TTK Fledgelings puts social impact on the menu

Time Out

7 days ago

When chef Luke Dale Roberts launched The Test Kitchen Fledgelings in 2021, it was in direct response to the chaos of the pandemic. But it wasn't a rescue plan for a restaurant. Instead, it was a launchpad for people.
Dale Roberts has created an environment where individuals with zero formal hospitality training get the chance to learn every aspect of running a top-tier restaurant, from prepping veg to running the pass.
"The truth is, running high-performing restaurants requires immense focus, but I've always believed that excellence and empathy can co-exist," states Dale Roberts.
"What helps is building teams that genuinely believe in what we're doing, from the chefs to the floor staff. At Fledgelings, we've created a structure where mentorship is built into the daily rhythm. And across the group, we try to foster a culture where social impact isn't an add-on, but part of the DNA. That's how we keep it sustainable and meaningful."
Hiring with purpose
Fledgelings head chef Nathan Clarke is "one of the most powerful examples," says Dale Roberts. "Watching someone go from pots and pans to running the pass has been incredibly rewarding."
"Nathan joined us back in 2014 as a sculler, literally washing dishes at The Test Kitchen. He's an incredible talent with his voice and style, and the respect he's earned from the team speaks volumes. I'm incredibly proud of every single person who's come through the doors at TTK Fledgelings. Through mentorship and upskilling, they've gained not just practical skills but real confidence, and that's a beautiful thing to see," says Dale Roberts.
At Fledgelings, experience might be optional to start, but grit, curiosity, and a can-do attitude are non-negotiable. Many recruits arrive never having worked a shift in a restaurant. What they do bring is the willingness to work hard, learn fast, and make the most of an opportunity that can change their lives.
Now leading the Fledgelings kitchen, Clarke says the role has allowed him to hone his management and mentorship skills. "This journey with my Fledgling's team is exciting. There is lots of joy, and respect given and earned. Also, the recognition as the Eat Out Awards winning Rising Star award 2025 remains a highlight. '
Community care beyond the pass
Fledgelings' impact stretches far beyond the restaurant floor. Each month, the team partners with Intervionary in Masiphumelele to serve hot meals and distribute groceries to families in need.
" On the last Thursday of every month, we provide a hot meal to the community and with the generous help of our suppliers Kerston Foods and Bill Riley Butchery they donate dry goods and proteins that are distributed to families in need, supplies that help sustain them for the month."
'It's never just about what happens within the four walls of our restaurants,' says Dale Roberts. 'It's about extending our sense of care and responsibility to the broader community.'
The cause meets the cocktail
In a city that never runs short on new restaurant collabs, some hit differently. Cocktails with a Cause, happening on 22 August at The Test Kitchen Fledgelings in Woodstock and 29 August at Cause | Effect Cocktail Kitchen at the V&A Waterfront - isn't just about pairing bold flavours with killer cocktails.
It's about opening doors, changing lives, and proving that excellence and empathy can share the same table.
For Cocktails with a Cause, Dale Roberts teams up with another heavyweight in the hospitality world - award-winning bartender and Cause | Effect founder Kurt Schlechter. Known for his deep knowledge of South African ingredients and for shaping some of the country's best bartenders, Schlechter will spend time with the Fledgelings ahead of the event, teaching cocktail-making skills alongside his team. Think balance, prep, presentation, and the confidence to work a bar like a pro.
Cause | Effect isn't just any bar. It's been named South Africa's best, recognised among the World's 50 Best Bars, and ranked in the Top Ten of the World's 50 Best Discovery Bars.
What to Expect on the Night
Both evenings will serve up a specially created small-plates menu by the Fledgelings kitchen, drawn from their à la carte offering. Designed for sharing, the dishes are bold, generous, and just playful enough — from vetkoek with smoked snoek pâté to oysters with Nam Jim dressing, Korean fried chicken with ponzu emulsion, fish tacos with Cape Malay pickle, tuna tartare with miso and yuzu, and truffle-topped beef sliders on pillowy milk buns.
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Add Cause | Effect cocktails, a live DJ, and an easy-going, celebratory atmosphere, and you've got a night where mentorship is baked into every bite and sip.