The Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards are undergoing an exciting transformation, with a refreshed judging process designed to celebrate South Africa’s top culinary talents.
The judging, which started in July 2024 and will continue through February 2025, has now reached its halfway mark. This extended timeline allows judges to experience restaurants across all seasons, ensuring a thorough evaluation process. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 31 March 2025, featuring a new format centred on industry excellence.
A panel of eight anonymous judges, supported by 50 experienced reviewers, is currently assessing restaurants nationwide. Each shortlisted restaurant is visited multiple times by all judges to ensure fairness and consistency. To date, 104 restaurants have been shortlisted, including previous star winners, with over 373 scorecards submitted. To maintain transparency, all scores will undergo an independent audit, and restaurants will receive access to their aggregated scorecards.
Headline sponsor Woolworths continues its longstanding support, aligning with Eat Out’s mission to highlight the best in South Africa’s dining scene. Feedback from industry insiders and patrons has informed this new approach, ensuring a rigorous and fair evaluation system that upholds the integrity of the coveted Eat Out stars.
The 2025 awards ceremony will adopt a more intimate, industry-focused format, while still maintaining strong media engagement to spotlight the year’s standout culinary achievements. By producing engaging content throughout the year, Eat Out aims to celebrate the passion, dedication, and innovation of South Africa’s top restaurants, ensuring these awards remain a prestigious benchmark in the culinary industry.
With this refined approach, the Eat Out Awards continue to evolve, reflecting both the changing landscape of the industry and a commitment to celebrating culinary excellence at the highest level.
