Not bad, but unfortunately not worth going back to for us. We absolutely love Rykaart's at Longridge (Stellenbosch), so we were very excited to try the new restaurant at Newton Johnson. Unfortunately, knowing Rykaart’s existing offering created a certain expectation, and this experience did not quite live up to it. What we missed most was the generous, family-style dining experience that makes Longridge feel so special and memorable. Newton Johnson felt more like another traditional fine dining setting, which made it lose some of the warmth and uniqueness we were hoping for. We were also especially excited as we booked this for Mother’s Day, but there was very little that made the occasion feel special or thoughtfully celebrated. At previous special events at Longridge — like Valentine’s Day dinners — there were small but meaningful touches such as a welcome rosé or something celebratory on arrival. In comparison, there was nothing that really acknowledged the occasion here. Many other establishments at least advertised a small Mother’s Day-inspired touch or special, which left us feeling like perhaps we chose the wrong setting for the occasion — especially after driving all the way from Stellenbosch in the middle of severe storms. That said, the fish main course was absolutely delicious and definitely the highlight of the meal. We also had an issue with the crème brûlée dessert, but the team handled the situation very professionally, which we appreciated. So overall, this is quite a difficult review to write. There were certainly good elements, but unfortunately the overall experience did not justify the excitement or the effort it took for us to get there.
