London's Michelin star restaurants: our verdict
Female chef power. The most thrilling story of Michelin's latest awards is Clare Smyth winning two Michelin stars straight away for her first solo restaurant Core by Clare Smyth which only opened earlier this year. Jumping one star to two star immediately is very rare indeed, and, a feat only Claude Bosi's Bibendum has achieved before.
Exciting too are the Bib Gourmand awards: these are more informal (and more affordable) restaurants serving seriously good neighbourhood food. This year, there are four London recipients: Sorella: sister restaurant to The Dairy in Clapham and Robin Gill's ode to the Italian Amalfi coast; Kudu, a South-African inflected neighbourhood restaurant in Peckham; Farang, Seb Holmes' Thai meets British ingredients in Highbury and Petit Pois, an intimate French bistro in Hoxton.
The much-loved Sabor, the first solo venture of Nieves Baracan who was synonymous with Barrafina for many year, has earnt a Michelin star in its first year.
Arriving on the dot of 5.30pm will be even more essential now to snare a table at the kitchen counter to enjoy the seafoodcentric tapas, brilliant croquetas, tortilla and daily specials.
Book well ahead for the upstairs dining room which serves small plates as overture to the main event: spectacular roast suckling pig cooked in a traditional asador (though not for the squeamish) or whole lobster cooked in a special gigantic pot.
It's a favourite hang of Michelin star chefs too.
![Kyseri: Selin Kiazim brings Anatolian cuisine to London [5star]](/images/thumbs/cw-28343-660x375.jpeg)
