Harden’s London ‘Halal’ Restaurant Award Winners

Halal-friendly restaurants were well represented at this year’s Harden’s London Restaurant Award ceremony at the Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square yesterday.

While Jamavar received the ‘Top Newcomer’ award, Zelman Meats in Soho was awarded London’s ‘Best Steaks and Grills’ restaurant.

Indian restaurant Jamavar, which caters for Halal chicken and lamb, also won Open Tables’ ‘Diners’ Choice Award this year.

Though Zelman Meats’ Soho branch said it required “3-days prior notice to source Halal”, it confirmed that its Harvey Nichols branch in Knightsbridge did cater for Halal.

There were also two other Halal-friendly restaurants which narrowly missed out on the evening.

East London’s popular curryhouse Tayyabs, which was forced to shut down for 48 hours a fortnight ago for allegedly employing illegal workers, was shortlisted for the ‘Top Cheap Eat’ award, but lost out to Thai restaurant Kiln in Soho.

For the ‘Best Street Food’ category, Baba G’s (Halal) Bhangra Burgers were pipped to the post by Borough Market’s Kappacasein.

And Collins Room won the ‘Best Afternoon Tea’ award beating Michelin-starred The Ritz, which requires “48 hours notice” to cater for both Halal chicken and Halal beef-gelatine for its afternoon tea preparations.

Around 8,500 members of the public contributed 50,000 reviews, which Harden’s used to shortlist its award nominees.