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Top-rated reader reviews of the week

We’re always on the hunt for the best restaurants in your area. And at the end of October, we’ll be announcing the winners of the Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Best Everyday Eateries, the awards determined by you. Every time you review a restaurant and leave a rating, that score affects their chances. We’re also giving away R1 000 a month to one lucky reviewer. The winner for June is Anandie Klaassen. Want to stand a chance to win? Write a review now.

Woodfired pizza at Café del Sol Botanico. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Woodfired pizza at Café del Sol Botanico. Photo supplied.

Johannesburg

Cafe del Sol Botanico (Bryanston)

What a GEM! Every meal is absolutely amazing! Fantastic service, great ambience and very reasonably priced. By far the best in JHB! Sean and the team run a very special restaurant.

– Estelle Holmes

555

The Countess (Melville)

Loved the Moroccan veg stack and chicken wings with cauliflower mash bonus for a banter.

– Yvette Mashego

555

The Countess

A meal about to be served at The Countess. Photo supplied.

Pretoria

Chocolat et Cafe (Hazelwood)

Best cheesecake I’ve had in a while! With a relaxed outside setting, you can sit in the sun for hours on end, forgetting that you are in the city. The service is good. Lunch items are limited, yet very tasty. They have a variety of baked goods to choose from – so good it makes it hard to choose! They will see me when the next craving hits!

– Jacquelise deVries

344

Culture Club Bar de Tapas (Hazelwood)

The best tapas in town! The restaurant is set in the heart of the new restaurant hotspot in Pretoria and is not to be missed! Scrumptious food (generous portions for tapas) and excellent service. We tried the chicken strips, falafel balls, halloumi bites, Charcuterie board, butternut, potato patties and zucchini and everyone loved every bite of everything! The prices are very reasonable for the portion sizes and they have a good variety of wines to choose from. Be sure to book a table. Very vibey; we’ll definitely be back for more!

– Jacquelise deVries

555

A tapas selection at Culture Club Bar de Tapas. Photo supplied.

A tapas selection at Culture Club Bar de Tapas. Photo supplied.

Hudson’s The Burger Joint (Hazelwood)

Awesome vibe, excellent service, delicious cocktails, delectable burgers, what more do you need? The perfect spot for a relaxed lunch or dinner, drinks with friends or just to unwind a bit. We will be back!

– Jacqueline deVries

555

Durban

Vrushiks Vegetarian Restaurant (North Beach)

One of my favourite Indian vegetarian restaurants in Durban. Vegetables and spices blended to enhance the natural vegetable flavour and the very layered Indian spicing. A must for Indian food lovers. The paneer is the best!!

– Ivan Boogaard

555

Oaklands Country Manor (Van Reenen)

Besides the excellent polo field, you cannot beat Oaklands for dining. I loved eating brunch in the mornings on the patio surrounded by the most beautiful scenery. Having spent most of my adult life in a major city, I am a bit of a food snob. The dining room at Oaklands is world class. The glazed pork belly and duck with cherry sauce were amazing!!! Months later we still talk about the wonderful food and friendly atmosphere.

– Jennifer Wenkel

555

A beef dish at Oaklands Country Manor. Photo supplied.

A beef dish at Oaklands Country Manor. Photo supplied.

Cape Town

Amore Ristorante Italiano (Kenilworth)

It was with great anticipation that I returned to Amore a week ago, and I am happy to say that everything was perfect! Once again there were three of us. We ordered a starter portion of carpaccio to share while deciding on our main courses. Dessy brought us some warm and beautifully light bread rolls which were the perfect accompaniment, and small enough not to spoil our appetites for what followed. My friends thoroughly enjoyed their gnocchi and fish dishes, while my pasta with wild boar sausage and silky-soft porcini mushrooms in a creamy sauce was lick-the-bowl delicious! After that we shared what I think was called semifreddo di ricotta al caffè: a biscuit topped with a rounded mound of light ricotta dessert, drizzled with a coffee-caramel sauce. It was heavenly – next time I’ll think twice about sharing it. Amore is officially my current favourite local restaurant!

– Linda Curling

455 (1)

Chardonnay Deli (Constantia)

Fantastic experience at this little gem. Even though the kitchen was closed we were still able to enjoy delicious vegan wraps. Added to this, we had the choice of not one, not two, but three vegan desserts! We chose the coconut and chocolate cake, it was heavenly. Now we just wait for a good wine-list with vegan wines and champers.

– Lauren Greve

555

Hallelujah (Tamboerskloof)

Had a totally amazing meal here. I didn’t have a lot of expectations, so was very happily surprised. The prawns! The mussels! The coriander-lime dipping sauce for the hot buns. It was all totally delicious, zingy and refreshing. It’s not cheap – tapas dishes are around R100 – but it’s totally worth it. Reminded me of The Pot Luck Club.

– Stella Raine

555

The 12-hour duck on soft ramen tacos and the vegetable surprise. Photo by Irna van Zyl.

The 12-hour duck on soft ramen tacos and the vegetable surprise. Photo by Irna van Zyl.

Hog House Brewing Company (Ndabeni)

A return visit to Hog House Brewery Co. made us regret that we had not been again sooner. From the staff at the access to the secure on-site parking, to the welcome and friendly competent staff in the restaurant, who obviously enjoy working there, this venue reflects and reminds us so much of what modern British venues with their many talented chefs (and certainly not just in London), are offering today. Yes there are wonderful craft beers, but also good wines by the glass, carafe and bottle, great starters and sides in addition to the barbequed and smoked meat mains (those not into meat are also well catered for). Too many good things to mention, but great Scotch eggs (not the stale hard and cold pub version of old) were delicious in their casing of black pudding, whilst mushroom and meat croquettes reminded us of the real Dutch version. A great vibe for a couple or a group of friends and family. PJ Vadas just gets it! Much is made of the location, which is actually minutes from well known corporate supported venues like Magica Roma, and frankly the Woodstock/Salt River area now very in, can be rather desolate on a cold winter’s day, whilst this has the atmosphere, the innovation and delivers – so no wonder it was full on the evening we were there!

– Lew Rood

555

HQ (City Bowl)

We went to HQ on one of their Tuesday ‘date night’ evenings. We got a cosy seat by the fireplace, which was really nice for a Cape Town winter night. Very romantic and comfortable atmosphere and great live music. The service was slightly slow but the waiters were all very friendly. I had the HQ watering can cocktail. Great choice as it was presented beautifully and tasted great! All in all a great evening.

– Just Thande

545

Dias Tavern (City Bowl)

My first experience of an authentic Portuguese restaurant. The best fillet steak I’ve ever had. My friend had the trinchado, one of his favourite Portuguese dishes, and he was in heaven. All in all, good food, good live music and friendly efficient service from our waiter Moses ensured an evening to remember.

– Hanneke Wolfaardt

555

Live Bait (Muizenberg)

If they’d just given us bread and water, the view was worth it. But the food was delicious. The service was impeccable. Everyone kept checking up on us. Our waiter Lyle was good humoured and attentive, waiting patiently while two deaf octogenarians (the party expanded to include my mother’s sister) tried to make up their minds about what dish to order. They all had various versions of the Cape salmon, some with creamed spinach, while I had mussels in a creamy butter-garlic sauce. Heavenly. We shared portions with each other, dripping sauces over the table, and all dishes were excellent. Lyle told us the restaurant had not been open long, and they were ‘still ironing out the kinks.’ As far as we could see, they were kink-free. We went for lunch during the week, so would advise weekenders or evening diners to book early.

– Marianne Saddington

555

The interior at Live Bait in Muizenberg. Photo supplied.

The interior at Live Bait in Muizenberg. Photo supplied.

Rosetta Roastery (Woodstock)

In my humble opinion, this place makes the best coffee in Cape Town. We ordered all three beans and had a taste-off. I love their Yirgacheffe – but it was amazing how different each of the different roasts tasted – and the subtlety in there. Rich, spicy, nutty, sweet, sour, bitter. Totally amazing coffee.

– Stella Raine

555

Obi (City Bowl)

What do you want out of a sushi place? Great food at great value is my reason for going to Papa San’s Obi restaurant on Long. It’s a nice enough place, with comfortable seats, no real decor or ‘look’, but hey, we went for authentic Japanese. We ordered three plates of sushi (all eight pieces each plate) and a bottle of Leuwenskuil red. With tip it came to R425 and I paid via snap scan. Def worth the price.

– Talisha Ramnarain

355

Shoyu-ramen-at-Obi-Restaurant

The shōyu ramen at Obi-Restaurant. Photo by Linda Scarborough.

Panama Jacks (V&A Waterfront)

Best seafood I’ve had in Cape Town! Seafood platter is to die for. Friendly service, lovely cosy atmosphere next to fireplace. Oh and good wine! Can recommend this place with a smile. They deliver every time.

– Hanneke Wolfaardt

555

Sundoo (Sea Point)

What a great Indian Restaurant. If you want authentic Indian food this is the place to get it…

– Marcus Viljoen

555

Greater Western Cape

Gallery Cafe (Prince Albert)

Great experience eating here during the Prince Albert Film Festival. We arrived later than anticipated on Friday evening, too tired to cook. We managed to find this cosy spot with its original wooden flooring and art-bedecked walls. It was such a relief to find a restaurant that had both a vegan starter and main meal! And the dishes were inventive, not your boring run-of-the-mill grilled vegetables. Our little pooch was also made to feel very welcome. Nandi was a superb host and even gave us some local tips for our stay! Thank-you for a great evening!

– Lauren Greve

555

Beautiful surroundings at The Tasting Room at Stanford Hills. Photo supplied.

Beautiful surroundings at The Tasting Room at Stanford Hills. Photo supplied.

The Tasting Room at Stanford Hills (Stanford)

We had lunch with a group of friends and family with small children and the venue perfectly suited everything we were looking for. It was cosy on a winter’s day with two fireplaces. The restaurant has lovely country views, a big lawn for the children to play outside and plastic containers with blocks for the little ones to play inside. The service was friendly and we really enjoyed the food and wine served.

– Naomi Willemse

444

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