In the South African dining scene, Eat Out stands as the trusted guide to the country’s best restaurant experiences. We celebrate and elevate culinary excellence, recognising restaurants that embody the highest standards of quality, innovation, and service. If you believe your restaurant deserves to be highlighted among the best, here’s your opportunity to shine. 

Eat Out is dedicated to guiding diners to remarkable dining experiences where every detail matters. If your restaurant has ever been awarded a star in 2023, you are already included on the judges’ shortlist, and any restaurants awarded stars in previous years are pre-vetted and included in our scouting process. Please read more about the full judging process here.  

For other restaurants, the process begins with a submission. Here’s how it works: 

1.Initial submission
Submit your restaurant for consideration. This is the first step to getting on our radar. 

2. Research and scouting
Once your submission is received, an Eat Out scout will conduct research and visit your establishment. Restaurants scoring below 70 at this stage will not proceed to the judges’ shortlist.

3. Judges’ evaluation
If your restaurant scores 70 or above, two judges from our panel will visit and rate it. If both judges give a score of 70 or above, the remaining six anonymous judges will then visit to provide their evaluations. 

To ensure a comprehensive and standardised assessment, the Eat Out judges use the following criteria, each weighted to reflect its importance: 

– Taste and Technique: 25%
– Service: 25%
– Menu Composition: 15%
– Presentation: 15%
– Beverages: 10%
– Ambience: 5%
– Perceived Value: 5% 

Please note: Submissions for this year’s judging season will close on 31 July 2024. You can submit your restaurant HERE.