We can barely contain our excitement: after months of nibbling, sipping and munching our way across the country, we can finally announce the nominees for this year’s Top 10.

Judged by Eat Out editor Abigail Donnelly and Wall Street Journal critic and World’s 50 Best Restaurants judge Bruce Palling, the Top 10 will be announced at the Eat Out DStv Food Network Restaurant Awards on Sunday 25 November 2012. This year, our glittering ceremony will take place at The Westin Cape Town.

Without further ado, here are this year’s nominees*:

Babel
Bizerca Bistro
Delaire Graff Estate Restaurant
DW Eleven-13
The Greenhouse
Hartford House
Jordan Restaurant
La Colombe
Makaron
Overture
Pierneef à La Motte
Planet Restaurant
Restaurant Mosaic
The Roundhouse
Rust en Vrede Restaurant
The Tasting Room
Terroir
The Test Kitchen
Tokara

*Our original communication listed The Pot Luck Club as one of the nominees. However, on discussion with chef Luke Dale-Roberts, we discovered the restaurant only opened in December 2011, and not in November 2011. (One month short of the cut-off.) Therefore, as per our judging criteria, The Pot Luck Club is not eligible for the awards this year. Luke fully supports our decision and we wish him all the best with the restaurant for 2013!

Want to be there on the night? Tickets are on sale now.