Stellenbosch pulls ahead of Franschhoek in battle for status of SA winelands gourmet capital – that’s according to the 2015 editions of the leading restaurant guides
THE RESTAURANT critics are largely in agreement… The top dining venue in South Africa for 2014 is The Test Kitchen at The Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock, Cape Town, with Luke Dale-Roberts the chef-owner and Wayve Kolevsohn the somellier: third Restaurant of the Year accolade at the 2014 Eat Out Mercedes Benz Awards, 5 Stars at the 2014 Rossouw’s Diners Club Awards, one of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants at the 2014 awards sponsored by S Pellegrino & Acqua Panna.
Waterkloof, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Somerset West
And the general consensus doesn’t end there… In the Cape winelands, the critics’ absolute favourites this year include the following – click on the links for contact details, menus and more:
The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français in Franschhoek; Executive Chef Margot Janse – among the Top 10 and recipient of the Grolsch Service Excellence accolade at the Eat Out Awards, selected among The World’s 100 Best Restaurants at the S Pellegrino awards and recipient of an American Express Fine Dining Award
Jordan in StellenboschKloof; Chef George Jardine – 5 Stars in Rossouw’s Restaurant Guide and among the Top 10 at the Eat Out Awards
Overture at Hidden Valley in the Helderberg, Stellenbosch; Chef Bertus Basson – 5 Stars in Rossouw’s Restaurant Guide, among the Top 10 at the Eat Out Awards and recipient of an American Express Fine Dining Award
Rust en Vrede in the Helderberg, Stellenbosch; Chef John Shuttleworth – among the Top 10 at the Eat Out Awards and ‘Global Winner’ at the international ‘Best of Wine Tourism Awards’
Terroir at Kleine Zalze in Stellenbosch; Chef Michael Broughton – among the Top 10 at the Eat Out Awards and 5 Stars in Rossouw’s Restaurant Guide
Bread & Wine at Moreson in Franschhoek; Executive Head Chef Neil Jewell – 5 Stars in Rossouw’s Restaurant Guide, American Express Fine Dining Award and Top 10 nominee at the Eat Out Awards
Waterkloof outside Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, Somerset West; Chef Gregory Czamecki – 5 Stars in Rossouw’s Restaurant Guide, ‘Regional Winner’ at the international ‘Best of Wine Tourism Awards’, American Express Fine Dining Award and Top 10 nominee at the Eat Out Awards
Tokara on Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch; Chef Richard Carstens – ‘Regional Winner’ at the international ‘Best of Wine Tourism Awards’ and EO Top 10 nominee
OTHER TOP RESTAURANTS IN CAPE WINELANDS:
96 Winery Road near Ken Forrester, in the Helderberg, Stellenbosch
Bistro Sixteen82 at Steenberg in Tokai, Constantia Wine Route
Bosman’s, Grande Roche Hotel, Plantasie Street, Paarl
Buitenverwachting, Constantia
Cafe Roux, Noordhoek Farm Village
Camphors at Vergelegen, Somerset West
Cassia at Nitida, Tygerberg Valley Road, Durbanville
Catharina’s at Steenberg in Tokai, Constantia Wine Route
De Grendel, Plattekloof Road, Durbanville Wine Route
Delaire Graff, Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch
Diemersdal Farm Eatery, Koeberg Road (M58), Durbanville
Foodbarn, Noordhoek Farm Village
Fraai Uitzicht 1798, Robertson
Glen Carlou, Simondium Road (R45), Paarl
Grande Provence, Franschhoek
Haute Cabriere, Franschhoek Pass (R45)
Indochine at Delaire Graff, Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch
Le Bon Vivant, Dirkie Uys Street, Franschhoek
Makaron, Paradyskloof (Houtkapper Street), Stellenbosch
Pierneef a La Motte, Franschhoek
Newton Johnson, Hemel-en-Aarde, Hermanus
Reuben’s, Huguenot Street, Franschhoek
OTHER TOP SA WINE FARMS THAT OFFER MEALS:
Anura, Paarl
Beyerskloof, Stellenbosch
Bon Courage, Robertson
Boschendal, Franschhoek
Cape Point Vineyards, Noordhoek
Chamonix, Franschhoek
Delheim, Simonsberg, Stellenbosch
Diemersfontein, Wellington
Eikendal, Helderberg, Stellenbosch
Ernie Els, Helderberg, Stellenbosch
Fairview, Paarl
GlenWood, Franschhoek
Groot Constantia
Guardian Peak, Helderberg, Stellenbosch
Hartenberg, Bottelary Hills, Stellenbosch
JC Le Roux, Devon Valley, Stellenbosch
Longridge, Helderberg, Stellenbosch
Mulderbosch, Polkadraai Hills, Stellenbosch
Nederburg, Paarl
Neethlingshof, Stellenbosch
Oak Valley, Elgin
Paul Cluver, Elgin
Rijk’s, Tulbagh
Simonsig, Stellenbosch
Spice Route, Paarl
Spier, Stellenbosch
Stark-Conde, Jonkershoek Valley, Stellenbosch
Sumaridge, Hemel-en-Aarde, Hermanus
Van Loveren, Robertson
Warwick, Simonsberg, Stellenbosch
