The Test Kitchen

Description

The Test Kitchen is a creative, trendy restaurant situated in The Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock, Cape Town, owned and operated by celebrated chef, Luke Dale-Roberts. The Test Kitchen holds a string of local and international awards, including Restaurant of the Year for the 2013 Eat Out DStv Restaurant Awards; and you’ll likely have to book a table weeks (if not months) in advance.

Alex Perry wrote in Time Magazine, “The day Woodstock officially became Cape Town’s hottest district can be dated to Nov. 24, 2010 – when Luke Dale-Roberts opened The Test Kitchen there.” British-born Luke trained in Switzerland and England before doing a five year stint in Asia, launching restaurants in Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and the Philippines. “My time in Europe taught me to cook; my time in Asia broadened my horizons”, says Luke.

As the name implies, The Test Kitchen affords Luke an innovative space where he can create and explore different flavours and ingredients. The old warehouse space is distinctly industrial yet warm, with brick walls, oak beams, ducts, and pipes exposing the integrity and honesty of the building.

The open plan kitchen allows the chefs to engage directly with guests seated at the wooden bar that wraps around it. The small dining room only seats 65 people, so guests are able to see and hear the buzz of the chefs at work, and smell every dish being prepared. The wine menu showcases South Africa’s diverse range of high quality wines, older and special vintages, and a handful of hand-picked international wines and champagnes.

“The Test Kitchen is serious fun. Our food is free to roam in whichever direction. If there is no immediate smile as we create a new dish then we are on the wrong track. I want guests to be surprised and delighted, to wonder what ingredients we have used and how we made it. It should be an adventure!” - Luke Dale-Roberts

Awards

2013 Restaurant of the Year – Eat Out DStv Restaurant Awards 2013 Winner of the “Cacao Barry One to Watch Award” - The World’s Best Restaurants 2013 The World’s Best Restaurants No.61 2013 Rossouw’s Restaurants 3 Stars Accolade 2012 The World’s Best Restaurants No.74 2012 Rossouw’s Restaurants 3 Stars Accolade 2012 Restaurant of the Year – Eat Out DStv Restaurant Awards 2011 Chef of the Year – Eat Out DStv Restaurant Awards 2011 Top 10 Restaurants – Eat Out DStv Restaurant Awards