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Bloomberg

Restaurateurs tend to dine out a lot, but not always for pleasure.
They like to check the competition and often eat with a critical palate. But where do they go for pleasure? 
The best restaurant in the UK isn’t in London
Which are the London restaurants to which they keep returning?
We asked them, and found some are posh. Some are local. All are worth trying.
1. A Wong
 


 

Rabbit and carrot glutinous puff at A Wong @awongsw1 my favourite Chinese in London. Such clean flavours, such skill #eatingout #chinese
A post shared by Blanche Vaughan (@blanchevaughan) on Nov 29, 2016 at 7:14am PST



Chef Philip Howard of Elystan Street dines regularly at this modern Chinese restaurant in Victoria. 
“It is a great restaurant,” he says. “I love the people, I love the fact it is so casual and I love the food: It is delicious and interesting, with lots of variety. The dim sum is exceptional.” 
Favourite dish: Garlic steamed lobster, mung bean noodles, superior soy. 
70 Wilton Road, SW1V 1DE; +44 207 828 8931
2. Bernardi’s

This Italian restaurant and bar in Marylebone is the pick of Finnish-born chef Helena Puolakka of Aster. 
“I go for the food and the atmosphere,” she says. 
“It’s a bit of a hidden gem. There is a really lovely buzz and a nice bar with good cocktails.”
Favourite dish: Burratina, purple sprouting broccoli, tomato & oregano. 
62 Seymour Street, W1H 5BN; +44 203 826 7940
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3. Bocca di Lupo

Soren Jessen, the Danish-born owner of 1 Lombard Street, cannot stay away from this pan-Italian restaurant in Soho. 
“I love the food, which is unpretentious and genuine,” he says. 
“I go there all the time, with the kids and for business meetings.” 
Favourite dish: Pappardelle with wild-boar ragu. 
12 Archer St, Soho, W1D 7BB; +44 207 734 2223
4. Casse-Croûte

This charming corner French bistro in Bermondsey is the pick of chef Tom Sellers of Restaurant Story. “The menu changes regularly and I love all their classic dishes,” he says. 
“They do their beef particularly well and the atmosphere means you could be in a busy bistro in Paris.” Favourite dish: Beef. 
109 Bermondsey St, SE1 3XB; +44 207 407 2140
5. Le Colombier

This brasserie in Chelsea is the pick of French-born chef Pierre Koffmann, who visits frequently. 
“It’s just the kind of food I like,” he says. “You’ve got snails, you’ve got kidneys, you’ve got oysters, langoustine and the ambience is always very nice.” 
Favourite dish: Plateau de fruits de mer. 
145 Dovehouse Street, SW3 6LB; +44 207 351 1155
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6. Fiume

Chef Tom Aikens of Tom’s Kitchen lives near this new Italian restaurant in Battersea and has become a fan of Francesco Mazzei’s food. 
“Francesco’s a very good chef and you can get great pizza and pasta here. It’s a lovely place overlooking the river. My kids love it, too.” 
Favourite dish: Truffle & grana padano doughnut. 
Circus West, Battersea Power Station, SW8 5BM
7. Le Gavroche
 


 

The Cheese Trolley of Cheese Trolleys! @thedriftfarm @le_gavroche_restaurant #fireandsmoke #thedriftroadshow
A post shared by Peter Goffe-Wood (@petegw) on Feb 13, 2018 at 11:47pm PST



This expensive French restaurant in Mayfair is the favourite of Chris Galvin of Galvin La Chapelle. 
“As a chef, I am always interested in technique and depth of flavours,” he says. 
“I always go to Le Gavroche. It’s a real treat.” 
Favourite dish: Milk-fed lamb. 
43 Upper Brook St, Mayfair, W1K 7QR; +44 207 408 0881
8. Golden Dragon
 


 

#bestduckever #roastedduck #prawndumplings #porkdumplings #chinesevermicelli #chinatown #soho #goldendragon #travelfoodlovers
A post shared by Food & Travel Lovers (@travelfoodlovers) on Feb 3, 2018 at 5:24am PST



This Cantonese and Beijing restaurant in Chinatown is the pick of Fernando Peire, director of The Ivy. “It’s not as easy as you would think to get good dim sum in Soho,” he says. 
“A lot of it is frozen stuff, bought in. But here the food is great and incredibly good value. You are talking £15 (US$21) a head.”
Favourite dish: “Shark’s fin” (crab) dumpling soup. 
28-29 Gerrard Street W1D 6JW; +44 207 734 1073
9. Hardy’s
 


 

Saturday mornings are made better with a “Hardy’s Special” . . “Avocado, poached egg, baby spinach, toasted sourdough with smoked salmon” . . . #brunch #london #eatingfortheinsta #nomnomnom #marylebone #hardys #salmon #avocado #sourdough #brasserie #feedfeed #brunchtime #family #foodporn #instadaily #eggs #poachedeggs
A post shared by The Smiling Food Journal (@thesmilingfoodjournal) on Feb 17, 2018 at 11:38am PST



Chef Raymond Blanc of Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons is a fan of this long-standing brasserie and wine bar near his home in Marylebone. 
“It is a lovely place and it is still run as an independent bistro with lovely French food,” he says. Favourite dish: Roast grouse when in season. 
53 Dorset Street, W1U 7NH; +44 207 935 5929
10. Hereford Road
 


 

Sunday ladies club
A post shared by Lauren Portelli (@laurengreta) on Mar 30, 2014 at 9:49am PDT



Chef Marianne Lumb of Marianne just keeps going back to this British bistro in Notting Hill. 
“I just want to devour everything on the plate,” she says. 
“It’s comforting and gorgeous.” 
Favourite dish: Sticky toffee pudding. 
3 Hereford Rd, W2 4AB; +44 207 727 1144
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11. Holborn Dining Room
 


 

Our Lobster Thermidor Tart : @tomsdinner #RosewoodLondon #HolbornDiningRoom #tart #londonrestaurants #foodie #lobster
A post shared by Holborn Dining Room (@holborndiningroom) on Nov 15, 2017 at 12:41pm PST



This British brasserie near Covent Garden is the regular Sunday haunt of Adam Handling of the Frog by Adam Handling. 
“I go there with my mates,” he says. 
“It is unpretentious, with food that is simple and delicious. 
I hate over-the-top-food. The lobster tart is one of my last dishes before I die.” 
Favourite dish: Lobster thermidor tart. 
252 High Holborn, WC1V 7EN; +44 203 747 8633
12. Koya
 


 

A solo lunch at @koyabar is the antidote to the typical weekend brunch scene. This is all for one person, by the way. #EEEEEATS #InfatuationLondon
A post shared by Infatuation London (@infatuation_london) on Jun 25, 2017 at 3:45am PDT



Chef Stevie Parle of Pastaio enjoys eating alone at this udon noodle bar in Soho.
“I feel relaxed and happy,” he says. 
“It is immensely restorative and the food is really good. I quite often go on my own.” 
Favourite dish: The specials board, all of it. 
49 Frith St, Soho, W1D 4SG
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13. Moro
 


 

Prawns and monks beard with deep fried lemon... #prawns #monksbeard #lemon #exmouthmarket #londoneating
A post shared by Moro (@restaurantmoro) on Feb 19, 2018 at 6:59am PST



This Spanish-North African restaurant was a trailblazer when it opened in Clerkenwell in 1997. 
It’s the pick of chef Alexis Gauthier of Gauthier Soho. 
“People think the current fashion for tapas is new, but Moro should take credit,” he says. 
“It’s a place that transcends trends and gimmicks.” 
Favourite dish: Steamed whole artichoke with salsa romesco.
34-36 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QE; +44 207 833 8336
14. El Pirata
 


 

Missed out on #Galentines? ️ Get your gal pal over to El Pirata for lunch for a good old catch-up over some tapas and wine. Tag her below!
A post shared by El Pirata (@elpiratamayfair) on Feb 15, 2018 at 3:48am PST



This Mayfair tapas bar is the haunt of Fred Sirieix, general manager of Galvin at Windows. 
“I have been going for years and it hasn’t changed,” he says. 
“They know me, they know the table I like, they recommend wines I will like and their jamón is the best in town.” 
Favourite dish: Langostinos al chef. 
5-6 Down Street, W1J 7AQ; +44 207 491 3810
15. Primeur
 


 

Clean plates all round at @menuprimeur - we had the ox hearts, broccoli and parmesan, pork collar with anchovy, and warm ginger cake Also you should try some of their in-house lager (Cost: £20pp) #tapas #stokey #sharingplates
A post shared by Sylv & Sal (@twofoodiesnodiet) on Feb 20, 2018 at 8:17am PST



Restaurateur Emma Reynolds of Tonkotsu lives near this local in Stoke Newington and goes regularly with her wife. 
“It’s always reliable and excellent and fun,” she says. “We sit at the bar so we can watch the kitchen action. We probably go a couple of times a month and the menu changes daily.” 
Favourite dish: Onglet. 
116 Petherton Rd, N5 2RT; +44 207 226 5271
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16. Quality Chop House

This modern British restaurant in Farringdon is a favourite of Italian chef Francesco Mazzei. 
“The chef, Shaun Searley, is one of the best cooking modern British food right now,” Mazzei says. “I wish he got more attention. His ingredients are the best and the food is fantastic.” 
Favourite dish: Confit potatoes. 
88-94 Farringdon Road, EC1R 3EA; +44 207 278 1452
17. The Regency Club
 


 

For 2 days only try our 3 Bone Wings... Same amazing flavour but more meat and hell of a lot juicier!! (it's a staff favourite, we have it at our staff parties!)
A post shared by The Regency Club (@theregencyclub) on Jan 2, 2018 at 6:32am PST



This northwest London bar and curry club in Queensbury is brilliant, according to chef Carl Clarke of Chick ‘n’ Sours. Singer Lily Allen is a regular. 
“It’s an old pub serving incredible Kenyan-Indian food,” he says. 
“You wouldn’t know it is there and you buzz to get in. The food blows you away.” 
Favourite dish: Mogo fried cassava. 
19-21 Queensbury Station Parade, HA8 5NR +44 208 952 6300
18. Roka
 


 

We don’t give a guac at #ROKAAldwych...but we do have chargrilled avocado with fried shallots and spicy sweet soy on our newly refreshed News menu. Come and get it! #iloveROKA #ROKA #VegetarianFood #Avocado #FoodPorn #NewMenu
A post shared by Roka (@rokarestaurant) on Feb 21, 2018 at 8:18am PST



This Japanese grill in Mayfair is the pick of chef Chantelle Nicholson of Tredwells. 
“The flavours are fresh and super satisfying. The wine list is also great. Now Roka has more locations, it means it is generally pretty easy to get to one of them last minute.” 
Favourite dish: Rock shrimp tempura. 
30 North Audley Street, W1K 6ZF; +44 207 305 5644
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19. St John Bread and Wine
 


 

The full lunch spread St. John Bread and Wine in London. Follow and tag @eaterlondon in your best food photos and we'll share our favorites! (clockwise from left) Foie gras with bacon and prunes on toast; raw peas; Welsh rarebit; cod's roe, confit potato and egg; a dozen fresh-baked madeleines.
A post shared by Eater (@eater) on Jul 11, 2017 at 10:21am PDT



Chef Angela Hartnett of Murano is a regular at this casual British restaurant in Spitalfields. 
“I know this sounds stupid but you don’t have to think,” she says. 
“You can have a good time and relax. And because I live around the corner, I can always get a table.” 
Favourite dish: Cod’s roe with boiled egg. 
94-96 Commercial Street, E1 6LZ; +44 207 251 0848
20. Scott’s
 


 

We're visiting a seafood place that is amongst the five oldest restaurants in London for our Restaurant Review Ride-Along at this old school classic. #EEEEEATS #InfatuationLondon : @pnv_e_m
A post shared by Infatuation London (@infatuation_london) on Jan 4, 2018 at 1:53pm PST



This smart fish restaurant in Mayfair is a family favourite for chef Jason Atherton of Pollen Street Social. 
“They look after us and cater for the kids who can just have fish and chips if that is what they fancy. The oysters are among the best in London. I go for business meetings, too. It feels glamorous.” 
Favourite dish: Sautéed razor clams. 
20 Mount St, Mayfair, W1K 2HE; +44 207 495 7309
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Truffle and grana padano doughnut served at Fiume in Battersea, which is the favourite restaurant of London chef Tom Aitkens. Photo: Sauce Communications

Beouf en Croûte at Casse-Croûte. Photo: Joyce Wang via Casse-Croûte

Burratina, purple sprouting broccoli, tomato & oregano at Bernardi’s. Photo: Bernardi’s

Confit potatoes at Quality Chop House. Photo: Joe Woodhouse via Quality Chop House

Pappardelle with wild-boar ragu at Bocca di Lupo. Photo: Bocca di Lupo

Plateau de fruits de mer at Le Colombier. Photo: Le Colombier

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All of these recommended restaurants – some posh, others very down-to-earth and some you would never guess – are worth visiting, say the London chefs


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20 restaurants top chefs go to when they eat out in London

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}All of these recommended restaurants – some posh, others very down-to-earth and some you would never guess – are worth visiting, say the London chefs

1. A Wong

2. Bernardi’s

All of these recommended restaurants – some posh, others very down-to-earth and some you would never guess – are worth visiting, say the London chefs