Looking for a new neighbourhood gem in your area? This week our community gave the thumbs up to the following restaurants. We’re giving away R1 000 each month to one lucky reader review writer. The winner for July is Nadia Barnard. Write your own review now.

Beer and snacks at Hoghouse. Photo supplied.

• Joburg
• Pretoria
• Durban
• Cape Town

Johannesburg

Beast (Roodepoort)

Absolutely lovely gem of a place! Very friendly staff, great service and their ribs are simply delicious! Love that they don’t just pair it with your standard chips or baked potato, but a lovely choice of other side dishes! I chose the mac ‘n cheese which was simply melt in the mouth good! Will definitely be back to try out the rest of the menu! – Karen Johaar

A juicy steak from Beast. Photo supplied.

The Countess (Melville)

I’m from Cape Town, so going up to JHB is a mare for me. I get lost every time, but I tell you, when you land up at a restaurant that makes you feel so welcome, comfortable, and warm in my tummy, the trip can be worth it. I’m totally in love with The Countess vibe, staff, food, and coffee. It’s now my JHB ‘go-to’ happy place. Thanks guys! – Kirsten van Jaarsveld

Tonka Bean Bakery (Fourways)

So glad we found this gem. This is a commercial kitchen and when you call they are very clear about this. They also advise you that you need to pre-order as they only bake to order, occasionally they do have surplus items. We usually order two days in advance. We have tried the following items: the doughnuts with vanilla-bean crème pâtissière, salted caramel chocolate tarts, Florentines, queen cakes, almond croissants with an almond filling and chocolate brownies. We have also ordered the Oreo chocolate cake and the vanilla cake. Every single item was absolutely divine. This is our go to bakery and will remain so. So glad he is increasing his menu! – Thavashni Reddy

Stuffed doughnuts at Tonka Bean Bakery in Fourways. Photo supplied.

Pretoria

Alfie’s Pizzeria (Hazelwood)

I am Italian, and I can tell you that even in Italy it is difficult to find pizzas as good as these. Best place in Pretoria, without any doubt. – Nicola de Veredicis

Hudson’s (Hazelwood)

Lunch at Hudson’s burger joint. Pimm’s cup, huge, fruity and delicious. Deep-fried mac-and-cheese croquettes with truffle mayo, such a comfort food blast. Very tasty triple-cheese jalapeño poppers. There are awesome burgers, but pizzas are the winner, cut into squares. The place is very busy, so book. Only negative: we were told they open at 12 so we took a stroll but when we came back just before 12 we were a bit peeved to see people already seated and drinking beer. Hazelwood is really popped up lately with a huge restaurant revival and village-type feel. Parking can be an issue. – Benita Cooper

The cheesy chilli poppers at Hudsons. Photo supplied.

La Fiamma (Faerie Glen)

A firm neighbourhood favourite. Seafood pasta, loaded with seafood, and wild boar pasta, paper-thin melting carpaccio, some of the best thin-crust pizza in Pretoria. Various specials on offer, a bacon-wrapped rump topped with avocado and gorgonzola sauce, kabeljou in a light coconut curry sauce. Themed tasting events, whiskey, gin and craft beer. Really good service and friendly management. – Benita Cooper

La Terrasse Rooftop Café and Deli (Menlo Park)

La Terrasse Rooftop Cafe has great food! We had the Moroccan snack platter for two and managed to taste and enjoy so many different items. The phyllo pockets with herb cream cheese are highly recommended. The staff are friendly and service is good. Prices are reasonable, and we felt we got good value for money. Two things that stand out are: the setting high up in the treetops, and the fact that it feels very personal. You never get that big commercial restaurant feeling. Worth visiting. – Derek Esterhuysen

La Terrasse Rooftop Café. Photo supplied.

Sir Herbert Restaurant (Brooklyn)

A lovely restaurant with great ambience and service. I attended a wine pairing evening, and enjoyed a great selection of South African dishes, which included bunny chow, venison pie, finished off with a pudding of butternut pancakes. It is well worth a visit and just a stone’s throw away from Brooklyn Mall. – Kerry Davies

Spice The Indian Kitchen (Lynnwood Ridge)

We had a fantastic experience at Spice The Indian Kitchen located in Lynnridge Mall. The chicken korma was prepared to perfection and every bite asked for more. Portion size was perfect and the gulam jamun dessert just as sensational. The extensive menu will have to be tried over the months to come. – Eppie Fourie

Zest Bistro (Menlo Park)

The first time we went to Zest was during a load-shedding evening and when we arrived there, the power promptly went off too! Thank goodness for gas burners and candles. We had an excellent meal and have been back with family and friends, each time served with exemplary food! They have regular wine-pairing evenings and Sidney’s dishes with the paired wines are quite phenomenal. Seafood bobotie with a well-known Sauvignon Blanc was a winner. And their “Lemon Freak” dessert is to die for – burnt lemon tart, zesty creamy yoghurt, lemon confit, Seville marmalade ice cream. – Nadene Visser

Durban

Aqua (Umdloti)

Full stars! We went there one evening, with the restaurant being fully booked, they made the effort to make space for us. We were seated at the top right at the stir-fry area; what an experience to see the chef prepare your meal with a beautiful fish tank at the background. Love this restaurant. – Elizabeth Ferreira

Oysters at Aqua. Photo supplied.

Trattoria Casa Mia (Umtwentweni)

Divine food! The best gnocchi I’ve ever tasted and I make a point of ordering gnocchi at any restaurant I eat at, so I have many restaurants to compare it to across South Africa. I also tasted the polo modo mia and it was delicious! Food is fresh, incredibly tasty and wholesome! Authentic Italian cuisine. Do give this quaint restaurant a try when you are in the Port Shepstone area. Very well priced and affordable. – Cait Morris

The Upper Deck Restaurant (Durban)

This restaurant deserves full stars on all! The food is out of this world, service with friendly helpful staff, atmosphere could go from romantic if you want it to be, or a family visit! Really a wonderful restaurant. – Elizabeth Ferreira

Cape Town

Active Sushi (Bree Street)

Great tasting sushi at a great price and the service is excellent and friendly. Will definitely come back when I visit Cape Town again and recommend that all sushi lovers try this place out. – Noelene Howell

A sashimi salad at Active Sushi. Photo supplied.

Bootlegger Coffee Company (Sea Point)

I love the Bootlegger ambience and vibe. The staff are always crazy friendly and the food does not disappoint. I would suggest their soups, made fresh every day and, of course, the coffee. The half-price CBC after work doesn’t hurt either. – Cara Attewell

Bossa Nova (Durbanville)

Best chilli poppers I’ve tasted this far! I’m a major foodie and their food is top notch! Good service from the waiter but the wait time for drinks shouldn’t be as long…. even if you are a group of people. But I love the set up, food and overall vibe. – Kelly Space Princess

Catch 22 (Table View)

Let me start by saying Catch 22 never disappoints! Each time we walk in, we are greeting by big smiles and a vibrant atmosphere. The staff are friendly and accommodating even when busy. We have been visiting since 2014 and the quality of food and service has remained tops for the past 2 years. We have had a variety of meals and EVERYTHING has been divine. The service is wonderful, ALWAYS with a smile. The location is perfect, with lovely views of Table Mountain and sunsets when seated outside. The specials are great value for money and quality is not compromised. Each time we visit Catch 22, it’s a treat! What makes this restaurant that little more special is that our (technically) first date was here. We will be back real soon! – Sharon Scott

A seafood salad at Catch 22. Photo supplied.

Hoghouse Brewing Company (Ndabeni)

Such an amazing concept and vibe. It has a real ‘smokehouse’ feel, and the food is delish. You can’t order beef brisket anywhere else (that I know of), just gorgeously yummy! The side orders are lovely (especially the broccoli with capers and almonds), but they can get quite pricey. Share sides, as it is more than enough. The pig-tail starter is really, really good, done in a honey-and-mustard glaze. The beer is great and prices are really, really good, because you are buying direct from the cellar. All in all, great food, very professional yet chilled service. Loved it and will be back for sure. – Angela van Wyk

The Mess Restaurant (Green Point)

A rustic, cosy atmosphere with very friendly and helpful staff. The owner played host for the evening and checked in with all the diners to make sure they had a great evening. We had an array of starters at our table: flat bread with dips, pork belly and spicy squid tacos. The flatbread was very well seasoned and the goat’s cheese with honey dip was a hit. The flavours were sublime and textures very complimentary. The fact that you had to eat with your hands while chatting away merrily with your friends / partners was most likely what was envisioned for the restaurant, so well done! For my mains I opted for the saffron-braised lamb neck, creamy polenta and braised baby vegetables. Oh my word! I would recommend this to anyone and everyone. Comfort food at its best! The de-boned lamb was tender and moist, the polenta was creamy, the vegetables seasoned and cooked to perfection. The meal as a whole was so delicate, yet incredibly satisfying. It was truly heaven in your mouth. I will definitely be returning to The Mess and try out some more of their amazing meals. They get 5 stars from me. – Bianca Smit

Saffron flatbread with white bean pâté, duck rillete and pickled goat cheese. Photo supplied.

Simon’s at Groot Constantia (Constantia)

My partner and I always got to Simon’s as a treat. The restaurant has inside and outside areas that flow seamlessly into each other. The outside area that overlooks the vineyards is beautiful in summer. They have an amazing fillet steak that is always cooked perfectly. They have a large selection of amazing local wines. We recommend their crème brûlée, which is the best I have ever had. – Popa Mfubu

Some reviews have been edited and condensed.

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