Every year, the Michelin Guide unveils a series of restaurants that have won new stars. They're some of the most prized restaurant awards in the business, and probably the only restaurant awards that are globally recognised. This year, even though we're in the midst of a lockdown, the awards still went ahead. Here's what's new in the 2021 guide.
New three-starred restaurants
Core by Clare Smyth
Where: 92 Kensington Park Rd, Notting Hill, London W11 2PN
For years Clare Smyth was seen as the guiding light of Gordon Ramsay's flagship Hospital Road restaurant where she held three stars. Going it alone with her own fine-dining spot in Notting Hill she's now matched that achievement here as well as the top London slot in the Good Food Guide.
More about Core by Clare Smyth
Helene Darroze at The Connaught
Where: Carlos Pl, Mayfair, London W1K 2AL
One of the main restaurants at prestigious London hotel The Connaught, this is run by French Chef Helene Darroze. Expect high-end French dining that has won the restaurant its third star. It reopened in Autumn 2019 after a major refurbishment which also gave it an impressive new chef's table.
New two-starred restaurants
A Wong
Where: 70 Wilton Road, Victoria, London SW1V 1DE
Andrew Wong is behind this ever-popular Chinese restaurant. In a pared-back room, the menu travels the broad spectrum of Chinese cooking and has a lunchtime dim sum menu that's absolutely worth crossing town for.
Da Terra
Where: Town Hall Hotel, Patriot Square, London E2 9NF
This is the third restaurant in the same space at the Town Hall and the second to receive a Michelin star there - and it only won its first star last year. It's co-owned by chef Paulo Airaudo and former Fera and Aulis chef Rafael Cagali who is in charge of the kitchen. The food is all about "Latin American inspired flavours with an Italian heart".
Restaurant Story
Where: 201 Tooley Street, London SE1 2UE
Tom Sellers' restaurant sets out his stall as serving humble ingredients but thrown together in a creative, inspired way - including beef dripping candles that you can eat.
New one-starred restaurants
Behind
Where: 20 Sidworth Street, London E8 3SD
Andy Beynon's London Fields restaurant is all about opening up the kitchen experience. That starts with a huge counter that you gather around for a truly unique tasting menu experience (with a focus on seafood).
Benares
Where: 12a Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London W1J 6BS
Benares wins back its Michelin star in 2020 with Sameer Taneja in charge. The fine-dining Indian restaurant continues to be a big hit in the centre of Mayfair (and was one of the first to embrace fine-dining delivery in the original lockdown).
Casa Fofo
Where: 158 Sandringham Rd, Clapton, London E8 2HS
Casa Fofo saw ex-Pidgin chef Adolfo De Cecco opening his own place in Clapton, carrying on the same approach of a single tasting menu that makes the most of seasonal and local ingredients.
Corn
erstone
Where: 3 Prince Edward Road, London E9 5LX
This is chef Tom Brown's home in Hackney which has a strong focus on seafood at the heart of it (following a similar approach at his previous restaurant Outlaws). Expect a seasonal menu, counter dining when it's allowed, and an amazing crumpet.
Davies and Brook
Where: Claridge’s, Brook St, Mayfair, London W1K 4HR
This is the London restaurant for Daniel Humm, whose Eleven Madison Park restaurant has reached number 1 on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list. This sees him in charge of the main restaurant at Claridge's with a fine dining menu - but you can also enjoy cocktails and snacks at the bar.
Muse
Where: 38 Groom Place, Belgravia, London SW1X 7BA
This sees Tom Aikens return to the kitchen in a much more intimate setting. Counter dining is the order of the day (when it's allowed) where you can see the chefs properly in action. The menu is based around Aikens' life and experience and there's a lot of attention to detail in the presentation.
SOLA
Where: 64 Dean Street, London W1D 4QQ
Victor Garvey's second Soho restaurant (in the same spot as the first) looks towards Californian fine-dining restaurants for its inspiration. So there's a West Coast USA vibe to the restaurant in the heart of Soho.
Plus this year's Bib Gourmands and other awards
The Michelin Bib Gourmands "highlight restaurants which offer good quality, good value cooking". Here are the new Bibs for 2021:
- Fallow (Mayfair) - originally a residency, now much more - and also our readers' favourite new restaurant of 2020.
- Flor (Borough) - from the people behind the Michelin-starred Lyle's
- Legare (Shad Thames) - Italian restaurant with an ex-Trullo chef in charge of the food.
- Mo Diner (Mayfair) - the diner spin-off from Momo.
- Paradise (Soho) - Sri Lankan cooking
- Peckham Cellars - a neighbourhood kitchen, wine bar and shop in Peckham.
- Volta do Mar (Covent Garden) - Portuguese cooking from one of the Salt Yard founders
Of the 23 new Green stars, four were awarded in London:
- Oxo Tower Brasserie
- Petersham Nurseries (Richmond)
- Silo
- Tredwells
And the special awards went to:
- Service award: Noble, Holywood NI
- Sommelier: Karine Canavet, Maison Bleue, Bury St Edmunds
- Young Chef Award: Kray Tredwell, 670 Grams, Birmingham
- Mentor Award: Ross Lewis, Chapter One, Dublin
See all the Michelin starred restaurants in London
Every Michelin-starred restaurant in London
There are many more Michelin starred restaurants all over London. We've rounded up them all for you here - and we also tell you how much a set lunch will cost, if you're looking to do Michelin on a budget.
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