Two years after Laughing Chefs Dining Room opened its doors, mother and daughter team Maggie and Esrida have kept refining and fine-tuning their tapas-orientated menu in the knowledge that they’re right where they want to be.

A beer and tapas platter at Laughing Chefs Dining Room. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Food

It’s more tasting menu than strictly tapas, however. The offering, with its decidedly South African flavours, includes blue cheese snails (a favourite); bruschetta with pear, walnuts and caramelised onion; risotto balls with filled melted mozzarella (a new version of an old favourite); mini fishcakes; deep-fried chicken livers; and various types of mini meat skewers, including bobotie or ostrich.

Moroccan-slanted slow-roasted lamb shank with star anise jus at Laughing Chefs Dining Room. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

If you want something more substantial, stand in line for the restaurant’s all-time favourite, the Moroccan-slanted slow-roasted lamb shank with star anise jus. They dare not take it off the menu. Other items that might appear in colder months include oxtail and lasagne rolls or perhaps oxtail lasagne. They’re constantly shifting and shaping their food options to keep diners interested and their imagination ticking.

Drinks

Expect an easy-drinking wine list with four options. They’ve included Earthbound organic wines and are also big on port and muscadel for those chilly winter evenings, when they serve it in a wine glass rather than the traditional tiny tumbler.

A drink topped with mint at Laughing Chefs Dining Room. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Service

Mom Maggie keeps an eye on the floor with charming chatter while daughter Esrida is hands on behind the scenes in the kitchen.

The top view of a tapas platter at Laughing Chefs Dining Room. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Ambience

Picture lush gardens and the soothing sounds of rippling water, the reflection of lights at night on large glass windows, and a mood pool that runs the length of one of the dining rooms. Laughing Chefs is a charming spot with many different placement options – you can be off on your own or part of the buzz, depending on your mood.

And…

Take note of dinner theatre nights, with jazz, acoustic and classical music all forming part of the soundscape. They’ve also introduced wine pairings and craft beer tastings.

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Outside at Laughing Chefs Dining Room. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.