Ramsay conquers at awards

For years, Greek restaurants were better known for plate-smashing than the food they served. Now, however, that may change after a Greek Cypriot restaurant took a leading industry award.

Vrisaki scooped the Evening Standard/London Tonight Restaurant Award - the only prize voted for by the public - at the Tio Pepe Carlton London Restaurant Awards.

Until now a well-kept secret among Greek-Cypriot communities, Vrisaki is known for its mezes and its fresh meat and seafood, and was helped to victory by votes from Evening Standard readers.

Evening Standard's restaurant critic Fay Maschler said: "With its wholesome food and fantastic value, Vrisaki concentrates on what it does well at a price that makes it accessible."

The winners were announced at a ceremony in Le Meridien Grosvenor House hotel on Park Lane last night.

Gordon Ramsay, overlooked in previous years, won French Restaurant Of The Year with his Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, which also scooped the top award, Restaurant Of The Year.

The Italian Restaurant Award went to Giorgio Locatelli's Locanda Locatelli, while old favourite Bibendum scooped Most Exceptional Restaurant Wine List.

Chutney Mary took Indian Restaurant Of The Year, while Hakkasan impressed the judges enough to win the Oriental Restaurant award.

In the category celebrating homegrown cuisine, Rules won British Restaurant Of The Year, while South Kensington's Cambio de Tercio got the Iberian Restaurant prize.

Awards presenter Jamie Oliver had to bite back disappointment as Thyme beat his new venture Fifteen to the New Restaurant Of The Year Award, but instead he picked up the Academy Award Of Excellence for encouraging and nurturing new talent.