There are tastings, and then there are experiences, the kind that surprise you with every course, charm you with their setting, and leave you plotting your return before dessert hits the table. That’s exactly what unfolded at The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg when we stopped by to taste the new Prix Fixe menus on offer.
Known for its daring flavour combinations and signature small plates, The Pot Luck Club (born out of its cult-followed Cape Town sister) is now offering two curated sharing menus and both deliver serious bang for your buck.
The Prix Fixe Lite Menu, a curated five-course experience designed for sharing between two, is the perfect midday or early dinner treat. It’s generous, flavour-packed, and well-balanced without being over the top. The Prix Fixe Loaded Menu is a knockout eight-plate spread that reads like a passport through global cuisine, with each dish anchored by bold technique and artful presentation.
Our taste adventure began on the lite menu with a rustic spread of homemade ciabatta, whipped Klein River butter, and a selection of vibrant dips, including babaganoush, PLC olives, and a punchy cashew dakka — simple yet deeply satisfying.
Next up, the Taco 2.0 blew me away with its punchy mix of black bean, chipotle, avocado and charred corn, followed by a gorgeously fresh linefish ceviche served on a black bean purée. This dish is light yet flavour-forward, and I’m a big fan of the “samosa dough taco”, which adds to the overall lightness of it.
From there, things got richer with the Pot Luck’s famous fish sliders, stacked with flaky hake, miso mayo and mojo dressing — tiny, umami-loaded bites of joy. It’s worth noting that because dairy and I are currently not on speaking terms, the chef kindly replaced my buns with lettuce. However, my version of the sliders was still every bit as satisfying as the original, albeit a little light.
As we journeyed through the mains, including crispy squid with sticky-sweet fish sauce caramel and red curry cashew crunch, pork belly in a coconut and peanut broth, peri peri chicken with ajo blanco, and a vibrant kale salad, it was the smoked beef fillet, finished with black pepper café au lait and truffle that stood out for me. This dish is every bit as indulgent as it sounds and worth risking the dairy allergy for.
On the side? Chickpea, goat’s cheese and parmesan fries, paired with truffle aioli and smoked ketchup. They’re rich, crisp, and slightly addictive, a side dish that could easily steal the show.
And just when you think you’re done, dessert arrives, the Peanut Butter Bomb — banana mousse, honeycomb, and Frangelico sabayon — left the table swooning. I was treated to the PLC Sweet Board with macadamia nougat, salted chocolate caramel, and blood orange pate de fruit.
The setting, as always, is part of the magic. Nestled inside the lush grounds of The Peech Boutique Hotel, the atmosphere is as considered as the menu, airy, elegant, and effortlessly cool. Whether you're entertaining out-of-towners, meeting friends for a special lunch, or just treating yourself midweek, this Prix Fixe offering hits all the right notes.
The Prix Fixe menus are available until the end of September 2025. The Lite Menu costs R495 per person while the Loaded Menu comes in at R795 per person.
Time Out tip: Book a weekday lunch, then wander through the hotel’s garden or enjoy a post-meal cocktail (or mocktail, I recommend the Cucumber and Elderflower mocktail for a sweet treat) at the bar. It’s a serene little world just minutes from the city buzz.
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