Want to know where the best restaurants are in your ’hood? Here are the restaurants our readers have been loving in the month of May. Write your own review now to influence who will win the Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Best Everyday Eateries in October this year. Also, for every review you write, Eat Out will pledge a meal for a hungry child through Stop Hunger Now SA.

Johannesburg

Café Hemingways (Kyalami)

Top notch ratings all round! Service is spot on. Spend some time at the bar and learn about whiskeys from around the world! The food is outstanding – never disappoints! The food is creative and changes seasonally, which is a true show of chef flair! Creative is their second name – at the bar and with food, there’s always a ‘wow’ factor. The best part about it is that they charge reasonable prices. – Janet Sharp

The Countess in Melville. Photo supplied.

The Countess (Melville)

I had the best Mother’s Day here. We arrived at breakfast time and even though we didn’t have a reservation, the manageress was kind enough to give us a table. It was a bitterly cold morning but we could keep warm with the cosy rugs that had been placed on our chairs. I had the bacon burger for breakfast with a side of truffle mac ’n cheese. Best decision I ever made! The mac ’n cheese was creamy and delicious with a hint of truffle, while the burger was one of the best I’ve ever tasted – succulent and able to satisfy anyone’s appetite. I can’t wait to go back and try out the rest of their menu. – Tatum Bolling

The Main Conservatory at De Hoek Country Hotel (Magaliesburg)

No wonder Michael Holenstein continues to rate in SA’s top ten chefs year in, year out. His food is superb. Beautifully cooked, unpretentious, imaginative and daring. Served by attentive staff in a lovely country setting, you won’t find much better fare than this. – Kate Turkington

EAT Fine Dining (Northcliff)

What constitutes a great restaurant? To my family of roving restaurant mongers it would entail the perfect balance of flavour, good wine, excellent service and the personal touch, which only a great host can bring. EAT delivered on all these aspects. It was a culinary adventure to say the least. The food was amazing, the fusion of flavours perfectly combined in a manner which only a master of his art can do. And the added detail, such as the heavenly shoulder massage for mom and the unobtrusive yet very quirky mime, added to this stunning and exquisitely memorable Mother’s Day. – Ulricha Vermaak

Mpumalanga

Bistro at Metamorphis (Wakkerstroom)

We had been recommended to The Bistro and enjoyed our dining experience there greatly. Lizzie Lack the owner/chef is indeed a character, in this village known for its birding opportunities both locally and internationally. An interesting and extensive tapas menu for lunch and a delicious à la carte menu, in a cosy art filled space, with a fire and good company. Great use of locally sourced ingredients and undoubtedly a skilled couple of chefs. We look forward to returning. – Lew Rood

9th Avenue Bistro. Photo supplied.

Durban and beyond

9th Avenue Bistro (Greyville)

I was that impressed, that delighted, and my mouth is watering just thinking of the food. The restaurant has an unpretentious feel, but the dishes are truly Masterchef-worthy. The evening started with hot, homemade bread with butter, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. We devoured it in minutes. For starters, we had the crispy calamari with mayo-type dipping sauce; it was a generous portion and we couldn’t finish it between the three of us. The showstopper of the night was the dish of lango tails and orzo swimming in a rich, creamy, buttery sauce. It was decadent. It was delicious. It was like manna from heaven. I had never tasted anything like it before and I would go back just to relish every morsel again. – Derisha Reddy

Big Easy Wine Bar & Grill Durban by Ernie Els (South Beach)

An exquisitely unique setting, with excellent service and the food was an exceptional blend of modern comfort food. – Lee Ram

Lemon Tree Bistro Restaurant (Underberg)

The chocolate brownie here is somehow simultaneaously gooey and chewy – and came to me warm, with a dollop of fresh cream. The coffee is also great – even by city standards. – Anna Stein

Garden Route

Cathy & Remy’s Die Gieter (Knysna)

We were lucky enough to have a table at Die Gieter in celebration of my birthday and what a great find it was for all eight of us locals! Before our starters arrived we were treated to a bonne bouche of escargot in a delicate cream sauce and miniature pastry; after that we knew we were going to be in for a treat. The tasty baked camembert starter was large enough for two to share, the goat’s cheese wrapped in phyllo pastry was absolutely divine! The lamb shank was a huge plate of fall-off-the-bone tender meat. The duck fillet was picante and very succulent with a touch of crispness on the salted skin. For dessert we sampled between us the poire belle, baked cheescake and tarte tartin, all of which were mouthwatering and decadent. As we settled the bill, Cathy served homemade macaroons and french cognac on the house – a wonderful touch to finish our evening. – Linda Evans

Flava Café (Wilderness)

The ambience is country style, with white-washed furniture and loads of wall hangings. Service is great; always friendly and attentive but never in your face. The rolled pork belly was set atop mash, served with crispy vegetables and a scrumptious jus. I opted for the fillet steak prego roll, smothered in onions and peri-peri sauce, served with skinny fries and a side salad with the most amazing dressing. The peri-peri sauce being as delicious as it is, I often buy a bottle or two to take home. We ended off the evening with an Irish coffee. Portions are extremely generous and well priced. – Vanessa Christiane

The interior at Beleza Restaurant. Photo supplied.

Cape Town

Beleza Restaurant (Tamboerskloof)

A great mothers day lunch today. We were a fairly large group and they handled us brilliantly. The staff were stupendous, even catering to a couple of dietary issues in our group. I ate a rump trinchado, which was the tastiest bit of beef I’ve had in a long time. My children had pizzas, which they thoroughly enjoyed. I had panna cotta dessert which had a delicious tangy strawberry sauce. All in all a great day out. – morg leah

Black Sheep (Tamboerskloof)

I still cannot believe how incredible my experience was at this restaurant. I was on a date, and he booked a table for two. He didn’t know I was vegan. As I often have to do in situations like this, I apologised to the waiter, told him I was vegan and that I’d try not to make his night too hellish. Five minutes later, the chef was at my table, asking me what I felt like eating. He gave me the option of a couple of different flavours and 20 minutes later I had an Asian-inspired meal straight out of heaven. By far THE MOST DELICOUS vegan meal I’ve had since living in CT. I’m so impressed. I highly recommend this place to all. – Jenna Jo

The Butcher Shop & Grill (Mouille Point)

We had a delicious dinner at the Mouille Point branch tonight. A problem with a wine that was out of stock was sorted out in a jiffy by the manager in a friendly and professional manner. Being a fussy eater and not easily impressed… Well, I’m impressed, from the first bite of beautifully presented, well-prepared food until the last sip of a perfect cup of coffee. Excellent service from friendly attentive waiters. Full marks from us! – Hanneke Wolfaardt

A picnic with a sea view at Cape Point Vineyards Restaurant. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Cape Point Vineyards Restaurant (Noordhoek)

I came to Cape Point Vineyards to celebrate a very special occasion and am so pleased with my choice of venue. Apart from the view, which is honestly one of the best views in the world, the food was delicious and our waitress, Grammar, was amazing! – Stacy Bennet

De Grendel Restaurant (Panorama)

This restaurant has to have one of the best and famous views in the world. The food is excellent, the service good and it all makes for a great experience for eating out, highly recommended. The wines are of prize-winning excellence. – Robert Williams

The General Store (City Bowl)

A perfect spot for a quick coffee and takeaway breakfast – ask for the fluffy scrambled eggs with meaty mushrooms or smoked salmon. I can’t resist the daily quiches: delicious golden pastry with options like mushroom and bacon or cherry tomato and tons of feta. – Rae Furnell

Little Saint (City Bowl)

I had brunch in a sidewalk sunbeam here on Saturday morning. The owner was friendly and welcoming, and she whipped up a delicious raw cacao ‘hot chocolate’ for me even though it wasn’t on the menu. I ordered a steak sandwich, which came beautifully cooked and served with gooseberries and sliced of pear – an interesting and tasty surprise on great sourdough bread. My dining companion ordered the splendid sweet-potato frittata. The inside is quirky, cute and cosy – definitely an option for when the sun isn’t shining so brightly. – Lily Pienaar

The interiors at Midtown. Photo by Claire Gunn.

Midtown Restaurant and Bar (City Bowl)

What a great addition to the East City. It’s brilliant to have such a delicious contemporary Middle Eastern option just around the corner. Tam and Patricia were super welcoming (and gorgeous) and the excellent baba ganoush, tabouleh and onion-and-sumac-stuffed falafel with freshly made Lebanese bread will keep us going back again and again and again. – Russell Baker

SHEGO (Green Point)

Just had a most delicious meal that took us right back to Istanbul. Our aim is – in time – to eat everything on the menu because choosing one dish is just too difficult. Beautiful presentation backed up by a taste sensation. And it is kind to the budget, with the added bonus of great service and fabulous hospitality. Can’t wait to return. – Elise Bredenkamp

Spasie (City Bowl)

We went to Spasie as a big group of friends on a Wednesday evening. The ambience was chilled, friendly but also full of energy. The resident chef for the evening was Marc Vonk from Jack Rabbit and his partner, Vasti. The food was quite honestly the best food we have had in a long time. Course after course was delicious and well presented. I am now following them on their FB page. Playing Twister and Cards added to an excellent evening spent in Cape Town. – Sabrina StClaire

True Italic Rustic Restaurant (City Bowl)

Unpretentious and authentic – a breath of fresh air in the often too trendy Bree Street. Great food as it should be – everything from the bread and olive oil to the homemade gnocchi in a Sicilian rib sauce, topped with just the right amount parmesan. A definite must-visit if you enjoy a hearty plate of pasta. – Adriana Roos

Vivante (Claremont)

This is a gem. I have had a few meals at Vivante and all were excellent. Wednesday’s half-price sushi is great value. The sushi looks like a work of art and tastes amazing. Friday is half-price burgers and they are delicious. The restaurant is gaining popularity but at the moment is very quiet. They deserve to be supported. – Kathy Calder

A dish at Benguela on Main. Photo supplied.

Winelands

Benguela on Main (Somerset West)

The welcoming was warm and friendly and the restaurant itself had an air of class and warmth. The staff were obviously well trained and knowledgeable. Their sommelier, a charming Frenchman, certainly knew his stuff and was as enthusiastic about South African wines as anyone I have met. My wife and I chose from their winter special three-course menu. My wife’s soup was embellished with a beautifully cooked duck egg, and my pear salad set a standard that created an anticipation of what our main courses would deliver. My wife’s fish course, blackened bream, was a picture on the plate and certainly did not disappoint. My springbok loin was cooked to perfection and the sauces that accompanied it made the meal something special. Each course came with a different carafe of Beguela wine. We were given a wine tasting before we chose our wines. A nice touch. We both chose their mixed dessert, a collection of tastes and flavours that left nothing to be desired. As a fine-dining restaurant, Beguela on Main ticks all the boxes. – Jim Yeomans

Bloemendal Restaurant (Durbanville)

My favourite place in the wine valley. The food is superb; nothing is better than heading up on a misty afternoon to be seated in front of a fireplace with a glass of wine. The venue is beautiful and the views are exquisite. Looking forward to my next visit. – Guthrie Cooper

Meraki cruffins. Photo supplied.

Meraki (Stellenbosch)

I love this little eatery, it’s my favourite place in Stellenbosch to grab a quick coffee, have a lunch with friends or even take associates for an afternoon meeting. The decor is fresh and inviting; it somehow feels like home. The food is consistently sensational, thoughtfully designed menu with great variety. The food is prepared with care, the ingredients are high quality and the produce fresh and local. I love that the tried and true favourites are kept on the menu while others delights are trialled on a regular basis. The harvest table is wonderful and it is a fast and affordable way to eat a delicious, healthy home-cooked meal on a tight schedule. The baked goods are exceptional; I love the churros and their coconut cake is to die for! Its charm and consistency makes it a favorite for locals. – Andrea Marshall

Noop (Paarl)

Thank you Noop! Best lamb I had in ages! – Tonya Emmerich

Restaurant at Glen Carlou (Klapmuts)

Spectacular wines, excellent food and amazing staff! I would rate Glen Carlou as one of my favorite wine farms in Franshoek. The wines are all amazing – our favorite being the chardonnay, with rich butterscotch flavours. We shared two starters: the squid and the terrine. Both were spectacular! For mains my boyfriend had the fillet, which was so soft it melted in your mouth. I had the prawns with ricotta tortellini, which was perfectly balanced by a hint of sweetness. We will definitely be back soon. – Simone Singery

The bar at Sundoo. Photo supplied.

Sundoo (Sea Point)

What a gem of a modern Southern Indian Tapas restaurant. We went early and managed to get a table right away – although there is a cute bar to wait at. The memory of our delicious kingklip curry and chicken vindaloo were still with us this morning and for all the best reasons. This was great Indian cooking, served in perfect tapas sized portions – although you can have main courses too. Having a great inside/outside eating bar also adds to the ambience, and the staff are friendly, efficient and kind. Out friends were raving about their samosas all the way home. – Emma Shortt

Some reviews have been condensed and edited.