Photo courtesy of Santie Korf Photography

Food

Mother and daughter team Maggie Gey van Pittius and Esrida Brits are the faces behind Laughing Chefs Restaurant, Venue and Tapas Bar, which they took over from the former owner and dressed up in brand new clothes.

It’s a cosy venue, with many nooks and crannies to choose from, making it a versatile spot. Inside and out, you can pick both your setting and your food. With an adventurous tapas menu (ideal for small or large parties), it becomes great fun. Make your selection from dishes like blue cheese snails; lamb croquettes with tomato chilli chutney; mushroom risotto balls with a melted mozzarella centre; ostrich and peppadew skewers; and snoek and patat fish cakes served with moskonfyt.

Or for more hearty mains, try the fish fillet topped with pistachios and crispy bacon, the slow-roasted lamb shank with star anise jus, or the rich creamy pork fillet stuffed with blue cheese and figs.

Wine

The selection suits their cuisine and is on the easy-drinking side, including Vrede en Lust Casey’s Ridge, the Place in the Sun range, Zonnebloem Blanc de Blanc and Graham Beck Railroad Red, all reasonably priced.

Service

Mom Maggie keeps an eye on the floor with warm conversation, while daughter Esrida is hands on in the kitchen.

The interior of Laughing Chefs Restaurant, Venue and Tapas Bar in Pretoria. Photo courtesy of Santie Korf Photography.

Ambience

Imagine large glass windows, lush gardens and the soothing sounds of the rippling water, and a mood pool that runs the length of one of the dining rooms. It used to be more cluttered, but the women have stuck to clean lines to enhance the beauty of this idyllic spot.

And…

This is also fantastic as an events venue, and catering is another of their strong suits.

Have you been to Laughing Chefs? Share your experience by writing a review.