Restaurant honour for 'little bit of old England'

A family-owned, quintessentially English restaurant famed for its Sunday roast lunch has won the prestigious Tio Pepe award among a shortlist of ultra-modern London eateries.

A family-owned, quintessentially English restaurant famed for its Sunday roast lunch has won the prestigious Tio Pepe award among a shortlist of ultra-modern London eateries.

The Goring Dining Room, in the elegant Edwardian-built Goring Hotel, in Victoria, London, was listed along with the Bluebird Dining Room in Chelsea, Franklins in Dulwich, the Rivington Bar and Grill in Shoreditch and St John, in Smithfield.

The Goring has been described as " a little bit of old England" and is famed for its perfectionist owner, George Goring, who has slept in every bedroom of the hotel to ensure the highest quality for guests. The old-fashioned dining room is known for its service, with specialities which include the lobster omelette thermidor, roasts, breast of pigeon and steak and kidney pie.

The winner of the best Oriental restaurant was Roka, on Charlotte Street, owned by Rainer Becker, who also runs Zuma in Knightsbridge, and won the accolade against Hakassan, near Tottenham Court Road, Yauatcha in Soho, Cay Tre in Hoxton, and Royal China Queensway.

Racine restaurant in Knightsbridge, which has the British chef, Harry Harris, was named best French restaurant against last year's winner, Tom Aikens, in Chelsea among others.

The Academy Award of Excellence was presented to Nobu and Amaya in Belgravia. Le Gavroche, which was named best French restaurant of the year at the awards ceremony, was also awarded the title of best front of house service.