In March 2019, Jess Shepherd and Luke Grant of The Table at De Meye announced that the restaurant would be changing hands after six years. It’s not all bad news, though, as the restaurant still remains, with another powerhouse duo taking over the reins.

 

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A post shared by The Table At De Meye (@thetable_demeye) on Sep 10, 2019 at 9:56pm PDT

Partners Leigh Williamson and Brendan Thorncroft have taken over the Winelands restaurant as of 1 September and are committing to continue serving idyllic lazy lunches to locals and tourists alike.

“We saw on Instagram that Jess and Luke were selling, and so we had to jump at this amazing opportunity, as we love The Table (the setting, the concept of sharing food and emphasis on fresh ingredients),” explains Leigh, who has worked as a food product developer. “I remember the first time that I ate there – I thought to myself ‘This is the perfect restaurant concept and if I ever had to open a restaurant, it would be like this: sitting in the sunshine, drinking wine and sharing delicious and hearty food with my family and friends,’” she adds.

 

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A post shared by The Table At De Meye (@thetable_demeye) on Sep 17, 2019 at 7:39am PDT

Brendan – who has been a chef for the last 10 years and worked with George Jardine for the last seven at Jordan Restaurant, Jardine Restaurant and then Restaurant Seven – is heading up the kitchen, with Leigh tackling front-of-house operations.

What will change? Not much, according to the pair. “Brendan and I intend to continue with the concept of a sharing three-course menu, using local and seasonal ingredients from small suppliers. We really like the idea of ingredients having a story of where they are sourced from,” explains Leigh. Think a table laden with sourdough, farm butter, and Brendan’s aubergine chutney; honey- and soy-braised beef flat rib; mashed potato (with loads of cream and butter) and chives; roasted carrots with dukkah and purple kale; and chocolate tart with berry Chantilly for dessert.

The team will also continue to offer the sought-after tables outside under the trees, as well as inside the old farm buildings with a roaring fire on colder days.

 

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A post shared by The Table At De Meye (@thetable_demeye) on Aug 13, 2019 at 1:57am PDT

The Table at De Meye – under new ownership – is now open for lunch from Wednesdays to Sundays as of 1 September, and bookings can be made via their website.