YouTube food critic Gary Hanna visited the restaurant crowned the best in the UK in 2025 and confessed that just two words captured the entire experience. The Ritz Hotel in London, boasting two Michelin stars, was named the top restaurant at the 2025 National Restaurant Awards, chosen by a panel of 200 leading UK chefs, restaurateurs, and food writers.
Gary Hanna's Dining Experience
Gary Hanna, presenter of the popular channel Gary Eats, travelled to the central London establishment to discover what the hype was about. He indulged in the three-course menu, costing £98 before service and beverages. For his starter, he chose the Orkney scallop with spiced carrot and vadouvan, followed by Suffolk lamb with black garlic and mint, and concluded with a bramley apple and blackberry soufflé.
Before dining, Gary was struck by the restaurant's magnificence, remarking: "I can't tell you how stunning this restaurant is. I do possibly have the best seat in the house because I'm looking at the grand splendour of this restaurant. Quite stuffy to say the least but service is amazing."
Starter and Main Course
Regarding his starter, Gary described the scallop as "beautiful" and "stunning", but it was the main dish that truly left him speechless. Before tucking in, he brushed aside any suggestions that the modest portion size would have him stopping off for chips on the way home. He said: "This to me is absolutely stunning and I do mean stunning. The cooking on the lamb looks amazing. It has certainly come up pink. The attention to detail. It's Suffolk lamb. With the beautiful jus. Amazing. Artichokes is sensational, it's going to be very soft and it is. Not the biggest plate of food, but this is going to be quite filling. I love it. Anyone who follows the channel knows how much I enjoy lamb, but this is next level lamb."
Dessert and Overall Rating
The dessert proved equally impressive, with Gary heaping praise on the presentation, which left him "astounded". He declared the soufflé "outrageously good". Rounding up the entire dining experience, Gary wasted no time in giving the restaurant a coveted 10 out of 10, describing it as "absolutely fantastic". He confessed to having been a "bit of a skeptic" prior to his visit, but was utterly won over by both the cuisine and the service.
Gary said: "The best restaurant, 2025. I've been to some amazing restaurants, three Michelin stars, two Michelin stars. This is up there, I haven't been to every restaurant in the country but I loved what I had there. Opulence, that's what it was. I think that's an experience I would love to do time and time again. I absolutely loved it. There was nothing there I could fault. For a really special occasion, definitely try it. And go for the set menu. I'm giving it 10/10. I think it is absolutely fantastic."
