The Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards – South Africa’s most comprehensive and respected restaurant awards, celebrating our best restaurants and chefs – has announced its shortlist of star-winning restaurants for 2022. Comprising 42 restaurants across South Africa, this shortlist highlights the very best of our local industry.
Restaurants will be awarded one, two, or three stars in recognition of excellence in all areas that make for a memorable dining out experience. Each of the original 300 restaurants has been rated accordingly, out of a total score of 100. To earn an Eat Out Star, a restaurant had to score a minimum of 70 points.
All the restaurants on the list receive the accolade of at least a single Eat Out Star, but will have to wait until the gala awards ceremony to be held on Sunday 20 November 2022 at the Grand Arena at GrandWest to find out if they are one, two or three Eat Out Stars winners.
One star will be awarded to those restaurants who scored 70 – 80, two stars to those scoring 80 – 90 and three stars to those scoring 90+, with Restaurant of the Year awarded to the establishment with the highest score.
READ MORE: Meet the 2022 Eat Out Awards chefs
“The new star rating system allows for greater inclusivity and transparency,” says chief judge and award-winning food writer, critic and recipe author, Abigail Donnelly. “The standard is extraordinary. When diners see an Eat Out Star on display, they know they can expect a remarkable experience.”
Also announced on the night will be the winners of the special awards, including the coveted Chef and Restaurant of the year awards.
Take a look at the list of Eat Out Star winners here.
“Back after a two-year Covid-19 induced hiatus, this year’s awards are an opportunity to not only acknowledge the tenacity and perseverance of this industry that we love so much, but also to celebrate and acknowledge the best of the best,” says Aileen Lamb, Eat Out brand custodian and New Media CEO.
“The final shortlist is selected from nominations received from the Eat Out reviewer team who ate at over 300 restaurants across the country. All these restaurants have been experienced and rated by the Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards judging panel and its team of 40 reviewers. As they ate their way around the country our reviewers and judges were reminded of just how creative, passionate and talented our restaurant teams are. They saw that behind the remarkable talent and artistry, there is a deep and true care for one another and an unfaltering desire to make our industry sustainable and rewarding for all who work in it. The hard times have made us stronger and better.”
Along with chief judge Abigail Donnelly, this year’s judging panel includes Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen, chef Karen Dudley, sommelier Moses Magwaza, food activist and cookbook author Mokgadi Itsweng, and food writer and broadcaster Anna Trapido.
Additional awards include – Chef of the Year, Best New Restaurant of the Year, Emerging Chef Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Service Excellence Award, Wine Service Award, Lockdown Innovation Award, Sustainability Award, Style Award and Icons Award and Best Destination Restaurant.
ALSO SEE: RCL FOODs Young Chef and Young Baker winners announced
Feature Image: Jason Leung via Unsplash
