Viajante is London's best new restaurant according to Harden's

1st September 2010, 2:46pm

The eating out market in east London continues to boom and Viajante in Bethnal Green has just been awarded the title of 'Best New Restaurant of the Year' by Harden's restaurant guides.

In association with Rémy Martin, the annual survey saw 8,000 diners contribute to give some 85,000 individual reports. Harden's is celebrating 20 years of publishing the findings.

Viajante was commended for its "amazing food combinations" which offer "sheer pleasure all the way".

Chef Nuno Mendes has worked with some of the world's best chefs including New York's Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

Co-editor Richard Harden said: "This year, east London was, for the first time, the most active area for new openings after central London, Indeed, some restaurants in the east – such as Hawksmoor and St John – are now exporting concepts to the West End, which, until recently, would have been unthinkable. The award also shows London diners readiness to embrace experimental cuisines. Until recently, the UK's few more experimental restaurants have generally been found out-of-town, in locations such as Bray, Cambridge, Leeds and the Lake District.

Peter Harden, added: "Nuno Mendes's CV includes a 'stage' at El Bulli, so his experimental culinary style – with its echoes of 'molecular gastronomy' – clearly invites comparison with the likes of Heston Blumenthal, who will be launching 'Dinner' in Knightsbridge in December. Mendes's success is encouraging for Blumenthal in one respect, but also sets the world-famous chef something of a challenge. Viajante is a hard act to beat."

And for the rest of the survey:

Marcus Wareing is voted the capital's top chef. His warm chocolate moelleux with salted caramel took home the Coeur de Cognac award for Best Dessert.

Le Caprice and Michel Roux's Le Gavroche are the only two restaurants that have made the survey's Top 20 Most Mentioned Restaurants list every year since the survey began.

Street food is doing its best to expand rapidly, taking on fast-food restaurants and exploring different cuisines.

Steakhouses and specialist restaurants such as seafood bars, dessert bars and gelateries are experiencing somewhat of a 'mini-boom'.

Belgravia in London is to the restaurant industry what Bond Street is to the fashion industry. It's reputation as exclusive and high-end continues to grow. Heston Blumental's Dinner will no doubt enhance this theory.

La Poule au Pot is London's Most Romantic eatery and The Wolseley is Best for Business.

In the Most Disappointed and Overpriced stakes the Oxo Tower came top with Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay not far behind.

Related Articles:

• 09 Sep 2010 - TV's Dermot O' Leary backs maritime charity event with his Fishy Fishy restaurant
• 19 Aug 2010 - London restaurants defy the downturn with record openings
• 11 Aug 2010 - Good Food Guide sees restaurants outside London gain more recognition
• 12 Jan 2010 - Jamie's Italian lands a place in Harden's UK Restaurant Guide 2010
• 03 Sep 2009 - Food critics set to reveal their secrets
• 01 Sep 2009 - Murano receives high listing in Harden's London Guide
• 20 Aug 2009 - London restaurants defy recession as openings rise 9%

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