Based on EATOUT's ranking of Al Fiume as one of PTA's top Bistro's, I invited my family there for lunch on Sunday 24 Nov '14 to celebrate my birthday. The restaurant had clearly laid on extra tables on the lawn outside, presumably to cater for the increased demand for "Sunday lunch with live music from Louise Carver", for which I was happy to pay the cover charge but, in hindsight, question the appropriateness of the high volume over Sunday lunch along the riverside. The restaurant went wrong by over-extending itself when it has finite capacity. Drinks orders were slow and incomplete. 4 of the 6 starters were served and finished long before the remaining two starters, Beef Carpaccio's, were even served. Main courses came to the table in waves, with a lamb shank being served just North of "cold" and only one of the 3 steak orders being prepared in accordance with the request. Menu prices here are high and the bill quickly reached R3, 000 for 6 adults and 2 children, aged 6 and 2. My complaints were met with excuses of running a wedding at the same time (I repeat my point on capacity) but also, admittedly, a complimentary bottle of house red, which only went part-way to appeasing me.
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