There are many reasons to grumble about winter in Cape Town. The rain is one of them. The rain this July is another. The rain in August? Don’t even get me started. But amid the grey weather taking the shine off the Mother City this winter are glimmers of good times.
And amid a sea of excellent winter restaurant specials, one of the best in town is above-ground (useful in those Cape Town floods) with The Pot Luck Club’s new Winter Brunch Extravaganza making this trend-setting ground-breaking eatery that much more affordable for locals.
Priced at R1250 per person the Winter Brunch Extravaganza is served as a set menu of 10 courses, and includes unlimited bubbly and Bloody Marys, which would usually set you back another R530.
‘We’re thrilled to offer our loyal diners a comprehensive experience of our legendary Sunday brunch at The Pot Luck Club including all the trimmings!’ enthused Jason Kosmas, Executive Chef at The Pot Luck Club.
Across the 10 courses the focus is on sharing, with plates ranging from West Coast oysters given an Asian punch to buttery brioche with quail egg, porcini hollandaise, and mushroom duxelles. The curried lamb shank taco is a sure-fire hit for chilly days, as is the lush ‘Arnold Bennett’ open omelette with smoked haddock. There’s a seasonal salad, followed by the ‘main course – often Kosmas’ take on duck – followed by a platter of desserts.
‘It’s a really unique way to discover and enjoy the food of The Pot Luck Club, and it’s proven hugely popular. We find this format works so well, and we put a lot of effort into creating new plates, and tweaking old favourites,’ says Kosmas. ‘We take our time to create each dish. Some happen quite organically, others take a lot of development work. But it’s always worth it in the end.’
Of course, all that dining is likely to make you thirsty. And while the Pot Luck Club’s wine list is worth a look, the good news is that aside from the food, the Winter Brunch Extravaganza includes bottomless Cap Classique – this winter it’s from Boschendal, with non-alcoholic options available too – as well as unlimited access to the DIY Bloody Mary Station.
Well, you can DIY it if you like, but it’s probably safer to let the talented bar-keeps take care of the (secret) Pot Luck tomato base, house-infused vodkas and selection of spices and flavourings. Any cocktail that comes with a bacon swizzle stick is a winner in my book.
Getting a table at The Pot Luck Club is usually as easy as finding a parking space at Camps Bay on Boxing Day (i.e. impossible), but the quiet winter months offer the perfect time to discover restaurateur Luke Dale Roberts’ ground-breaking Woodstock restaurant. Throw in a cut-price Brunch deal – and dulcet tunes by acoustic duo Matt and Mony – and you have a very good reason to brave the rain.
The Pot Luck Club’s Sunday Brunch is served from 11am every Sunday morning. The Winter Extravaganza all-inclusive rate of R1250 per person is valid until September 29, 2024. Summer season brunches served from October 2024 to end-April 2025.
Watching your wallet? Check out the best winter restaurant specials in Cape Town.