It seems to be the season for handing out awards. Following the early publication of the 2012 Michelin Guide, the National Restaurant Awards for 2011 have taken place. As usual, I have listed the London-based ventures within the 100, along with their overall ranking.
There have been a few big moves but not at the top, where the Ledbury holds on to the prestigious honour of being number one. Coupled with a spot on the world's 50 best restaurants earlier this year, Brett Graham's Notting Hill stronghold seems to be riding a wave. As I found when I went there, it certainly is a special restaurant, but maybe not quite what I would expect from a two-time best in the UK winner.
The biggest achievement for me is the new entry at number two for Jason Atherton's Pollen Street Social. Not a bad month, considering it started with a Michelin Star. It seems as if this place is right at home in the west end already. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal also shot in at number three (one place above the Fat Duck interestingly) to go along with its new recent star also.
Four other restaurants did well to hold on to roughly the same positions they had been in for the previous couple of years: Hibiscus, The Square, St. John and Chez Bruce all show the value of consistency and quality in this year's list. It's good to see some of the best recognised as such.
Have a look and start devising lists of where you want to go in the coming year. As usual, there is loads of quality food to be eaten in London - 57 of the top 100 UK restaurants are here - and a hell of a lot of enjoyment therein.
6 Hibiscus
10 Bar Boulud
11 Le Gavroche
13 St John
15 Chez Bruce
16 Roganic
20 Arbutus
21 Viajante
23 Koffmann's
25 Polpo
26 Brawn
32 Scott's
40 L'Anima
42 The Ivy
50 Texture
51 Zucca
54 José
57 Murano
61 J Sheekey
62 Opera Tavern
64 Terroirs
65 Zuma
66 Nahm
73 La Trompette
76 The Quilon
84 Nobu
88 Koya
89 Hix
94 Medlar
99 The Bingham
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