Thailand is a country of harmony – of style as well as of taste and flavour, and Simply Asia has captured all of this and more in their bowls of delicious Asian fusion food and on their rainbow platters of sushi! Fragrances of the East to tempt your nostrils and your palate. Eat in or order out, but if you’ve never tried it, you don’t know what you’re missing.

simplyasia.co.za, 021 447 4387

With a constant eye on local and international food trends, Olives & Plates is a worthy winner of this award which recognises a local restaurant that is nevertheless outward-looking. O&P are constantly creating new dishes, layering flavours to achieve amazing results, and will bring the same flair to off-site catering for weddings and events as they do in their restaurants and eateries around Joburg. With their full programme of education and upliftment for their staff, we love everything about O&P.

olivesadplates.co.za

What an accolade to win Best New Restaurant and also to win Beat-the-Budget Restaurant and Best Neighbourhood Restaurant, but Emzini in Westdene has achieved this amazing hat trick! Translating as ‘in the city’, this vibey, well-priced restaurant has a fantastic outside area overlooking the Westdene Dam perfect for summer lunches and dinners. The owner is the former chef of Madame Zingara, and so while it might be ‘beat the budget’ the dishes are world-class, delicious and well-presented.

Emzinilove.com, 12 Lewes Street, Westdene, 067 776 8455

Everything at the Fat Zebra is made fresh with lots of love and butter and that’s why we love it. The coffee is amazing – strong and not too hot, just like the barista ordered.  They are the perfect spot for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner – with all-time favourites with a Fat Zebra spin. What’s more, they are pet friendly and will make sure that the dogs are well refreshed too!

thefatzebra.co.za , 34 4^th Avenue, Parkhurst, 072 610 1837 or 71 7^th Street, Linden, 067 403 1896

Although her flavours are always complex, there is nothing complicated or fussy about Tashas food. Described as ‘decadent comfort food’ isn’t that just what we’re looking for in breakfast to kick-start our day? And choosing the simple sophistication of their lunch menu will tell your client how much you respect them while sending the message that you mean business.

tashascafe.com

Right down to the décor, Mythos says authentic Greek and transports you immediately to the islands. With ingredients brought in from Greece especially to bring the real flavour of the Mediterranean to Joburg, it’s no wonder that Mythos is a long-time favourite of our readers. And what we love is that whether your preference is meat or seafood or if you’re vegetarian, the simple but intense flavours of Greece are in every dish.

mythos.co.za

Jacaranda season is possibly the very best time to visit Flames Restaurant located at the Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff. With purple views over Forest Town, the Johannesburg Zoo and Saxonwold, what better place to sip cocktails while the chef prepares your meal? Choose à-la-carte or the chef’s signature dishes on the tasting menu, including vegan options, all accompanied by the best-curated wine cellar. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Great all year round, but don’t say we didn’t tell you to book now for November.

flamesrestaurant.co.za, Four Seasons The Westcliff Hotel, 011 481 6190

We don’t eat to live, we live to eat, is Luca’s philosophy! Luca’s Ristorante Italiano has a new home in Sandton, and this popular authentic Italian favourite now boasts al fresco as well as indoor dining. Just in time for summer! All Luca’s dishes are just like Nona used to make – with a special nod to the family’s coastal Tuscan roots and some seafood specialities – and what better recommendation for an Italian restaurant than your Nona!

lucasristorante.co.za,  4 Gwen Lane, Sandton, 010 595 8470

A drive out to Casa Linga is a truly special experience. We can leave the city behind and enjoy this elegant and charming organic farm. Walk around or take a tour and pick your own fruit and veggies and then settle down for a leisurely afternoon sipping cold wine and nibbling on the most exquisite cuisine. If you want to be even more relaxed, book a picnic in the woods or on the grassy lawns, and if you can’t tear yourself away, they now offer luxurious farm-stay cottages in the most tranquil surroundings.

Casalinga.co.za, Rocky Ridge Road, Muldersdrift, 010 595 4563

For meat and flame enthusiasts, there is nowhere that combines the love of both better than Marble. Chef and co-owner David Higgs celebrate the timeworn ritual of cooking on wood fires and gathering with friends. The interior décor is award-winning and a worthy match for the superb food. It’s special, it’s classy, and it’s a place to take your BAE when you want to push the boat out and spoil yourselves.

marble.restaurant, Keyes Corner, Rosebank,  010 594 5550

We don’t think we’ve ever been to The Fishmonger when every table hasn’t been fully booked (well, maybe only during lockdown, but that was exceptional times!) It’s not an idle boast when they say booking is essential – there is simply nowhere better for a fishy lunch or supper than this all-time favourite. Their platters solve the dilemma of choosing between fish or seafood (because we never can!) and are the perfect combination of both. Waiters will take you through the catch of the day, the different sizes of prawns and crayfish and even recommend the wine to go with it.

fishmonger.co.za, 011 783 5128

Who doesn’t have a memory made in a Turn ‘n Tender. It’s where we’ve been going for as long as we can remember, not only for their perfectly cooked steaks, but for the friendly service, and the sense that it’s somewhere we can go where we belong. They have an amazing wine list and are one of the few places that know how to serve an after-dinner brandy. They are part of the fabric of our city and long may they continue to be so.

turnntender.co.za

Lexi’s Healthy Eatery strives for the most sustainable, conscious, moral and nutritious way of living limiting the use of plastic, and sourcing locally as far as possible, to chart a course to a better world. Lexi’s encourages eating mostly plants, very little processed food and excluding animal products as much as you can – while Lexi’s is definitely a place for vegans and vegetarians, they nevertheless also have dishes for the flexitarians.

lexiseatery.com, The Zone, Rosebank, 083 385 5823

The Fussy Vegan is justifiably proud of the role they have played in educating people about veganism and taking it to the level it has now reached. From fast food to eat in, to their grocery stores and beyond, veganism is more accessible – and delicious – than you can imagine.  TFV offers burgers, subs, tex-mex and bowls and a great choice of sides – just like any other restaurant! Try it, it’s for the sake of the animals.

thefussyvegan.co.za, 067 342 8604

Mozambik conjures up that Maputo ‘toes in the sand and sip on cocktails while the sun goes down’ vibe along with authentic Portuguese food and a warm atmosphere (or hot or very hot, depending on how you like your peri-peri sauce!).  Known as Afro-Porto, their cuisine combines all the flavours that southern Africa’s melting pot of cultures has brought to our shores, but their best-loved dishes are without a doubt their chicken and braaied prawns. Mozambik is now flying the flag in the Lone Star state of Texas, too!

mozambik.co.za, 011 420 1349