The head chef behind The Woodford today told of his joy and surprise as the restaurant was voted the best in the capital at the Evening Standard London Restaurant Awards.
Ben Murphy, 25, said he was “overwhelmed” after The Woodford was named the Champagne Laurent-Perrier London Restaurant of the Year. A shortlist of six was compiled by judges — including Standard critics Fay Maschler and Grace Dent — with readers naming their favourite.
Murphy’s restaurant, in South Woodford, beat competitors Lyle’s, the Michelin-starred Shoreditch restaurant, and The Ledbury, in Notting Hill, which was recently voted the 14th best restaurant in the world.
Murphy said: “To say this is a weird feeling is an understatement. I’ve only been doing this for a few weeks. I just can’t believe it.”
Owner Steve Andrews said friends and family of staff had piled onto minibuses to attend the awards yesterday, on the opening night of the Taste of London restaurant festival in Regent’s Park, to support The Woodford, which opened five months ago in a former nightclub.
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“We are the best restaurant in London,” he said. “What an amazing result. We are bringing the West End to the East End and getting people to come to Woodford. We’ve all come to celebrate — we’ve got on buses, trains, aeroplanes, automobiles. The whole of Woodford is celebrating.”
Grace Dent, ES Magazine critic, said: “This is so well deserved. I feel a bit emotional for them. They aren’t the normal London restaurant set and they are so refreshing.”
Daniel Brennan, of Champagne Laurent-Perrier, said: “This is a fine example of an up and coming team of young chefs with a passion for creativity, fine food and excellent service.”
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Restaurateur of the year, voted for by CODE Bulletin readers, was won by Robin and Sarah Gill, the husband and wife team who run The Dairy and The Manor in Clapham and Paradise Garage in Bethnal Green.
Mr Gill said: “I’m shaking. I feel a bit sick as well. That was so unexpected. We were the underdogs, I am totally thrilled.”
Best New Restaurant was won by Sethi siblings’ Sri Lankan restaurant Hoppers. Karam Sethi said: “This award is huge for our team and will mean so much to them.”
London Bridge pasta restaurant Padella took home the Worth the Queue award. Chef and owner Tim Siadatan said: “I just did not expect it. Queuing really is not as bad as people make it out to be.”
The awards were hosted by actor Stanley Tucci, who moved to London three years ago. Opening the ceremony, the Hunger Games star said: “When people ask me about living in London, they always ask about the weather. I say, ‘Who cares about the weather when the London food and restaurant scene is this good?’”
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