Noodle-bar chain Wagamama has ended celebrity-haunt Nobu’s three-year reign as London’s most popular restaurant, according to the new Zagat Survey.
The survey, which accompanies the 10th edition of Zagat’s 2006 London Restaurants guide, found that Londoners were changing their eating habits and favouring communal tables and small, tapas-style dishes.
The guide’s authors said that Wagamama’s increase in popularity had been due to the rising costs of eating out in London, which had seen consumers switching to cheaper, more informal destinations.
Wagamama and Middle Eastern newcomer Ottolenghi are prime examples of the shared-table syndrome.
Value-for-money ethnic restaurants were also benefiting from the concern about costs, including the Mexican Crazy Homies, Korean Wizzy and Asian-Pacific Grocer.
Although Londoners munched their way through 615,000 restaurant meals last year, they only averaged around 2.4 meals per week – the same as Tokyo but well below the 3.3 average of both Paris and New York.
Meals on average rose by 4.2% compared with the year before to an average £36.79 in London, double the US average of £18.12 and surpassed only by Tokyo’s £39.47.
On the fine dining front, Gordon Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road scooped the Top Food award for the sixth consecutive year.
Most Popular Restaurants
Wagamama
Nobu
The Ivy
Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s
J Sheekey
Top Food
Gordon Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road
Chez Bruce
Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons
Fat Duck
Le Gavroche
Top Service
Gordond Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road
Lanes
Le Gavroche
Waterside Inn
Rasoi Vineet Bhatia
Top Newcomers
Amaya
Ottolenghi
Roka
Sardo Canale
Cocoon
Top Décor
The Ritz
Hakkasan
Home House
Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons
Lanesborough
Best Bangs for the Buck (cheap eats)
Food for Thought
Books for Cooks
Pepper Tree
Churchill Arms
North Sea
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