What 102 people say about Al Fiume
| Food | |
| Service | |
| Atmosphere |
Thanks to the infinite wisdom of my GPS I arrived 1 hour late for my lunch booking. This is hardly the restaurant's fault but we did try to call and inform them that we are lost and late, but the number from the website did not work. When we did finally arrive (and had the first glass of wine) we could relax and t...
Read full reviewThanks to the infinite wisdom of my GPS I arrived 1 hour late for my lunch booking. This is hardly the restaurant's fault but we did try to call and inform them that we are lost and late, but the number from the website did not work. When we did finally arrive (and had the first glass of wine) we could relax and take in the surroundings. The restaurant is in a beautiful setting - you sit right at the river's edge and it is very peaceful and romantic. The service was excellent - we were clucked over and sympathised with about getting lost and the manager spent time to explain about the facility and the Sunday lunches. As this restaurant also had a star (which meant a surcharge on top of the payment for the restaurant week menu), I think my comments are influenced by this - if you want to charge me more because you are apparently so good, you should get some of the basics right: My wine list had some pages missing, I did no have a serviette (and a horrible serviette it was when it finally arrived - something between a wet wipe and a cloth serviette), and my underplate was cracked. The wine list seemed limited and very expensive and no wine sold by the glass except the house wine. The menu was extremely limited (2 starters and 2 main courses to choose from) - I feel they should at least have offered a vegetarian option for each. In terms of the food, everything was tasty and nice but not wow. My companion and I both had the calamari starter which was tasty and tender - a little more chillis to the sauce and it would have been great. We also both had the salmon mains (limited menu remember). The dish was again tasty but because the salmon was thin, it was cooked through while it would have been better to have it under-done in the middle. Again nice, but not wow. All in all, perhaps a case of delusions of grandeur? If there was no "star" for this restaurant, I would have loved it and recommended it, but with the star, I expected a lot more. It is simply too far to drive for a nice lunch.
What a beautiful setting right next to the river. The food was well presented and very tasty. Glad we found this gem will be taking the family there for sure!
It's a nice setting for an afternoon escape from the city. The food was good especially the calamari starter and the salmon mains, i found my dessert to be sub-par (the crumpets). The service was good. I was offered a replacement dessert to make up for the one i did not enjoy.
The entire experience was a memorable one, the setting was great, the service was excellant and the hospitallity was out of this world
The restaurant setting is unbelievable and stunning. We were put outside under a gazebo which was lovely. The food was superb and absolutely delicious. We enjoyed the day out and will definitely recommend this restaurant as well as return. Probably stay over as well. Well Done!
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About Al Fiume
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Italian
Al Fiume - Italian for 'at the river' - has all the ingredients for a great restaurant: a beautiful setting on a shady wooden deck on the banks of the Hennops River and a restaurateur with a passion for food, as well as the experience to ensure outstanding levels of service. Al Fiume serves food that lives up to our definition of quality: the season's best, cooked with skill and passion and presented with a minimum of fuss.
The cellar at Al Fiume is stocked with a diverse choice of Italian and South African wines. The selection includes everyday drinking wines and wines for special occasions; wines from some of South Africa's best-known estates and unusual wines from smaller estates.
Al Fiume is a restaurant for all seasons: long, lazy summer days on the wooden deck; bright spring days when the first signs of green are starting to appear on the trees overhanging the river; bracing winter days when you might want to work off your meal with a brisk walk over the bridge and cozy autumn days when you can sit snugly in the restaurant and watch the falling leaves floating down the river.
