This October, we’ll be announcing the Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Best Everyday Eateries. How does it all work? Every star rating you give with a restaurant review from 1 October 2016 to 31 August 2017 goes towards an overall score for that restaurant. The top reader-rated restaurants in each category are then rated by an Eat Out critic. Final scores for the award will be based on a 50-50 composite rating determined by the public and the critics. (This last step has been introduced after restaurants and readers have asked for the process to be audited by our critics.) Here are the top reader picks from the past week.

• Joburg
• Pretoria
• Durban
• Cape Town

Johannesburg

Café Hemingways (Kyalami)

Lunch 27th June. On arrival the waitress took us straight to a table for 2 without asking if we had booked, which we had, and a table had been nicely prepared for us – as we discovered later! The dishes we ordered were described to us by the chef after we asked to see him – the langoustine risotto was superb! We were entertained by Gavin after we had finished our meal and given a tour and explanation of the facilities at Hemingways. Our first visit but not the last! – David Tudor

Clico Restaurant (Rosebank)

This restaurant must be one of Jozi’s best-kept secrets. The six-course winter tasting menu was sublime, but be warned, don’t be tempted to finish the first three plates as you’ll regret it when the next three come along. It’s definitely worth the extra R150 for the wine pairing option – the selection has been very well thought-out and features some boutique wines I’d never come across before. The impala tartare was particularly fantastic, as was the dark chocolate semifreddo. Looking forward to coming back and trying the summer menu! – Sue van Winsen

Clico Restaurant. Photo supplied.

Momo Soko (Illovo)

Due to the incredible aesthetics of this vibey emporium we thoroughly enjoyed our Colonel Bau from Master Lai. – Carey McIntosh

Rocomamas (Fourways)

Excellent and unique tasting food, as usual! My hubby and I and everyone we know loves this burger joint! – Parissa Naidoo

TJ Billies BBQ (Northcliff)

The minimalistic, yet quirky, detailed decor is inviting and fun. The smoked brisket is consistently exceptional, the mini burgers delightful, the coffee reliable and overall it is a good value for money eating experience, every time. The serving staff members are most professional, and it is clear they are not just there because it was a first option for a day job, probably the reason why I would find any excuse for a detour to TJ Billies on the rare occasions when I do travel to the city. – Dinie Dreyer

Pretoria

Black Bamboo (Ashley Gardens)

It is the second time in 2 weeks I have gone to this gem of a place, this time to celebrate the arrival of special visitors. Again we were spoiled for choice as Chef Grobler and his team catered for our every need. We had a brilliant lunch and we actually were able to enjoy the outside area. Sound of flowing water made this lunch a satisfying lingering experience, one where we all could pretty much just have remained seated and have a siesta. Food was great, service attentive and linen crisp and white. Good wine selection and knowledgeable waitrons. Happy. – Lisa van Heerden

The Rib Eye Steak at Black Bamboo. Photo supplied.

Burger Bistro (Clubview)

WOW! You find very few restaurants willing to make something not on the menu and go out of their way to create something that you as a vegan can enjoy as well. Donald, thank you so much for your effort. My burger was simply amazing and I can’t wait to have it again. The guys really enjoyed their Incredible Hulk burger as well. The atmosphere and superhero decorations are great as well; you feel at home. Well priced and not expensive at all. – Darryl-Lynne Meintjes

Geet Indian Restaurant (Brooklyn)

WOW ……wow…… wow. What an amazing place this is. We were a table of 7 friends having a bithday celebration. We did not book and googled Indian and decided instantly to eat here. Had early dinner on Monday evening; such a wonderful welcome from the owner and such friendly staff. It’s so helpful when one does not know much about Indian food. We opted to skip starters so went straight on mains, tried a variety of curries and were pleasantly surprised how they can have such a huge menu and still make each dish different – unlike other Indian places, where it all tastes the same. We had lamb shank that was so tender, badami ostrich, dhal, prawn biryani with mushrooms, white butter chicken, and the naan to-die-for soft and flavourful. We had some of their new desserts which were not on menu; wow wow wow, the best. I highly recommend Geet; they just have a perfect place for everyone. I never tasted food like this before. I can still taste all the flavours now. You are the best Indian restaurant in the country, in the world. Thanks you, Wellington, who helped us. – Sandra Mbano

Vindaloo chops at Geet. Photo supplied.

Villa San Giovanni (Sinoville)

This restaurant satisfies me every time I go there. Generous portions let you know you have arrived in the comfort of real Italian hospitality. The Bolognese pizza with fresh chilli is to die for. Baked heaven – melanzane di parmigiano – layers of Napoletana, bechamel sauce and eggplant. Oh my goodness. I am one satisfied soul. – Lisa van Heerden

Durban and surrounds

Atasca (Westville)

Portuguese food at its freshest, tastiest and best. Complimentary Portuguese rolls with butter on arrival, which I kept for my meal to mop up the juices. Chicken and prawn combo with chips, rice, mushroom sauce and extra splashes of their in-house sauce is amazing, filling, and leaves you feeling content. Espetadas and seafood dishes also very tasty. Great service, good vibe and divine food! – Soraya Asmal

A burger and beer at Butcher Block. Photo supplied.

Butcher Block (Umhlanga)

Beautiful restaurant with eye-popping artistic desserts and tender, melt-in-your-mouth steaks, which can only be described as heavenly. Along with fresh chips and a crunchy salad, its a home run for me. I like the vibe, décor and food. I know I’m in for a fabulous evening. – Soraya Asmal

Fiamma Grill (Ballito)

It’s hard to find fault with this eatery; they’ve nailed it with regards to ambience, décor, service, food and overall attention to detail. As a frequent guest to this establishment and never having a bad meal here, I can safely recommend the oysters, steaks and seafood. Money well spent. I love it! – Soraya Asmal

Ribs and mac ‘n cheese at Smokin’ Joe’s Rib Shack. Photo supplied.

Smokin’ Joe’s (Berea)

I fancied this meaty burger bonanza with a smokey flavor that is a taste sensation. Crispy chips on the side, melted cheese dripping out and fresh ingredients, which are all quite pleasing. You can add different sauces and toppings, but I prefer a regular cheese burger and chips. This spot has a new fan and I will certainly be back. – Soraya Asmal

Village Table (Umhlanga)

Certainly a crowd pleaser! Meals are fresh, deliciously prepared and well presented on tableware that suits the colours of the ocean. The warmth of the sun and fresh Indian Ocean breeze enhances your dining experience. Meals are simple yet tasty and flavours well put together. – Shireen Nair

Cape Town

Active Sushi (Hudson Street)

Always best quality sushi and great service! – Duncan Willis

A sashimi salad at Active Sushi. Photo supplied.

Ashley’s Family Restaurant (Goodwood)

I have known this restaurant for many years. It is excellent. There is no other restaurant that can give food and service like them and they have the best pizzas in the whole of South Africa. I have taken so many friends and family to them over the years and they always give good reviews.From the moment you walk in there until you leave, always the best. – Martha du Plessis

Belthazar Restaurant and Wine Bar (V&A Waterfront)

GIANT WHOPPING STEAK! All four of us are great fans of a decent rib-eye steak and so we dared to try their giant Flintstone cut (like a Chicago cut… just BIGGER!) which was said to be over 1kg! The meat was cooked to perfection and perfectly tender… which is by no means an easy task when cooking a piece of meat that size! To go with it, we ordered their signature giant onion blossom and roasted pumpkin, which came drizzled with honey and sea salt. It. Was. Amazing. Arguing over what wine to order to suit everyone (pinotage vs. shiraz vs. merlot), our waiter suggested we each order a glass of our choosing from their House range… What a great idea! The glasses were massive, the serving size was perfect and the prices were unbelievably reasonable. Deciding that our mammoth meal could best be rounded off with a decadent dessert, we ordered the Ferrero Rocher Fantasy, which was just as heavenly as it sounds. (If I remember everything, it was chunks of fudge and choc brownies with custard, topped with Ferrero Rocher choccies, mixed berries and a boozy sweet wine drizzle. I kid you not!) It was totally worth the price and I’ll definitely be back again soon! – Tammy Michaels

Dalliance (V&A Waterfront)

If you’re looking for an unpretentious restaurant with great food and service, then head to Dalliance. And don’t be intimidated thinking that because they situated near expensive stores like Louis Vuitton that their menu is pricey. On the contrary, not only is it a diverse offering but reasonable too. For starters my husband and I shared sticky spicy barbeque wings and calamari tubes. Both were yummy. For mains I opted for a scrumptious lamb curry complemented with raita, naan and sambals, while my hubby enjoyed beef short rib, bone marrow and roasted vegetables. We shared a pineapple ice cream cheesecake and beignets filled with chocolate, creme chantilly and raspberries for dessert, and it was heavenly. Our friendly waiter was knowledgeable on all the meals and, if unsure on the preparation, would ask the chef on our behalf. A perfect date night and I can’t wait to return to try something new. – Alison Johannisen

The Eatery Wood Fired Grill (Claremont)

Every time we go here for dinner we are welcomed warmly and made to feel missed if we were gone a while. The food is always exceptional, especially the Cape Towner burger and steak special, which are amongst our favourites to order. The wine never disappoints and the wait staff and manager are always able to assist with recommendations. I’m excited about the new winter menu, which I think is the best idea since a family-style restaurant should feel like mom’s food or dad’s braai. The eatery is always at the top of our list when we need a place to eat. Keep up the great work! – Monique-Ann Strydom

Four & Twenty (Wynberg)

What glorious breakfasts! We tried the flapjacks with caramelised apple and mascarpone, and the shakshuka with poached eggs. Both were huge (we took home doggy bags – from breakfast!) and really delicious. The shakshuka was particularly good: the tomato sauce is scrumptious. Not sure what they put in it, but there must be some secret ingredient. It also came with kale that had been covered in tempura batter and fried to a crisp. Possibly the first time I have actually enjoyed eating kale. The hot chocolate – made with real dark choc – was sublime, too. – Jessica Stein

A sweet treat at Four & Twenty. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

The General Store (City Bowl)

Such a delicious salad! Eating it now at work and loving it – chargrilled broccoli with toasted seeds and chilli. Delicious! 🙂 – Megan Little

Gibson’s Gourmet Burgers & Ribs (V&A Waterfront)

Last time we had a burger with an egg was in London. May sound boring but we had an egg burger and then a cheese-and-egg burger. We shared a huge choc brownie shake, like kids! Service was cool and so was the music and vibe. I see that they now have sports TVs at the bar, which is awesome too. – Richard Hamilton

I tried to diet and had a salad burger with no carbs (roll). I could not resist the fresh strawberry shake, which was the VERY best shake I have ever had. It even had fresh strawberries on top! – Kim Watson

The fresh chicken with mango atchar and pineapple on like a prego roll (soft and fresh) is awesome. I loved the unusual taste of the atchar sauce! You have to eat it with your hands and mess. I also recommend the bacon, guacamole and cheese burger. The combination with the delicious sauce is awesome. We opted for the brioche bun and it was a great choice! – Dee Colton

Had lunch here on Saturday 01 July. Fantastic shake menu. OMW! Too many choices, over 100! Tried the apple pie and custard. Tasted like the real thing. We shared the Sliders (three different mini burgers) and a portion of sticky ribs. They do orange sweet potato fries and thick hand cut fries, too. Really great quality. Will be going there again, once the holidays are over… I can’t stand V&A in school holidays. Sit outside rather, as the inside can be a bit noisy. – Sean Abhorn

Jerry’s Burger Bar (Gardens)

We enjoyed having our lunch outside even though it was winter. The overhead heaters kept us warm while we sipped away on Castle draughts. The steak burger accompanied with sweet-potato chips was divine. The best burger I have had in a while! – Margaret Lotz

Live Bait (Muizenberg)

Love Live Bait in Muizenberg. Firstly the decor – the fresh, bright, beach-house look makes you feel on holiday. And of course the view is up to the part! The tables are nicely spaced apart so that the restaurant feels vibey and also spacious – and you can still hear your table companions talking. Something you can’t say for many restaurants these days. I love seafood, and Live Bait definitely delivers. The crisp calamari starter is delicious and the line fish with salsa verde and yum garlic mash left a rather delicious taste in the mouth. The day we were there, there was no option to order the whole fish, which was a bit disappointing… but just a good reason to go back! PS: The wine list could be improved, but at least they allow BYO. – Jane Smith

Open Door Restaurant (Constantia)

My friends and I enjoyed a fabulous meal last night at Open Door. We went for the Winter Special, which at R295 for three courses including a bottle of wine for a table of four (the delicious Constantia Uitsig white Bordeaux blend) really was exceptional value. Especially considering the generous size of the portions… And the fact that we didn’t want to leave a morsel on our plates. (Unfortunately by the end it meant some dessert was left over – we were just too full to eat any more.) A big thumbs up to the calamari, miso caramel and peanuts starter – a delicious and unusual way of doing an ingredient that’s almost ubiquitous on all starter menus. All the other starters – feta bake, cauliflower cheese, pork ravioli – were heartily enjoyed by our group. And for mains, well, I wiped my plate clean of line fish with butternut gnocchi and mussel/bacon veloute. The desserts were picture perfect and yummy. The only downside of the evening was the practically empty restaurant… I can only hope it’s a sign of weeknight in CT before payday in winter. – Jane Smith

Open Door’s braised lamb neck with Jerusalem artichoke. Photo supplied.

SMAK Delicatessen (City Bowl)

From the moment I walked in I felt special! Seated at a fantastic table, friendly greeting, had fantastic wine and delicious pasta! This is definitely my fav spot! – Gwynn Sarah

Stacked Diner (City Bowl)

After Jerry’s we took a short walk up Kloof Street to satisfy our sweet tooth at Stacked Diner. I loved the vibrant yellow colours softened by the feather grey interior. We ordered the lemon meringue, chocolate hazel and the apple pie waffles. My favourite was the apple pie. Perfect to lighten any grey wintery day! And we gulped down the delicious sweet pastries with tea and hot chocolate. We will soon be stacking our tummies again with their delectable waffles! – Margaret Lotz

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