Eat Out Restaurant Award winners announced

The winners of the 2011 Eat Out DStv Food Network Restaurant Awards, together with the Top 10 restaurants, have been announced. The gala ceremony was held at The Rotunda at The Bay Hotel in Cape Town where guests sampled gourmet creations from award-winning chefs.

The 20 exceptional nominees were judged on stringent criteria, recommendations from Eat Out's national panel of professional restaurant reviewers as well as their very vocal online audience of 75 000 users, were taken into account by Judge and Eat Out Editor Abigail Donnelly.

Restaurants are judged on food, service and ambience and other aspects that make or break the eating out experience. This year's awards also boasted a host of new categories, making it the most extensive culinary award in the country.

Chef Of The Year: Luke Dale-Roberts
Restaurant Of The Year: The Greenhouse
Service Excellence Award: The Roundhouse

Chef of the year: Luke Dale-Roberts

Restaurant Of The Year: The Greenhouse

The Top 10

1. The Greenhouse
2. The Test Kitchen
3. The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français
4. The Roundhouse
5. Overture
6. Terroir
7. DW Eleven-13
8. Jordan Restaurant
9. Nobu
10. La Colombe

Best Bistro: Bizerca Bistro
Best Steakhouse: The Local Grill in Boksburg, Parktown North and Sandton
Best Country Style Restaurant: The Table at De Meye
Best Asian Restaurant: Kitima
Best Italian Restaurant: 95 Keerom
The Boschendal Style Award: Makaron
The City Press ViP Sunday Breakfast Award: Salvation Café
The Lannice Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award: Garth Stroebel
Woolworths Taste Bursary Winner: Zahir Isaacs

Donnelly said: "The winners this year have shown astonishing talent in world class establishments."

Nick Thorogood, Managing Director at Food Network EMEA: "All of the award winners and nominated restaurants tonight should be very proud of their achievements. We're pleased to be involved in these awards and supporting local industries, as they really showcase the very best of South Africa's culinary delights. This is particularly important to us as we aim to produce more local content throughout 2012."

Carmen Bennett, DStv Brand Manager: Marketing & Sales: "We are proud to be associated with the Eat Out Awards and we would like to congratulate everyone who participated in making this a mementos occasion."

To find out more, visit www.eatout.co.za

Photos by New Media