1 reviews | Active since Jul 2015
********* and greedy conduct.
A friend and I decided to have brunch at Raphael's (the restaurant at the wine estate) on Saturday 04 November 2017. Since they did not have any Vegan options on the a la carte menu or buffet, I asked the waiter to just bring me a piece of brown toast with some fried mushrooms in olive oil. My friend had an omelette and we had a bottle of MCC.
When we received the bill, they charged us R225 each for the buffet (The bill amounted to over R600!). I was shocked since I had a piece of toast and some mushrooms. I ordered from the waiter and neither of us even seen the buffet, but we were charged the price regardless. I asked to speak to the manager to discuss how this could be. The manager was to "busy" to see us and an assistant was sent to us to explain the reason for the exorbitant price. Apparently, their policy is that everything on the menu is charged at this set price. I asked why we weren't told about this policy beforehand, whereupon she answered that the receptionist should've told us. I informed her we weren't told about this policy. She went back to her manager to discuss this and came back to basically say, sorry this is their policy and they are not changing it. I am utterly disappointed in the service and lack of compassion the management has at this wine farm. How can anyone ethically charge someone R225 for a piece of toast and mushrooms? This might be their policy, but this is just morally and ethically wrong. They obviously cater for tourists who do not mind paying this price. Their greed is now also extending to the local visitor. This type of experience will have dire consequences for their businesses. They are competing with hundreds of wine farms in this area who have much better value for money offerings for local visitors. WIth the water crisis in full swing in the Western Cape, fewer tourists will visit the region and these wine farms exploiting local people will have no support to sustain their business. I for one (and a few of my friends and family) will not support this wine farm again. I am disgusted with the lack of human compassion this place has for local visitors.
From Asara Hotel Management:
R225 is indeed our set price for breakfast at Raphael’s for visitors (breakfast is included for hotel guests). This includes buffet and a la carte and is, we think, good value for money and highly competitive in comparison to other winelands venues.
The price is clearly displayed on the menu. We do naturally inform visitors when asked about the cost of breakfast, but the onus is on the visitor to ascertain the cost of our breakfast before buying it. Then, if the visitor doesn’t like the price, he or she is perfectly free to breakfast elsewhere. You were aware of the cost of the breakfast and told our asst breakfast manager that you ‘thought it was a joke’, but only raised the issue after you had enjoyed a long, leisurely get together in our scenic restaurant. We don’t usually make exceptions to the policy, but if we do it is arranged in advance, not after the visitor has already eaten. We do have other venues for light bites which are charged according to what is ordered.
We think that our asst breakfast manager handled this matter correctly, and that your comments are inaccurate and unfair.
From Asara Hotel Management:
R225 is indeed our set price for breakfast at Raphael’s for visitors (breakfast is included for hotel guests). This includes buffet and a la carte and is, we think, good value for money and highly competitive in comparison to other winelands venues.
The price is clearly displayed on the menu. We do naturally inform visitors when asked about the cost of breakfast, but the onus is on the visitor to ascertain the cost of our breakfast before buying it. Then, if the visitor doesn’t like the price, he or she is perfectly free to breakfast elsewhere. You were aware of the cost of the breakfast and told our asst breakfast manager that you ‘thought it was a joke’, but only raised the issue after you had enjoyed a long, leisurely get together in our scenic restaurant. We don’t usually make exceptions to the policy, but if we do it is arranged in advance, not after the visitor has already eaten. We do have other venues for light bites which are charged according to what is ordered.
We think that our asst breakfast manager handled this matter correctly, and that your comments are inaccurate and unfair.