Luke Dale Roberts, the chef behind a string of award-winning restaurants, including The Test Kitchen and The Pot Luck Club, is set to expand his culinary empire. Following the success of his restaurants at 2022 Eat Out Woolworths Awards, Roberts is making some bold moves within the next few months.
He recently announced plans to expand The Pot Luck Club brand within the country, with The Test Kitchen Carbon in Johannesburg being transformed into the brand’s first location outside of Cape Town. “The Pot Luck Club’s energetic, fun atmosphere and excellent high-level offering is the perfect recipe for the city’s dining scene. It will also give guests the freedom to order what they love and allow the team to exercise their creativity fully,” said Roberts.
To ensure a smooth transition, The Test Kitchen Carbon’s head chef, Tyron Gentry, will be spending time in Cape Town, immersing himself in The Pot Luck Club experience before the opening of the Johannesburg location, scheduled for April 2023. The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg and The Shortmarket Club, headed by chef Taryn Smith, will further cement Roberts’ presence in the City of Gold.
“The Pot Luck Club’s menu has always been easy and accessible while remaining high-end. We will honour much-loved Cape Town classics on the Johannesburg menu and add inventive new plates, allowing Tyron to express himself. He is hungry to learn, and I have great faith in him to lead the team at The Pot Luck Club in Johannesburg,”
said Kosmas.
Executive chef and driving force behind The Pot Luck Club Cape Town, Jason Kosmas, will take the reins of The Pot Luck Club brand and work closely with Tyron Gentry to create innovative new dishes for the Johannesburg location.
Grey Tawanda, the longest-serving manager at The Pot Luck Club in Cape Town before the pandemic, will join the Johannesburg team as a restaurant manager. Kosmas is thrilled to have Tawanda back on board, saying, “He will bring his inimitable style and energy to the experience.”
Roberts and his team are making big moves to expand their culinary reach in South Africa, with The Pot Luck Club at the forefront of their plans. With their expertise and creativity, the Johannesburg location will surely be a hit for foodies and critics alike.
The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg will begin trading on 1 May 2023. Bookings will open 3 April 2023 and can be made online. The restaurant will be located at Shop 14 ground floor, 6 Parks Boulevard, Oxford Parks, Dunkeld.
