From climbing the escalator up until the point you leave Chevy Lane (if you're a car person or not) you can't help but marvel at almost every bit of memorabilia. From the cars, to the petrol pumps, diner counters and gumball machines; it's all just incredible to look at. The service is sharp but the food takes forever to arrive. Speaking of which - isn't cheap and (I can't not order a burger) doesn't taste like quality. I'd love to say "if you like American-style food, this is it!" But sadly I can't. Pity.

We decided to give Chevy Lane a try over the long weekend, as we entered one of the managers were standing by the door, not too enthusiastic to welcome guests to this new establishment.

We were seated at a "reserved" table away from the kiddies area, even though we asked to be seated near it to keep an eye on our 2 year old son. Our 1st waiter was friendly even though he was new (started 4 days prior), we asked to move closer to the kiddies play area which he kindly helped us do. We then realized that we had a new waiter (I presume because of the table changes), we ordered our food and it was OK, I was expecting more considering the price, hardly any flavour either.

The only plus side for me was the decor and play area, my son really enjoyed it, the young man controlling the gate to the play area was very good at ensuring the smaller kids got back to their tables ok, that was a big plus for me.

I honestly won't rush to go back there, there are better places that we have experienced that are better value for money.

Where's my food ..... it's coming

The title of this review says it all. It's not only this restaurant but I can't believe how often I heard that remark and the waiter automatically gives that answer without even turning back to the kitchen. So it was with Chevy lane. I suppose I should not really have been here in the first place but I was invited to a group party so had to go. I should also have been warned that I would not like what I was about to experience when I saw the 14 page menu posted on the website. Anyway I was required to order a pizza as it was a set menu and had to break one of my cardinal rules. Never order Italian when there is no mama cooking in the kitchen. But first we had the most disgusting chips I have ever seen. Those prepackaged chips that restaurants buy in bulk smothered with the worst cheese sauce.
However after an hour this soggy mess arrived so I had to try some.... uggghh.
Then I asked the title question... after all we had ordered a pizza over an hour ago.. the waiter gave the usual answer.. the so called manager at least said I'll go and look. Of course he never returned.. as I thought the pizza was dreadful, when it arrived after 70 minutes
The owners have spent millions on the place and I know that it will not be there in a few years time.. never mind it won't be the first or last restaurant to have failed in that spot.

Chevy Lane takes you back to the eighties. It has it all: amazing food, playpens for the kids and real take me back music. Truly quality for your money. The decor is absolutely awesome. Even pinballs you can play. Zanele our waitress was friendly with a good sense of humour, making the evening more entertaining.

So I took my family out here at my daughters behest for her 14th birthday.

I really don’t want to be all negative so here was what was good.

The decor in terms of pics, classic cars, pinball machines and special tables (albeit limited) is quite something In a cheesy 60’s kind of way. The view form the deck on a sunset night is also special. I liked the cigar lounge, given it was empty and so not smoky. The fries we also good, not great.

Sadly, that’s where the good stuff ends. Service was really poor and the food took and age to come. Wouldn’t have been to bad if they managed to pass by the table and offer us a drink once in a while. Bear in mind it was Monday night and not exactly humming. The managers/owners seemed to know service was important so hired a bunch of waiters and managers but most were just miling around and the guys in the bar were rowdy. None, ok there were one or two, seemed to care about a table they were not assigned to. The manageress was also quite sweet when she came to apologize for running out of Castle Lite. Yip ran out of Castle Lite.....

Anyway, the food was particularly poor. Soggy Nachos to start was actually the highlight of lowlights. I had a burger that was cooked in a thermo nuclear reactor (no option to choose well, med or rare) and my wife had a kingklip which I could have done better at home bearing in mind my speciality dish at home is burned toast. The accompanying lemon/lime was clearly part of a cost saving or recycling program. My son had a pizza which I had a piece of but can’t think of anything positive or negative to say about.

All this at quite a price. R1400 with a tip and moderate consumption of drinks.

In fairness there were no complaints from my kids, ages 14 (birthday girl) and 10. The games and play area are good for them and give the adults some peace.

The singing happy birthday was hearty and full of fun as only South African serving staff can do.

It’s a fairly new restaurant and so hopefully will improve. I hope they successful and think they might be with some work in the kitchen.. We won’t be going back though.