Back at work with your nose to the grindstone and looking for somewhere new to try? Our list of the most-viewed venues this December should do the trick. (This list shows what people are searching for on eatout.co.za, compiled using statistics of the most-viewed restaurant listings in December 2015.)

• Johannesburg
• Pretoria
• Durban and beyond
• Cape Town
• Winelands

Johannesburg

Pork noodles from PRON. Image courtesy of the restaurant

1. PRON (Linden)

Emma Chen’s Chinese noodle bar is still hot hot hot.

2. Five Hundred (Sandton)

The restaurant’s previous location at The Saxon Hotel will be the site of The Test Kitchen’s first pop-up restaurant, with chef Luke Dale-Roberts bringing his Cape Town restaurant’s award-winning culinary experience to the city of gold from 21 January until end-March 2016.

3. EB Social Kitchen & Bar (Hyde Park)

This new kitchen and bar has just opened at the Exclusive Books Hyde Park branch, with Russell Armstrong, an Australian chef with experience at three-Michelin-starred restaurants in France and the UK, taking on the job of executive chef.

4. The Grand (Rivonia)

A massive state-of-the-art kitchen is where the variety of buffet meals is prepared, which might include Scottish salmon or spit-roasted lambs. Warning: they have live entertainment in the form of (ahem) dancers.

5. Gemelli Italian Restaurant (Bryanstron)

A food dream inspired by the culinary capital of Rome, Italy. Look forward to cured venison carpaccio, signature penne with prawns and prosecco cream, and expertly cooked seabass.

A dish at AtholPlace Restaurant. Image courtesy of the restaurant

6. AtholPlace Restaurant (Sandton)

Situated in a boutique hotel, AtholPlace is a member of Relais & Châteaux offering breakfast, lunch and dinner.

7. Craft (Parkhurst)

This perennial burger favourite now has its own smoker. Desserts and milkshakes are still wacky and the craft beers, wines and special spirits flow.

8. San Deck (Sandton)

Once you see the views, you’ll know why this spot stays on this list in summer. Great for after-work sundowners.

9. Clico Boutique Hotel (Rosebank)

With a changing menu of classic cuisine, Clico offers both à la carte options and tasting menus.

10. The National Eatery and Speakeasy (Parktown North)

This speakeasy-style eatery ticks all the right boxes: cool bar, trendy décor, attentive service, and innovative takes on food from the Americas, Asia, Italy and Mexico. But what really gives the thumbs up is its farm-to-table approach.

Pretoria

1. Atlantis Seekos Restaurant (Irene)

All the food is prepared on open fires outside, where people congregate as the mercury falls and the evening becomes more relaxed. Dishes are served up a rolling buffet, with staff constantly adding options to the table.

2. La Terrasse Rooftop Café (Menlo Park)

This rooftop spot attracts guests with fragrances and flavours of North Africa in the form of meze platters and tagines.

3. Restaurant Mosaic at The Orient (Elandsfontein)

Chef Chantel Dartnall continues to amaze with her whimsical, exquisitely presented food at this 2015 Top 10 fine dining restaurant.

The interiors at Afro-Boer. Image courtesy of the restaurant

4. Afro-boer (Die Wilgers)

Afro-boer has perfected the balance between classic Afrikaans culture and eclectic modern trends, offering innovative, creative and delicious meals in a beautiful setting.

5. Burger Bistro (Villieria)

If you can get a table, the fun choices are all stacked with quality 200g patties, sesame buns specially prepared and a list of toppings that is ever-evolving.

6. Life Grand Café (Hazelwood)]

A lovely spot for Friday afternoon drinks to wash down the delicious tapas. The interiors are beautiful, reminiscent of a chic Parisian bistro.

7. De Kloof Restaurant (Waterkloof)

New chef Hugo Snyman delivers a taste kaleidoscope on each plate. This modern fine dining is one of Tshwane’s best taste experiences.

El Pistolero. Image courtesy of the restaurant

8.  El Pistolero (Constantia Park)

When the owner and chef of Pretoria favourite Ginger and Fig reveals he is opening another restaurant – and an authentic Mexican joint at that – you know it’s going to be good.

9. Brasserie de Paris (Waterkloof Ridge)

Classic French favourites keep crowds happy, like trio of beef fillet, steak tartare and sole meunière.

10. Chapters (Centurion)

This French-style café harks back to a bygone area with simple and honest food made with local seasonal produce, plus great SA wines.

Durban and beyond

Burgers and beers at Fourteen on Chartwell. Image courtesy of the restaurant

1. Fourteen on Chartwell (Umhlanga)

Fans love the large menu offering gastropub fare like pie of the day and jaffles filled with barbecue pulled pork or Durban curry.

2. Jaipur Palace (Durban Central)

A real buffet feast with every kind of curry, from crab and prawn to lamb, chicken and lentils.

3. Old Town Italy (Umhlanga Rocks)

This delightful deli captures the essence of a romantic old-world market and offers diners a little piece of Italy.

4. Four15 (Durban North)

A new taquería-style eatery on the up-and-coming foodie strip this is Mackeurtan Avenue. This is no dainty affair (thank goodness); the burritos are rather hefty.

Tasty chicken at The Coop. Image courtesy of the restaurant

5.  The Coop (Durban North)

Another Mackeurtan Avenue number, this new fast-food hatch focuses on tasty and simple chicken options and caters for both sit-in snacks and takeaway lunches.

6. Spiga D’Oro (Durban North)
This iconic restaurant in Durban offers consistently good food – authentic Italian cuisine made from fresh ingredients – and value for money. Great for late-night eating.

7. Pintxada Tapas Bar and Restaurant (Umhlanga)

The brains behind popular steakhouses Havana Grill and Little Havana recently opened this Spanish tapas spot in vibey Umhlanga Village. It’s all about sharing and sampling the weekly menu.

8. S43 Home to That Brewing Co. (Morningside)

Invite some friends, order some local brews and wash down some snacks in this chilled spot.

9. Surf Riders Food Shack (Addington Beach)

This is the ultimate beachside hangout, where promenade walkers, families and surfers flock for food that’s unpretentious and full of flavour.

10. La Lampara (Lidgetton in the Midlands)

You’d be forgiven for thinking you’d taken a wrong turn somewhere and ended up in Tuscany. This rustic Italian restaurant ticks all the right boxes, with a chalkboard menu of seasonal classics.

Cape Town

Fare from The Deckhouse Crab Shack. Image courtesy of the restaurant

1. The Deckhouse Crab Shack and BBQ (City Bowl)

Winner in the seafood category for the 2015 Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Best Everyday Eateries, the Deckhouse serves delights like buckets of crab and popcorn shrimp.

2. The Grand Café and Beach (Granger Bay)

This ‘beach’ (made with reclaimed sea sand) venue is wildly popular in summer for sundowners, boozy weekend lunches, birthday parties and as a wedding venue.

Tuna taco at Charango. Image by Katharine Jacobs

3. Charango Grill and Bar (City Bowl)

A pumping, popular spot for Peruvian cuisine and pretty cocktails.

4. La Colombe (Constantia)

Chef of the Year Scot Kirton and his team found the move to this new location a breath of fresh air.

5.  The Test Kitchen (Woodstock)

Restaurant of the Year for the fourth time running. ‘Nuff said.

6. The Village Idiot (City Bowl)

Wraparound balconies, crowd-pleading platters and a fully stocked bar. You get the picture.

7. Greenhouse at The Cellars-Hohenort Hotel (Constantia)

Winner of the 2015 Boschendal Style Award and Top 10 regular, Greenhouse is going from strength to strength under chef Peter Tempelhoff.

8. Outrage of Modesty (City Bowl)

Cape Town’s new cutting-edge cocktail bar is genuinely tiny, but a whole new world of cocktails awaits you. Don’t expect to see any brands; everything is made, infused and aged in-house.

9. Il Leone Mastrantonio (Green Point)

Italian food the way it’s meant to be – simple, fresh and tasty – is what you’ll find at this popular neighbourhood spot.

10. The Pot Luck Club (Woodstock)

A new entry to the Top 10, this tapas restaurant takes plates of flavour to a whole new level. Book far in advance.

Winelands

1. The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français (Franschhoek)

Diners continue to be enthralled by chef Margot Janse’s bold and creative experiments in local flavour. Number 3 in the 2015 Top 10.

2.  Jordan Restaurant (Stellenbosch)

Chef George Jardine’s fantastic seasonal menus deliver personality, authenticity and memorable flavour combos at this Top 10 regular.

3.  Terroir (Stellenbosch)

Chef Michael Broughton presents diners with unpretentious but uncompromisingly delicious and excellent cuisine. Number 8 in the 2015 Top 10.

The bar at Thirsty Scarecrow. Image courtesy of the restaurant

4. Thirsty Scarecrow (Stellenbosch)

With a deck overlooking the famous fields of the Mooiberge Strawberry Farm, this social eatery serves tasty gastropub starters and great pizzas.

5. Durbanville Hills Restaurant (Durbanville Hills)

This is typical winelands bistro fare with some imaginative twists. The sweeping views down to the distant Atlantic at Blouberg and Table Mountain with rolling hills – a sea of vines – add to the appeal.

6. Hudsons The Burger Joint (Stellenbosch)

Cape Town’s popular burger bar is now keeping Stellies students, families and professionals satisfied with delicious patties, poppers and pulled pork nachos.

7. Eight at Spier (Stellenbosch)

A relaxed farm-to-table experience, with natural and organic ingredients grown on site or bought from surrounding farms.

8. The Restaurant at Waterkloof (Somerset West)

A deserving newcomer to the Top 10. The cuisine of chef Gregory Czarnecki is better than ever and you can’t beat those views through the glass walls.

9. Rust en Vrede (Stellenbosch)

Chef John Shuttleworth invites you to slow down at this elegant fine dining spot on the historic wine estate.

Overture restaurant. Image by Claire Gunn

10. Overture Restaurant (Stellenbosch)

Chef Bertus Basson continues to deliver moreish cuisine with local character and more than a hint of nostalgia.

This list shows what readers are searching for on eatout.co.za, compiled using statistics of the most-viewed restaurant listings in December 2015.