Top chefs give their verdicts on experiences in local restaurants

Chefs and restaurateurs are among the most appreciative and the most critical diners a restaurant can have says Bloomberg's chief food critic Richard Vines. They love good cooking, yet they also spot faults so Vines thought they'd be the perfect people to about where they last ate out in London and how it was.

Names of local restaurants names that came up more than once include Hammersmith's River Cafe. Sketch's Pierre Gagnaire said, "It was on a sunny evening, we had a glass of chilled Italian white wine on the terrace and then a wonderful dinner. The cheese room is amazing, the service so friendly and the food was fresh and delicious. It is one of my favorite places in London.”

The Square's Phil Howard added , "They cook the most consistently delicious food in London. The produce is fantastic and the staff intelligent, friendly and knowledgeable. Without exception, it is always superb," a view echoed by Wahaca's Thomasina Miers.

Putney's Bruce Poole chose Barrafina.“I enjoyed it so much," he said. "I’ve been back. It’s good food, really simple and nicely done.”

Gordon Ramsay's choice was Boxwood Cafe with his wife and kids whilst Tristan Welch of Launceston Place put Acton Lane's Peter's Cafe on the international culinary map.

Marco Pierre White went "with a chef friend" to Kings Road Steakhouse. "We shared half-a-dozen oysters, then we had calf’s liver and bacon with creamed potatoes, followed by sticky toffee pudding. What more do you need?”

July 15, 2009