Remy Awards 2006 Announced
Feature

Top restaurateurs waited with baited breath as this year’s Remy awards were announced. Based on 93,000 reviews by around 8,000 diners they are widely considered to be the most important dining awards of the year. Over the years not only have the Remy?s highlighted startling new cooking talent but have increased winning restaurant?s profits and reputations.

The 2005 awards were handed out by infamous chef Albert Roux to ten regional and ten London restaurants considered to have provided the finest dining experiences over the last twelve months.

The winning restaurants were:

Black Door, Newcastle
The Cabinet, Hertfordshire
Russell?s, Worcestershire
Wing?s, Manchester
Secco Ristorante Salentino, Newcastle
Baraset Barn, Stratford on Avon
Abstract, Inverness
Q Restaurant, Cornwall
Forbury?s, Reading
The Priory Inn, Gloucestershire

The Ledbury, Notting Hill
Salt Yard, Fitzrovia
Camerino, Fitzrovia
Koba, Fitzrovia
Arturo, Bayswater
Fratelli La Bufula, Hampstead
Sabor, Islington
The Gun, Docklands
Nuovi Sapori, Fulham
Ottolenghi Upper Street, Islington

by Laura Heaps, MyVillage

Al Evans said on 10th March ... "Too pricey for tapas!
Food nice but far too pricey for a 100gm portion costing £7 to £10 each - the menu shamelessly advises that one needs 2 or 3 dishes. Huh I needed a bag of chips afterwards!"
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Kieren Brown, MyVillage said on 17th April ... "Upon entering Ottolenghi, the first thing this reporter noticed was its décor of which the best word to describe is simply chic and minimalist. Not a half assed and sloppy “interior designer is a talentless hack with no real artistic flair” kind of minimalist but a “we’ve conveyed everything we need to about what this cool restaurant is about without needing to go crazy with unnecessary BS” minimalist.

It seemed like a very nice little place and I liked it, I liked it a lot.

The staff were also very friendly, I mean super friendly, charity shop volunteer type friendly! My polite, upbeat, softly spoken and warm smiled waitress possessed an almost sociopathic need to make my stay in her place of business an amazing one. This seriously made a much welcome change from the “I’m not interested in who you are, being nice, prompt, civil or doing even the slightest thing to enhance the pleasure of your dining experience but will still have the gaul to expect a tip at the end of the evening” sobs I’ve had the pleasure of secretly salivating in my gruel in days past..

This was a woman who genuinely honest to God looked upset when she had to tell me that they were out of my order for that evening. Either a brilliant actress or a modern day Florence Nightingale, but either way I was touched to the core.



Now last but believe you me most certainly not least, we have the cuisine. In honesty it’s not exactly cheapest in the world (my medium sized meal cost me precisely £27.50) but then it’s not the most extortionate either and it’s painstakingly crafted by some of the most talented chefs I’ve come across in my admittedly humble quarter century years.

I opted for the triple threat meal of Crispy pork belly served with mouth watering red plum, roast beef with red peppers, and pan friend spicy king prawns with parsnip and lemon burnt butter. Loosely put I was still licking my fingers all the way home.

To summarise I can’t really recommend Ottolenghi to you enough. If you’ve never been there before then I suggest you take immediate action to right this terrible wrong. If you are fortunate to have previously sampled their culinary delights then by all means go again and again and immerse yourself in a dining experience worthy of society’s elite. My greatest regret in life is that God didn’t bless me with an extra arm and hand with which to give this place a necessary and greatly deserved three thumbs up.

The food is great.

The staff are safe.

It’s all together, a really nice place

Bon apetit"
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Barnsbury bit of Ruff said on 15th April ... "Visted this restaurant on Friday night. Had the most beautiful food served in spotless surrounds by a super efficient waitress. I’m in love with all three."
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Roifield MyVillage said on 10th March ... "The creme de la creme of sandwich shops, sorry delis! Superb food always fresh made from the best ingredients complimented with killer service. The restaurant has a fantastic buzz in the evenings. It will leave a large whole in your pocket though so beware."
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Helen said on 07th March ... ""I have been there repeatedly and the food is simply beautiful. The seasoning is perfect the ingredients supreme and the flavour outstanding. Prices are a little on the dear side but the staff is friendly helpful and always at hand. I would highly recommend Ottolenghi for breakfast, lunch and dinner.""
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g said on 07th March ... ""Absolutely delicious - from the corn bread to the chocolate brownies. Each dish was bursting with flavours. ""
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Scott said on 07th March ... ""Delicious food. The pan fried goose was fantastic. Service was good, but a bit aloof. Pricy for what you get. Atmosphere feels a bit sterile. ""
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