Top 10 Restaurants in South Africa for 2019

South Africa’s Top 10 restaurants for 2019 were announced this weekend at the glittering Eat Out Restaurant Awards in Cape Town. Sadly for  those not living in the Western Cape, it appears that 90% of the top 10 restaurants in SA are all in that corner of the country! (See The Top 10 SA Restaurants list below.)

In front of over 700 of the country’s shining culinary talents, La Colombe was announced as South Africa’s number one restaurant.

Stepping up to collect the award on behalf of his team, Executive Chef James Gaag said: “This is an incredible achievement for the team – I’m very lucky to have such a dedicated, self-motivated and passionate team who all have the same dreams and all work towards the same goal.

“I could not be prouder of them for all their hard work and passion. This achievement is all theirs!”

Moving from number three in 2018, to number one this year, it is the first time La Colombe has achieved the coveted title of “Restaurant of the Year”, having previously peaked at second place in 2015 and 2016.

Says Lynda Ingham-Brown, one of the Eat Out Critics who visited the restaurant during the judging process, “La Colombe’s reputation for sophisticated fine dining and beautiful foliage-inspired presentation is well-deserved.

“Set high above the Constantia wine valley, its lofty location adds to the feeling that you’re about to experience something special. The eight-course menu is a reflection of Gaag’s interpretations of local flavours presented in a refined, sometimes quirky, manner.”

In addition to winning the coveted title of Restaurant of the Year at the Eat Out Restaurant Awards, La Colombe’s sommelier, Joseph Dhafana, won the 2019 Wine Service Award, a coveted title among fine dining sommeliers. This award not only recognises his extensive wine knowledge, but also his contribution to the greater dining experience at La Colombe.

Joseph holds a number of qualifications, including a South African Sommeliers Association Level 2 Certificate, Court of Master Sommeliers Certificate, and University of Cape Town GSB Wine Judging Certificate, in addition to certifications from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and Cape Wine Academy.

The celebrations aren’t confined to Constantia, as La Petite Colombe – La Colombe’s sister restaurant in Franschhoek, maintained a position in the Eat Out Awards top 10, for the second consecutive year.

The Top 10 Restaurants for 2019 in South Africa are:

1. La Colombe – Constantia, Cape Town
2. The Test Kitchen – Woodstock, Cape Town
3. The Restaurant at Waterkloof – Somerset West
4. Wolfgat – Paternoster
5. FYN Restaurant – Cape Town
6. La Petite Colombe – Franschhoek
7. Eike – Stellenbosch
8. Salsify – Camps Bay, Cape Town
9. Restaurant Mosaic at The Orient – Elandsfontein, Pretoria
10. Chef’s Warehouse – Beau Constantia

Even the next 10 is made up of 90% of restaurants located in the Western Cape:

11. Camphors at Vergelegen (Somerset West)
12. Overture (Stellenbosch)
13. LivingRoom at Summerhill Estate (Cowies Hill, Durban)
14. Chefs Warehouse at Maison (Franschhoek)
15. Greenhouse at The Cellars-Hohenort (Constantia, Cape Town)
16. Le Coin Français (Franschhoek)
17. La Tête (City Bowl, Cape Town)
18. The Shortmarket Club (City Bowl, Cape Town)
19. Tjing Tjing Momiji (City Bowl, Cape Town)
20. Rust en Vrede (Stellenbosch)