CARLTON LONDON RESTAURANT AWARDS 2003 - SHORTLIST
(Tuesday 14th January 2003)

Click here for the London Restaurant Awards 2003 winners.

Click to view larger image

ITV news presenter Katie Derham, today revealed the eagerly anticipated shortlist for this year's Tio Pepe Carlton London Restaurant Awards. This is the seventh year of the prestigious Restaurant Awards, widely recognised as the most exciting and high profile event in London's restaurant calendar. The Award winners of all categories will be revealed at a star-studded Awards Dinner, open to the public, on Monday 10 March.

More than 6,000 London-based restaurants will be vying for pole position in the fourteen highly sought-after award categories. For 2003, the continuing influence of Spanish, Portuguese and South American cuisine has led the judging panel of the Restaurant Awards to choose 'Iberian' Restaurants to be the flavour of the annually changing category highlighting different world cuisines available on the London restaurant scene.

Against tough competition the Cinnamon Club - an ambitious conversion of part of the Westminster village - is one of the shortlists for the Indian Restaurant Award. Judges noted chef, Vivek Singh's menu of tongue-tingling delicacies, was served by competent staff in magnificent surroundings. Hakkasan, shortlisted in the Oriental Restaurant category, has often been credited with influencing the way Londoners look at Asian food. The 'subterranean' design and exotic food were commended for creating a unique environment.

It's no surprise to see Gordon Ramsay on the shortlist for Outstanding London Chef. With six successful establishments in three countries, Gordon and his teams have already won virtually every culinary accolade available. The question is - will he be the winner of this ultimate prize?

And what about the New Restaurant of the Year category? For months the question as to whether Jamie Oliver had "bitten off more than he could chew" hung in the air. But when Fifteen opened in Hoxton with a fanfare, many of London's most cynical TV and restaurant critics were surprised at Jamie's success in creating a fresh, new approach to food and restaurants. Watch this space to see if he can convince the Tio Pepe Carlton London Restaurant Awards panel as well.

Daniel Verwer, Deputy Director of Finance for Carlton Television said, "the continuing dominance of London in the international restaurant scene makes these Awards even more exciting and aspirational for our capital's restaurateurs. The competition for the coveted accolades is tough, with judging standards reflecting the high expectations of London's diners."

The category winners will be revealed at a star-studded Awards Dinner, open to the public, at Le Meridien Grosvenor House, Park Lane on Monday 10 March.

ABOUT THE RESTAURANT AWARDS

Established in 1996, the Awards aim to recognise excellence in London's restaurant arena. This year, over 6000 London-based restaurants will be vying for the coveted titles across 14 Award Categories including the ultimate accolade of the Tio Pepe Carlton London Restaurant of the Year Award.

An independent panel of eight judges, all renowned and respected commentators in the food and drink world, will seek to reward restaurants which demonstrate the highest quality of service, innovation and culinary expertise, culminating in an inspiring and entertaining dining experience. A full list of the panel can found by clicking on the link under Menu at the bottom of the page.

"Each year the judging process gets more intense," explains Amanda Biddle, awards organiser at Carlton Television. "As Londoners' love affair with food and dining out increases, so too does the competition to attract those adventurous diners who seek new flavours and styles. The standard of cooking and service simply gets better and our judges have a tough task choosing winners from across the Award categories. Because of the tight criteria and judging process, the Tio Pepe Carlton London Restaurant Awards are keenly anticipated by those involved in the restaurant scene, and beyond."

She continues: "But not all our categories are judged by the panel. The Evening Standard/London Tonight Award offers the public the opportunity to be restaurant critics as they vote for the London restaurant they deem to be hot for 2003."

AWARD CATEGORIES

• British Restaurant of the Year
• French Restaurant of the Year
• Italian Restaurant of the Year
• Oriental Restaurant of the Year
• Indian Restaurant of the Year
• Iberian Restaurant of the Year
• New Restaurant of the Year
• Most Exceptional Restaurant Wine List
• Outstanding London Chef
• Evening Standard / London Tonight Award
• Outstanding Front of House
• Outstanding Contribution to London Restaurants
• The London Restaurant Academy Award of Excellence
• Tio Pepe Carlton London Restaurant of the Year

The Award winners of all categories will be revealed at a star-studded Awards Dinner, open to the public, on Monday 10 March.

SHORTLIST 2003

Indian Restaurant of the Year
Chutney Mary
Cinnamon Club
The Painted Heron
The Parsee
Ram's
Red Fort

Oriental Restaurant Of The Year
ECapital
Hakkasan
Nahm
Tsunami
Zuma

Italian Restaurant Of The Year
Assaggi
Enoteca Turi
Locanda Locatelli
Passione
Sardo
Zafferano

British Restaurant Of The Year
The Clerkenwell Dining Room
The English Garden
The Oak
Richard Corrigan at Lindsay House
Rules
J Sheekey

Iberian Restaurant Of The Year
Cambio de Tercio
Cigala
Eyre Brothers
Gaudi
Moro

French Restaurant Of The Year
Chez Bruce
L'Escargot Picasso Room
Racine
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
La Trompette

Outstanding Front Of House Team
(This award is not so much for an individual front of house leader, as for the service team as a whole)
Almeida
Alwaha
The Capital
Oslo Court
Racine
J Sheekey

Most Exceptional Restaurant Wine List
(This award is given for a well-balanced wine list that best matches the style and cuisine of the restaurant whilst encouraging customers to expand their interest)
Bibendum
The Capital
Chez Bruce
Club Gascon / Cellar Gascon
Fifth Floor at Harvey Nichols

New Restaurant Of The Year
(Opened between 1 June 2001 and 1 December 2002)
Fifteen
Locanda Locatelli
The Painted Heron
Racine
Thyme

Outstanding London Chef
Chris Galvin - Conran Restaurants
Henry Harris - Racine
Tong Che Hwee - Hakkasan
Bruce Poole - Chez Bruce
Gordon Ramsay - Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
David Thompson - Nahm

Academy Award Of Excellence
(This year's award is to acknowledge excellence in encouraging and nurturing new talent in the industry)
Raymond Blanc
Michel Bourdin
Jamie Oliver
Gordon Ramsay
The Roux Brothers
Cyrus Todiwala

Outstanding Contribution to London Restaurants
(This is awarded to a person or supplier. There is no shortlist for this award)

Evening Standard / London Tonight Award
(To be chosen by readers of the London Evening Standard).

Tio Pepe Carlton London Restaurant of the Year
(The winner of this award is to be chosen out of the restaurants which win one of the 2003 awards)

THE JUDGING PANEL 2003

Eleven of the fourteen categories in this year's Awards are judged by our panel of renowned and highly influential experts.

The full panel of judges is as follows:-

• Matthew Fort, The Guardian, Chairman of the judging panel
• Charles Campion, Rough Guide to London Restaurants and Evening Standard
• Terry Durack, The Independent on Sunday and Food & Travel
• Andrew Jefford, leading wine writer
• Fay Maschler, Evening Standard
• Matthew Norman, The Sunday Telegraph
• Jay Rayner, The Observer
• Caroline Stacey, The Independent

The London Restaurant Awards Academy
(The Award of Excellence)

All former winners of a London Restaurant Award have been invited to join the London Restaurant Awards Academy (for members of the Academy, please see the attached sheet). This year, the Academy has been asked to nominate people or restaurants who have been instrumental in encouraging and nurturing new talent in the industry.

THE AWARDS CEREMONY

The Award winners of all categories will be revealed at a star-studded Awards Dinner, open to the public, on Monday 10 March. For Award Dinner Tickets call 0207 663 6468. Tickets purchased before 31 January are subject to a discount and priced at £130 + VAT per person or £1250 +VAT per table for 10. Tickets purchased after 31 January will cost £140 +VAT and £1350 respectively.

Click here for the London Restaurat Awards 2003 winners.

Top