Johannesburg foodies will delight in the exciting news that the Luke Dale-Roberts pop-up restaurant at the Saxon is to become a permanent feature from May this year. Dale-Roberts is unsurprisingly delighted at the prospect of sharing his culinary skills and signature restaurant experience with Johannesburg diners. He and his team at the Saxon, headed up by Candice Philip, are already planning the autumn menu for Luke Dale-Roberts at the Saxon, and he’s delighted to be working with the gardener on the hotel premises to bring the freshest produce to the table.

The current space will close at the end of March for an extensive refurbishment to reopen in May. Diners can expect a completely new design aesthetic, spearheaded by Sandalene Dale-Roberts, Luke’s fashion and interior designer wife. Tapping into Luke and Sandalene Dale-Roberts’s signature eye for design and fine art, the current space will be transformed into a modern room embracing the South African aesthetic. Already artists Mark Rautenbach and Pete Eastman, whose works are to be seen at The Test Kitchen in Cape Town, are featured in the space.

Luke Dale-Roberts at the Saxon will open on 5 May for dinner from Tuesdays to Saturdays. Bookings are essential. The seven-course tasting menu is currently priced at R1 330 for 7-courses (which includes two appetisers) or R2 100 with wine or tea pairing. Dinner served Tuesday to Saturday. For reservations, call (011) 292 6000 or email to tablereservations@saxon.co.za.