Spring is almost here, and like most sun-worshipping folk, we can’t wait. There might be one reason to mourn, however: the end of winter restaurant specials.

Thankfully, there does seem to be a fair number of restaurants – particularly in the Cape, where many of us are still in hibernation – running winter specials throughout September and beyond. Plus, there’s a host of exciting new spring and summer deals. To help you stretch your Rands this spring, here’s our specials* roundup.

Johannesburg
 
Centre Star
Birthday special: bring your ID in order to receive a free meal.
Valid: all year round.

GweFey
Monday to Friday 11.45am-3pm: lunch combination of salad, dim sum and fried rice/noodles – up to 38% off from the regular menu price. ?Ends: 30 September 2012.

Junipas
Choose from the special winter menu ranging from bangers and mash (R70) to lamb shank (R150).
Ends: mid-September 2012.
 
Oyo (Bedfordview)   
?Monday: order two baskets of dim sum and get the third one free. Tuesday: sushi platter and a cocktail of your choice for R79. Wednesday: 10 king prawns, rice and a sauce for R95. ?Ends: 30 September 2012.

SoYum
Monday: order two baskets of dim sum and get the third one free. Tuesday: sushi platter and a cocktail of your choice for R79. Wednesday: 10 king prawns, rice and a sauce for R95. End date: 30 September 2012

TSG 4Ways
On Mondays all pastas are R50 each and on Tuesdays pizzas are R55 (large) and R45 (small). On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, the buffet breakfast is served between 8.30am and 11.30am at R55 for adults and R35 for children under 12.
Valid: all year round.

Pretoria
 
Eat Pink Coffee and Food Boutique
Enjoy the breakfast special from Monday to Friday, which includes two fried eggs, two rashes of bacon, fried tomato, chips, and a slice of toast with butter and jam for R35.95, or the cupcake and cappuccino special from Monday to Friday for R29.95.
Valid: All year round.
 
Stone Cradle
The spring dinner buffet consists of over 140 different dishes, from salad starters, soups, pizzas, beef, chicken, roast lamb and pork to five different kinds of grilled fish. Vegetables include butternut, broccoli and other hot dishes. The curry tavern will cook an array of curries to be served with basmati rice and poppadoms, and there is the braai food corner. The buffet ends off with a selection of hot and cold desserts. R95 for adults, R65 for pensioners and R35 for children under 10.
Valid: Tuesday to Thursday from 4 September to 27 September 2012.
 
Durban

Al Fresco's
Tuesdays: Teachers receive 15% off all pizzas and pastas.
Wednesdays: Get 50% off kids’ meals.
Thursdays: Ladies get 20% off pizzas and pastas, plus bottomless wine by the glass, and live music.
Sunday: Enjoy a Sunday roast, with roast chicken, roast potatoes, roast vegetables with rice and choose from a selection of three deserts for R85 (R45 for children). Booking is essential.
Valid: all year round.

Cape Town

Ashley's Family Restaurant
Daily specials:
Tuesdays: Half kg ribs for R75.50 or a side of liver and mash for R45.
Wednesday: Carvery for R52.50 from 6pm-10pm, or a seafood platter for two for R165.
Thursdays: Eisbein for R75.50.
Fridays: Either a steak platter for R59.50 or chicken schnitzel for R55.50.
Saturdays: Steak, sausage, egg and chips for R55.50.
Sundays: Carvery for R52.50 from 6pm-10m, or a seafood platter for two for R165.
Valid: All year round.  

Aubergine
Pay R198 per person for two courses and R254 per person for three courses from 12 noon to 2pm Wednesday to Friday (except public holidays). The winter special dinner menu is either a two-course meal at R200 (R290 with wine pairing) or a three-course meal at R275 (R403 with wine pairing).
Ends: mid-September.

Azure
Pay R315 for a five-course meal and a movie (popcorn included).
Valid: all year round.

Barristers
On Mondays choose from a 200g fillet at R140 or 300g fillet at R160 and receive a free 200g rosemary fillet. (Chips, baked potato and vegetables are optional extras.) And on Sunday there is a roast for R85 per person.
Valid: all year round.

Beleza
Breakfast specials (run until 5pm daily):
– The Beleza breakfast: egg, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, potato wedges and toast for R35.
– Traditional poached breakfast: poached egg served with a traditional hollandaise sauce, roasted tomatoes and mushrooms and whole-wheat toast for R50.
– Poached smoked salmon special: three-egg omelette served with cream cheese and whole-wheat toast for R55.
– Poached (healthy) special: egg, spinach, feta and mushrooms for R50.
– Poached (with a kick): egg, bacon and toast served with jalapeno sauce for R50.
Valid: all year round
                                       
Beluga
Choose two courses (for lunch only) off the autumn menu for R120 until 5pm, or three courses (for lunch and dinner) for R160 all day.
Ends: mid-September.

Bertha's
Order 1kg of queen prawns for R99; 1kg of mussels for R99 or 1kg of chicken wings for R99.
Valid: all year round

Blowfish
Specials include:
–    Half-price sushi between 5pm and 8pm on Wednesdays.
–    Half price sushi from 5pm until 10pm on Sundays.
–    Hot and cold breakfast buffet for R65 between 6.30am and 11am on Saturday and Sunday.
Valid: all year round

Blues Restaurant
Order a two-course lunch at R120 per person and a three-course dinner at R150.
Ends: 30 September 2012.

Buitenverwagting
The winter special menu offers two courses for R175 per person, and three courses for R225 per person. Choosing from the winter special menu means your starter and main meal will be accompanied by a glass of wine.
Ends: 31 October 2012.

Café Caprice
Buy two burgers and only pay for one from 12 noon to 10pm Monday to Thursday.
Ends: 30 September 2012.
 
Cargills
Order before 7pm and get two courses from the specials menu at R120 per person from Tuesday to Saturday. (Price to increase from October to R130.)
Valid: all year round.
 
The Conservatory (The Cellars-Hohenort)
Order two courses for R155 per person (R195 with paired wine) and three courses for R190 (R255 with paired wine).
Ends: 30 September 2012.

Constantia Uitsig Restaurant
Order a three-course lunch at R210 per person and a three-course dinner menu at R250 per person. (Not available on Sundays.) On Sunday night, Monday lunch and dinner and Tuesday lunch and dinner, get 30% off your bill for two courses or more per person. This includes the à la carte menu as well as the specials on the board, excluding beverages.
Ends: 1 October 2012.
 
Dunes
Have the Sunday breakfast buffet for R120 per person.
Ends: 30 November 2012.
 
Ferryman's
Enjoy a Sunday pork roast for R85 per person.
Valid: All year round.
 
The Food Barn
Order the three-course menu for R175, four-course menu for R195 and five-course menu for R225 (all with wine tasting).
Ends: 31 October 2012.
 
Hildebrand
Pay R120 for two courses and R150 for three courses off the winter set menu.
Ends: 30 September 2012.
 
Hussar Grill (Rondebosch)
The lunch special includes a two-course lunch for R50 between 12 noon and 4pm from Monday to Friday.
Valid: all year round.
 
Knife
Order the lunch bagel special (prices range from R35 to R55) between 12 noon and 3pm from Monday to Friday. Enjoy lamb shank cooked with peas and mint and served on mash, or ostrich fillet medallions topped with black pepper sauce and served with spinach, greens beans and sautéed potatoes for R130 per person from Monday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.
Valid: All year round.  

La Boheme
Order a two-course meal for R95 and three-course meal for R120 per person.
Valid: all year round.
 
La Colombe
The lunch special offers a three-course meal for R240 and the dinner special offers a five-course meal with wine pairing for R395 (R310 without wine). Not available on Sundays.
Ends: Dinner special ends 30 September 2012. Lunch special ends 15 November 2012.

La Mouette
Order the six-course tasting menu for R185 (R370 with wines).
Starts: 1 September 2012.
 
Leaf Restaurant
Get 50% off sushi until 6pm, and 30% off thereafter. Order one of six different sushi combo platters for R99, or eat as much as you can sushi for R119.
Valid: all year round
 
Mamma Cucina
Enjoy the harvest table buffet at R110 per person every Sunday.
Valid: all year round.
 
Mezepoli
 Weekly specials include:
–    Yiro Mondays: a choice of any pita with chips, and a soft drink or a local beer, for R70. (Choose between beef, chicken or vegetarian options.)
–    Daily: all sushi is half-price, with the exception of platters. Wine pairing for R150 per person, each category is served with a different course made up of various components like salads, pita bread, chips and beef fillet to name a few.
–    Cocktail Fridays: Buy one, get one free from 4pm until 7pm.
–    Ouzo Sundays: Lunch meze menu all day for R120 per person.
 
Myoga
Order the seven-course tasting menu for R225 per person.
Valid: all year round
 
Nobu
The winter bento box goes for R275 per person and the deluxe winter bento box for R375 per person.
Ends: 30 September 2012.
(A summer bento box will be on offer from October 2012 until March 2013 for R375.)
 
On a Roll
Get 1.8 litre jugs of Windhoek Draught at R70 per jug or 1.8 litre jug of Brutal fruit vodka cocktail at R60 per jug.

Pigalle (Green Point)
The half-price seafood platter for R275 per person is available for dinner from Monday to Thursday at 7pm, and lunch from Monday to Friday at 12 noon until 2.30pm.
Valid: all year round

Pure (Hout Bay)
The Spring 3-course menu is R220.
End Date: 31 October 2012.
 
The Quarterdeck
?Every last Saturday of the get the potjie special for R99 per person. Every first Sunday of every month there is a spit braai special.
End Date: 1 November 2012.
 
Reuben's at the One and Only Cape Town
Get the dish of the day and a glass of wine for R99 between 12.30 and 3pm from Monday to Friday.
Valid: all year round.
 
Rick's
Every day between 5pm and 7pm get tapas or a meze platter for two, with 500ml house wine or two Jack Black draught beers, for R110. There are also selected drinks specials.
End Date: 30 September 2012.
 
Rocca 
The specials board is offering chicken salad (R49), chicken burger and chips (R49), chicken penne pasta (R45), margarita pizza (R40), prego chicken pizza (R50) and Parma ham and rocket pizza (R65) for lunch from 12 noon until 6pm daily.
Ends: 30 September 2012.
 
The Roundhouse
Pay R295 for four courses, which include canapés, pre-dessert and bonbons.
Ends: 30 September 2012.
 
San Marco
Eat Out Readers can download a meal voucher from the listing and print it out. End date: 30 September 2012.

Sinn's
Specials for R55:
–    Grilled jerk chicken salad: exotic marinated grilled breast fillet on top of a tossed garden salad dressed in a sweet chilli sauce.
–    Calamari and chips: crispy side of calamari strips served with French fries and a chermoula mayo.
–    Yellow butternut and chickpea curry: mild and aromatic curry with oven roasted butternut, potatoes and chickpea served with basmati rice.
–    Roast pepper and paprika risotto: tangy creamy Italian style risotto with crispy trio of cheese crostini.
–    Green Thai fried rice: tender chicken pieces are fried, served with stir-fry, basmati rice and coriander.
Ends: next season.
 
The Square
Get half-price sushi every day between 5pm and 7pm. Also order the on-going special of a five-course meal for R195 (R295 with wine). The spring special is a choice between a two-course meal for R135 and a three-course meal for R165.  Starters are either soup or salad; for the main you can order the battered fish and chips, chicken korma or the chargrilled cheeseburger. Dessert is a choice between a panna cotta and baked lemon cheesecake.
Ends: 30 November 2012.

Theo's Grill 
 Lunch specials include:
– Oysters at R6 each.
– Prawns for R125.
– Prawn & muscle combo R120.
– 250g-sirloin steak for R99.
– Kingklip and prawns for R110 and kingklip and calamari for R110.
– Seafood platters at R139.
– Lobster and prawns for R179.
– Karoo lamb chop for R99.
– Rump espetada for R125.
Valid: all year round.
 
Tuscany Beach
Get 50% off one of two meals for dinner seven days a week and lunch from Monday to Friday. Also get 25% off all sushi.
Ends: 30 September 2012.

Vista Bar (One and Only Cape Town)
Have afternoon tea for two at R145 per person from 2.30pm to 5.30pm.
Valid: all year round.

Winelands
 
1802 Restaurant
The business lunch includes one main course and tea or coffee for R45.
Ends: 30 September 2012.
 
96 Winery Road
Choose a starter, main course and dessert off the à la carte menu for R185 for lunch and dinner from Monday to Saturday. ?Valid: Monday 3 September to Sunday 30 September 2012.

Avontuur Estate Restaurant
The early bird special offers two courses for R115 or three courses for R135 between 5pm and 6.30pm on Wednesday and Friday.
Valid: all year round.
 
Dornier Bodega Restaurant
The winter special offers a two-course meal at R150 or a three-course meal at R175. (Surcharges apply on certain items).
Ends: mid-September 2012.
 
Eat @ simonsvlei
From Tuesday to Saturday children under 10 can enjoy a pizza and milkshake with any two main courses ordered. On Friday evenings get fillet, rump, sirloin, T-bone and rib eye steaks with chips and pepper sauce for R95 each.
Ends: 31 October 2012.
 
Haute Cabrière Cellar Restaurant
Have the Pierre Jordan breakfast for R150 on Saturdays at 9.30am. The Table d’Haute four-course menu is served for lunch from Tuesday to Friday for R150 per person (R250 with wine). The Pinot Noir menu will be served on Fridays and Saturdays for dinner, and lunch on Saturdays and Sundays for R495 per person, including wine.
Valid: all year round.

Sofia’s at Morgenster
Order a two-course meal for R125 (R195 with wine) or a three-course meal for R195 (R305 with wine). ?Ends: 30 September 2012.
 
Terroir
Priced from R495 per person sharing, this spring offer is available until end September and includes accommodation, a complimentary bottle of Kleine Zalze wine on arrival in your room, a 2-course special menu at Terroir paired with a glass of Kleine Zalze Cellar Selection wine as well as a complimentary wine tasting at the Kleine Zalze Cellar Door.

The winter special includes a choice of three starters, one of three mains, one of two desserts and a cheese board, with dishes changing according to seasonal availability of ingredients. Two courses costs R175, three courses costs R198. Both deals include a complimentary glass of award-winning Kleine Zalze wine.
Ends: 30 September 2012.
 
Tokara
The winter special offers a four-course set menu with a glass of wine for R250.
Ends: 30 September 2012.
 
The Garden Route
 
The Retreat at Groenfontein
Get dinner, bed and breakfast for R450 per person.
Ends: 30 September 2012.
 
Sand at The Plettenberg
The winter gourmet wine evenings offer a five-course dinner, with wine, for R340 per person every last Friday and Saturday of the month.
End Date: 30 November 2012.

Roast beef loin with Yorkshire pudding, seasonal vegetables and roasting juices. R95 (Sunday lunch only)

The winter special offers a 2 courses at R155, with paired wine R195, 3 courses at R190, with paired wine R255.
End Date: 30 September 2012.

By Jodi Seale and Katharine Jacobs

Have we missed one of your favourite food specials? Let us know at info@eatout.co.za.

*While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, restaurants might change their specials at any time. We recommend checking when you book, to avoid disappointment.