The Chefs' Table — Restaurant in KwaZulu-Natal

ATE HERE ON THE 8TH MARCH 2025 AT 20:30PM

CHEFS TABLE UMHLANGA

I am still reeling from the extraordinary dining experience we had at Chef's Table. Every aspect of our visit was truly exceptional, from the amazing service to the amazing atmosphere, beautiful decor, and, of course, the exquisite cuisine.

●SERVICE (The service at Chef's Table was top-notch. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly, taking the time to explain each dish and its ingredients. The staff's passion for the food they serve is evident in every interaction.)

●ATMOSPHERE AND DECOR (The atmosphere at Chef's Table is sophisticated and refined, with a beautiful decor that exudes warmth and elegance. The dining area is intimate and cozy, with comfortable seating and ample space for large groups.)

●FOOD (Each dish we ordered was a masterclass in culinary excellence. The flavors were bold, the presentation was stunning, and the quality of the ingredients was evident in every bite.)

●PRAWN TOAST (A delightful small dish that set the tone for the rest of the meal. The prawn toast was crispy and flavorful, with a delightful sesame seed crunch and a burst of citrus from the lime cheeks.)

●DUCK LIVER PARFAIT (A rich and decadent dish that was both familiar and innovative. The duck liver parfait was creamy and smooth, with a delightful crunch from the pickled red onion and crisp polenta.)

●COAL ROASTED OCTOPUS (A truly show-stopping dish that was both visually stunning and bursting with flavor. The coal-roasted octopus was tender and charred, with a delightful crunch from the peanuts and a burst of citrus from the lime curd.)

●NORWEGIAN SALMON CRUDO (A refreshing and light dish that was perfect for the summer season. The Norwegian salmon crudo was fresh and flavorful, with a delightful burst of citrus from the lime ponzu and a satisfying crunch from the besan sev.)

●WOOD-FIRED BEEF FILLET (A classic dish that was elevated to new heights by the chef's skills and creativity. The wood-fired beef fillet was tender and flavorful, with a delightful crunch from the thy chip and a burst of creaminess from the horseradish crème.)

●BELLY OF PORK (A truly indulgent dish that was both familiar and innovative. The belly of pork was tender and flavorful, with a delightful crunch from the spiced peanut and a burst of sweetness from the stewed blueberries.)

●HERITAGE TOMATO RISOTTO (A creamy and comforting dish that was perfect for a cold winter's night. The heritage tomato risotto was rich and flavorful, with a delightful burst of heat from the green chilli and a satisfying crunch from the parmesan.)

●WHIPPED POTATOES (Classic side dish that was elevated to new heights by the chef's skill and creativity. The whipped potatoes were creamy and flavorful, with a delightful burst of nuttiness from the brown butter and a satisfying crunch from the chives.)

●SUMMER BERRY MOCKTAIL (A refreshing and fruity drink that was perfect for the summer season. The summer berry mocktail was sweet and tangy, with a delightful burst of flavor from the mixed berry and a satisfying crunch from the pineapple.)

●EMERALD ISLE MOCKTAIL (A truly unique and innovative drink that was both familiar and exciting. The Emerald Isle mocktail was refreshing and herbaceous, with a delightful burst of flavor from the pear and a satisfying crunch from the mint.)

CHOCOLATE SYMPHONY (A truly decadent and indulgent dessert that was both familiar and innovative. The chocolate symphony was rich and creamy, with a delightful burst of flavor from the banana ganache and a satisfying crunch from the chocolate feuilletine.)

●P.S. I Love You (A truly romantic and indulgent dessert that was both familiar and innovative. The P.S. I Love You dessert was creamy and sweet, with a delightful burst of flavor from the blond crèmeux and a satisfying crunch from the...

My wife and I have unfortunately had a disappointing experience at The Chefs' Table recently. We have dined here previously and absolutely loved the experience. This is why when we recently had an occasion to celebrate, we decided to do this at The Chefs' Table.

On this particular night we had a number of issues; We had to wait over half an hour to be seated for a booking we had made. At the time we were not overly concerned as it was quite busy, so we had a drink at the bar. After a 30 minute wait, we had to chase up to see if our table was ready. We were then not offered our welcome drinks, which were part of a special we had booked. We queried this during the meal and chose to have our drinks at the end of our night, since we had already bought a bottle of wine with dinner. Our starters then arrived incredibly fast after being ordered, and before the bread board. We also had to request cutlery to begin eating our starters. There was then a significant wait until our mains arrived (well over half an hour). My wife had to cancel her dessert which was also part of the special, as she had lost her appetite.

When the manager on the night came around to ask how everything was, we let them know our disappointments. We were given the explanation that “it has been a busy night” with no further apology. In the end we left quite unsatisfied and disappointed with the experience.

A few days later I wrote an email to highlight the evening, so that it could be managed better in future. I received a call from The Chefs' Table the following day, to apologize for the short fallings and was told we would be emailed a voucher as way of apology. Over a week has now passed and we have not heard anything further from The Chefs' Table.

We would like to end by saying the food was outstanding and we could not fault it. We also have nothing bad to say regarding the friendliness of both the bar and waiting staff. Unfortunately, we had high expectations for what we consider to be an expensive, high class restaurant and were left...

We visited Chef’s Table to celebrate a birthday.

Since this restaurant is “one of the more sophisticated, fine dining experiences in Durban, while remaining contemporary and approachable” as quoted on the website, I was quite excited to finally try it. Sadly, my excitement turned very quickly into an evening of utter disappointment.

Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted with a strange smell, which we chose to overlook.

“Beautifully designed, with luxurious detail The Chefs' Table offers gracious hospitality” - as quoted on the website. Aesthetics are far from luxurious and quite average for a so-called fine dining establishment.

Loved the concept of an open kitchen but not when the chef’s are touching their faces, beards, and hair midst cooking.

Our waitress Siza did not add value to our dining experience either. She was cold & stand-offish for no apparent reason, yet ready to smile & attend to other patrons with care and professionalism, upon my observation. Sadly no gracious hospitality extended to us from Siza, except from the very polite manager.

We ordered the fillet, sirloin, and seasonal veg gnocchi for mains. The steaks were overcooked. The seasonal veg gnocchi was inedible - vegetables were watery and overall meal was appalling, which I sent back to the kitchen. The manager was courteous enough to offer another meal and take it off the bill. I would have much rather had an exceptional meal than a free one.

We decided to give the dessert a try. The rhubarb pannacotta was good - thankfully a more positive note to end the evening.

Overall, the menu is trying too hard with execution letting down the...