At Eat Out, we believe that every exceptional restaurant deserves to be recognised for its culinary excellence, and our judging process reflects this unwavering commitment. As we enter a new era of celebrating South African dining, we’ve refined our approach to ensure that only the best of the best rise to the top. Think of our process as a funnel, where only the finest contenders make it to the final stage.

Here’s how we get there…

A system backed by research 

In March 2024, Eat Out undertook extensive research with industry professionals and diners alike, ensuring our new judging system is not only thorough but reflective of the diverse needs and expectations within the restaurant scene. We applied this enhanced framework rigorously in 2024, refining our funnel to ensure that each restaurant is considered with the utmost care and precision. 

The judging funnel: Thorough and transparent 

The process starts wide, with thousands of restaurants entering the funnel. But only those that meet our stringent criteria and demonstrate exceptional qualities make it through to the final stage – the prestigious shortlist. Here’s how we filter the contenders:

Top of the funnel: Initial criteria for judging 

At the top of the funnel, we apply a series of clear and comprehensive criteria that every restaurant must meet to be considered for evaluation:  

• Open to the general public: Only restaurants that are open to the public – like independent establishments where anyone can book a table – are eligible for consideration. For example, a hotel restaurant that is exclusive to guests and not accessible to the general public would not move to the next stage.  
• Personal service: The restaurant must offer personal service, where dishes are brought to the table. Self-serve or pay-as-you-go models do not meet the Eat Out standard and are excluded at this stage. 
• Cohesion in the dining experience: The restaurant must deliver a consistent experience across the menu, service, decor and ambience. This means that what the restaurant claims to offer should align with what is actually provided. 
• Permanent location: Does the restaurant operate from a permanent, physical location? Pop-up restaurants are excluded, as their changing nature makes it impossible to assess consistency. 
• Exceptional culinary skill: The restaurant must demonstrate exceptional skill in its chosen cuisine or concept. Its culinary offerings should reflect a high level of craftsmanship and expertise, ensuring that only the most skilled establishments advance. 
• Operational by 1 June 2025: For the 2025-26 judging period, only restaurants that were operational by 1 June 2025 are considered. This requirement ensures that establishments have been established long enough to demonstrate consistent excellence.
• Relocations: restaurants that have closed or relocated after receiving a star are considered for reassessment in the next applicable awards cycle and are only eligible for the following year’s awards.

• Judging Panel Scoring Concession: In instances where not all judges are able to visit and evaluate a restaurant due to unforeseen circumstances, the following scoring methodology will be applied: The restaurant will receive scores from all available judges, and any missing judge’s score will be calculated using the average score of all participating judges for that establishment. This ensures consistency in the evaluation process while maintaining the integrity of the scoring system.

• Best New: Restaurants considered for Eat Out Best New Restaurant Award need to have opened to the public by 31 December 2025.
  

Middle of the funnel: The review process 

Once a restaurant passes the top-of-funnel criteria, it moves into the next phase, where the in-depth review process begins:  

• A panel of scouts: Our panel of qualified chefs, sommeliers, food editors and key industry professionals begins scouring South Africa for culinary excellence. These experts independently evaluate each contender using the same scorecard as the judges to ensure that only the most deserving restaurants make it further.  

• Restaurant self-motivation: Through the Eat Out website, restaurants also have the opportunity to make their case for why they should be considered. This added layer ensures that all deserving establishments are given a chance to be noticed.  

• Affirmation of scout ratings: If a scout scores a restaurant 70% or higher, two additional judges visit to confirm the rating. This added scrutiny ensures that only the restaurants that truly shine make it through to the shortlist. 

Bottom of the funnel: The final judging 

At the narrow end of the funnel, only the most exceptional restaurants remain. This final evaluation phase is as thorough as it gets: 

• In-depth visits by all judges: Each shortlisted restaurant is visited by all seven independent judges during both peak and off-peak seasons, with independent visits to ensure objectivity. Each judge scores the restaurant separately – no conferring or collaboration – ensuring that every opinion is considered independently.  While eight judges adjudicated in 2024/2025; one judge withdrew midway through this year’s process. Due to time constraints, it was not feasible to appoint a new judge. 

• Eight-month judging period: The 2024-25 judging period spanned from 1 July 2024 to 4 March 2025. This extended timeframe allowed for comprehensive evaluation and consideration of seasonal menu changes.  

• Transparency in scoring: Once all judges have submitted their scores, the final results are determined and independently audited. Starred restaurants will receive their aggregated scorecards, offering transparency into their evaluation.  

• Paid meals, travel and accommodation: To ensure complete objectivity, Eat Out covers the cost of all meals, travel and accommodation for the scouts and judges. This allows for unbiased evaluations and invests back into the South African restaurant industry. 

A new venue, a new celebration  

In 2025, Eat Out is hosted a more intimate, industry-focused awards event at the Baxter Theatre Centre on 31 March, instead of November. By doing so, we have been able to invest more time and resources into the judging process, ensuring each shortlisted restaurant received comprehensive evaluation.  

With this enhanced judging process, Eat Out is proud to continue setting the standard for restaurant recognition in South Africa. By refining the funnel and ensuring that only the finest establishments rise to the top, we guarantee that those who make it to the final stage are truly deserving of celebration. 

Also read: 

Eat Out’s judging criteria

Eat Out’s scorecard explained