The Best 20 UK Restaurants Outside London 2011

Whole grilled lobster from Newhaven cooked Thermidor style, served with buttered samphire, sea spinach and sauteed squid. The Kitchin , Leith.


Here is the list of of the best restaurants outside London where I live. Generally speaking the quality of sourcing is often higher outside London but service levels can be patchy. The restaurants are not listed in order of preference but I would be happy to travel to all the ones listed for lunch or dinner.


1. The Kitchin. (Tom Kitchin)
2. The Royal Oak ( Dominic Chapman)
3. The Walnut Tree Inn (Shaun Hill)
4. The Fat Duck (Heston Blumenthal)
5. The Waterside Inn (Alain Roux)
6. Martin Wishart
7. The Star Inn (Andrew Pern)
8. Castle Terrace (Dominic Jack)
9. La Bécasse (Will Holland)
10. The Sportsman (Stephen Harris)
11. Nathan Outlaw
12 L'Enclume (Simon Rogan)
13 Restaurant Sat Bains
14 Lanterna Ristorante (Giorgio Alessio)
15 Le Champignon Sauvage (David Everitt-Matthias)
16 Siena Restaurant (Russel Brown)
17 The Elephant (Simon Hulstone)
18 L'Ortolan (Alan Murchison/Nick Chappell)
19 Mr Underhill ( Chris Bradley)
20 The Pipe and Glass (James Mackenzie)

N.B I have not eaten at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons for 3 years hence it's not on the list .

Top 5 Meals in London 2011

Toptable asked me to rate my top 5 meals in London during 2011 it was a tough choice but you can can read my choices here

2011 Best in London

Here is my list of best of London food shops , restaurants and wine establishments for 2011.

Best Italian Restaurant (Southern & Sardinian) : L'Anima , 11 Park Walk

Best Italian Restaurant (Northern) : Alloro , Zafferano & Locanda Locatelli

Best Pan Italian : River Cafe & Babbo

Best Indian : Roti Chai

Best Indian (Modern) : Benares , Rasoi

Best Pakistani : Shezan & Saloos

Best Chinese : Hunan , Kai

Best Dim Sum : Pearl Liang , Alisan and Royal China (Baker St)

Best Thai : Nahm & Heron

Best Fusion : Galoupet

Best Japanese : Umu and Sake No Hana

Best Vietnamese : head to Paris or Vietnam

Best Lebanese/Syrian : Ishbilia , Knightsbridge

Best Greek : none in London are rated.

Best Turkish : Mangal Ocakbasi (Stoke Newington)

Best Sushi : Yashin Sushi

Best French : Hibiscus , Gauthier Soho , Club Gascon , Alain Ducasse (Dorchester)

Best Modern British/European : The Ledbury , Petersham Nurseries , ( all with an Antipodean twist)

Best Spanish : Cambio de Tercio , Pizzaro & Iberica

Best Tapas : Barrafina and José

Best English : St John's

Best Fish/Seafood : One - O - One , Knightsbridge

Best Gastro Pub : Anchor & Hope , Great Queen St

Best Sandwich : Fernandez and Wells , Kappacasein

Best Pub : The Ship (Wandsworth) , Drafthouse (Westbridge)

Best Selection of Beer : Draft House and The Rake

Best Wine Bar : 28-50

Best Brasserie : Bob Bob Ricard

Best French Bistro/Bourgeois Cooking : Racine , Bistro Bruno & Koffmann

Best Burger : Hawksmoor, Goodman and Admiral Codrington

Best "joint" Burger : The Meatwagon , Meat Liquor

Best Chain Burger : Byron

Best Steak : Côte de Boeuf at Racine

Best Steak Restaurant : Hawksmoor and Goodman

Best Grill : The Dorchester Grill

Best Pizza : Franco Manca (Brixton) and Santa Maria

Best Street Food : Mr Falafel

Best Value for money Wine List : Bob Bob Ricard

Best Value for Money Restaurant : Koya & Mangal Ocakbasi

Best Newcomers in London 2011 : Hedone , Koya , Tinello and Roganic

Best Italian Deli : cannot vote on this category as have equity in the best :-)

Best Butcher : cannot vote on this category as have equity in the best :-)

Best Bakery : St John's Bread

Best Patisserie & Chocolatier : William Curley

Best Coffee : Prufork Coffee

Best Coffee Roaster : Square Mile

Best Cakes and Brownies : Bea's of Bloomsbury

Best Gelato : Cocorino , Oddono's and La Gelatiera

Best Fishmonger : The Chelsea Fishmonger (Rex Goldsmith), Chelsea Green

Best Cheese Shop : La Fromagerie , Rippon , Neal's Yard and Beillevaire

Best Wine Merchants Retail : Lea and Sandeman, Philglas and Swiggot and Handford

Best Wine Merchants Wholesale : Liberty , Fortyfive 10 , Eurowines and Bibendum

Best Fruit & Veg : Andreas Georghiou (Turnham Green Terrace)