Jamie Oliver’s first high street restaurant, Jamie’s Italian in Oxford, has garnered praise from Bloomberg’s London food critic Richard Vines.

Vines was impressed with both the service and the food at the Italian restaurant.

“While the prices are similar to those of Carluccio’s, which isn't a bad chain, Jamie's has better food and service,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Evening Standard’s critic Fay Maschler was distinctly underwhelmed by French Michelin-starred chef Jean-Christophe Ansanay-Alex’s restaurant Ambassade de l’Ile in Kensington.

She was critical of the menu - “it is the sort of list, in cost and content, where I feel appetite leaking out of my shoes as I study it” - and the food - “this is not the sort of food that feels right at the moment. It is not, I think, what most people want”.

Time Out’s Susan Low praised Tristan Welch’s cooking at Launceston Place.

“[The menu] delivers all the bells and whistles and is served at a leisurely pace and without fussiness,” she said.

For the reviews in full and more see What’s on the Menu? >>

Jamie's Italian is 'lovely jubbly', says critic >>

French Michelin-starred chef to open restaurant in London >>

Jamie Oliver recruiting staff for new Jamie’s Italian sites >>

By Kerstin Kühn

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