Shortlist revealed for 2018 Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards

Restaurant magazine has announced the shortlist for the 2018 Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards, which are being held at London’s exclusive The Hurlingham Club on Monday 11 June.

The awards feature three shorlisted categories - Chef to Watch; Restaurateur of the Year, and Chefs’ Chef of the Year - with nominees being voted for by the National Restaurant Awards academy voters.

The annual awards, which are now in their 11th year, celebrates the top 100 restaurants in the UK as voted for by the UK’s top chefs, restaurateurs, food writers, critics and other food experts and gastronomes, with the coveted Estrella Damm National Restaurant of the Year award being handed out on the night.

The Chef of the Year category recognises a chef that has had an impact in the past 12 months while the Restaurateur of the Year category recognises individuals or teams who have had a significant impact in the UK restaurant sector in the past year and look to continue to do so in the coming 12 months.

The Chef to Watch category singles out an individual that is set to have a stellar 12 months (and more) ahead of them, regardless of age or experience.

Awards for Best Cocktail List, Wine List of the Year, The Service Award, Lifetime Achievement, Sustainable Restaurant of the Year, Gastropub of the Year, and the Best Restaurants in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will also be presented on the night.

In addition, the One to Watch award will be presented, recognising a newly-opened restaurant that is set to be a huge hit over the coming 12 months.

The OpenTable Fit For Foodies award, based on the opinions of more than 400,000 reviews submitted by OpenTable diners at more than 4,000 restaurants, will also be presented on the night, as will the Highest New Entry award, sponsored by Schweppes.

To book your ticket for the event, email hester.doran@wrbm.com.

The Shorlisted Categories

Chef of Year

Nieves Barragán Mohacho, Sabor

Gareth Ward, Ynyshir

Andrew Wong, A Wong

Tom Kerridge, The Hand & Flowers, The Coach, The Butcher’s Tap

Simon Rogan, Roganic, L’Enclume

Gary Usher – Wreckfish, Sticky Walnut, Hispi, Burnt Truffle

Restaurateur of the Year

Neil Rankin and Sam Lee, Temper

Jyotin, Sunaina and Karam Sethi, JKS Restaurants

Zoe and Layo Paskin, The Palomar, The Barbary, The Blue Posts

Will Lander and Daniel Morgenthau, Woodhead Restaurant Group (The Quality Chop House, Clipstone, Portland)

Harneet and Devina Baweja, Gunpowder, Madame D, Gul & Sepoy

Brett Redman, Jidori, Neptune

Chef to Watch

Selin Kiazim, Oklava, Kyseri

Tomos Parry, Brat

Alex Bond, Alchemilla

Tom Brown, Cornerstone

Luke Selby, Hide

Martin Carabott, Hide

Pip Lacey, Hicce

Dan Smith, The Fordwich Arms

Endo Kazutoshi, Endo at Rotunda

Duncan Ray, The Little Fish Market

Full awards list

The Estrella Damm National Restaurant of the Year

The Service Award, sponsored by Liberty Wines and Champagne Devaux

Lifetime Achievement, sponsored by Lavazza

Sustainable Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by Aubrey Allen

Gastropub of the Year, sponsored by Estrella Damm

The Best Restaurant in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, sponsored by Hildon

OpenTable Fit For Foodies award

Restaurateur of the Year

Chefs’ Chef of the Year, sponsored by RitterFresh

Chef to Watch, sponsored by Woods Foodservice

Cocktail List of the Year, sponsored by Seedlip

Wine List of the Year

One to Watch, sponsored by Schweppes

www.nationalrestaurantawards.co.uk