At this celebration of local talent and culinary distinction, 360 guests were treated to creations from award-winning chefs from around the country.

Restaurants are judged on stringent criteria, taking into consideration their food, service, ambience and other aspects of the eating out experience. This year’s nominees had to impress two judges: Eat Out editor, Abigail Donnelly and international judge, Bruce Palling. Recommendations from Eat Out’s national panel of professional restaurant reviewers as well as its vocal online audience of 126 000 monthly users were also taken into account by the judges.

Margot Janse of The Tasting Room in Franschhoek took top honours with the Chef of the Year award, while The Test Kitchen received the coveted Restaurant of the Year award.

Here are 2012’s long-awaited winners:

Chef of the Year: Margot Janse

Top 10 restaurants:
1. The Test Kitchen
2. The Tasting Room
3. Jordan Restaurant
4. Overture
5. Rust en Vrede
6. DW Eleven-13
7. La Colombe
8. The Greenhouse
9. Terroir
10. Hartford House

Service Excellence Award: Rust en Vrede
Lannice Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award (in association with Paarl Media): Alicia Wilkinson
Best Asian Restaurant: Saigon
Best Italian Restaurant: Café Del Sol
Best Steakhouse: Carne SA
Best Country-Style Restaurant: Fresh at Paul Cluver
Best Bistro: 9th Avenue Bistro
Boschendal Style Award (in association with Visi): Green House at Babylonstoren
TASTE Eat Out Bursary: Damien Stemmet

Donnelly says, “Congratulations to all our winners this year. Each restaurant that has been awarded has shown astonishing talent in a world-class restaurant. The Eat Out Awards are the culmination of a year-long mission to recognise the leaders in the industry for their passion, creativity and authenticity.”

Nick Thorogood, senior vice president: Content and Marketing of Scripps Networks Interactive EMEA says, “This is the second year that Food Network has aligned with Eat Out as the joint title sponsor of the Restaurant Awards, because the awards are vital in supporting and showcasing home-grown talent, local restaurants and the very best of South Africa’s culinary delights. Food Network is always on the lookout for South African talent, especially as we aim to produce more local content in the future.”

Simon Camerer, chief marketing and sales officer of MultiChoice says, “All of the nominees and award winners should be very proud of this acknowledgement of their excellence. We are proud to be associated with the Eat Out Restaurant Awards and we would like to congratulate everyone who participated in making this a momentous occasion.”

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

For a full list of the winners click here and visit the Facebook page for photographs of the gala dinner.