Harden’s, which is primarily consumer led in its reviews of restaurants, praised Mendes's experimental culinary style for its "amazing food combinations”.
Opened in April, Vjiante features food inspired by Mendes’ home country as well as his travels across Spain, Asia and Scandanavia.
Mendes said today: “Awards like these are amazing, it’s fantastic to win an award so soon after opening. It’s really reassuring and helps motivate and inspire the whole team.”
Guide editors said that Vijantes’ Bethnal Green location also reflects the emergence of East London as a quality restaurant scene.
Co-editor of the survey 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.”
“Tour de force”
Marcus Wareing's two-Michelin-starred eponymous restaurant at the Berkeley hotel retained the title of the best overall restaurant. He also picked up the accolade for London's best chef for the third consecutive year.
The guide commends Wareing’s food as a ‘tour de force’, service as ‘second to none’, and the wine list as ‘exceptional’.
The Michelin-starred Chez Bruce remains London's favourite restaurant for the sixth consecutive year, while the Anchor & Hope has again been voted as the best pub.
Harden’s guide, which is celebrating its 20th edition, also commended Michel Roux Jnr, noting that Le Gavroche is one of only two restaurants to have featured in the survey’s top 20 establishments in the survey’s top 20 most mentioned restaurants every year since.
Peter Harden, co-editor, said: “Michel Roux Jr succeeded his father Albert in the same year as Harden’s was launched. Maintaining his father’s high standards so consistently over so many years is an incredibly impressive achievement unmatched by any other chef in the survey.
He added: “Perhaps because he inherited his position, he doesn’t seem to get the recognition his performance deserves.”