November 30, 2023
Whether you’re stepping – sun-kissed – off the beach, spending a wonderful afternoon meandering through the Plett winelands or looking for a unique experience of South African cuisine, Plett Tourism is pleased to congratulate three well-deserving restaurants for cracking the nod in DinePlan’s Top 100 Reviewers’ Choice Awards 2023.
9th/100 – Newstead Lund Family Vineyards
Plett’s fabulously fresh and charming Newstead was included in the top ten restaurants in South Africa! At ninth place, that’s an impressive review for a boutique wine estate along the Garden Route. However, that simply adds to the appeal of Newstead Lund Family Vineyards. One of Plett’s most established wine estates, Newstead is owned and run by Doug & Sue Lund. Running through their achievements and recognitions over the past decade, there’s a great sense of what is true to the Lunds and to Newstead: care, craft, people, quality… generally, the things that make life worthwhile. You’ll find that on their estate, and in every glass of their wine and every dish served. Find out more at www.newsteadwines.com
44th/100 – Restaurant 1777 at The Old Rectory
One of the oldest buildings in Plett settled into 44th position on the Top 100 list: Restaurant 1777 at The Old Rectory Hotel and Spa. The original building was constructed in 1777 as an army barracks for the Dutch East India Company before being converted into an Anglican rectory in 1869. The main dining room sits in the oldest part of this beautiful hotel and an exquisite, centuries-old stone wall adds warmth and character to the space. Understandably, the building’s heritage inspires a bistro-style menu that draws on Dutch, English and South African influences. The Old Rectory shared in a post “Thank you so much Dineplan and, of course, to all the guests who shared their experiences at the restaurant. We consider it a pleasure and a privilege to serve mouth-watering food to people from all over the world every day. And, reading positive feedback from all these happy customers is the cherry on top!” The hotel, spa and restaurant teased some exciting news by adding the following “We look forward to refining the dining experience at The Old Rectory even more in the coming year; finding inspiration in the rich history of the heritage building in which we sit as well as South Africa’s colourful cultural tapestry. So, watch this space!” Find out more at www.rareearth.co.za
53rd/100 – Kay and Monty Vineyards
For South Africa’ smallest Wine of Origin region, it’s impressive that another boutique wine farm features in the Top 100: Kay & Monty Vineyards. Kay & Monty is a small, family-owned wine farm with just under eight hectares of land under vine. The cosy tasting room and enchanting restaurant offer a relaxed location for long, unhurried lunches served family-style in a converted orchid greenhouse. At Kay & Monty, the perfect pairing to a chilled glass of award-winning wine is a sharing board piled with local cheeses, seasonal fruit, sticky-sweet preserves, a selection of the finest cured meats and endless slices of fresh country bread – all enjoyed with views across green fields to the Tsitsikamma Mountains. Find out more at www.kayandmonty.com
Plett Tourism CEO, Patty Butterworth congratulated the restaurants: “For a small town, having three restaurants among South Africa’s Top 100 is an exceptional achievement and all credit to the restaurants, chefs and their teams for providing a consistently memorable dining experience. Plett’s culinary experiences are tasty and varied, and we invite visitors to sample all that the town has to offer.”
The DinePlan Reviewers’ Choice Awards are based on real guest reviews and recognise the 100 top-rated restaurants on DinePlan, as these restaurants have consistently provided exceptional guest experiences. Only restaurants that have been on DinePlan for the past year were eligible, but new restaurants could compete for the Newcomer Awards.
After diners eat at a restaurant on DinePlan, they are invited to rate and review it, giving it a score between 1 and 5 for food, value, service, and ambience. Only guests who have actually booked and dined at the restaurant through DinePlan can rate it, which helps to keep the reviews honest and authentic. These reviews help other diners find the best restaurants for their needs, and they also give restaurants valuable feedback about their offerings. DinePlan collects all of the rating and review data to give restaurateurs actionable insights into their businesses.