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British Empire: Nine London Restaurants That Have Gone Global

First Posted: 07/ 6/2011 12:08 am   Updated: 09/ 4/2011 6:12 am

Sure, London's culinary chops have occasionally been perceived as lacking. But as the British Empire once occupied a quarter of the world's area, it managed to pick up a few tricks in the kitchen. As a result, London is now one of the leading cosmopolitan food cities in the world—if not its most dominant altogether. Many of the most successful restaurants in the city are serving food that has nothing in common with classic British food per se, and they're doing it so well that foreigners are hungry for a taste—and British restaurateurs are eager to feed them.

We've identified nine pioneering restaurants that have parlayed fabulous success in London into global food empires. Of these nine, only one (The Ivy) serves any real British food at all. Two serve Chinese, three serve French, and three serve variations on Japanese cuisine. They range wildly in price. At Wagamama Knightsbridge, a bowl of chicken ramen costs £8.05. But the Menu Prestige at Gordon Ramsay will set you back £120. And all nine have branches around the world.

The Ivy
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The Ivy, long beloved by glitterati and theatrical types in London, has just opened its first overseas location in Dubai. Its owner said the new branch will import many of the classic British mainstays that have made the London branch popular, but that it will also serve some local favorites, like hummus.
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This British Restaurant Empire
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Camille Michelle
sweet talk
09:16 AM on 07/07/2011
Just ate at Pret last week in D.C. Delicious.
01:28 AM on 07/07/2011
English food is terrible. Scottish food is worse.
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Woods-shade
Remember, pillage THEN burn.
07:26 AM on 07/07/2011
Can't be topped for their Fish & Chips, though. Or scones with jam and clotted cream. (which is hard to get over here)
09:14 AM on 07/07/2011
Need to be more specific. England now has the best chefs and restaurants in the World. Traditional English food is actually quite delicious when cooked by someone who knows what they are doing. English puddings are superb. And where would the US be, in culinary terms, if it wasn't for cheddar cheese, Worcestershire Sauce, the sandwich etc etc..
I would agree with you about Scottish food though. 'kin dreadful.
10:59 PM on 07/06/2011
I'm sorry but I seem to remember that Hard Rock Cafe came from London as well. Not saying it has better foods then the restaurants above by all means but I think Hard Rock Cafe has a much greater cultural impact on the world then all these restaurants combined (expect for maybe Gordon Ramsey, the guy does have 3 different TV shows on Fox alone).
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10:53 PM on 07/06/2011
WONDERFUL! Now we can all have Neeps & Tatties, Toad in the Hole, and Mushy Peas, and for dessert we can all have Spotted Dick. Yum.
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kwaut lizard
Reductio ad Absurdum
01:17 AM on 07/07/2011
LOL I was just thinking that if the Brits are dictating fine dining to the rest of the world ...
The End is Nigh!
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ckinsobe
Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
10:48 PM on 07/06/2011
Here on Miami Beach we have Balans, I believe the original is in London's Chelsea area. They opened in 1996 on Lincoln Road and it is a favorite with locals, including me since they are a block and a half from my house. They now also have two more locations over in Miami.

It's a consistently reliable restaurant with good food and prices.
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kwaut lizard
Reductio ad Absurdum
01:21 AM on 07/07/2011
Good prices ... there's something you'll never see in London.
iam99
To know what you prefer...
10:48 PM on 07/06/2011
Oh great! We can all get very bad teeth!
04:28 AM on 07/07/2011
Oh grow up. Britains actually have the healthiest teeth in the world according to the OECD

http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/displaystory.cfm?subjectid=7933596&story_id=15060097

This is a stupid (a slightly racist) myth that Americans cling to and is used by bad comedians to get cheap laughs. In other news all Poles are stupid, Asians are bad drivers and Mexicans are lazy. Seesh!!
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Woods-shade
Remember, pillage THEN burn.
07:28 AM on 07/07/2011
Anytime there's an article about the UK, some yokel tries to get a hee-haw laugh with that.
09:02 AM on 07/07/2011
Ahh yes Stevenmac - it all started with the ''British Smiles' joke on The Simpsons. Basically, it is a point of reference for Americans who've never met a British person. They'll get over it eventually.
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07:58 PM on 07/06/2011
I
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06:07 PM on 07/06/2011
The London restaurant scene looks very exciting. Interesting and delicious!
02:51 PM on 07/06/2011
british food is not good
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zevonia
07:49 PM on 07/06/2011
Oh what an original thought - no one has ever said that before.
KennebunkportIndependent
Back in my day, we had NINE planets.
08:08 PM on 07/06/2011
I'll have a UK curry over anything from Applebee's any day.
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kwaut lizard
Reductio ad Absurdum
01:18 AM on 07/07/2011
Yes ... Curry ... The national dish ... well said!
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48thGuy
10:47 AM on 07/06/2011
London restaurants? Oh, bangers and mash or fish and chips?
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zevonia
07:49 PM on 07/06/2011
Never been to London, have you?
02:55 AM on 07/06/2011
Given his apparent personality, Gordon Ramsay would have to pay me the 120 Pounds to eat at any of his establishments.