Barrafina Adelaide Street takes National Restaurant of the Year
Covent Garden tapas bar Barrafina Adelaide Street has beaten off strong competition to secure this year’s National Restaurant of The Year award.
Sam and Eddie Hart’s restaurant was announced as winner at the National Restaurant Awards at London’s Hurlingham Club last night. The awards, recognized as the definitive awards for the UK’s fast-growing restaurant industry, marked the largest gathering of chefs and restaurateurs in Britain.
“It demonstrates the changing face of the UK’s dining scene and a more casual approach to eating out. Barrafina Adelaide Street epitomises what a good restaurant should be – it is inclusive, vibrant and fun with excellent service and a great buzz about it. And, of course, the food is brilliant. It’s a place you want to revisit time and time again.”
The full list of 100 winners represents a thoroughly diverse selection of restaurants than ever before, and is truly national with more restaurants than ever located outside of London; 49% of the list is based outside the capital. Any restaurant in any location across the United Kingdom is eligible for inclusion in the list, with judges each casting seven votes for their best dining experiences from both within and outside their ‘home’ region over the last year.
In addition to the National Restaurant of the Year, excellence across each of the UK regions was recognised at the event. There were also awards presented for sustainability, the best wine and cocktail lists, and the Chefs’ Chef of the Year.
Last year’s number one restaurant, Gymkhana, remained a favourite among judges, this year being named Best Indian Restaurant. Nuno Mendes’ latest opening in Spitalfields, Taberna do Mercado, meanwhile, was picked as the One To Watch, sponsored by Velocity, while The Service Award, sponsored by Liberty Wines, went to Paul Ainsworth at Number 6 in Cornwall.
Like in previous years, the team of judges, which are made up of trusted and respected chefs, restaurateurs and food writers, took a holistic approach to the judging process. Restaurants were not judged only by their food but the whole experience, so staff, atmosphere, music, design and price were all considered.
As well as Barrafina Adelaide Street’s Nieves Barragán Mohacho, the first female head chef to collect the National Restaurant of the Year award, other female chefs recognised included Clare Smyth whose Restaurant Gordon Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road was the highest climber in this year’s list.
Full list of awards:
- National Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by Estrella Damm – Barrafina Adelaide Street
- Chefs’ Chef of the Year, sponsored by Ritter Fresh – Nathan Outlaw
- Gastropub of the Year, sponsored by Estrella Damm – The Sportsman
- Best Restaurant in Scotland, sponsored by Hildon - Restaurant Andrew Fairlie
- Best Restaurant in Northern Ireland, sponsored by Hildon - Harry’s Shack
- Best Restaurant in Wales, sponsored by Hildon - The Walnut Tree
- Wine List of the Year, sponsored by Matthew Clark – The Square
- Cocktail List of the Year, sponsored by Mixxit – Chiltern Firehouse
- The Service Award, sponsored by Liberty Wines – Paul Ainsworth at Number 6
- Sustainable Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by Alaska Seafood and audited by the Sustainable Restaurant Association – Grain Store
- Highest Climber, sponsored by Appletiser – Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
- One To Watch, sponsored by Velocity – Taberna do Mercado
- Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Chapman Ventilation – Rick Stein
- OpenTable Diners’ Choice ‘Fit for Foodies’ Award – The Chef ’s Table
- Best Italian Restaurant, sponsored by Lavazza – Zucca
- Best Indian Restaurant, sponsored by Restaurant magazine – Gymkhana
- Best Spanish Restaurant, sponsored by Estrella Damm – Barrafina Adelaide Street
By Ryan Burrows
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