Okay, so we all have our favourite spots where we like to eat out and think we know a thing or two about what makes a good meal…but what about our chefs? We asked a few to share their secrets with us and reveal their personal gourmet zones.

Bruce Robertson, theshowroom, Cape Town

Best for location: Die Voorstrandt (022-752 2038) restaurant in Paternoster for their amazing setting right on the beach and their Perlemoen soup.

Best for customer care, consistency and vibe: ‘Nothing beats Magica Roma (021-531 1489) in Pinelands. And they have the best grappa trolley too!’

Best for quality of food: The casual and relaxed, ‘what you see is what you get’ eatery Hook, Line & Sinker (028-273 8688) in Pringle Bay, which only takes 26 bookings at a time and has the ‘best paella ever’.

Here you get delicious fresh seafood cooked over an open wood fire and they make a great chocolate pot too.

Bruce loves the fact they were one of the first restaurants to serve Ataraxia wine.

The Fynboshoek Cheese Farm (042-280 3879) opposite the Tzitsikamma Lodge, one hour outside Plettenberg Bay, is the ‘best in the country’, according to Bruce. The owner/chef is a Dutch biochemist and microbiologist, who makes his own cheese and serves up delightful meals.

Bruce calls it a ‘Hansel & Gretel’ experience, going to dine at a magical home in the forest.

Damien van Jaarsveld, Singing Fig, Johannesburg

‘My favourite place for a quick bite would be Full Stop (011-880 4649) in Parkhurst. Not only do they have yummy food, but also yummy servers! Or Ruby Grapefruit (also in Parkhurst, 011-880 3673) as I absolutely love and adore sushi. My staple food is sushi’.

Best quality and quickest Chinese: Kung-Fu Kitchen ((011- 658 1727) in Fourways.

Damien says he never cooks at home as he hates the cleaning.

Matthew Gordon, Haute Cabriere Restaurant, Franschhoek

Best Deli: Giovanni’s (021-434 6893) in Green Point – brilliant Italian cold meats, cheeses, wines and so on.
Great Indian: Bukhara (usually Stellenbosch because it’s close, 021-882 9133) – Butter Chicken or Lamb Rogan Josh and a roti washed down with a Cobra beer.
All round great restaurants: Reuben’s (021-876 3772), Franschhoek and Bread and Wine (021-876 3692), Franschhoek – anything on the menu! They change it quite often.
Sushi: Willoughby & Co (021-418 6115) in the Waterfront – Ebi Temaki and California rolls.
Asian: Haiku (021-424 7000) – Spring rolls, dim sum and Peking duck.
For great simple inexpensive German food: Raith Gourmet (021-465 2729), Gardens – Bratwurst on a roll with German potato salad and mustard. Great butchery and deli section too.

‘My wife Nicky and I cook a lot at home. Fresh pasta, innovative salads, curries and lots of braai’s in the summer’.

Reuben Riffel, Reuben’s, Franschhoek

‘I used to grab a quick burger until I discovered Megu (021-863 1217) in Paarl. A Japanese restaurant that surprisingly doesn’t serve sushi!’

‘My favourite is a bowl of Tom Yum soup, paired with plum wine on crushed ice’.

Georgio at 95 Keerom (021-422 0765) makes the best ravioli’s, carpaccio and osso bucco and there is a great lunch atmosphere.

‘Smokey Swallows (043-727 1349) in East London makes the best curries, but seeing that they are so far, my mom’s chicken briyani or snoek head & aubergine curry cannot be beaten.’

‘The last meal I had at Jardine (021-424 5640) was world class and I wish we had Ile de Pain (044-302 5707) in Franschhoek. No-one beats their breads.’

Reuben signs off with a plea: ‘Can someone please let me know where I can find the best fish and chips?’

Readers respond to Reubens request for the best fish and chips:
Whenever we visit Cape Town (about every three years), we always head to a little fish and chip shop in Main Road, Plumstead called The Fish Net. Never had a bad experience there. – Mel and Joy Tobin, Canberra, Australia.

Theres a little spot in Gordons Bay, just at the bottom of Clarens Drive (next to The Leapfrog Estate Agent) that serves delicious fish and chips. The service isnt fast, but thats only because theres usually a meter long queue. Also, dont expect a lovely sit down venue, this little hole in the wall has a few pokey benches outside that are usually laden with munchers. Stand and scoff or take it home and enjoy.

Secondly, try Hook, Line and Sinker. They do normal fish and chips most nights, but for the authentic thing go during lunch. Food even comes wrapped in paper, sans plates. This is a finger fest, so dig in. Mmm. – Laura Perton

Email suggestions to web@eatout.co.za

Giorgio Nava, 95 Keerom, Cape Town

‘For a quick informal bite I normally go to La Colombe (021-794 2390). When I wear my dinner jacket for the best Italian, I go to 95 Keerom!’

‘For the best Indian I go to Bukhara (021-424 0000) and for the best Japanese, I go to Haiku (021-424 7000). For the best skilled food I go to Aubergine (021-465 4909). In the vineyards, I go to Reuben’s (021-876 3772) and to avoid all the fusion confusion everywhere in South Africa, I cook at home.’