the test kitchen

an exceptional if bank-depleting restaurant experience. it's worth it, by the way. but be warned .... few dining experiences will be up to par after this.

the test kitchen was everything i expected it to be - thoroughly enjoyed my experience.

our waiter was super friendly and did his best to walk us through each dish, although most of it was like listening to a foreign language!

both appetizers and both starters were bursting with flavors that we had never tasted before, which is why the main meal was a bit of a disappointment because it was quite bland, and not as exciting.

my favorite dish by far was the pre dessert which seemed to be very indian inspired as it was a combination of two very popular indian desserts. it was made to perfection with just the right amount of sweetness. although the dessert was really good, i was still thinking about the one before!

i really appreciated how much flavor the chef(s) was able to put into a vegetarian menu; something that a lot of restaurants fall short of being able to do.

i would love to come back to try out a different menu.

you only come here if you a real foodie, and appreciate very out of the box plating and cooking styles. really enjoyed their bread basket. we had the set menu, which constantly changes. its fun and exciting to try all the dips and sauces that comes with all the dishes. you will find different tastes and textures when you start mixing up the ingredients. service is awesome. but its a must try for all the foodies. very expensive, but it is worth it if you dont mind coughing up over 1k per person.

definitely a once in a lifetime culinary experience! loved all the courses except for the seared tuna simply because i'm just not a tuna fan but other than that everything else was impeccable! my only gripe is that at twice the price there is very little difference between the lunch and dinner menu... a little confusing but i'll definitely be back after the revamp... for lunch only though!

our 'test kitchen' experience for a graduation celebration was very memorable. the set menu was fantastic. world-class food. i appreciated being updated by the person serving us regarding upcoming changes and renovations happening. i'm glad to hear that the restaurant will soon be doing...

each time we comes, we are more and more impressed. the presentation, wine list and exceptional service. always setting a outstanding level for other cape town restaurants to match

excellent experience, truly a theatre of the stomach. the granita in the dessert was a tad too sour but other than that there was little room for improvement.

is the test kitchen all that it's hyped up to be. after last night's dining experience with them, the answer is a definite yes.

the set menu (with options on pairing) is well thought out and strikes a fine balance between flavour and art. chef luke is a true genius.

the pictures speak a 1000 words...

the test kitchen is a restaurant institution in south africa because it is an amazing culinary experience, however i feel the prices are a bit exorbitant for what you get. the wine servings are minimal for each course and portion sizes are very small. i was still hungry after eating 7 courses and i'm not a big guy. it was a fantastic experience. would i go back? no! i feel that there are other restaurants out there offering a better product at a much more reasonable price. but it's worth a try for the experience.

we were blessed enough to get a lunch table at test kitchen due to a last minute cancellation. for all of us it was our fist time and it went above and beyond our expectations. service, atmosphere and of course the cuisine are brought together in perfect harmony. a visiting friend from abroad summed it up perfectly "it's not food, it's artful science". all courses were outstanding but a special mention should go to the sublime pouched quail. this is an experience that does not occur often, a foodies dream come true. congrats to luke dale-roberts and his entire team.

after a 10 month wait (seriously this is how long we had to wait for a booking) we were treated a culinary adventure, an experience of flavor and combinations that were out of this world. firstly you must appreciate food to fork out r1200pp for dinner but any appreciating foodie will enjoy every rand spend. food had robust and earthy flavor and was well explained by a knowledgeable waiter. there is simply no way i can describe all 10 courses plus appetizers but i can fully understand why they are rated sa num1 4years running!! to those reading this: enjoy it, savor every bite and yes it is worth the money

didn't think ttk could get better but it's better than ever. faultless lunch with an excellent pairing menu. everything you would expect from a fine dining experience. attention to detail, great food and wine and outstanding service.

words fail. this is foodie heaven. if you haven't been here, you really need to. the 6 month waiting list is 100% justifiable. you will not be disappointed. just go.

my whole trip to cape town was built around a reservation at the test kitchen made like six months ago. and it exceeded my expectations. the test kitchen billionaire was made with truffles and had a perfect flavour. my favourite course was the duck with figs, bbq meringue & foie gras. also luv'd the tomato heirloom...tomato jelly, aubergine, roasted parmesan custard, langoustine...amazing flavours. best part was the tables that overlooked the chefs' cooking area...nice warm feeling.
i understand y ttk is the number one restaurant in the country...well worth the title.

the test kitchen is in a league of its own. competing with the international market, the test kitchen could easily be situated in the heart of london or paris. offering an incredible menu, with many course options, the test kitchen is a once off experience. the design and plating of the meals can only be considered art, and the meals themselves are exquisite - i wouldn't mind not even eating them. the actual experience of eating at this restaurant is something you must be prepared for - it is a delicate and mellow process. i would love to go back frequently to try their different menus, however they are expensive - as one can imagine.

overall, 4.5/5.