Top restaurants in South Africa 2015… Sommeliers few and far between!

THE AWARDS and recommendations in the 2016 editions of South Africa’s leading restaurant guides Eat Out (c/o Mercedes-Benz) and Rossouw’s (by Diners Club) are a great help in flagging the country’s best places to wine and dine. Combine these with what’s offered at the Top 100 Cellars and you have pretty much the closest you can get to a definitive ‘who’s who’ in the various categories, from upmarket fine-dining to pub grub and pizza joints. See below for the top eateries by city or province, including the pick of the best places to eat at in the winelands of the Cape – just click on the name of a venue for contact info, menus, photo galleries and more. And of course, apart from the top of the pecking order there are hundreds of other reviews to be found in Eat Out and Rossouw’s, both of which lean heavily on their readers’ feedback and voting rights.

Eat Out Restaurant of the Year: The Test Kitchen in Woodstock, Cape Town. Eat Out Chef of the Year: Scot Kirton of La Colombe, Constantia Nek, Cape Town. And one of the other top commendations at the annual Eat Out Awards is that for an outstanding sommelier or wine steward, experienced or still in training at an establishment committed to going the extra mile in the interests of customer satisfaction. Sadly, the recipient of the latest Eat Out Wine Service Award, Lloyd Jusa of the The Saxon Boutique Hotel’s grand dining room, is one of the very few ‘real deal’ sommeliers whose services can be called upon by restaurant patrons in South Africa – so few, it’s arguable that any dining room with a real sommelier on the team should automatically make the cut for special mention at the awards podium. Sadder still is that there are people touted as sommeliers but who aren’t properly qualified as such, and restaurants that have real sommeliers but of the sort who are often conspicuous by their absence…

SA DINING ROOMS WITH ‘SOMMELIERS’

Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, Gardens, Cape Town – ‘Sommelier’ Pearl Oliver, Level 2 WSET Wine Course graduate
Five Hundred at The Saxon Hotel, Sandhurst, Johannesburg – Sommelier Lloyd Jusa, Court of Master Sommeliers, qualified in the UK and Vienna, recipient of Eat Out Wine Service Award
Karibu, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town – ‘Sommeliers’ Ralph Reynolds & Minenhle Mthombeni, Cape Wine Academy diploma graduates
La Colombe at Silvermist, Constantia, Cape Town – ‘Sommelier’ Joseph Dhafana, Cape Wine Academy Diploma graduate, Level 2 WSET certificate
Mosaic at The Orient Hotel, Elandsfontein, Pretoria – Sommelier Germain Lehodey, qualified at hotel school in France
Piccolo Mondo at the Michelangelo Hotel, Sandton, Johannesburg – ‘Sommelier’ Newman Sigoga, Cape Wine Academy graduate
Rust en Vrede, Stellenbosch – ‘Sommelier’ Barry Scholfield, Level 3 Wine & Spirits Education Trust
Test Kitchen, Old Biscuit Mill, Woodstock, Cape Town – ‘Sommelier’ Tinashe Nyamudoka, Cape Wine Academy graduate
Twelve Apostles Hotel, Camps Bay, Cape Town – ‘Sommelier’ Gregory Mutambe, Cape Wine Academy graduate

TOP EATERIES in CAPE TOWN

Active Sushi (Asian), Hudson Street, CBD – Eat Out Highly Commended Certificate
Addis in Cape
(Ethiopian), Cnr Long & Church Streets, CBD – Eat Out Highly Commended Certificate
Aubergine (Contemporary Upmarket), Barnet Street, Gardens – Rossouw’s Highly Recommended
Bombay Brasserie at Taj Hotel (South Indian), Wale Street, CBD – Rossouw’s Highly Recommended
Burrata
(Italian), Old Biscuit Mill, Albert Road, Woodstock – Rossouw’s Highly Recommended
Carne SA (Grillhouse / Steak), Keerom Street, CBD – Rossouw’s Highly Recommended
Chefs Warehouse & Canteen (Contemporary Upmarket), Bree Street, CBD, Chef Liam Tomlin – Eat Out Top 20 Finalist, Rossouw’s Highly Recommended
Deckhouse Crab Shack & BBQ (Seafood), Kloof Street, CBD – Eat Out Best Everyday Eatery Award
Eatery Wood Fired Grill (Steakhouse), Cnr Belvedere & Keurboom Roads, Claremont – Eat Out Highly Commended Certificate
Il Leone Mastrantonio (Italian), Cobern Street, Greenpoint – Eat Out Best Everyday Eatery Award
Inside & You’re Out (Burgers), Bree Street, CBD – Eat Out Best Everyday Eatery Award
Jerry’s Burger Bar, Main Road, Observatory – Eat Out Highly Commended Certificate
Kalky’s (Seafood), Kalk Bay Harbour – Eat Out Highly Commended Certificate
Kyoto Garden Sushi, Kloofnek Road, Gardens – Rossouw’s Highly Recommended
Maharajah South Indian Restaurant, Cnr of Kloofnek & Woodside Roads, Tamboerskloof – Eat Out Highly Commended Certificate
Massimo’s (Italian), Main Road, Hout Bay – Eat Out Highly Commended Certificate
Nobu at One & Only Hotel (Japanese) V&A Waterfront – Rossouw’s Highly Recommended
Pirates Steakhouse, Pub & Grill, Main Road, Plumstead – Eat Out Best Every Eatery Award
Pot Luck Club (Contemporary Upmarket), Old Biscuit Mill, Albert Road, Woodstock, Chefs Luke Dale-Roberts & Wesley Randies – Eat Out Top 10 Award, Rossouw’s Highly Recommended
Test Kitchen (Contemporary Upmarket), Old Biscuit Mill, Albert Road, Woodstock, Chefs Luke Dale-Roberts & Ivor Jones – Eat Out Restaurant of the Year Award, Rossouw’s Highly Recommended, Boschendal Style Award Nominee, among ‘The World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ – S Pellegrino
Tjing Tjing Torii (Asian), Longmarket Street, CBD – Eat Out Best Everyday Eatery Award
Tribe 112 (Coffee Shop), Buitengracht Street, CBD – Eat Out Best Everyday Eatery Award
Truth Coffee, Buitenkant Street, CBD – Eat Out Highly Commended Certificate

TOP EATERIES in the CAPE WINELANDS

CAPE PENINSULA, CONSTANTIA

Bistro Sixteen82 at Steenberg, Steenberg Road, Tokai – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Buitenverwachting
(Contemporary Upmarket), Klein Constantia Road – Top 100 SA Cellar Classification
Cape Point Vineyards
(Everyday Casual), Silvermine Road, Noordhoek – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Catharina’s at Steenberg (Contemporary Upmarket), Tokai Road – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Greenhouse
at Cellars-Hohenort Hotel (Contemporary Upmarket), Brommersvlei Road, Constantia, Chef Peter Tempelhoff – Eat Out Top 10 Award, Rossouw’s Highly Recommended, Boschendal Style Award
Jonkershuis at Groot Constantia (Everyday Casual), Groot Constantia Road – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
La Colombe at Silvermist (Contemporary Upmarket), Constantia Nek, Chef Scot Kirton – Eat Out Chef of the Year Award, Eat Out Top 10 Award, Rossouw’s Highly Recommended
Open Door at Constantia Uitsig (Contemporary Upmarket), Spaanschemat River Road – Top 100 SA Cellar Classification

DARLING

Cloof Kitchen (Everyday Casual) R315, off Mamre Road – Top 100 SA Cellar Classification

DURBANVILLE, PANORAMA

Cassia at Nitida (Everyday Casual), Tygerbergvalley Road – Top 100 SA Cellar Classification
De Grendel
(Contemporary Upmarket), Plattekloof Road – Top 100 SA Cellar Classification
Diemersdal (Everyday Casual), M58 / Koeberg Road – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification

ELGIN, GRABOUW

Fresh at Paul Cluver (Country-Style), off N2 – Eat Out Best Everyday Eatery Award, Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
The Pool Room at Oak Valley (Everyday Casual), Oak Avenue (off R321) – Top 100 SA Cellar Classification

FRANSCHHOEK

Boschendal (Everyday Casual), R310 – Top 100 SA Cellar Classification
Bread & Wine at Môreson
(Everyday Casual), Happy Valley Road – Rossouw’s Highly Recommended, Top 100 SA Cellar Classification
Foliage
(Contemporary Upmarket), Huguenot Road, Chef Chris Erasmus – Eat Out Top 20 Finalist, Rossouw’s Highly Recommended
Kitchen at Maison (Contemporary Upmarket), Huguenot Road, Chef Arno Janse van Rensburg – Eat Out Top 20 Finalist
Pierneef à La Motte (Contemporary Upmarket), R45 / Main Road – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Racine at Chamonix (Bistro), Uitkyk Street – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Rendezvous at GlenWood (Bistro), Robertsvlei Road – Top 100 SA Cellar Classification
Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français Hotel (Contemporary Upmarket), Huguenot Road, Chef Margot Janse – Eat Out Top 10 Award, Rossouw’s Highly Recommended, Eat Out Service Excellence Award, among ‘The World’s 100 Best Restaurants’ – S Pellegrino

HEMEL-EN-AARDE, HERMANUS

Newton Johnson (Contemporary Upmarket), R320 / Hemel-en-Aarde Road, Chef Eric Bulpitt – Eat Out Top 20 Finalist, Rossouw’s Highly Recommended, Top 100 SA Cellar Classification
Sumaridge (Everyday Casual), R320 / Hemel-en-Aarde Road – Top 100 SA Cellar Classification

McGREGOR

Karoux (Bistro), Voortrekker Road – Eat Out Best Everyday Eatery Award

PAARL

Bertus Basson at Spice Route (Contemporary Upmarket), Suid-Agter-Paarl Road – Top 100 SA Cellar Classification
Glen Carlou (Contemporary Upmarket), Klapmuts / Simondium Road – Top 100 SA Cellar Classification
Goatshed at Fairview (Everyday Casual), Suid-Agter-Paarl Road – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Red Table at Nederburg (Everyday Casual), Sonstraal Road, Daljosafat – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Rupert & Rothschild
 (Contemporary Upmarket), Klapmuts / Simondium Road, Chef Carmen Muller – Nederburg Rising Star Award
Trading Post at Anura (Everyday Casual), Klapmuts / Simondium Road – Top 100 SA Cellar Classification

ROBERTSON

Café Maude at Bon Courage (Everyday Casual), R317 (Bonnievale Road) – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Christina’s @ Van Loveren (Everyday Casual), R317 (Bonnievale Road) – Top 100 SA Cellar Classification

SOMERSET WEST

95 at Morgenster (Italian), Vergelegen Avenue (off Lourensford Road) – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Camphors at Vergelegen
 (Contemporary Upmarket), Lourensford Road, Chef Michael Cooke – Eat Out Top 20 Finalist, Rossouw’s Highly Recommended, Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Stables at Vergelegen (Everyday Casual), Lourensford Road – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Waterkloof
 (Contemporary Upmarket) Sir Lowry’s Pass Village Road, Chef Gregory Czarnecki – Eat Out Top 10 Award, Rossouw’s Highly Recommended

STANFORD

Mariana’s (Everyday Casual), Du Toit Street – Rossouw’s Highly Recommended

STELLENBOSCH

96 Winery Road of Ken Forrester (Everyday Casual), off R44, Helderberg – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Bakery at Jordan (Everyday Casual), Stellenbosch Kloof Road – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Cucina di Giovanni at Eikendal (Italian), Eikendal Road (off R44), Helderberg – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Cuvée at Simonsig (Contemporary Upmarket), Kromme Rhee Road (M23), Koelenhof – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Delaire Graff (Contemporary Upmarket), Helshoogte Pass – Top 100 SA Cellar Classification
Delheim (Everyday Casual), Knorhoek Road – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Delicatessen at Tokara (Everyday Casual), Helshoogte Pass – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Eight at Spier (Everyday Casual), R310 – Top 100 SA Cellar Classification
Ernie Els (Everyday Casual), Annandale Road, Helderberg – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Guardian Peak (Everyday Casual), Annandale Road, Helderberg – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Hartenberg (Everyday Casual), Bottelary Road – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Indochine at Delaire Graff
(Asian Fusion), Helshoogte Pass, Chef Virgil Kahn – Eat Out Top 20 Finalist, Top 100 SA Cellar Classification
Joostenberg Bistro, R304, Muldersvlei – Eat Out Highly Commended Certificate
Jordan with George Jardine (Contemporary Upmarket), Stellenbosch Kloof Road, Chefs George Jardine & Kyle Burn – Eat Out Top 10 Award, Rossouw’s Highly Recommended, Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Le Venue at JC Le Roux (Everyday Casual), Devon Valley Road – Top 100 SA Cellar Classification
Longridge (Contemporary Upmarket), Eikendal Road (off R44), Helderberg – Top 100 SA Cellar Classification
Mulderbosch (Pizza), Polkadraai Road (M12) – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Overture at Hidden Valley (Contemporary Upmarket), Annandale Road, Helderberg, Chef Bertus Basson – Eat Out Top 20 Finalist, Rossouw’s Highly Recommended, Top 100 SA Cellar Classification
Postcard Café at Stark-Condé (Everyday Casual), Oude Nektar, Jonkershoek – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Red Leaf at Beyerskloof (Everyday Casual), R304, Koelenhof – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Restaurant at Tokara (Contemporary Upmarket), Helshoogte Pass, Chef Richard Carstens – Eat Out Top 20 Finalist, Rossouw’s Highly Recommended, Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Rust en Vrede (Contemporary Upmarket), Annandale Road, Helderberg, Chef John Shuttleworth – Eat Out Top 20 Finalist, Rossouw’s Highly Recommended, Top 50 SA Cellar Classification
Six Flowers @ Neethlingshof (Bistro), M12 – Top 100 SA Cellar Classification
Table at De Meye (Country-Style), Muldersvlei Road – Eat Out Highly Commended Certificate
Terroir at Kleine Zalze (Contemporary Upmarket), Tegno Road, Chef Michael Broughton – Eat Out Top 10 Award, Rossouw’s Highly Recommended, Top 50 SA Cellar Classification

WELLINGTON

Seasons at Diemersfontein (Everyday Casual), R301 / Jan van Riebeck Drive – Top 50 SA Cellar Classification

TOP EATERY on the GARDEN ROUTE

Île de Païn (Everyday Casual), Long Street, Knysna – Rossouw’s Highly Recommended

TOP EATERIES in JOHANNESBURG

Beefcakes (Burgers), Oxford Road, Illovo – Eat Out Highly Commended Certificate
Café del Sol (Italian), Cnr President Fouche Drive & Olive Road, Randburg – Eat Out Best Everyday Eatery Award
Cube Tasting Kitchen (Contemporary Upmarket), 4th Avenue, Parktown North – Rossouw’s Highly Recommended
DW Eleven-13
, Dunkeld West, Chef Marthinus Ferreira – Eat Out Top 20 Finalist
Five Hundred at The Saxon Hotel
 (Contemporary Upmarket), Sandhurst – Eat Out Top 10 Award, Rossouw’s Highly Recommended, Eat Out Wine Service Award
Great Eastern Foodbar (Asian), Rustenburg Road – Eat Out Highly Commended Certificate
Licorish Bistro, Cnr Wedgewood Link & William Nicol Drive, Bryanston – Eat Out Highly Commended Certificate
Local Grill (Steakhouse), 7th Avenue, Parktown North – Eat Out Best Everyday Eatery Award, Rossouw’s Highly Recommended
View at Four Seasons Hotel, The Westcliff, Jan Smuts Avenue, Johannesburg – Boschendal Style Award Nominee
Wombles (Steakhouse), 3rd Avenue, Parktown – Eat Out Highly Commended Certificate

TOP EATERIES in KWAZULU-NATAL

Boiler Room Café (Bistro), Umgeni Road, Morningside, Durban – Eat Out Best Everyday Eatery Award, Boschendal Style Award Nominee
Jeera at Suncoast Towers (Indian), Battery Beach Road, Durban – Eat Out Highly Commended Certificate
Little Havana (Grillhouse / Steak), Chartwell Drive, Umhlanga Rocks – Rossouw’s Highly Recommended, Wolftrap Steakhouse Champion
Nam Jai House Thai and Rotating Sushi Bar (Asian), Henderson Street, Empangeni – Eat Out Everyday Eatery Award
Oaklands Country Manor, S793, off N3 outside Harrismith – Eat Out Best Everyday Eatery Award
Old Town Italy, Meridian Drive, Umhlanga Rocks – Boschendal Style Award Nominee

TOP EATERY in MPUMALANGA

Food Fundi (Coffee Shop), Absa Square, Paul Kruger Street, Nelspruit – Eat Out Highly Commended Certificate

TOP EATERIES in PORT ELIZABETH

Bridge Street Brewery (Bistro), Bridge Street – Eat Out Highly Commended Certificate
Fushin Sushi
(Asian), Stanley Street – Eat Out Highly Commended Certificate

TOP EATERIES in PRETORIA

Afro Boer (Coffee Shop), Meerlust Road, Die Wilgers – Eat Out Highly Commended Certificate
Boston Bistro
, Hazelwood Road – Eat Out Best Everyday Eatery Award
Geet (Indian), Fehrsen Street, Brooklyn – Eat Out Highly Commended Certificate
La Terrasse Rooftop Café & Deli
(Moroccan), Atterbury Road, Menlo Park – Eat Out Best Everyday Eatery Award
Mosaic
at The Orient Hotel (Contemporary Upmarket), Francolin Conservation Area, Crocodile River Valley, Elandsfontein, Chef Chantal Dartnell – Eat Out Top 10 Award, Rossouw’s Highly Recommended
Ritrovo (Italian), Club Avenue, Waterkloof Heights – Rossouw’s Highly Recommended, Eat Out Highly Commended Certificate

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Want to have your say?