squaremeal.co.uk | 11
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!