After more than a decade at the top, Gordon Ramsay’s unchallenged dominance over the London restaurant scene seems to be coming to an end, according to the latest edition of Harden’s eating out guide, published today.

In Harden’s London Restaurants 2008, which questioned more than 8,000 regular restaurant goers, Ramsay failed to pick up the top three accolades of “top gastronomic experience”, “highest food rating”, and “highest overall rating” for the first time in seven years. 

Peter Harden, co-editor of the guide said Ramsay’s huge international reputation has started to look “very shaky”.

Co-editor Richard Harden added: “Failing some major redirection of Ramsay’s energies back to his London restaurants – and away from America, TV studios, and pubs – this is beginning to look like the end of the era of Ramsay’s unchallenged dominance of the high-end culinary scene.”

While Ramsay retained the title of top gastronomic experience in the capital, it was his protégé, two-Michelin-starred Marcus Wareing, chef-patron of Pétrus, who picked up the highest overall rating. 

The highest food rating went to south London restaurant Chez Bruce, which, for the third consecutive year, also retained its title as London’s favourite restaurant. 

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Harden’s website >> 

By Kerstin Kühn

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