Once again, we've had what is viewed by many in the restaurant world as the main awards ceremony of the season - the new Michelin stars reveal. This was Michelin's first in-person event in three years, and they decided to move things up to Silverstone for the occasion. As usual, there was quite the preamble before we got to the awards but when we did, there were some very happy people indeed. Yes, we do know there are a few naysayers when it comes to Michelin, but we love it when chefs are overcome by the emotion of it all.
Out of the entire event, for the UK and Ireland there were twenty new one-star awards, three two-star restaurants but no new three-starred restaurants. Of those, London got the following:
- Cycene - one star
- Restaurant St Barts - one star
- Luca - one star
- Taku - two stars
- Alex Dilling at Hotel Cafe Royal - two stars
- The Ledbury - two stars
It was a notable return for a couple of chefs who won back their stars. Brett Graham's The Ledbury closed at the beginning of the pandemic but returned last year with a swanky new look and got both of its stars back as a result. Alex Dilling had two stars at The Greenhouse before that closed but he got them right back with his new restaurant at Hotel Cafe Royal.
It's also notable that of the four new one-star restaurants in London, three of them are under six months old. Michelin used to shy away from giving restaurants stars quickly, so this is something of a turnaround for them (although congrats to Luca who got their own star in their seventh year). We really would have liked to see The Ritz get a very well-deserved two stars, though.
Not everyone can be a winner, however, there was one deletion this year as Seven Park Place lost its Michelin star.
So Michelin still gets a lot of people very excited, and understandably so. However, there does seem to be a growing gap between what Michelin gives a star to and its own Bib Gourmand awards. And in that gap live some of the very best restaurants that London has to offer. Yes, Michelin can point you to some great restaurants, but it really is missing out on a fair few too.
Until next year, then - let the speculation start now...
See all the Michelin-starred restaurants in London
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