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Ramsay's gastropub in running for top award
By Andrew Hough 01.08.07
Ramsay's The Narrow is up for an award - just don't call it a gastropub
Accolade: Inside Ramsay's gastropub The Narrow
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Gordon Ramsay's foray into the world of pub food appears to have struck gold as today his East End gastropub has been named one of the five best in London.
The Narrow has been shortlisted in the annual Time Out eating and drinking awards, which honour restaurants, pubs, cafés and bars.
The pub in Limehouse has enjoyed consistently good reviews since opening earlier this year. Fay Maschler, the Evening Standard's food critic, described Ramsay's arrival on the pub scene as "assuredly a good thing".
He is currently refurbishing his second gastropub, the Warrington Hotel in Maida Vale. His nomination is welcome news for the chef, who is facing legal action in New York over claims that scenes from an episode of his US version of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares series were faked.
But the awards may provide the famously irascible cook with another reason to be irritated - he reportedly deplores the use of the word "gastropub".
The Time Out awards, in their 18th year, take in categories including best new restaurant, best bar and best British food.
The magazine's food and drink editor Guy Dimond said the most encouraging trend of this year was the rejuvenation of traditional British cuisine.
He said: "British restaurants are now groovy and fun, whereas they were previously kind of stiff and old-fashioned. People are taking a real pride in them.
"I have to say when I started eating out in London 20 years ago, British food was not terribly appealing. It has become more diverse, more interesting and more exciting."
Among those nominated in the best British category are the Empress of India in Victoria Park and the National Dining Rooms in the National Gallery.
Award winners will be decided by a panel of expert judges who will visit nominees anonymously before casting their votes. They will also take into account feedback from Time Out readers. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 17 September.
The nominees are:
Leffe Best New Restaurant
Barrafina, W1
Odette's, NW1
Olivomare, SW1
St Alban, SW1
Wild Honey, W1
Best Bar
Artesian: Langham Hotel, W12
The Big Chill House, N1
MocotÛ, SW1
Montgomery Place, W11
The Rake, SE1
Best Gastropub
Brown Dog, SW13
Narrow, E14
Roebuck, W4
Rosendale, SE21
Waterfront,SW18
Best British
Empress of India, E9
Geales, W8
Great Queen Street, WC2
National Dining Rooms: Sainsbury Wing, National Gallery, WC2
Magdalen, SE1
Best Cheap Eats
The Diner, W1F
Kiasu, W2
Mother Mash, W1
Ooze, W1
Sufi, W12
Best Coffee Bar
Bullet CafÈ, WC2
Flat White, W1F
Fernandez & Wells, W1
Nordic Bakery, W1F
Sacred, W1.
Best Local Restaurant
El Vino, TW1
High Road Brasserie, W4
Lola Rojo, SW11
Tom's Kitchen, SW3
Trinity, SW4
• For the full list of the finalists, see the next two issues of Time Out.
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Reader views (3)
Empress of India ? absolute joke.
very overpriced and food very bland.
some of these so called "gastropubs" blatantly are joking on their prices.
some people would prefer a normal menu with decent prices local people can afford.
- Steve, london
Ate here only once and fully agree with Claire from London. The service was awful at his restaurant on Hospital Bridge Road too. Although the food was good I think I have more or less given up on the Ramsey brand.
- Suki, Poole, Dorset
I went there on Sunday afternoon and I found the service was awful. We had about 2 or 3 different waiters coming up to our table. They forgot to bring the wine out, then they forgot the side orders with our main and we had to remind them. Gordon you need to sort your staff out. The food was delicious though but can't see what all the hype is about plus the starters menu was very limited. Definitely worth a look though.
- Claire, London
