The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg: A Final Meal Before the Move
Have you heard? The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg, by Luke Dale Roberts, has found a new home. Naturally, we just had to pop in for one last bite at its current location, as they’re moving quite soon! “Where to?” you might ask. Well, dear foodies and hungry travellers, to The Peech Hotel – which recently celebrated its 20th birthday – in the heart of Melrose!
Dale Roberts says: “We’ve loved every minute of our time in Joburg,” adding that this opportunity came at just the right time. “The urban energy of The Pot Luck Club is a perfect fit with The Peech, which is just such a sexy, gorgeous hotel. It’s one of my favourite places in Johannesburg, and a real hidden secret in Melrose,” the restaurateur concludes.
So, before The Pot Luck Club leaves the bustling streets of Rosebank for the tranquility of Melrose’s The Peech Hotel, we popped in for a final lunch. And, what a lunch it was!
Stuck Between Nostalgia and Anticipation
When dining at The Pot Luck Club, you can expect nothing less than flamboyant flavours and picture-perfect cocktails. We opted for the prix fixe menu, which is a great option for a shareable lunch, making the many courses a little less intimidating. We could choose two cocktails each, with a bottle of house wine also making its way to the table as we indulged.
Lunch kicked off with a freshly baked Ciabatta, served with Smoked Butter and Marinated Olives. The Pot Luck Club’s famous Fish Sliders followed, with a divine Mojo Dressing and Miso Mayo making it hard to put down. Although quite spicy, the third course – a Peri Peri Chicken dish – was a winner. It came with Ajo Blanco, a Kale and Pepper Salad and what they’ve dubbed a Braai Vinaigrette. For the fourth course, we shared a plate of Smoked Beef Fillet, perfectly prepared and served with Black Pepper and Truffle Café au Lait. Next up was the Chickpea, Goats Cheese and Parmesan Fries – a surprising alternative to French fries. Uniquely plated, it was complemented by a delicious Truffle Ailoi and Smoked Ketchup. Finally, The Pot Luck Club’s version of a Hertzoggie is what will have us look them up at their new location come 2025. Originally a typical South African sweet treat, which can possibly be traced back to the Cape Malay culture, the Pot Luck Club has made it into a full-blown dessert. In fact, this dessert is one that not only pulled at our salivary glands, but also at our heartstrings. Boasting Coconut Cake, Apricot Puree and an out-of-this-world Condensed Milk and Lime Sauce, as well as Toasted Coconut and Apricot Sorbet, we were transported to two places at once. Ultimately, the dessert – modern, yet modest – left us nostalgic, while it also invited inquisitiveness. Now, we’re burning with anticipation; eager to explore the restaurant’s next chapter at The Peech Hotel.
The Pot Luck Club in 2025
James Peech, the owner of The Peech Hotel says: “I’ve always been a tremendous admirer of Luke’s food and his approach as a restaurateur and chef. Marking twenty years in business was a turning point for our family-run hotel and we wanted to continue the evolution of what we have to offer both travellers and locals. We’re thrilled to be partnering with Luke in this next chapter of our growth.”
The final service at The Pot Luck Club in Rosebank will be on Saturday, 14 December 2024, which will also mark the last service at Basalt, The Peech Hotel’s current restaurant. The Pot Luck Club at The Peech Hotel will start taking bookings from 16 December 2024, with the restaurant officially opening its doors on Tuesday, 28 January 2025.
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