Published on: 21st December 2018
The Michelin company (yes, the same one that makes the tyres) have been sending anonymous reviewers to restaurants since the 1920s, and over the years the term ‘Michelin star’ has become synonymous with fine dining throughout the world. Dubbed the Oscars of the food world, the latest Michelin guide was officially announced in early October, at which time thousands of restaurants around the world learnt whether they had kept – or picked up – a Michelin star or two. 71 restaurants in the UK’s capital were awarded the honour of Michelin-star status (with six new restaurants picking up stars this year). Keep reading to learn more about the latest London establishments to win a coveted Michelin star.
Brat, Shoreditch
Brat, Cardiff-born chef Tomas Parry’s first solo restaurant, opened in early 2018 – and has already picked up a Michelin star.
An homage to the grill restaurants that are popular in Northern Spain, the establishment takes its name from the colloquial term for turbot. Unsurprisingly, then, turbot is often on the menu – cooked in the restaurant’s signature style over flaming coals. But that’s not all that can be found roasting over an open fire: in Brat’s own words, the award-winning menu ‘[favours] seasonal British produce, cooked on an open firewood grill.’
Though it’s only been open a short while, the restaurant has won many fans – among them TheTimes food critic Giles Coren, who dubbed Brat ‘the most exciting new restaurant in Europe and home of the best new dish in England for a decade.’
Leroy, Shoreditch
Another vibrant – and delightfully relaxed – Shoreditch eatery, Leroy was set up by the team behind Ellory (their original Michelin-starred eatery, which closed in 2018). Amusingly, the team decided to name their new venture after the old one – as they said, the name is ‘one of our pet names from Ellory since many people were unable to pronounce the name of our restaurant.’
The food is unpretentious, but still thoughtful; highlighting the finest produce with simplicity and care. Visitors are encouraged to stop by ‘for a glass or to share several plates of food, charcuterie, cheese and crudo’ and can expect ‘anything from the classics to the crazy.’
Sabor, Mayfair
Sabor – which is conveniently located just off Regent Street – was named after the Spanish word for ‘flavour’: and flavour is just what you’ll find at this fine restaurant, which was set up by the same team who founded award-winning tapas bar Barrafina.
To visit Sabor is to go on a Spanish journey: from the Counter to the bar (both on the ground floor) and up to El Asador on the first floor, diners can choose between three different areas, each of which provides distinct insights into Spanish cuisine. Tapas, seafood and other regional delights can be enjoyed, depending on which area you visit.
_Guardian _food critic Grace Dent has praised the restaurant for serving ‘some of the best Spanish food in Great Britain‘.
Hide, Mayfair
Hide represents the second Michelin win for acclaimed chef Ollie Dabbous (who was also awarded a star for his eponymous restaurant in 2012). Impressively, his Mayfair establishment – a joint venture between Dabbous and Hedonism wines – won its first star within six months of opening.
Set over three floors and boasting spectacular views over Green Park, Hide is an ‘independent restaurant created by passionate individuals’ and offers an exciting seasonal menu complemented by ‘the UK’s most comprehensive wine list’.
Iyoki, St James’s Market
Iyoki is a bold proposition: a new type of cuisine that is based on ‘the interpretation of West African ingredients’. The result is a menu full of excitement and drama: not for the faint-hearted, but not to be missed.
Head Chef Jeremy Chan prioritises heat and umami – celebrating indigenous ingredients like scotch bonnet chilies and Grains of Selim – to produce a high-quality menu that changes with the seasons. Critic Fay Maschler raved about the intriguing yet delicious food combinations on offer, commenting that ‘there is a titillating undercurrent of unfamiliarity filtered through a high end, sometimes Nordic skill set, coupled with a sense of celebration and inclusion fostered by amiable staff. Win-win for London.’
Roganic, Marylebone
Roganic‘s first incarnation was as a two-year pop-up in Marylebone. Five years later, it returned to London permanently, bringing the expertise and experience of chef Simon Rogan – the man many credit with bringing foraging into the mainstream – to the capital.
Like Rogan’s two-Michelin-starred Lake District restaurant, L’Enclume, Roganic is famed for using local, freshly-sourced ingredients (including produce from Rogan’s own ‘Our Farm’). Innovative and inventive, the restaurant offers a number of tasting menus that are sure to challenge and delight its diners’ palates.
