Welsh restaurant Ynyshir voted best in the UK and Da Terra best in London

13^th June 2023

Food & Travel Desk

Food & Travel Desk

13 June 2023

Welsh restaurant Ynyshir has defended its crown as the UK’s best restaurant at the National Restaurant Awards 2023, held at London’s Hurlingham Club yesterday evening.

The awards are an annual countdown of the country’s top 100 restaurants. Determined by leading chefs, restaurateurs and food writers, the list is a barometer of the nation’s food scene.

Under the stewardship of chef-patron Gareth Ward, Ynyshir has once again seized the top spot. Ward’s daring approach to the culinary arts, informed by an Asian-inspired tasting menu of numerous small courses, continues to challenge the concept of fine dining in the UK.

Despite being tucked away on Wales’ west coast, the unique charm of Ynyshir has made it a beacon in the national food scene. It is housed in a traditional country house, now dramatically painted black, and combines an energising soundtrack – often with a live DJ – with an assortment of small plates cooked over an open flame, served directly to the dining tables by the chefs themselves.

As Stefan Chomka, the editor of Restaurant, stated: “Ynyshir is truly in a league of its own. It seamlessly melds fun with fine dining to deliver an experience unlike any other.”

Last year’s runner-up, Moor Hall in Lancashire, claimed second place once more, while Da Terra in east London jumped an impressive 18 places to secure third. The awards highlighted London’s resurgence as a culinary powerhouse, with 54 of the top 100 restaurants located within the capital, and only three of the top ten situated elsewhere.

Among the other winners, the Opening of the Year award went to Bouchon Racine by Henry Harris. The eatery, nestled above a historic pub in Farringdon, London, is a homage to traditional French cuisine. It’s an exciting new venture for Harris, who served as the executive chef at Harvey Nichols’ Fifth Floor Restaurant before opening his first solo restaurant, Racine, in 2022.

The Service Award was claimed by The Ledbury. Furthermore, their sous chef April Lily Partridge, at just 29, earned the Chef to Watch title.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver of St John. The London-based culinary duo has been championing the concept of nose-to-tail cooking since 1994, with their restaurant influencing British cuisine, design and philosophy.

Pensons, for their innovative and sustainable approach to running their business, was awarded the Sustainability Award. They created an on-site laundry powered by solar panels, using collected rainwater, thereby significantly reducing energy use and water consumption.

Food Desk

Here’s the full National Restaurant Awards 2023 list