As much culinary laboratory as kitchen, this is where Cape Town's esteemed chef Luke Dale-Roberts puts his flash-of-inspiration-in-the-middle-of-the-night recipes to the test. Menus can be unpredictable, but they're always adventurous. Dale-Roberts' penchant is for unexpected combinations: perhaps springbok with black pudding-stuffed sprouts, slow-roasted carrot, and venison jus, or wild mushroom and duck liver chawanmushi (a Japanese custard) with morel-glazed sweetbreads, a variety of onions, and burnt-thyme foam. Wow. Dale-Roberts spent several years taking his former project, La Colombe in Constantia, to the forefront of the international dining scene—critics were crossing hemispheres to put his menus to the test. Here, he's taken over a semi-industrial warehouse space and injected it with his own personality, which regularly spills out of the open kitchen. Bag a seat at the counter to witness his culinary bravado taking shape. Dinners are set menus (either five courses or gourmand), while lunch offers the option of a small a la carte selection. Note: Dinner reservations are essential, and need to be made several months in advance; lunch bookings may be easier to come by.
Cape Town
Travel Guide
Cape Town› Restaurant
The Test Kitchen
The Old Biscuit Mill, Shop 104A, 375 Albert Rd.
Our Rating
Neighborhood
Woodstock/Salt River
Hours
Tues–Sat 12:30–2pm and 7–9pm
Transportation
MyCiTi bus stop: Kent
Phone
+27 21 447 2337
Prices
Lunch a la carte R145–R170; five-course lunch R470, (R695 with wine pairing); five-course dinner R590 (R880 with wine pairing); gourmand menu R800 (R1,200 with wine pairing, R1,000 with tea pairing)
Cuisine Type
Experimental
Web site
The Test Kitchen
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Map
The Old Biscuit Mill, Shop 104A, 375 Albert Rd. Cape TownNote: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.