South Africa's top food personalities held their breaths in anticipation on Sunday night at the South Africa restaurant industry's annual equivalent to the Oscars.

The annual Eat Out Johnnie Walker awards celebrate South Africa's best restaurants and chefs.

Cape Winelands restaurant Terroir won the award for Johnnie Walker Restaurant of the Year 2006. Terroir restaurant also scooped the Service Excellence award.

The award for Best Chef of the Year 2006 went to George Jardine (Head Chef at Jardine Restaurant in Cape Town's city centre).

The Top 10 South African Restaurants are:
(in alphabetical order):

9th Avenue Bistro (Durban) - Chef: Carly Goncalves

Auberge Michel Restaurant (Johannesburg) - Chef: Frederic Leloup

Bread and Wine Restaurant (Franschhoek, Cape Town) - Chefs: Christina Slattery and Neil Jewell

Ginga Restaurant (Cape Town City Centre) - Chef: Michael Bassett

Haiku Restaurant (Cape Town City Centre) - Restaurateur: Sabi Sabharwal

Jardine Restaurant (Cape Town City Centre) - Chef : George Jardine (Chef of the Year)

Lynton Hall (Durban) - Chef: Richard Carstens

Reuben's Restaurant (Franschhoek, Cape Town) - Chef: Reuben Riffel

Terroir Restaurant (Stellenbosch, Cape Town) - Chefs: Michael Broughton & Nic van Wyk (Restaurant of the Year)

The Showroom Restaurant (Cape Town City Centre) - Chef: Bruce Robertson

Mkhanyiseli Kapa received the Woolworths Taste Bursary for best newcomer and the Lifetime Achievement Award went to founding Eat Out editor and renowned SA food personality, Lanice Snyman.

Molo Says: "Read more about South Africa's best restaurants in our Wine & Dine section. Find open-air restaurants in Cape Town; enjoy tapas at Fork restaurant; or savour fine cuisine at 95 Keerom street restaurant and Onewaterfront restaurant. Our monthly newsletter regularly features the top restaurants in Cape Town; Subscribe here."

New Riboville Restaurant in Cape Town
The New Riboville restaurant (often spelt Ribboville or Ribeauville restaurant) has been opened in Cape Town's City Centre, and Riboville is one of the best new restaurants Cape Town has seen open in Cape Town in the last few months, although service at Riboville was at times shocking, shortly after the opening. The food in the new Cape Town restaurant was excellent and Riboville Restaurant in Cape Town's Adderly Street might soon be seen featured as one of the Cape Town Restaurants on CapeTownMagazine.com.