Monday 6 October 2014

Michelin Guide 2015 - London Restaurants

Like the inevitability of Christmas tastelessness in the shops, The Michelin Guide pops up startlingly early in the year. So much so that this post, whilst earlier than last year's, is actually slightly tardier in terms of the Guide's release. I would apologise but doing so seems patronising given my form so far this year.

To business, it's something of an anti-climactic year for London (or next year will be - it's the 2015 Guide I guess...) with two fewer restaurants in the list overall. There are no changes at the top, with the two- and three-star joints untouched. In the one-star category, there are some hard falls. Nobu and its sister restaurant in Berkeley Square both lost their stars, which somewhat vindicates my review but is a surprise nonetheless.

Bo London, Tom Aikens and Viajante all closed, rendering their losses academic. Aikens is looking at re-locating out of Chelsea into somewhere more central which will be an interesting story to keep an eye on. Elsewhere, Medlar lost its star which I thought near-impossible but at least it should ensure their pricing remains gloriously competitive. Worryingly, One Leicester Street (which replaced the St John Hotel restaurant) and Aspley's by Heinz Beck also lost their stars. Even more worryingly, due to closures. I can't find evidence of these at the time of writing but it's dreadfully sad if so.

The good news, despite the eight losses,  is there are six new stars to celebrate. Gymkhana, recently named the best restaurant in the country, is the most predictable of these, capping quite a first year. The Clove Club and Kitchen Table at Bubbledogs also see their high-ranking places on the list gaining official recognition. Jason Atherton's gradual spread across the capital sees a new star for City Social, while Claridges' decision to recruit Simon Rogan of L'Enclume to run their restaurant has paid swift dividends. I am personally pleased that Barrafina has got itself a star, though it's going to make getting a table even more difficult.

The full list of London's representation is below. Whilst awards don't always count for much, Michelin Stars usually give us all a steer on where to go when the occasion dictates...

Three Stars

Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, Mayfair
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Chelsea

Two Stars


One Star

Alyn Williams at the Westbury, Mayfair
Amaya, Belgravia
Ametsa with Arzak Instruction, Belgravia
Angler, Islington
Arbutus, Soho
Barrafina, Soho - New Star
Benares, Mayfair
Brasserie Chavot, Mayfair
Chez Bruce, Wandsworth
City Social, City of London - New Star
Clove Club, Shoreditch - New Star
Club Gascon, City of London
Dabbous, Fitzrovia
Fera at Claridges, Mayfair - New Star
Galvin at Windows, Mayfair
Galvin La Chapelle, Spitalfields
Gymkhana, Mayfair - New Star
Hakkasan Hanway Place, Bloomsbury
Hakkasan Mayfair, Mayfair
Harwood Arms, Fulham
Hedone, Chiswick
HKK, Shoreditch
Kai, Mayfair
Kitchen Table at Bubbledogs, Bloomsbury - New Star
Kitchen W8, Kensington
La Trompette, Chiswick
L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Strand & Covent Garden
Launceston Place, Kensington
L'Autre Pied, Regent's Park & Marylebone
Lima, Regent's Park & Marylebone
Locanda Locatelli, Regent's Park & Marylebone
Maze, Mayfair
Murano, Mayfair
Outlaw's at the Capital, Belgravia
Pétrus, Belgravia
Pied à Terre, Bloomsbury
Pollen Street Social, Mayfair
Quilon, Victoria
Rasoi, Chelsea
Seven Park Place, St James's
Social Eating House, Soho
St John, Clerkenwell
Story, Bermondsey
Tamarind, Mayfair
Texture, Regent's  Park & Marylebone
The Glasshouse, Kew
The River Café, Hammersmith
Trishna, Marylebone
Umu, Mayfair
Wild Honey, Mayfair
Yauatcha, Soho