Gordon Ramsay’s eponymous restaurant at the London hotel in New York has been named top newcomer in the city’s coveted Zagat guide, published this week. 

The award comes just days after the restaurant debuted with two stars in New York’s Michelin guide, seeing Ramsay tie his overall score of Michelin stars with French chef Alain Ducasse.

In a further boost for Ramsay, his more casual restaurant Maze, also at the London hotel, came third in Zagat New York City Restaurants guide’s poll of best new restaurants. 

Tim Zagat, co-chair of Zagat Survey said: “Although the professional critics have given the two mixed reviews, the New York City public has supported both restaurants from day one, as reflected by the new Zagat ratings.”  

Last month Zagat’s London guide found that the capital is the most expensive city in the world to dine out. 

The Zagat London Restaurants 2008 guide said London had surpassed Tokyo as the world's priciest dining city, with the average cost for a meal rising almost 3% to £39.

2008 New York City Zagat Survey winners:

• Best Food: Daniel
• Most Popular restaurant: Union Square
• Top Décor: Asiate
• Top Service: Per Se
• Best Newcomer: Gordon Ramsay

London's restaurant prices highest in the world >> 

Nina Zagat, co-founder of the Zagat Survey >> 

By Kerstin Kühn