the test kitchen

being one of the top 50 restaurants in the world and the number one in africa, we had high expectations... and the test kitchen delivered!! never have i ever experienced a meal with such attention to detail - flawlessly executed. the flavours are complex and come in various and unexpected forms - black sesame seed shortbread, smoked tea jelly and a chicken mousse egg, to name a few - adding to the haute cuisine dining experience. the different components work in perfect harmony to create the most magnificent dishes and adding the wine pairing option to our tasting menu definitely took it to another level. pricey but worth every cent - hats off to the mastermind, the legend chef luke dale-roberts.

bookings are near impossible to get hold of and they're already accepting bookings for 6 months time. we were so lucky we got our waiting-list booking. whoever it was who cancelled last minute, we cannot thank you enough!!! (and you seriously missed out)

wow! what an amazing experience! since i read the reviews on zomato i really wanted to try this restaurant. phoned them and got like a booking for only 4 months later! then on trip-advisor also saw they are number 1 in cape town and top 10 in the world, so really glad i made the booking.

yes, they are expensive, and it is tasting portions but we were still stuffed! we chose the 5 course meal, with 1 wine pairing (after reading reviews that this is sufficient and it was). and we basically tasted everything on the menu except for the cheese plate. they also provided us with complimentary snacks, a bread basket and a complimentary first course.

all the food was amazing! the best for me was the scallops and the pork belly! some of the food looked so great, forgot to take photo's before digging in!

the service was also great, from the welcome at the door, to the explanations of the food and wine.

save, save, save and go treat yourself!

i have no comment on this restaurant. simply put, go there for yourself and make up your own mind. its one of those places that leaves you with an opinion of your own. rate at your own risk. i only show a one because i had to leave a rating in order to post. it does not mean that the restaurant deserves a 1.

we made reservations here for lunch. great vibe and atmosphere, loved the open
kitchen. we opted for the a la carte menu as we were under time constraints but
would love to return to the set menu with wine pairings. great attention to
detail on every plate and superb flavours. the chocolate dessert plate was
amazing!!!! service was friendly and efficient. will definitely return.

definitely the best gastronomic experience of our lives. awesome food, excellent service and a fantastic ambience.

although the food and service was fantastic i did walk away thinking i don't have to come back again. maybe it's the price tag that makes it a once in a life time type of joint. at least on my budget it is.

unbelievable!!!

the best food experience of our lives!
my wife and i have been here for lunch twice now and both times have been equally the best food experiences of our lives too date! we are both foodies and this place checks all the boxes :)
the vibe and setting are perfect. the old biscuit mill is the only place this restaurant could be. absolutely wonderful.
both occasions we went for the 5 course wine paired lunch. i would highly recommend this option. the wait staff are very knowledgable on both the food and wine and tie the whole experience together seamlessly!
we will definitely be going back whenever we get the chance. maybe next time we will get a dinner booking (book well in advance!)

the best experience ever!

i went to the test kitchen only after i've been to the potluck club. i really couldn't imagine it being any better but it was, not to say potluck club isnt amazing but the test kitchen was an experience unlike any other.

i felt as if i were transported to food heaven and every moment more magnificent than the last.

yes its a long waiting list but so worth the wait, i have made a few bookings for the next while. my mouth waters until then...

amazing lunch! the service is friendly, relaxed and faultless. the food is interesting and delicious! we opted for the five course paired lunch and it was a real treat! i'd go back here as many times as my wallet would allow. the biscuit mill offers a bunch of other things to browse, so all in all a great experience.

i know it's rated top on cape town but must admit i didn't think it was worth the extravagant price.

the food is undeniably well thought out, beautifully plated, meticulously presented and explained and holds the taste and flavor that you'd expect. service and wine list are flawless and excellently chosen.

i wouldn't go back... after all that i felt the entire experience was too rich and overpriced. too much of a good thing really did ruin it for me...

would be good for a one on one dinner date with a serious foodie friend who is not at all phased by budget. expect close to r1000 a head. easily.

this was the most amazing mix of art and science i have ever tasted! :-) this is a place you must visit if you love food, art, science or all of the above. a sense of adventure and appreciation for culinary innovation is required. .

the best food i've ever had... sorry honey.. but i know u think the same ;-)

two scorpios went for a birthday dinner to the test kitchen. we made our reservation just before it was named the top restaurant in the country, and as such we felt quite smug that we were going there so soon when all our friends were complaining about not being able to get in for months! expectations were high, and chef dale luke roberts did not disappoint: one has the option of a 5 course or 9 course tasting menu, with or without wine pairing. every course also had two options. we signed up for the 5 course tasting menu with the agreement that between us we would order both course options. we also decided to pair one of us with wine, and then share each glass, as i certainly can’t drink 5 glasses of wine on my own! but even before the 5 courses started we were brought an amuse bouche platter of what looked like sweeties, but they were savoury snacks. and then the courses started rolling in and we sampled 10 courses between us. somewhere along the road a palette cleanser was also introduced. and after desert, another little platter was brought to us, identical in look to the amuse bouche platter, but now recreated as sweet! very clever and very impressive! and after that, we were also brought a special chocolate platter with “happy birthday” written in chocolate over the plate. nice touch! the interior of the restaurant is quite stark and i would have liked a more comfortable chair. the waiters were informed and informative and professional. the food was absolutely beautifully plated and presented, often on very interesting plates and surfaces. problem is that my memories of that evening are all in pictures, i don’t have a taste memory of a single bite i ate. it all become a blur the moment i left the restaurant. probably because i tasted about a zillion different things that evening! but i suppose that is the point: the test kitchen is an experience that is about pushing the boundaries of food, about innovation and finding new ways to prepare and present ingredients. this very beautiful, creative and clever food didn’t blow my taste buds, but it did blow my mind! and it is a birthday experience i will treasure always.

wow wow wow! after waiting forever to get a booking we finally managed to get a seat in one of the most amazing places i have ever been to. we sat at the counter which was amazing, as we got to watch the chefs in action. we opted for the paired 5 course meal and everything was superb!! my absolute favourite was the hake with quail egg, and decadent chocolate trio dessert. wine pairing was spot on, waiters are very clued up and the restaurant just has an amazing buzz to it! hands down best restaurant i have been to so far!