(Update - the new results are out. Read London's Michelin-starred restaurant winners for 2013.)
You may be thinking it surely hasn't been a year since we last went doolally over which restaurants were the big winners and losers in the Michelin star stakes...and you'd be right. The publication of the Michelin Guide UK & Ireland was brought forward this year from late January to October to bring it in line with the company's other European guides. That means there's hasn't been quite nine months between guides, so how much will have changed? Read on to find out.
Here are the winners of new stars on the London restaurant scene, according to this year's Michelin guide.
1 Michelin star
Who's the chef? Ashley Palmer Watts
Why it's rated: When Heston Blumenthal first announced that he was to finally open a restaurant in London, expectation was understandably high. But Heston met this flawlessly, and the biggest restaurant opening in years became the most successful and well reviewed London restaurant in a heartbeat. Instantly legendary dishes were the mandarin meat fruit and Tipsy cake. It even merited a restaurant review in the Sun by Alex James - now that's celebrity for you.
Find out more about Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
1 Michelin star
Who's the chef? Jason Atherton
Why it's rated: As the second biggest opening this year behind Heston, it's been an incredibly quick start up the Michelin ladder for Jason Atherton. Open only since April, this has to be one of the quickest stars we've seen and given the adulation the restaurant has gotten in the past few months, that shouldn't be a surprise. It has divided certain critics though, but with a star under his belt, that shouldn't bother Atherton too much. Matthew Norman in The Telegraph described Atherton as one of those 'culinary alchemists who can transform what looks like base pretension on the page into solid gold in the mouth'.
Find out more about Pollen Street Social
1 Michelin star
Who's the chef? Cristoffer Hruskova
Why it's rated: The chef moved on from Fig restaurant in Islington late in 2010 to take up residence in Clerkenwell, just across the rtoad from St John. Its Danish cooking took much of its inspiration from the pared-down style made famous at Noma, and it's probably that which attracted the attention of Michelin investigators. We were impressed on our dinner at North Road and even though it's outside AA Gill's usual comfort zone (too far East) he said "It’s clever and it’s poignant, quietly sad."
Find out more about North Road
1 Michelin star
Who's the chef? Tong Chee Hwee
Why it's rated: The original has been a London favourite for years, but of all the Michelin stars this year this certainly wasn't on anyone's radar. It's had good press and reviews in the past few months and offers pretty much more of the same of its Hanway Place originator. But sometimes that's just what Michelin like to see.
Find out more about Hakassan Mayfair
Michelin's Bib Gourmand awards go to restaurants 'offering good food at moderate prices'. In London 'moderate' translates to three course for £28 or less - so that's a pretty good deal for great food. It's also where Michelin gets the chance to reward restaurant that aren't in the starched white tablecloth brigade. This year the Bibs go to the following restaurants:
- Sushi Say
- Azou
- José
- Opera Tavern
- Brawn
- Da Polpo
- Fox & Grapes
- Koya
- St John Bread and Wine
- Triphal
- Kateh
- Trishna
- Barrafina
Every listing on the Hot Dinners website will show you how many Michelin Stars that restaurant has - for the full list, in descending star order, click here.
