2. The Overview
• Our experience at Bingelela's was so bad, it
puts every other bad restaurant experience to
shame. It ends with drunken threats of
violence and a short-term kidnapping (by the
owner). But here's how our Valentine's
evening began:
3. Our Order
• Our party of 9 ordered around $250 worth of
food and drink, including one pasta dish which
my daughter requested specially as she is a
vegetarian.
4. The Meal Arrives
• She found the dish poorly made; the pesto was
grey and bitter, a bit off. So she requested that it
be returned and ordered a pizza instead. When
the bill came, the pasta dish was still included. I
showed it to the waitress, who nodded and left. I
expected her to return with an adjusted bill but
she didn't. Oh well, she wasn't a very good
waitress. I took it up with the owner
instead, showing him the bill and politely letting
him know that we returned the dish.
5. The Owner Refuses
• He said that since the dish wasn't on the
menu, we didn't have a right to return it. I was
dumbfounded; I've eaten at restaurants all
over the world, and have never encountered
this attitude. I told him that, and that I wasn't
going to pay for a poorly made dish that we
returned, almost entirely uneaten.
6. The Reckoning
• We left cash at the table, and I subtracted the
cost of the dish (62 rand, or about 8 dollars),
as well as the 14% VAT and a mandatory 10%
service change (which they wisely include, as
their wait staff is so bad they wouldn't receive
many voluntary tips).
7. Joss Rolls into Action
• Believe it or not, the owner, Joss
Joubert, followed us out into the parking lot
and demanded payment. I told him I wasn't
going to pay for a lousy dish that we returned.
He grew angry, cursed at me, and called a
tall, drunk friend and they headed for their
truck.
8. Joss’s Drunk Friend
• When we tried to leave the premises, we saw
that his truck was parked in the entrance,
effectively blocking us in. He cursed some
more (in front of my two children, an a 78
year old friend with whom we were dining),
and his friend threatened to "blixem and
donner me" with his fists. I got out of my car,
took some photos, at which they threatened
to take and destroy my camera.
9. The Police Get Involved
• He called the police, and wouldn't let us (or
any of the other 5 vehicles that were now
lined up behind us) leave. The police came (3
vehicles). They asked me to pay just to settle
it, even though what Joss and his drunk friend
were doing was wrong. I told them that I
wanted to press charges for being held against
my will, and they were sympathetic, but
wouldn't do anything about it.
10. Why I’m Not Still There
• Had I been alone, I would still be there in the
parking lot with the entire population of
patrons waiting behind me. But with a family
and an elderly friend, I was forced to swallow
my righteous anger and just pay the ransom
so we could get home.
11. We Get Threatened
• Two couples who were also part of our table
tried to reason with Joss, but they were also
verbally abused and threatened. The drunk
guy now had some sort of weapon that he had
retrieved from the truck, which he brandished
over a woman in our party.
12. I Capitulate
• Finally, after 30 minutes, I went back into the
restaurant and paid the ransom.
13. Photos
• I managed to
snap a couple
of photos of
the owner
and his drunk
friend
blocking us in.
15. The Moral of the Story
• Be sure to visit Bingelela if you want to be
abused, threatened, delayed, and sickened.
• Oh, my trout and avocado salad was pretty
good.
