Time Out Eating & Drinking Awards 2009
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Anonymously reviewed by Time Out's panel of expert judges
Updated: Wed Sep 16 2009
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Best New Restaurant | Best New Italian | Best New Cheap Eats | Best New Gastropub | Best New Bar | Best New Local Restaurant | Best New Café | Best New Design | Best Spanish Restaurant | Best Spanish Wine List
Best New Italian-
WINNER: L'Anima
1 Snowden Street, City, EC2A 2DQ
It’s the wrong time for a big, brash bar-restaurant in the City, yet L’Anima undoubtedly works. Calabrian-born chef Francesco Mazzei was previously at Jeremy King and Chris Corbin’s modern Mediterranean restaurant St Alban, but here he focuses on the food of Italy. Many dishes originate from the south, and islands such as Sicily and Sardinia. Floor-to-ceiling windows add to the drama of both bar and restaurant, which bustle at lunchtimes with a young, fashionable City crowd. Dishes are hearty yet beautifully presented, many strewn with fresh herbs. A glossary on the menu explains any unfamiliar ingredients such as n’cantarata (a sauce made with honey, paprika and spices) and Mazara shrimps (red shrimps from Sicily). Read more
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RUNNER UP: Bocca di Lupo
12 Archer Street, Soho, W1D 7BB
Such a great idea: a wide choice of authentic regional dishes from Italy that you can share like tapas, or order in traditional courses, all cooked in a buzzy open-plan kitchen at the front of the restaurant. The rear dining room attracts a noisy crowd keen to make the most of Soho and surrounds; for a more intimate experience book a table at the kitchen counter. Read more
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RUNNER UP: Murano
20-22 Queen Street, Mayfair, W1J 5PR
An elegant and rather serene Mayfair establishment, Murano is one of Angela Hartnett’s restaurants owned by Gordon Ramsay Holdings. The menu is recognisably Italian but doesn’t shy away from haute cuisine styling. It’s the classic food that works best however: plates of filled pasta with buttery sauce, the platter of ham served as a canapé, good breads. There are interesting by-the-glass wine options, but these are premium varieties at premium prices. Service is exemplary, and the final bill reflects this. Read more
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RUNNER UP: Il Baretto
43 Blandford Street, Marylebone, W1U 7HF
This simply-decorated basement restaurant in Marylebone is, surprisingly, from the man behind stylish Japanese hits Zuma and Roka. The sizeable menu includes everything from pizza (from the previous tenant’s wood-fired oven) to salt-baked wild sea bass and chargrilled Fiorentina t-bones to share. Décor is similarly classic (banquettes, framed black and white photos) making Il Baretto a refreshingly unpretentious, yet still smart, choice. Read more
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Best New Restaurant | Best New Italian | Best New Cheap Eats | Best New Gastropub | Best New Bar | Best New Local Restaurant | Best New Café | Best New Design | Best Spanish Restaurant | Best Spanish Wine List
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17 comments
Lola Rojo is not really spanish. it is catalan. They do rices for British taste that do not exist in Spain, portions ae tiny, the atmosphere is depressing. It is miles away from the real thing you will find in Spain. It just shows how terrible Spanish food is in London. Sad "taste" of things.
Glaring omission in Best Spanish - Barrafina. Judging by the queues and all great reviews, including in Timeout and by its readers.
Confused by those who don't think Princi is not cheap? Fairly large portion of pretty good pasta or salad is £6-7, which is probably the most expensive thing in there. Pretty good tasting food and nice looking place. Pretty good value for money if you ask me. Ok, it's not as cheap as your local sandwich shop or greasy spoon, but come on. How cheap is cheap eats suppose to be?
I was disappointed with the Spanish Restaurants winner too. I frequent Tapas Variadas on Northcote Road, just metres down the road from La Rioja. The food is much more value for money (try the huge seafood platter for only £9) and the lovely little restaurant, quaint. I ve been to Lola Rioja, and found the atmosphere a little pretentious and the food overpriced for what you are given.
I agree that the "Best Cheap Eats" selection is pretty disappointing this year. I always relied on Time Out to help me discover real gems, not restaurants which have been well advertised and, quite frankly, aren't exactly groundbreaking discoveries.
Re Albion at the Boundary: good for brunch but not "cheap" (I'd go to E Pellicci any time instead! that's authentic and cheap). Not so good if you fancy well cooked comfort food: my cauliflower cheese was so crunchy that I had trouble cutting through it. I didn't even manage to finish it, incredible really as I was (a) extremely hungry and (b) in dire need of said comfort.
Please, Time Out, don't let us down next year!
the thing is that pretty much everywhere in london is a rip off.
you want value for money? go to capitan corelli in battersea park road. real italian as you could find in italy 30 yrs ago in small towns.
Great food, cakes to die for and a good cup of coffee. It's hard to beat The Fleet. I go there regularly, the foods always delicious, there's plenty of seating and there's always a buzz about the place , the atmosphere is friendly and relaxed certainly not lacking!
It is worth trying Harwood Arms! Great food (delicious soup as a starter) and friendly service, although a bit on the pricey side. Funny how everyone looks like they just left their houses in Westport, CT. Bocca di Lupo continues to be my favorite so far!
I found both Giaconda and Boundary rather disappointing. Great ingredients no doubt, and competent kitchen skills, which makes it even strager as to why the end result in both was a bit flat. Not sure the British 'food revolution' has helped much - people cook more and better, restaurants cook less and simpler, and thw two have ended up meeting in the middle somewhat. Do i need to spend £18 for someone to grill a chop for me?
And why 2 specifically Spanish categories?
I'm very sorry timeout, but Giaconda Dining Rooms was a massive disapointment to me. Difficult to create atmosphere in such a small space and food capable, but not exciting. I took my partner for his birthday having read the reviews on this site and had to apologise to him halfway through the meal... Maybe I missed something.
I have two things to say about these results.
Firstly 39 Colbrooke Row is a terrible little place full of cheap furniture and dirty toilets. Yes the barman is great and the cocktails fun but it's not fun spilling half of it on a wobbly table.
Secondly - Albion Caff Bakery - Christ Almighty, if these cakes are good I would not like to taste a Time Out rubbish-rated example. These may have to be some of the worst cakes I have ever eaten. YUK.
Come on Time Out, you are not exactly surprising us and encouraging us to grab our coats and scarper to a new exciting gem. Yawn!
Agree with Princi not being cheap. Maybe if you wanna eat three raviolis (and get a not-so-kind look when you ask for cheese)...
I agree with Anthony. Princi is not cheap!!
The Harwood is my local and, in my view a well deserved winner. IIt's a great mix of quirky and traditional english food....and always beautifully cooked and presented:)
concerns me when there are an awful lot of negative reviews about lola roja how it could win best spanish hmmmm??