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restaurant news

GREAT SCOTTCongratulations to Scott

Hallsworth and all at Kurobuta,

winner of the BMW Square

Meal Award for Best New Restaurant. In some

ways, this was an easy decision to reach: since

Kurobuta  rst landed as a pop-up in Chelsea in

autumn 2013, followed by a second branch near

Marble Arch, it has always been a front runner

when we answer the question 'where are the

best places you've been to recently?'

And now the Chelsea pop-up has moved to

permanent premises the other side of King's

Road, Kurobuta de nitively tops our list of best

new openings. From its free-wheeling approach

to modern Japanese food to the matey Aussie

sta‹ , knockout cocktails and party-hard

atmosphere - we love everything about this

dynamic slice of urban life.

GOOD NEIGHBOURS

That's not to dismiss the very sti‹ competition.

Kitty Fisher's and Portland have both brought a

neighbourhood vibe and hands-on owners to

West End dining - to say nothing of a winning

way with excellent ingredients. The Araki and

Engawa are both very di‹ erent to Kurobuta,

but the exactitude each brings to traditional

Japanese food reminds us why this is one of the

world's great cuisines. And with Jinjuu, chef Judy

Joo  nally has a forum meriting her attentiongrabbing

talents, as well as providing a populist

showcase for the thrilling cooking of Korea.

But we had to ask ourselves where we

would most like to pull up a chair and eat - and

without a doubt that is Kurobuta. 'It's amazing

to win this award,' a thrilled Hallsworth told us.

'We never expected to receive any accolades.

We didn't start with a lot of money, we just

knew that if we worked hard we could make

some tasty food and make people happy.'

This is Square Meal's 31st award for Best

New Restaurant and the 16th year that BMW

has been its sponsor. Congratulations to

Kurobuta for a highly deserved win that sees

it joining the likes of Zuma, Scott's and Dinner

by Heston in our Hall of Fame. And thanks to

BMW for its sponsorship of this award, which

has in Kurobuta a restaurant that matches the

brand for all-round excitement.

Turn to p.40 to read our review of Kurobuta

Hallsworth holds

the award in the

company of his team

would most like to pull up a chair and eat - and

would most like to pull up a chair and eat - and

would most like to pull up a chair and eat - and

THE SHORTLIST:

Engawa

Jinjuu

Kitty Fisher's

Kurobuta

Portland

DIARY DATE

Fu Manchu comes to

Clapham in early May

Psst!

For the latest news, views and industry

whispers, follow us on Twitter

@squaremeal and find all of our new

reviews on squaremeal.co.uk

Marco vs

Gordon

No, you haven't just woken

from a coma induced in the

mid-1990s: Marco Pierre White

and Gordon Ramsay are both

opening new restaurants in

London. Marco is ahead in this

two-horse race, with seafood

brand Wheeler's returning to

the City in March following

a 20 year absence, this time

as a rib room and oyster bar.

Meanwhile, Gordon Ramsay's

restaurant at 11 Park Walk,

Chelsea, is to open as a second

London branch of Maze Grill

this month. It was at 11 Park Walk that

the chef's career took o‹ in 1993, with

the opening of his reputation-making

Aubergine. Gordon Ramsay Group is also

planning further locations for more Maze

Grills. Totes amaze grills!