The White Room at Dear Me

The White Room (above the ground floor of the popular Dear Me brasserie where award-winning Chef Vanessa Marx is known to bring diners to tears with her exceptional Eggs Benedict), is now open 2 nights a week – Thurs AND Fri for dinner.

The White Room is a more refined dining experience where Vanessa’s creativity comes to the fore. We had the opportunity to try the 8-course degustation menu (there’s the alternative of a 5-course) and were blown away by what we tasted during the evening. Without spoiling it for you, here are a few things to know about The White Room.

The concept in a nutshell
The White Room’s menu is a set menu with wine pairing. However you do have the option to choose your own wine if you prefer. Vanessa highlights ethically sourced and sustainable produce served in a thoughtful and rather quirky, playful style. We enjoyed the “S’Kaap tjoppie” dish which is a play on words – skaap (sheep/lamb) and Kaap (Cape Town).

What’s unique about it?
The wine that is offered comes from unusual, lesser known and some highly acclaimed producers and vintages. We were served some Cape Wine Makers Guild auction wine and a wonderful Riesling from Howard Booysen that was out of this world! The attention to detail is incredible –  from the outstanding wine service, original presentation of food and subtle lighting, down to the absolutely beautiful Isola cutlery. Each element on the plate is carefully thought out and adds meaning to the dish. The service staff are extremely knowledgeable and take the time to explain everything. A shout-out must go to the sommelier, Joseph, who was well-informed, interesting, and professional.

Who would like it
Those with an adventurous palate will appreciate the thoughtfulness and effort that has gone into each dish and if you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate a special occasion, then this is it. If you’re a serious wino, you’ll also enjoy the wonderful and exciting wines on offer. Guests who enjoy chatting to the chef responsible for their food will find that Vanessa is very friendly and ‘hands-on’ and even comes to the table during the evening to serve a dish… (sorry for the spoiler but that’s all we’re going to say!).

Who wouldn’t like it
Don’t make a booking if you are expecting to find steak and chips or pizza on the menu. The team do their best to accommodate anyone with a special dietary need (in fact it’s one of their unique selling points) but if you are known as a ‘meal adapter’ who often makes changes to your dish, this might not be for you – and you’ll miss out on the true experience of the meal, as each ingredient or flavour on the plate is there for a reason; to make magic happen in your mouth.

Our favourite dish
We loved the black maron (freshwater crayfish) with sweetcorn custard and curried bisque and the cheesy panna cotta dessert! There are 8 courses to get through so plan to have a light lunch in preparation for the fun food marathon! Consider this a friendly warning.

Don’t miss out on
Having a sneaky aperitif before dinner upstairs at the ever popular TjingTjing bar. (The Porn Star cocktail is a winner in our book!) and the gorgeous petit fours that are served with coffee. The chocolate is especially produced exclusively for The White Room by a local chocolate maker. A real treat!

To make a booking dinner at The White Room, click here, and to get a sneak peek at some of the dishes, have a look here.