At a glittering awards ceremony held at the Rotunda at the Bay Hotel, we announced the winners of the 2011 Eat Out DStv Food Network Restaurant Awards and the prestigious Top 10 restaurants.Restaurants are judged on food, service and ambience, as well as other aspects that make or break the eating out experience. This year we also included a host of new categories, making these the most extensive culinary awards in South Africa. Without further ado, here are the winners: Chef of the year:Luke Dale-Roberts Restaurant of the year: The Greenhouse Service Excellence Award:The Roundhouse Best Bistro:Bizerca Bistro Best Steakhouse: The Local Grill in Boksburg and Parktown North Best Country Style Restaurant:The Table at De Meye Best Asian Restaurant: Kitima Best Italian Restaurant:95 Keerom The City Press ViP Sunday Breakfast Award:salvationcafe The Lannice Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award, brought to you by Paarl Media: Garth Stroebel The Boschendal Style Award: Makaron Woolworths TASTE Bursary winner: Zahir Isaacs
Top Ten
1. The Greenhouse (The Cellars-Hohenort) Contemporary, Fusion, International, African, Asian, French, South African, Fine Dining, Vegetarian The Greenhouse (The Cellars-Hohenort)
Cape Town (Western Cape)
The Greenhouse (The Cellars-Hohenort) Contemporary, Fusion, International, African, Asian, French, South African, Fine Dining, Vegetarian The Greenhouse (The Cellars-Hohenort)
Cape Town (Western Cape)
Hartford House Contemporary, Fusion, International, Fine Dining Hartford House
Mooi River (KwaZulu-Natal)
Jordan Restaurant Contemporary, Continental, International, South African, Fine Dining, Vegetarian Jordan Restaurant
Stellenbosch (Western Cape)
La Colombe Fusion, Asian, French La Colombe
Cape Town (Western Cape)
Restaurant Mosaic at The Orient Health, Contemporary, Continental, Fusion, International, Mediterranean, French, Fine Dining, Vegetarian Restaurant Mosaic at The Orient
Pretoria (Gauteng)
Nobu Fusion, Japanese Nobu
Cape Town (Western Cape)
Overture South African Overture
Stellenbosch (Western Cape)
Pierneef à La Motte South African, Fine Dining, Vegetarian Pierneef à La Motte
Franschhoek (Western Cape)
Planet Restaurant at the Mount Nelson Contemporary, International, South African, Fine Dining, Vegetarian Planet Restaurant at the Mount Nelson
Cape Town (Western Cape)
Roots at Forum Homini Sushi, Continental, Fusion, French, Italian Roots at Forum Homini
Krugersdorp (Gauteng)
The Roundhouse Contemporary, French The Roundhouse
Cape Town (Western Cape)
Tokara Contemporary, International, French, South African, Fine Dining, Vegetarian Tokara
Stellenbosch (Western Cape)
Title Sponsor
Style
Boschendal Style Award
What defines a stylish restaurant? The ambience of a restaurant needs to be taken into account when choosing where to eat. You need to feel that you belong. Stylish need not equal award-winning design. It is all about the different elements coming together to create an aesthetically stylish whole. Comfy chairs are a start, and so are the music and the lighting – all of which shouldn’t be too hard or too soft. By the same t oken, good-looking crockery and well polished wine glasses should also be taken into consideration. It’s also about excelling in quality – a standard that fits snug in a particular style of restaurant, whether it offers a luxuriously rustic ambience or a beautiful 5 star view. Lastly, design is key – from glamorous to off-beat, classic elegance to sophisticated urban chic. In 2011, we announced a brand new award at the Eat Out Awards. The Boschendal Style Award recognises the most stylish restaurant in the country. In the past couple of months we’ve featured a host of nominees on our site, boasting everything from cutting edge contemporary design, to sumptuous vintage interiors. The winner of the Boschendal Style Award was announced at the 2012 Eat Out DStv Food Network Restaurant Awards on the 20th November. Without further ado, here is the winner, and the four runners up.
Winner of the 2011 Boschendal Style Award at the Eat Out DStv Food Network Restaurant Awards:
Our dedicated team of professional reviewers has sampled aperitifs, sipped soups and devoured desserts all across the country, to bring us reviews of the best restaurants in their area. Their knowledge and expertise have helped to inform judge Abigail Donnelly’s shortlist.
This year, we also felt it was about time to include the voices of our audience. Everything we do is informed by our network of national food critics, as well as our (very vocal) online users, who consistently deliver feedback about their dining adventures throughout the year.
As such, with the input from the entire Eat Out community, Abigail Donnelly drew up a list of 20 nominees. Each nominee had to adhere to the following guidelines:
• The establishment must have been open and
operating since November 2010, i.e. for a full year.
• The owners and chef should show an absolute
passion for their business.
• Dedication to uplifting the industry should be displayed.
• Chefs should care about sourcing quality produce.
• Consistency and excellence must shine through every aspect of the business.
For months after drawing up the list, Abigail eats at each of these 20 restaurants. She scores them on food, service and ambience, taking into account a multitude of aspects that make the eating out experience a showstopper.
Judging criteria:
Restaurants must have been open, with the same head chef, for a period of one year to be eligible for the Top 10. They are judged on a scorecard out of 100, on the following criteria:Food /70
Which includes:
Menu composition and seasonality /15 – choice, cooking techniques, dietary requirements, local ingredients, choice of fish, out-of-season ingredients Presentation /15 – visual appeal, fits description, use of plate, garnishes Taste /25 – execution of dish, balanced, flavours complimentary, texture Wine /10 – choice, other beverages offered, staff knowledge, pairing and value for money Value for money /5
Service /20 – reservation, arrival, staff attitude and knowledge, specials, wine matching, dietary requirements, extra mile, billing
Ambience /10 – comfort level, cleanliness, cutlery, music and bathrooms.
ABIGAIL DONNELLY is the editor of Eat Out and food editor of Woolworths TASTE. Her accolades include winning the Galliova Award for best food writer four times. Her free time is spent with husband Terry (who cooks every night) and their two boys Jack and Matthew.
Review Team
Eat out review team 2011
Our dedicated team of reviewers has made their way through everything from the aperitif to dessert all across the country, to bring us news of the best restaurants in their area. This year, our reviewers are:
• Janine Walker
• Hennie Fisher
• Diane de Beer
• Frank Chemaly
• Tracy Gielink
• Annette Klinger
• Greg Landman
• Graham Howe
• Clifford & Maryke Roberts
• Dax Villanueva
• Andy Fenner
• Fiona McDonald
• Richard Holmes
• Charlotte Pregnolato
• Colette du Plessis
• Kate Ziervogel
• Shirley Jones
• Sue Maclennan
• Lisa van Aswegen
