Amid a year dominated by filming commitments for BBC One's MasterChef in Birmingham, renowned restaurant critic Grace Dent has declared her standout culinary discoveries of 2025. The critic, whose free time became "extra-precious," sought out venues offering "zinging hospitality and heart-thumpingly good food." Her annual round-up celebrates establishments from Bristol to Suffolk that provided truly memorable experiences.
Bristol's Container Park Triumphs
During a single trip to Bristol's Wapping Wharf, Dent unearthed two exceptional restaurants, both housed in repurposed shipping containers yet offering distinct experiences. Lapin delivers a "peculiar, meta, slightly earnest and definitely delicious" slice of France, complete with 80s French pop and dishes like gnocchi Parisienne. The restaurant even offers rabbit (lapin) when local hunters supply it, and will add caviar to any dish on request.
However, it was its neighbour, Ragù, that earned one of Dent's highest accolades. She describes a meal there as "quite simply one of the greatest dinners I've eaten this decade." Highlights included crespelle in a rich tomato brodo, artichoke fritti, and a chocolate budino with sour cherries and amaretti, all presented as "flawless cooking in completely understated surroundings."
Northern Stars and Coastal Delights
Despite limited visits to Manchester, Dent's trips yielded two terrific finds. Bangkok Diners Club, tucked above the Edinburgh Castle pub in Ancoats, impressed with a golden beetroot massaman curry served with chicken-fat rice and raw bass with calamansi nam jim. Meanwhile, Winsome was hailed as a "stonkingly good modern British restaurant" led by chef Shaun Moffat, offering a style blending influences from Fergus Henderson to Mark Hix.
Venturing to the coast, Dent praised Bellota in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, a Spanish tasting menu experience "well worth the bunfight to get in." She also enjoyed a trip to Harry's in Camber Sands for hake with orange-y sauce Maltaise, and celebrated Juliet in Stroud, a favourite of the local boho community.
London's Hits Amid the Hype
While many over-hyped London restaurants left her cold, Dent highlighted several capital standouts. She recommends Tatar Bunar in Shoreditch for its plump mushroom varenyky and borscht, and urges diners to visit Kudu in Marylebone, calling it "London's prettiest new restaurant this year" for its confit trout braai and warm bread with curry-leaf butter.
Other London favourites include the reliable Town in Covent Garden for "big, bold, delicious and glamorous" dining, the Japanese-Italian Osteria Angelina in Shoreditch, and the wilfully eccentric Lilibet's in Mayfair. She also noted 2210 By Natty Can Cook in south-east London for its fancy Caribbean offerings like ackee and saltfish spring rolls.
A Hearty Birmingham Local
Given her MasterChef base, a Birmingham restaurant featured prominently. Tropea in Harborne became a regular Saturday haunt, where Dent enjoyed butternut squash arancini, fresh tagliolini, and "whopping great deep-fried salted cannoli."
Despite a busy year, Dent confirms the UK restaurant scene is "roaring" with quality and innovation. Her final verdict? "The future looks delicious."
