Tag Archives: Tripadvisor

Restaurant Review: Sirocco in Knysna more than loadshedding problems, service-shedding too!

Sirocco facing Sushi Bar Whale CottageI had been led to believe that one of the better restaurants in Knysna is Sirocco, and I do recall having eaten there once before, when it was more of a fine-dining restaurant.  I was very disappointed when I spent part of my S&T allowance from the Department of Justice at Sirocco last night. Sirocco entrance Whale CottageLoadshedding was not the only problem the restaurant had to cope with, Manager Sonia de Lange having shed her service ethic too!

I had popped in at Thesen Island earlier in the afternoon, and had a look at the fire-damaged Ile de Pain, speaking to staff at a neighbouring shop, and they recommended Sirocco.  When I visited Knysna a month ago, also with the compliments of the Department of Justice, I had experienced
dreadful service at three restaurants I had attempted to eat at, in particular at the Island Café at The Turbine Hotel & Spa! On Facebook a number of visitors to Knysna shared that the town appears to have a problem with restaurant service.

It was hard to see the entrance to the restaurant, as there is a Col’Cacchio now, and Continue reading →

UK Government launches investigation into fake and negative online travel reviews!

Bed and BreakfastTravel industry owners in the UK are being urged to share their experiences of negative and fake online reviews as part of a major Government probe.

The Competition and Markets Authority has launched an investigation into online review sites to check the information posted is ‘genuine, relevant and trustworthy‘.  Malicious and fake reviews should be reported, the Authority Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 19 February

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Camps Bay has made the 11th spot on the list of TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Top 25 Beaches in the World. Ahead of Camps Bay on the top 10 list are Baia do Sancho in Brazil, Grace Bay in Turks & Caisos, Rabbit Beach in Sicily, Playa Paraiso Beach in Cuba, Playa de Ses Illetes in the Baleiric Islands, Anse Lazio in the Seychelles, White Beach in Aklon Province, Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsunday Islands, and Elafonissi Beach in Greece.  Camps Bay is the only African beach on the list.

*   Neill Anthony: The Private Chef is a new 13-episode lifestyle and cooking show to be screened on SABC3 from 15 March, at 16h30.  It will reflect the cooking and catering Chef Neill does for high society and A-list socialites in their homes, as well as the sourcing of ingredients.  Chef Neill has worked with Chefs Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Waering in London.  The programme series is likely to be sold to international broadcasters.  ‘Food is what I do. Keeping it local, seasonal and rustic‘ said Chef Neill.

*   Noble Hill won three Gold Medals at the Sakura Japan Women’s Wine Awards, a competition judged by women Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 27 January

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Loadshedding has returned with a vengeance, starting with Schedule 1, and switching to Schedule 2 during the course of yesterday afternoon, due to ‘unforeseen technical problems’, according to Eskom.

*    A Scottish B&B owning couple is taking TripAdvisor to court for refusing to divulge who is posting ‘bogus’ reviews about their establishment, so that they can sue for defamation.  The review company says that it must be sued in the USA, where the company’s headquarters are.

*   New FlySafair airline is lowering its prices due to lower fuel costs.  Between February and July 20000 seats will be made Continue reading →