Garden herbs and sprouts, smoked hen’s yolk, chestnut and pollen at Camphors at Vergelegen. Photo by Jan Ras.

South Africa’s shining culinary talents were honoured at the 2016 Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards on Sunday, 20 November. The Grand Arena at Grand West in Cape Town was transformed into a luxurious secret garden for the Sunday lunch of the year.

The Top 10 restaurants

1. The Test Kitchen (Woodstock, Cape Town)

2. La Colombe (Constantia, Cape Town)

3. The Restaurant at Waterkloof (Somerset West)

4. The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français (Franschhoek)

5. Restaurant Mosaic at The Orient (Elandsfontein, Pretoria)

6. Overture (Stellenbosch)

7. Greenhouse at The Cellars-Hohenort (Constantia, Cape Town)

8. The Kitchen at Maison (Franschhoek)

9. Foliage (Franschhoek)

10. Camphors at Vergelegen (Somerset West)

All the winners

In addition to the Top 10 restaurants, we also honoured some stellar restaurants and individuals with special awards. Stay tuned for more about each winner in the coming week.

Eat Out S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna Chef of the Year: Gregory Czarnecki of The Restaurant at Waterkloof

Eat Out Nespresso Service Excellence Award: La Colombe

Eat Out Nederburg Rising Star: Angelo Scirocco of Urbanologi

Eat Out Retail Capital New Restaurant of the Year: Foxcroft

Eat Out Wine Service Award: Tinashe Nyamudoka of The Test Kitchen

Eat Out Lannice Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award: Peter Veldsman

Eat Out Boschendal Style Award: Marble

Eat Out John Psillos Award for Outstanding Contribution to Service: Jennifer Hugé of La Colombe

Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award: The Table at De Meye

Woolworths TASTE Eat Out Bursary winner: Ayanda Matomela

Click here for more information on the judging for each of the awards.

Click here to see videos of 5 plates at each of the 20 of the nominees.

Follow @Eat_Out on Twitter and search #EatOutAwards for all the awards excitement. Visit Eat Out’s Instagram page @eatoutguide and Facebook page www.facebook.com/EatOutMag for photographs of the awards celebration.