Food
This was the first of Luke Dale Roberts’ forays into modern tapas territory and, after 11 years, it just gets better. Expect small sharing plates with full-throttle flavour in a stylish setting with a view of the city and the energy to match. The menu is a reflection of a variety of global cuisines and flavours.The food here is designed to be shared, so order a few plates (or one of everything) and get stuck in. The perennially popular taco 2.0 is the perfect combination of flavours and textures: thin, fresh slivers of yellowtail ceviche, creamy avocado, sweet charred corn, and black-bean purée are brought together by the smoky and slightly spicy notes of the chipotle dressing. Ash-roasted beetroot with hoisin dressing, coriander pesto and ponzu mayo brings vibrant colours and interesting textures: finely cubed beetroot, strands of crispy fried sweet potato and zesty radish married with pesto, ponzu mayo and an umami-loaded hoisin dressing. King oyster mushroom with black pepper cep au lait is cooked to perfection, with a memorable finger-licking-good sauce, which is just sweet and creamy enough to complement the umami-rich mushroom. Duck and roasted sweetbreads, plum gastrique, macadamia butter, pine nuts, XO sauce and poultry bordelaise with elderflower extract display a mastery of execution with casual and confident delivery. For dessert, try the likes of the peanut-butter bomb – banana mousse, honeycomb crunch, banana tuille and Frangelico sabayon – it’s the perfect marriage of flavours. The interesting texture created by the peanut and honeycomb crunch is beautifully softened by the Frangelico sabayon. Other options include Jerusalem-artichoke tart with apple, bourbon and vanilla cream, oat crumble and coffee syrup; or chocolate, rum and tonka bean canelé with pistachio-and-orange choux bun. If you prefer something savoury, go for a selection of cheeses and preserves with lavash. This is a restaurant for a special occasion, as prices do add up, but absolutely worth the treat.
Drinks
The Pot Luck Club is known for its innovative cocktails: try the Thai green curry or pineapple-and-vanilla martini. There’s a well-curated wine list with exciting options by both the glass and bottle, as well as a wide selection of spirits and a few beers. Some non-alcoholic choices are also available.
Service
Service is enthusiastic and slick, with all the servers having good knowledge of the dishes on offer.
Ambience
The energy from the open kitchen on the one end and the cocktail bar on the other is exciting. There are almost-wraparound views of the city, with the harbour on one side and the mountain on the other, with laser-cut partitions that echo the skyline and mountain providing demarcation and privacy between tables. It’s an edgy, almost industrial space.
User reviews
6 Reviews
 
★★★★★
Amazingly creative dishes with ultra fresh ingredients - including unusual cocktails like the lemongrass ginger and grenadilla I had. Friendly, attentive staff and fun to sit at the kitchen counter and watch all the prep - if you like that kind of thing. Think carefully about what you order - we ended up with too many dishes with high acid content. Pudding - the raspberry dish was particularly good and the ice cream sandwiches quite fun.
Carla Schoeman
★★★★★
After a slightly underwhelming experience at this establishment in December, I surprised myself by returning for another special occasion. This time for the much talked about Sunday Brunch.
Bookings for this slot are in high demand, and I set a reminder in my calendar for the day that bookings opened for July. I secured a table for 8 and paid a booking deposit, which Im happy to do. (Helps with budgeting for the big event too!)
We arrived approximately 20mins early for our booking, after I made an incorrect assumption that the Biscuit Mill is open on Sundays. The staff wouldnt let us sit inside by the bar, so we mosied back to the sidewalk - not so pleasant on a moody July morning in Cape Town.
We returned promptly at 11am.
We were seated at a table right by the live music - which concerned me initially, but ended up not being a bother at all. The place was packed after a few minutes and a cosy, buzzing atmosphere was created. It was perfect for a wintry Cape Town Sunday.
The service was attentive and swift. I really couldnt fault it.
Our food was, as it should be, the highlight of the day. The brunch is a set menu, with dish after dish served on platters for the table. Every dish I tasted was sensational, perfectly balanced and inspired. This definitely surpassed my previous experience here. The best dishes were the beef tataki, the omelette and the brioche mushroom toast.
There is a bottomless bubbly/bloody Mary option for an additional R300, which isnt really worth it in hindsight. The food is so generous and rich that you cant really consume as much bubbly as you think you can :) But it's a great selling point for the brunch which certainly excited me initially. Next time I'll rather opt for a bottle of bubbly to share. (Around R400)
If PLC is judged only on brunch, I believe you have a top 5 facility here. The brunch is excellent value for money and the experience end to end sensational. It was really a happy birthday for me.
Lelani Bezuidenhout
★★★★★
10/10 service food and experience. Would go here again.
Michael Henning
★★★★★
One word.......fantastic
Oh but you must make a reservation this is Cape Town after all ?
Jabulile Hlatshwayo
★★★★★
We honestly loved the food and bottomless bubbly, pity for us we made a reservation late but still managed to find a table.
The food was creatively tasty and the ambiance is set just right with a live band playing.
We left full and very satisfied, next time we will make a reservation in time.