The best restaurants in South Africa as awarded by Eat Out
South Africa’s top restaurants have been announced at the 2019 Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards; 20 restaurant names revealed, with the top ten representing the country’s best and the rest being restaurants to keep an eye on.
Top ten award-winning restaurants in South Africa
1. La Colombe
Serving contemporary dishes made using fresh, local ingredients prepared with culinary mastery and French flair
Location: Constantia, Cape Town
2. The Test Kitchen
Creative and inventive cooking techniques create a fusion between Latin and South African cuisines
Where: Woodstock, Cape Town
3. The Restaurant at Waterkloof
A modern take on French cuisine served in a vineyard setting, with a focus on wine pairings
Where: Somerset West
4. Wolfgat
A small haven of fine dining, where foraged ingredients and purity are the restaurant’s leading philosophies
Where: Paternoster
5. FYN
A dining experience of flavourful discovery, bringing the kitchen and dining room together
Where: Cape Town
6. La Petite Colombe
The sister of La Colombe, this is a fine dining experience of the highest standards, with a focus on powerful flavour combinations
Where: Franschhoek
7. Eike
Nostalgia meets a menu that is a tribute to South African flavours, aptly situated in a heritage building
Where: Stellenbosch
8. Salsify
A culinary tasting journey that combines the classic with the modern in a refined menu offering
Where: Camps Bay
9. Restaurant Mosaic at The Orient
A dining experience of elegance and artistic creation, using freshly sourced local produce
Where: Pretoria
10. Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia
Seasonal menus and signature tapas for a contemporary, casual fine dining experience
Where: Constantia
Awarded as top 20 restaurants
- 11. Camphors at Vergelegen
- 12. Overture
- 13. LivingRoom at Summerhill Estate
- 14. Chefs Warehouse at Maison
- 15. Greenhouse at The Cellars-Hohenort
- 16. Le Coin Français
- 17. La Tête
- 18. The Shortmarket Club
- 19. Tjing Tjing Momiji
- 20. Rust en Vrede
Award winners
- Eat Out S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna Chef of the Year: Bertus Basson
- Eat Out Restaurant of the Year: La Colombe
- Eat Out Service Excellence Award: The Test Kitchen
- Eat Out Nederburg Rising Star: Katlego Mlambo of The Marabi Club
- Eat Out Retail Capital New Restaurant of the Year: Jewell’s Restaurant
- Eat Out Graham Beck Chefs’ Chef Award: Ivor Jones of Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia
- Eat Out Wine Service Award: Joseph Dhafana of La Colombe
- Eat Out John Psillos Award for Outstanding Contribution to Service: Jennifer Hugé
- Eat Out Lannice Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award: Annette Kesler
- Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award: Camphors at Vergelegen
- Eat Out VISI Style Award: FYN
- Eat Out Nespresso Innovation Award: The Test Kitchen
- Eat Out Bridget McCarneyGamechanger Award: Ishay Govender-Ypma and Zayaan Khan of SA POC at the Table
- Eat Out Irna van Zyl Food Media Icon Award: Dorah Sitole
The Eat Out Awards
“For over two decades, the Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards have been proudly celebrating creativity, talent and innovation in the South African restaurant world.
Year after year we’ve watched as spectacular chefs and restaurants deliver exceptional dishes and experiences while mentoring their teams and paving the way for the top chefs of the future.
An incredible amount of hard work goes on behind the scenes and the Awards honour and celebrate their excellence,” said Aileen Lamb, MD of New Media, the owners of Eat Out.
Eat Out is known as South Africa’s best guide to the country’s best food. The annual Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards forms a cornerstone of the brand, celebrating the best of the South African restaurant industry.
The 2020 Eat Out magazine, filled with professional reviews and curated content on South Africa’s top 500 restaurants, will go on sale after the Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards.
In 2018, The Restaurant at Waterkloof was awarded Restaurant of the Year, halting The Test Kitchen’s six-year streak, with La Colombe holding the third spot.
This year, La Colombe has been named as the number one. The Restaurant at Waterkloof has switched positions to third, while The Test Kitchen remains second for a second year.
Speaking on behalf of La Colombe’s win, Scot Kirton describes the team’s dream coming to fruition:
“I could not be more proud of what James Gaag and the team are doing at the moment. It has been an inspirational journey. It’s been a dream since we moved to Silvermist five years ago and we have finally achieved it.
The hard work starts now.”
Executive Chef James, 31, is still trying to take in the moment. “My team keep me on my toes and inspired every day. The pursuit of excellence is what drives us every day. La Colombe is my home,” says Gaag.
The judging panel
The award-winning restaurants were determined a panel of anonymous judges headed up by Chief Judge Margot Janse, who dined around the country unannounced and scored the restaurants against the rigorous judging criteria in line with international standards.
“South Africa’s culinary evolution is incredibly exciting and seeing so many new restaurants entering the top 30 is testament to this – we’re surrounded by industry excellence. I know how much relentless hard work and determination goes into perfecting each and every unique experience, which is why I feel so honoured to be Eat Out’s Chief Judge,” says Janse.
The 2020 Eat Out magazine, filled with professional reviews and curated content on South Africa’s top 500 restaurants, will go on sale after the Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards.
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