London's five fabulous newcomers

12 March 2008

London's restaurant scene is buzzing and at its best rivals dining in New York, Paris and Tokyo, says The Good Food Guide London.

So many great new restaurants have opened for business recently that in its 56th year The Good Food Guide has published a London guide for only the second time. Five new openings make it into its gastronomic top 40.

Gordon Ramsay scoops 2 out of 3 top spots, with his Chelsea restaurant at No 1 and Pétrus at No 3.

But several new restaurants are challenging the old guard and making London a really competitive field. The fabulous five new restaurants are:

> Mayfair's Wild Honey, in with a bullet at number 13. It's a Modern British gem where “results can be brilliant, full-blooded and sensual."

> Sake No Hana, Mayfair is in at number 30. Hailed by The Guide as “pure and unadulterated joy for people who understand and love Japanese food."

> At number 31 is Notting Hill’s Le Café Anglais. It’s an "homage to a Parisian brasserie" where “the atmosphere crackles".

> L'Autre Pied, Marylebone is at number 32. The second opening from the highly acclaimed Pied à Terre team, the cooking has an "appealing straightforwardness” with “high-gloss proficiency".

> In at number 37, Hibiscus, Mayfair. This former star of foodie centre Ludlow has moved to the West End and the "ambitious, idiosyncratic chef" produces some "simply sensational" dishes.  

Elizabeth Carter, editor of The Good Food Guide London, says:

"hat's happened to London? The city is now buzzing with new ideas, new influences, and an astonishing diversity of cuisines unmatched by any other capital city. There's no doubt London's setting the pace right now. Standards have gone through the roof and the city is starting to compete with Paris, New York and Tokyo."