Our next contender for the 2016 Boschendal Style Award is The Pot Luck Club, Woodstock’s industrial-chic and extremely popular restaurant situated at the Old Biscuit Mill. Here’s why it deserves its nomination as the most stylish restaurant in SA.

Design details

The look: Industrial-chic
The location: The top floor of the Old Biscuit Mill Silo in Woodstock
The creatives: Architecture and design by Greg Scott and Nina Sierra, artwork and screens by Peter Eastman, bronze work by Otto du Plessis, sculpting by Egon Tania, furniture by Starry Eve Collett, wood design by Lawrence Friedman, art by Andrew Lawrence Gibson, and clothing and chair designs by Sandalene Dale-Roberts.

The interior at The Pot Luck Club. Photo by Michael le Grange.

The style

Conceptualized by award-winning chef and owner Luke Dale-Roberts, The Pot Luck Club offers sweeping city views and bright made-to-share cuisine in an edgy space.

Situated on the top floor of the Silo of the Old Biscuit Mill, Luke collaborated with renowned Cape Town based architect Greg Scot and designer Nina Sierra along with some of the city’s foremost art and design personalities to create a trendy space that makes the most of the building’s breathtaking views.

The eclectic decor at The Pot Luck Club. Photo supplied.

Stepping out of the glass-sided lift at the sixth floor, diners are greeted by almost panoramic views of the mountain and surrounding city. The entrance to the restaurant boasts Otto du Plessis’s bronze manhole with its wild boar motif, now synonymous with the Pot Luck branding. Stepping out of the lift onto a cobbled ‘street’, diners are then welcomed by sleek herringbone chestnut floors.

The focal point of the space, which has become a signature of Luke and Sandalene’s style, is the gleaming open plan kitchen. The space is equipped with a grand 1.4 metre Robata grill and range of power woks, adding drama to the buzzing atmosphere.

The kitchen at The Pot Luck Club. Photo supplied.

Custom-painted screens by artist Peter Eastman add eccentric pops of colour while hand-embroided Casemento booth-style couches and refurbished kitchen chairs from Miyabi (Sandalene Dale-Roberts’s company) give the space a rustic edge. Low hanging lights add an intimate and warm glow to the restaurant’s cool shell.

“The original Pot Luck creation was about sharing; a genuine philosophy that has been carried through to the design and concept with the space where my collaborators on the project have become my friends,” explains Luke. “My wife Sandalene also remains a constant source of inspiration. The out-of-the-box ideas and advice from all the players on the project is what gives this restaurant true soul.”

A view of the kitchen at The Pot Luck Club. Photo supplied.

The cuisine

Offering plates of tapas that are designed to be shared, the menu is organised according to five tastes: salty, sour, bitter, sweet and umami. Inspired by global flavours of South America, Europe, Asia and Africa, the bold yet accessible dishes include stand outs like the legendary fish and the DIY Bloody Mary where guests craft their own drink with flavoured vodkas, candied bacon, radishes, cucumber and even a squeeze of Sriracha.

The DIY bloody Mary at The Pot Luck Club. Photo supplied.

Does The Pot Luck Club have what it takes to win the 2016 Boschendal Style Award? Find out at the Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards on 20 November 2016. Buy tickets now.