2008 DINE AWARDS RECOGNISE SOUTH AFRICA’S TOP
RESTAURANTS
With the 2008 dine restaurant guide, it is clear that great gastronomy can
increasingly be found across the length and breadth of South Africa. From
major cities to rural villages, there are ever-growing numbers of impressive
eateries in a range of culinary styles. From the elegance of hotel-based
fine dining to the casual chic of suburban bistros and on into simple tea
gardens and delicious inner-city hang-outs, South African cuisine is coming
of age.
The team of critics – headed by chef, culinary lecturer, award-winning
cookbook author and editor of dine 2008, Anna Trapido – have determined
what they believe to be the Top 100 restaurants in the country. The best
of these award winners have been further recognised for their epicurean
excellence by way of special awards for the Top 10 Deluxe, Top 10 Smart
casual and Top 10 Everyday eateries.
The new Chef’s Choice Award for Consistent Artistry – bestowed
on an individual (rather than a restaurant) in recognition of his or her
consistent and continuing brilliance over many years – went to Rudi
Liebenberg of The Saxon Hotel in Sandhurst. He will be dining at Gordon
Ramsay’s Verre in Dubai as part of a prize sponsored by the Dubai
Department of Tourism and Commerce.
Doreen Alcock, to be found at The Sweetest Thing in Simon’s Town,
has won the 2008 dine award for The Most Promising Pastry Chef Newcomer.
In addition to the restaurant genres traditionally featured in the guide,
dine 2008 recognises the best Authentic African eateries. From classic Xhosa
and comforting boerekos to ancient Ethiopian, inner-city Somali and Moroccan
chic, the gastronomic beauty and diversity of our continent is revealed.
Included in the Top 10 Everyday eateries are a township chisa nyama, a boerekos
tea garden and a Congolese bistro.
2008 dine awards
Top 10: Deluxe
(Restaurants offering high-skill, innovative cuisine, exceptional winelists,
high levels of wine knowledge, magnificent décor and faultless
service)
Auberge Michel – Johannesburg
Aubergine – Cape Town
Bosman’s, Grande Roche Hotel – Paarl
Cleopatra Mountain Lodge – Kamberg, KwaZulu-Natal
Hartford House – Mooi River
Linger Longer – Johannesburg
Roots – Krugersdorp
The Saxon – Johannesburg
The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français – Franschhoek
Zachary’s – Knysna
Top 10: Smart Casual
(Venues serving understated, elegant food in a semi-formal, laid-back
yet stylish settings)
Bon Appétit – Simon’s Town
Bread and Wine – Franschhoek
Jardine – Cape Town
La Madeleine – Pretoria
Megu – Paarl
Ritrovo – Pretoria
Spice on Florida – Durban
Terroir – Stellenbosch
Umami – Salt Rock, KwaZulu-Natal
Yamato – Johannesburg
Top 10 Everyday
(Familiar neighbourhood eateries offering quick but utterly delicious
meals at reasonable prices in ultra-relaxed circumstances.)
Bibi’s Kitchen – Cape Town
Carlton Café – Pretoria
The Food Barn – Cape Town
Ile de Pain – Knysna
Joostenberg Bistro – Stellenbosch
Le Soufflé – Johannesburg
Mzoli’s Place – Cape Town
Sai Thai – Johannesburg
The Tea Garden – Paternoster
Zemara – Pretoria
dine 2008, published by WINE magazine in association with Diners Club International,
recommends hundreds of dining opportunities catering for every imaginable
palate and any pocket. The guide can be ordered online via www.winemag.co.za
and is available from Exclusive Books at R69,95.
To read more about dine 2008 or select a restaurant according to category
or area via the 'dine' search engine, please click
here
2008 dine awards
TOP 100 RESTAURANTS
EASTERN CAPE
Smokey Swallows – East London
FREE STATE
De Oude Kraal – Bloemfontein
Seven on Kellner – Bloemfontein
GAUTENG
Al Amin – Pretoria
Amsale – Johannesburg
Assaggi – Johannesburg
Auberge Michel – Johannesburg
Le Canard – Johannesburg
Carlton Café – Pretoria
La Cucina di Ciro – Johannesburg
The Green Truffle – Johannesburg
De Hoek – Mogale City
Linger Longer – Johannesburg
La Madeleine – Pretoria
Mosaic – Crocodile River Valley
Osteria Tre Nonni – Johannesburg
Pomodoro – Johannesburg
Ritrovo Ristorante – Pretoria
Roots – Muldersdrift
Sai Thai – Johannesburg
The Saxon – Johannesburg
Sel et Poivre – Johannesburg
Le Soufflé – Johannesburg
Villa Francesco – Pretoria
Yamato – Johannesburg
Zemara – Pretoria
KWAZULU-NATAL
9th Avenue Bistro – Durban
Aubergine – Hillcrest/Durban
Cleopatra – Kamberg Valley
Granny Mouse – Lidgetton
Hartford House – Mooi River
Havana – Durban
Ile Maurice – Umhlanga
Lynton Hall – Pennington
La Petite Normandie – Ramsgate
Spice on Florida – Durban
Umami – Salt Rock
NORTHERN CAPE
Die Hantam Huis – Calvinia
Le Must – Upington
NORTH WEST
Silver Orange Bistro – Hartbeespoort
Villa del Palazzo – Sun City
WESTERN CAPE
95 Keerom – Cape Town
96 Winery Road – Stellenbosch
The Atlantic – Cape Town
Aubergine – Cape Town
Bahia dos Vaqueiros – Mossel Bay
Barnyard Brasserie – Cape Town
Bibi’s Kitchen – Cape Town
Bon Appétit – Cape Town
Bosman’s – Paarl
Bouillabaisse – Franschhoek
Bread and Wine – Franschhoek
The Cape Colony – Cape Town
The Cape Malay – Cape Town
Cargills – Cape Town
Castle Hotel – Cape Town
Catharina’s – Cape Town
Caveau – Cape Town
The Cedar – Cape Town
La Colombe – Cape Town
Constantia Uitsig – Cape Town
Daniela’s – Knysna
Emily’s – Cape Town
Firefly – Knysna
The Food Barn – Cape Town
Fu.shi – Plettenburg Bay
Ginja – Cape Town
Grande Provence – Franschhoek
The Greenhouse – Cape Town
Haiku – Cape Town
Haute Cabrière – Franschhoek
Ile de Pain – Knysna
Jardine – Cape Town
Jemima’s – Oudtshoorn
Joostenberg Bistro – Stellenbosch
Kitma – Cape Town
De Leuwen Jagt – Paarl
Magica Roma – Cape Town
Manna Epicure – Cape Town
Manolo – Cape Town
Marc’s – Paarl
Megu – Paarl
Mon Plaisir – Stellenbosch
Mzoli’s Place – Cape Town
Noon Gun – Cape Town
Reuben’s – Franschhoek
Sand – Plettenburg Bay
Serendipity – Wilderness
theshowroom – Cape Town
Sinn’s – Cape Town
Stonehill – Little Brak River
The Tasting Room – Franschhoek
The Tea Garden – Paternoster
Terroir – Stellenbosch
Tokara – Stellenbosch
Topsi and Co – Franschhoek
Zachary’s – Knysna
