the test kitchen

luke dale-roberts’ test kitchen has been on our to eat list for some time now. and so when i was lured down to the old biscuit mill one saturday afternoon, i thought i was in for a spot of shopping until we turned into the test kitchen & i realised i was in for some feasting. good surprise indeed…

this is more than fine dining, it’s a gastronomic explosion in your mouth & yet it’s completely unpretentious. the food is anything but ordinary. the combinations unusual and so flavourful you just want it to go on & on. each plate is a work of art. you almost don’t want to dig in because you know you’re to ruin the beautiful picture in front of you.

there service was polished & professional & i loved that the waiter took the time to explain each dish to us as it came to the table. i don’t really care for open kitchens but it was cool to see what all the chefs were up to (i counted over 12 when we were there!).

reservations are a must as they seat 30.

see the full review and pictures on my blog… http://www.wiscellaneous.com/2013/09/04/test-kitchen-you-aint-tasted-nothing-yet/

spectacular. one of the few restaurants that lives up to the hype. we went for our anniversary before it became 'super famous' - and it still excelled. a reasonably priced menu, considering what you are getting - it makes for a perfect special-occasion meal. be sure to book well in advance. it's a meal you'll be talking about for years to come. just do it.

test kitchen 2nd time round, first for dinner and now for lunch.

it goes without saying that luke is one of the best chefs in the country and continues to deliver against this mantra. his unique flavours and ideas are delivered in a vibrant setting.

so, dinner and lunch. truth, i really prefer the evening setting, it just feels better. a little like getting a soft serve ice cream on a hot saturday afternoon, and not getting the flake. it is still good but just not as good. i think this is also compounded by the fact that i did not have the wine pairing during the lunch and i feel that it plays such a huge part in the brilliant experience that is test kitchen.

there is so much to be said for this amazing restaurant but all of it has been said before. it’s not cheap but then it is not an everyday type of experience. i think for a foodie it is worth every cent!!