong completely.When we ate our food it was too salty.Mussels done with a terrible cream sauce with no flavour.Dissapointed throughout.We nearly had a pizza which would have been so much nicer.
Though this restaurant is recommended by our guest house African Manor!!
Written 6 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lynnesse Bernardo
Hi, we are very sorry to hear that this was your experience. Could we kindly ask that you email us on eat@cafegannet.co.za so that we can see how we can remedy this situation.
Written 12 December 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jaco L
2 contributions
Jan 2023 • none
It was the last night of our 3 week holiday in South Africa and we wanted it to be special. Booked a table for 10, arrived and the management in their infinite wisdom thought they will prepare for a table for 8. So we had to squeeze 10 in as it was fully booked.
The wine I wanted, not in stock. Ordered our starters, they have med and large oysters on the menu. Order a few of each, after 10 minutes the waiter comes back and says only mediums left, so we said no problem send it. Bare in mind this is my wife’s starter. When the rest of the table’s starters comes out, the waiter told us, oh we don’t have any oysters. The rest of the starters were of good quality.
Ordered our mains - their menu says a pair of crawfish - one of the mains arrives 20 mins before anyone else’s and then the rest of the mains. Only 1 1/2 crawfish arrives and I asked where is the missing half. The waiter takes the plate, instead of leaving it and bringing the other half. Guess who’s main it was, my wife’s. So we all ate and finished our mains of average quality, and yet no sign of the crawfish. We waited another 10 minutes after this and decided to leave.
The manager came and told me that the waiter should have told us that the crawfish is bigger than normal and that’s why it is 1 1/2 and not 2. Asked the waiter if she knew about this, guess what, she did not. So management are willing to throw the waiter under bus, for either their incompetence or a kitchen that can not cook correctly.
They gave us the crawfish in a take away pizza box, yummy………..
From start to finish a shambles, rather take your money and spend it elsewhere. This restaurant will never see me again.
Written 11 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jason M
A booking was initially made for 10 guests. We then received a call to amend the booking to 8 guests. We proceeded to do so as requested. All our bookings are confirmed via sms and any changes/amendments are also confirmed via SMS. We are sincerely apologize for the poor communication on the waiters part. All changes to menu or out of stock items are discussed prior to service and shared on our internal communication to ensure everyone is on the same page. We can assure you this has been addressed. When the Crayfish came back to the kitchen we immediately suggested that it is returned to the table and we will send the last piece despite the poor communication soon as its ready. When asked why the the crayfish was not left on the table the kitchen was informed that the feedback from the table was "just take it". We take note of all the points mentioned and can assure you that we have tended to them.
Written 23 January 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ari77772014
Gillitts25 contributions
Sept 2023 • friends
Very disappointing meal the for far too much R. I had the calamari and hake combination and the calamari was tough as anything. Nobody even bothered to come and ask me how my meal was and in that case I would have been vocal and articulate about how tough the calamari was. So unfortunately I have to review the restaurant here. For the cost of the meal I was very disappointed.
Written 4 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jacki M
London109 contributions
Jan 2023 • none
We ate here 4 years ago and we’re not impressed but what a difference this time! The restaurant was unrecognisable, it looks beautiful now. The food was delicious and reasonably priced, our waitress, Abigail, was delightful and made the experience special. I would recommend!
Written 17 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jason M
Thank you!
Written 23 January 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Trudie
Paarl16 contributions
Jul 2024 • family
We were so surprised with Cafe Gannet. The welcome was very warm, our waiter was friendly and eager to explain dishes. The food was next level, the atmosphere was amazing. We had the best lunch ever in Mossel Bay. Will for sure visit them again.
Written 8 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lizelle C
Port Elizabeth2 contributions
Aug 2022 • none
We waited more than 30 min for our food despite the fact that we were one of 2 small tables occupied in the restaurant. We ordered a meal stating 'salmon bowl' and receive something that should have been under the starter section and was definitally misleading. Totally over prized. We will not visit again.
Written 24 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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