While English is often considered to be one of the most universal languages, there is another language that might be more impactful than words – and that is food.
For centuries, the sweet aromas and rich textures that come with a warm cooked meal have been the secret ingredient to solving conflict, peace, and merely bringing families together, and nobody knows this more than South Africans.
As a nation with a diverse heritage, our country prides itself on the rich history of some of our most famous cuisines, which can also be found at many of our country’s top restaurants nationwide, something the retail group Woolworths is all too familiar with.
After nearly three decades of setting the golden standard when it comes to culinary excellence, their annual Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards ceremony is set to make its return in 2025 with an evening dedicated to celebrating the top excellence in the restaurant industry.
The prestigious South African culinary awards program recognises and celebrates excellence in restaurants, chefs, and the food industry.
A statement shared by the event organisers stated, “The Eat Out judges and scouts undertook a nationwide culinary journey with 690 restaurant visits across South Africa.”
“Their task was a focused one – remain true to Eat Out’s core mission of shining a light on consistency, attention to detail, quality ingredients, and the skillful preparation and delivery of flavourful dishes. Top of mind too, was to acknowledge restaurants that pushed the boundaries through innovation, exploring a forward-thinking and progressive approach.”
Now that the rigorous process has been completed, the nominees for the award ceremony have officially been revealed.
Nominees:
- Belly of the Beast (City Bowl, Cape Town)
- Beyond (Constantia, Cape Town)
- Cavalli Restaurant (Somerset West)
- Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia (Constantia, Cape Town)
- Chefs Warehouse at Maison (Franschhoek)
- Chefs Warehouse at Tintswalo Atlantic (Hout Bay, Cape Town)
- CHORUS (Somerset West)
- Clara’s Barn (Stellenbosch)
- Creation Wines Tasting Room (Hemel-en-Aarde Valley)
- Culinary Table (Lanseria)
- Dusk (Stellenbosch)
- Eike (Stellenbosch)
- Ëlgr (City Bowl, Cape Town)
- Epice (Franschhoek)
- FABER at Avondale (Paarl)
- Farro (Botrivier)
- Fermier (Pretoria)
- Foxcroft (Constantia, Cape Town)
- FYN (City Bowl, Cape Town)
- Galjoen (City Bowl, Cape Town)
- Hōseki (Stellenbosch)
- Kapokbos (Bonnievale)
- La Colombe (Constantia, Cape Town)
- La Petite Colombe (Franschhoek)
- Le coin Français (Franschhoek)
- Les Créatifs Restaurant (Bryanston, Johannesburg)
- Marble Restaurant Johannesburg (Rosebank, Johannesburg)
- Meraki by Charlie Lakin (Hillcrest, eThekwini)
- MERTIA (Stellenbosch)
- Nevermind (Cape St Francis)
- Orangerie at Le Lude (Franschhoek)
- Ouzeri (City Bowl, Cape Town)
- Pier (V&A Waterfront, Cape Town)
- Post & Pepper (Stellenbosch)
- Protégé (Franschhoek)
- Restaurant Klein JAN (Tswalu)
- Reverie Social Table (Observatory, Cape Town)
- Rust en Vrede (Stellenbosch)
- Rykaart’s Restaurant at Longridge Wine Estate (Stellenbosch)
- Salon (Woodstock, Cape Town)
- Salsify at the Roundhouse (Camps Bay, Cape Town)
- Scape at Vrymansfontein (Paarl)
- Spek & Bone (Stellenbosch)
- Table Seven (Salt River, Cape Town)
- The Chefs’ Table (Umhlanga, eThekwini)
- The Jordan Restaurant with Marthinus Ferreira (Stellenbosch)
- The LivingRoom at Summerhill Guest Estate (Pinetown, eThekwini)
- The Pot Luck Club Cape Town (Woodstock, Cape Town)
- The Red Room by Chefs Warehouse (City Bowl, Cape Town)
- The Table at De Meye (Stellenbosch)
- The Test Kitchen Fledgelings (Woodstock, Cape Town)
- The Waterside Restaurant (V&A Waterfront, Cape Town)
- Upper Union (City Bowl, Cape Town)
- Vuur Goose Island (Stellenbosch)
- Wolfgat (Paternoster)
- Zioux (Sandton, Johannesburg)
The event is set to take place on 31 March at the Baxter Theatre Centre in Cape Town.
Also see: The Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards announces their star nominees
