2 South African Restaurants Amongst World’s Best in ‘Oscars of Food’ Awards

Two South African restaurants – both in Cape Town in the Western Cape province – have been listed in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ extended list of 51 to 100. The announcement was made on Thursday, ahead of the Top 50 being revealed on 5 October… which will hopefully also include a couple more SA restaurants.

TheWorlds50Best.com said after the year’s hiatus (due to the pandemic), the Top 50 list is set to return in October in Antwerp, Belgium. “Congratulations to all the restaurants featured on this year’s extended 51-100 list as part of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna!” said the site, asking “How many have you visited?”

The restaurants all come “highly commended” and include a variety of cuisines from 22 countries, said the site.

La Colombe restaurant

At number 81, is La Colombe, the Constantia Nek restaurant, situation “atop the mountain slopes of the Cape Peninsula” in the grounds of Silvermist organic wine estate.

An ecstatic La Colombe, who’ve been on the list before, said: “We’ve been voted No. 81 in what can only be called “The Oscars of Food”, the The World’s 50 Best Restaurants! With last year’s awards being postponed due to the pandemic, receiving this recognition during such a difficult time for the industry means so much. As always, we wouldn’t exist without the support of every diner who walks through our doors – and, of course, the global industry who acknowledges the work and creativity our team delivers – we appreciate you more than you could ever realise. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

TheWorlds50Best says: “With a treehouse-like setting, the dining room is minimalist and muted, allowing James Gaag’s theatrical dishes to take centre stage. Petit poussin with tiger prawn and miso corn, and grass-fed beef with celeriac and wild rosemary are stalwarts on the Spring Special multi-course menu. The venue also has an iconic sister location called La Petite Colombe in Franschhoek.” Their Karoo lamb (a “masterpiece”) also cracks a mention. The tasting menu starts at $35.

FYN Restaurant

Fyn Restaurant is a brand new entry on the list at no. 92. Right in the heart of Cape Town at Speakers Corner, TheWorldsBestRestaurants says of Fyn – “a cavernous industrial space with a cloud of wooden discs hanging from the ceiling is the setting for one of Cape Town’s most adventurous addresses. Peter Tempelhoff’s mission is to blur boundaries by interpreting South Africa through techniques largely rooted in Japan. Canapes served in petite bento boxes include the likes of prawn crudo with dashi mayo and grilled shishito peppers, while the rest of the kaiseki-style multi-course menus are drenched in ingredients such as candied ginger, tempura nori and salted Japanese plum.” Its tasting menu also starts from $35.

The awards programme for the Top 50 will take place in Antwerp between 3-5 October.

UPDATE OCTOBER 2021: Wolfgat named Top Restaurant in Africa and Top 50 Best Restaurant in the World