Brought to you by Finish

If the ominous promise of Day Zero in Cape Town taught us anything, it’s that we all need to be aware of our water consumption, even those living in cities where luxuries like baths and sprinklers are allowed. One of our favourite ways to minimise water consumption is to wash less dishes by eating out at restaurants using sustainable water practices. And, if you want to go above and beyond, ensure you eat up every little morsel on your plate. So if you need encouragement, these are our picks of dishes across the country that make us want to (literally) lick the plate clean.

1. The BBQ beef ribs at Ribs and Burgers (Waterkloof, Pretoria)

This probably doesn’t need much explaining but, in case you didn’t know, the barbecue beef ribs at Ribs and Burgers will have you licking your plate and fingers clean. They’re well-seasoned with good caramelisation and a moreish beefy flavour, and they’re cooked until juicy and just falling off the bone.

A post shared by Ribs & Burgers ZA (@ribsandburgersza) on Apr 18, 2018 at 12:09am PDT

2. The cacio e pepe at Mulberry and Prince (Cape Town City Centre)

This dish of three ingredients proves once again that less is more. The cacio e pepe served at Mulberry and Prince is made with just Pecorino, black pepper and a bit of pasta water, but the creamy linguine is topped with a Pecorino crisp that adds amazing texture (and extra cheesiness). Call ahead to see if it’ll be on the menu for the night.

Mulberry and Prince’s cacio e pepe. Photo by Jess Spiro.

3. The Cape Malay crispy octopus at The Shortmarket Club (Cape Town City Centre)

As one of the dishes that featured on the original Shortmarket menu, the Cape Malay crispy octopus is one of the most famous plates in Cape Town. And for good reason – it’s ridiculously tasty. The tender octopus is coated in a delicately spiced Panko crumb then deep-fried, and is served with bright mango atchar and mango tahini. The resulting dish is a satisfying combination of varied textures with fresh acidity from the atchar.

The Cape Malay crispy octopus at The Shortmarket Club. Photo by Andy Lund.

4. The chocolate fondant at EB Social Kitchen and Bar (Hyde Park, Johannesburg)

We’re suckers for a good fondant, and this one from EB Social Kitchen and Bar is very good indeed. The dark chocolate fondant is baked to that sweet spot – molten in the centre, but still holding together – then topped with a tonka bean granola for texture, and served alongside a scoop of heady violet ice cream.

5. The lemon meringue pancakes at Betty Blue Bistro (Hermanus)

This pretty little spot in the heart of Hermanus is known for its bright and delicious grub and ultra-tempting pancakes. The sweet stuff section on the menu boasts seven different kinds of crêpes with a variety of delectable fillings like Peppermint Crisp, milk tart, vanilla ice cream and Nutella, and peanut butter mousse. We’re here for the lemon meringue pancakes with its lemon curd interior and Italian meringue topping. Sweet, zingy and messy in all the best ways possible. You’ll be dreaming about it afterwards.

The lemon meringue pancakes at Betty Blue Bistro. Photo supplied.

6. The not-so-Benedict at Parc (Glenwood, Durban)

It’s hard to pick a favourite at Parc; everything on the constantly changing menu is done so well. One dish, however, that’s always on the menu is the famous not-so-Benedict. It features perfectly poached eggs with the richest lemony Hollandaise topped with capers. It’s all served on a bed of crispy bacon and potato-rosemary bread from The Glenwood Bakery. Yum.

So simple, so saucy, so satisfying. Photo by Nikita Buxton.

Brought to you by Finish

About the sponsor

Finish is the worlds’s largest brand for automatic dishwashing products and their vision is to help people achieve the cleanest possible dishes. They have a long history of industry firsts – from the first biological powder in 1969, to the first dual layer tablet in 1995, to the introduction of the now-famous red Powerball in 1999 and the first three-chamber molded capsule in the 21st century. The brand is now sold in over 40 countries across the globe.