The Eat Out Woolworths Financial Services Service Excellence Award celebrates restaurants where exceptional service elevates dining from a meal to a memorable experience. 

The award criteria
This award recognises establishments that demonstrate exceptional attention to detail, where front-of-house teams possess deep knowledge of the menu and wine list, are thoroughly trained, and work as a cohesive unit. The winning restaurant delights customers with rich storytelling and takes pride in explaining each dish, transforming dining into an immersive experience. 

Raising industry standards
In South Africa’s dynamic restaurant landscape, exceptional service often distinguishes good establishments from truly memorable ones. This award recognises the artistry of hospitality – acknowledging that world-class dining encompasses not just what’s on the plate, but how guests are made to feel throughout their experience.  

The award supports Eat Out’s commitment to recognising authentic South African culinary talent while celebrating diverse voices across the hospitality sector. It champions a forward-looking vision where exceptional service becomes the standard, not the exception, in South African restaurants. 

Service excellence requires more than following protocols – it demands genuine passion for hospitality, comprehensive training, and the ability to create emotional connections with guests. The award celebrates teams that understand storytelling as an art form, where each dish explanation becomes part of the dining narrative and every interaction contributes to lasting memories. 

The art of exceptional service
As the owner and founder of Eat Out two-star restaurant Mertia, the restaurant that took home this Special Award in 2025, Marais Kirsten-Uys perfectly understands the importance of service excellence. “Our team lives by our motto/mantra – the words of my grandmother, Ouma Mertia: ‘Everything worth doing, is worth doing well.’ That’s what we stand for. That’s who we are. Every day. And in everything we do. Exceptional service can’t be defined in a set of words, but only by guests’ experiences after spending time with us.” 

For Marais and his team, winning the award validated all of their efforts. “To the Mertia team/family this award meant so much, it shows that their hard work is noticed. It’s an indication that the constant training and effort are appreciated by our guests,” he reflects. 

 

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“Our goal is always to exceed our guests’ expectations. And we believe it is always the little things that make the big difference. Do the basic things right and let every person on your team’s personality shine.” He emphasises that while service may seem like a small element, “without it the experience will be completely different.”  

The Eat Out Woolworths Financial Services Service Excellence Award ultimately celebrates those who understand that great service shapes communities and creates lasting memories, honouring the dedication required to turn meals into meaningful experiences.