Luke Dale-Roberts’ pop-up restaurant at the Saxon is set to stay in the City of Gold, and will open permanently in May after a refurbishment of the space. The refurbishment will be spearheaded by Sandalene Dale-Roberts, Luke’s fashion and interior designer wife, who was responsible for the signature looks of Luke’s Cape Town restaurant the Pot Luck Club.
Dale-Roberts and his team at the Saxon, headed up by Candice Philip, are currently planning the Autumn menu, and Dale-Roberts is working closely with Saxon’s gardener to bring items from the hotel’s exquisite vegetable garden to the restaurant’s plates. “We have some fantastic things planned on the autumn gardening schedule that will be transformed on the plate,” Dale-Roberts adds.
He says: “Obviously the expectations have been very high with the pop-up in Johannesburg. But, to be honest, I’ve absolutely loved the energy here. The guests are excited to be here, they’re chatting to people at other tables. It’s a space that’s fun, filled with energy and shared excitement.”
Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa Managing Director, George Cohen says of the new restaurant: “I’ve personally been a longstanding admirer of Luke’s cuisine and so the initial conversation and idea around The Test Kitchen pop-up in Johannesburg was welcomed with great enthusiasm. What we’ve tried to achieve with this collaboration, and the overall Saxon dining offering, is to bring newly inspired culinary concepts to Johannesburg. With the success of the current pop-up restaurant, the decision to create a permanent dining space with Luke Dale-Roberts continues the Saxon philosophy of offering unique guest experiences.”
Luke Dale-Roberts at the Saxon will open on 5 May for dinner from Tuesdays to Saturdays. Bookings are essential. The seven-course tasting menu is currently priced at R1 330 for 7-courses (which includes two appetisers) or R2 100 with wine or tea pairing. Dinner served Tuesday to Saturday.
For reservations, call (011) 292 6000 or email to tablereservations@saxon.co.za.
