Put your restaurant forward

Eat Out mission: celebrating culinary excellence

At Eat Out, our dedication lies in showcasing culinary excellence in South Africa, celebrating restaurants that continually strive for the highest standards. Our commitment is to guide guests to remarkable dining experiences, where principles of consistency, attention to detail, and refinement permeate every aspect of the restaurant. From the quality of ingredients to the skilful preparation and delivery of flavourful dishes, we also recognise restaurants that push the boundaries, exploring new and innovative approaches. Through this, we aim to expertly curate a list of memorable dining experiences.

Restaurant submission

If you've ever been awarded a star, you need not submit a request here. All the star-rated establishments from the previous year are automatically included on the judges shortlist, and any restaurants awarded stars in years prior to that are also considered, pre-vetted and included in our scouting process..

Any other restaurants that put themselves forward are first researched and then rated by an Eat Out scout. If the initial scouting score is below 70, the restaurant will not make the judges shortlist. If the restaurant score is 70 or above, that score is then ratified by two judges from our panel. If those two judges score the restaurant 70 or above, the remaining 6 judges will visit it.

After submitting your motivation below, you will not be informed if your restaurant has made the judges' shortlist. As with all other restaurants, you will only find out who the star nominees are when they are announced before the awards ceremony.

Scorecard criteria and weightings

- Taste and Technique: 25%
- Service: 25%
- Menu Composition: 15%
- Presentation: 15%
- Beverages: 10%
- Ambience: 5%
- Perceived Value: 5%

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Your Details

First Name*

Last Name*

Phone*

Email*

Restaurant Details

Restaurant Name*

Restaurant Location*

Restaurant website*

Restaurant social media handles*

Chef or owner’s name*

Please motivate in writing why this restaurant should be judged.*

Eat Out criteria*

Is the restaurant open to the general public?

Does the restaurant offer personal service where dishes are brought to you? We don’t consider self-serve and pay restaurants.

Is there a sense of cohesion throughout the entire experience? This refers to menu, service, décor and ambience throughout the dining experience.

Does the restaurant operate from a permanent physical location? Pop-up restaurants or temporary locations are not eligible.

Does the restaurant demonstrate exceptional skill in its chosen cuisine or concept? This means the food and service should reflect a high level of skill and knowledge in the restaurant’s chosen cuisine or concept.

Was the restaurant operational by 1 July 2024?