2014 London restaurants high and low

The high, top 3:

The Ledbury

Not much to say really, The Ledbury should be a household name for all food lovers, two Michelin stars and countless awards speak for itself. It is simply the best London has to offer, exceptional taste and a world-class service in a relaxing way, The Ledbury is an excellent model of the modern fine dining as it should.

Read my The Ledbury review

Launceston Place

Launceston Place ticks all the boxes what I would consider a top restaurant, the cooking is modern European in principle with a touch of creativity without being gimmicky. It is also great to see the kitchen progressing all the time, each visit the cooking has developed with more refinement and surely it is only a matter of time before it gains its well deserved second star.

Read my Launceston Place review

Kitchen Table

Dining at Kitchen table is one kind of an experience, and a special one. You are placed on a bar stool overlooking the kitchen watching the chefs cooking your dishes right in front of you. All the ingredients are at its prime with some clever mixture of elements and flavours combination. Diners are taken on a food journey with 12 plus small plates course. 

Read my Kitchen Table review

Honorable mention: L'Autre Pied, The Five Fields, Smack Lobster

The low, Bottom 3:

Chiltern Firehouse

The most talked about restaurant in London in 2014, led by Nuno Mendes, former executive chef at the Michelin-starred Viajante. Now a hangout joint for the rich and famous, with overwhelming hype and buzz. The food here is not bad at all, but clearly overrated. A place for  celebrities and paparazzi, you can find much better value and the same quality of food elsewhere.

Read my Chiltern Firehouse review

Lobster Kitchen

Try to ride on the trend of lobster concept, but clearly missed the final touch, it's more expensive than some but taste wise, it was average at best and errors all over the show. It failed on both quality and quantity, and now running a student discount? Maybe time to go back to the drawing board.

Read my Lobster Kitchen review

Ippudo

A respectable ramen giant from Japan decided to enter the London market. The portion is tiny and most garnishes that you would usually expect in a bowl of traditional ramen cost extra. Maybe whoever calculated the costing got a little greedy and trying to maximum profit at the expense of the diners.To sum it up, very expensive, half decent food, small quantity and canteen service. Waste of my time.

Read my Ippudo review