The food trend Nathaniel Mortley, aka NattyCanCook, is sending to Room 101, meanwhile? Smash burgers, controversially – “you need so many patties to make it feel like you’re biting into something…”
Then came the call to order. Condé Nast Traveller’s global editorial director, Divia Thani, took the mic, effortlessly quieting a room. She spoke about food as a “bridge across borders” – which, in that moment, felt like a very accurate description of the room: accents, cuisines, and personalities all colliding over bubbles. “Three years ago, we started the UK’s Top New Restaurant awards to celebrate the very best of British dining right now. We know this is a hard business, we know it’s a challenging time, but what you do every day is what makes the UK an exciting, vibrant and dynamic place to be. Our audiences around the world look to this list when planning their trips to London – and many of them say they’re booking restaurants even before they’ve booked flights!!”
As the winners were announced, chaos ensued (the good kind), with cheers erupting in pockets across Motorino as names flashed up – some expected, others prompting that unmistakable “oh wow, them?” energy. From a cosy Herne Hill hideout by NattyCanCook to a buzzy Japanese spot in Edinburgh, the crowd was invested, cheering on each announcement.
There were a few standout moments that everyone kept whispering about at the bar. Maria Bradford owned the room after being named Best New Chef, shouting out Sierra Leonean flavours while Big Zuu hyped her up like her personal cheerleader. “Representation matters,” declared Bradford, resplendent in emerald green.
Meanwhile, Margate’s Willy’s team leaned fully into the double entendres after winning the Readers’ Favourite Awards – clearly having the best time with it.
