Eat Out

For decades, European traditions defined what “fine dining” looked like on South African plates: the techniques, the plating, and service rituals that came with a very specific set of rules. Local ingredients, when they appeared at all, were cast in supporting roles.

There is chocolate and then there is Jack Rabbit Chocolate Studio in Waterkloof, Pretoria, where every bonbon is a handmade piece of art. It was founded by Stephanie Ceronio, a self-taught chocolatier, who in turn recruited Lucia Sithole from the gourmet ice cream shop next door where she was working at the time. “My journey into chocolate began in a very unexpected way, when Stephanie offered me the opportunity to join her team.

Eat Out Rising Star Award winner Aren Pollack has announced his departure from Embarc, the 4th Ave Parkhurst restaurant he helped elevate to Eat Out star status in a remarkably short time. Reflecting on his time at the restaurant – described as “modern, trendy dining” Aren acknowledges the team effort behind its success. “I’m incredibly proud of what we achieved as a team,” he says.

For the second year in a row, MERTIA was announced as the winner of the Eat Out Woolworths Financial Services Service Excellence Special Award at the 2026 Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards. The award recognises a restaurant whose outstanding hospitality, professionalism and attention to detail elevate every dining experience, proving that exceptional service is just as memorable as exceptional food.

Four of Durban’s Eat Out star restaurants are teaming up for a collaborative lunch series, and it kicks off this July! ALSO READ: What’s behind KZN’s quiet but strong culinary ascent? Chef Mathew Armbruster of The Chefs’ Table, Charlie Lakin of Meraki by Charlie Lakin, Chef of the Year Johannes Richter of The LivingRoom at Summerhill Estate, and Deon Kemp of Tyler’s are each contributing one course to an exciting four-course lunch.

You don’t need to book a tasting menu to experience one of South Africa’s best restaurants. Across the country, a growing number of Eat Out-starred destinations are opening their doors to guests who simply want a great drink, whether that means a carefully mixed cocktail, a sommelier-selected glass of wine or a mindful non-alcoholic sipper. Think of it as a side entrance into some of the country’s most celebrated dining rooms.

How smarter packaging is helping kitchens improve efficiency behind the scenes In professional kitchens, it’s often the small operational changes that make the biggest difference. As restaurants continue to balance rising costs, sustainability goals and the demands of busy service, the way ingredients are stored, handled and managed has become just as important as the products themselves.

For nearly 30 years, Eat Out’s Restaurant Awards has celebrated South Africa’s best dining experiences. Neighbourhood Gems now shifts the spotlight to the wonderfully diverse casual everyday spots that industry insiders return to, week after week. Neighbourhood Gems is brought to you in association with our headline sponsor, Woolworths. A restaurant recognition at this scale, chosen entirely by working food industry professionals, sets a new precedent in South Africa.

Aljoe “Joe” Mario Beziek has been named South Africa’s Best Young Sommelier 2026, claiming the title after a tightly contested final at the Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa on 1 July. The sommelier from Ellerman House in Cape Town – where Eat Out star restaurant Curate is located – impressed judges with flawless table service, blind tasting prowess and sharp business acumen during the South African Sommeliers Association (SASA) competition.

“Hearing people shouting my name was about more than receiving that [award]… That for me was 10 years of hard work because I came from nothing and I really had to work hard.