S2-15. Reverie Social Table - Julia Hattingh

In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Julia Hattingh, chef and owner of Reverie Social Table, to unpack one of Cape Town’s most singular dining models. Julia talks through a career shaped by classical training, long stints in demanding kitchens and time abroad, before arriving at a form of hospitality that deliberately slows things down.The conversation traces her path from Mirandol and Le Quartier Français to London, Paris and back home, and how those experiences informed a move away from conventional service towards a single communal table, one menu and one sitting. Julia explains the thinking behind cooking for a roomful of strangers at once, pairing food to wine, sourcing directly from farmers and growers, and designing a restaurant that values connection, presence and intention over scale.We also talk about no shows, prepaid bookings, shared gratuities and building a small, multi-skilled team without front and back of house divisions. This is an honest, thoughtful discussion about restraint, sustainability and why eating together at a table still matters, told by a chef who has chosen clarity of purpose over expansion.You can book for Reverie Social hereGet a fair price with HeadsUpEvery booking is a first impression. Make a good one with NovelMessage me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney Wagyuwww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay