OpenTable's top 100 restaurants list reveals a new-found appreciation for British cuisine

As it draws to a close, 2019 may well be recognised as the year in which we sought the comfort of dishes close to home more than ever before.

Today, the online restaurant reservation service OpenTable revealed its annual top 100 UK restaurants list. Compiled from tens of thousands of verified diner reviews, across more than 8,500 restaurants in the UK, it is perhaps a true guiding light towards the best restaurant experiences to be had in this country.

It also reveals interesting insights into the UK’s evolving restaurant scene: this year, restaurants serving up British cuisine top the list, with 19 per cent of restaurants named falling into the British category, followed by Modern European (12 per cent).

It would seem that gastronomes are increasingly seeking out familiarly British tastes over classical French dishes or Asian flavours. Both the number one spot, and third place, were awarded to British restaurants.

In first place, Core by Clare Smyth triumphed for the second year in a row. According to OpenTable, the multi-award winning restaurant “celebrates the finest British ingredients and produce, giving customers an exceptional and relaxed dining experience”.

Clare Smyth is the first and only female chef ever to have to run a restaurant with three Michelin-stars in the UK, and she champions British produce on her “Core Classics” menu, with signature dishes such as Isle of Mull scallop tartare with sea vegetable consommé.

In third place on the list is new entry The Five Fields, where “native Londoner” chef-patron Taylor Bonnyman's cooking is described as “encapsulating the spirit of the capital” with a foundation built on British produce and seasonality.

Typically, London dominates the list, holding nine out of ten spots in this year’s top 10, for the second year running – although Birmingham’s Gaijin Sushi restaurant and bar has made its way into eighth place.

Although London restaurants represent 77 per cent of the list this year, it sees a drop from 81 per cent compared to 2018, as prestigious restaurants from Bristol, Manchester and Newcastle also receive more recognition.

Here, we present the top 10 tables to book in 2019 according to OpenTable, in rank order (scroll down for the link to view the top 100 in its entirety)...

Core by Clare Smyth (British)

At Core, the “Core Seasons” menu is a celebration of the country’s seasons, with dishes featuring the likes of Highland wagyu beef and Cornish turbot. The Sharpham Park spelt chicken, sweetcorn and caviar is a firm favourite on the a la carte menu.

92 Kensington Park Rd, Notting Hill, London W11 2PN; corebyclaresmyth.com

The Ledbury (Contemporary European) 

A two-Michelin starred restaurant with chef Brett Graham at the helm, also in Notting Hill.

127 Ledbury Rd, Notting Hill, London W11 2AQ; theledbury.com

The Five Fields (British)

Chef-patron Taylor Bonnyman’s cooking is said to be “influenced by London culture”, and highlights on a sample dinner menu include mutton, red onion and potato, or roe deer, celeriac and apple.

8-9, Blacklands Terrace, Chelsea, London SW3 2SP; fivefieldsrestaurant.com

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay (Contemporary French)

The celebrity chef needs no introduction: here at his Michelin-starred restaurant, Ramsay serves up polished French dishes.

68 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HP; gordonramsayrestaurants.com

Trinity (European)

At this well-loved, Michelin-starred Clapham neighbourhood restaurant, chef Adam Byatt is also known for his handling of British heritage dishes. Order dishes such as warm salad of chestnuts with Jerusalem artichoke and truffle, or mackerel with white gazpacho, persimmon and lovage.

4 The Polygon, Clapham, London SW4 0JG; trinityrestaurant.co.uk

Scott’s Restaurant (Seafood)

Scott's restaurant in Mayfair serves seafood, fish, shellfish, Champagne and oysters.

20 Mount Street, Mayfair, London W1K 2HE; scotts-restaurant.com

Evelyn’s Table (Italian)

An elegant, intimate chef's table in the cellar of renovated Soho pub The Blue Posts.

The Blue Posts, 28 Rupert Street, London W1D 6DJ; theblueposts.co.uk

Gaijin Sushi (Japanese)

A small, sparsely-decorated eatery with counter seating, serving sushi rolls and sashimi.

78 Bristol Street, Birmingham B5 7AH; gaijinsushi.co.uk

Brawn (European)

Mediterranean small plates in Hackney with a focus on provenance, in simply decorated rooms.

49 Columbia Road, London E2 7RG; brawn.co

Mere (European)

Chef Monica Galetti prepares high-end South Pacific–influenced French cuisine in an elegant Fitzrovia restaurant: sample dishes such as roast pigeon breast with salt baked celeriac and pedro ximenez sauce.

74 Charlotte Street, Bloomsbury, London W1T 4QH; mere-restaurant.com

The complete top 100 OpenTable list can be viewed here