Paper Palate

Eating out in London costs 50 percent more than it did 10 years ago – screams the headline in Friday’s Evening Standard.

Despite the rise, which is three times the rate of inflation, London is only the 3rd most expensive in the world (in the top restaurants) and 2nd in the average price per head category.

World League: Average Price Per Head

• Tokyo £41.64
• London £38
• Paris £36.28
• New York £20.42
• San Francisco £19.28
• Washington DC £18.83
• Miami £18.68
• Chicago £18.32
• Los Angeles £16.94

Zagat Guide to London Restaurants 2007. The guide mentions that despite the rise London’s eating-out sector is as buoyant as ever with 115 new openings last year. They surveyed 1,005 restaurants to compile the figures. The increases have been put down to restaurateurs passing on their own rising costs to consumers - there has been the minimum wage, energy cost rises, increase in wages for skilled staff due to a city-wide shortage and insurance and property bill increases.

The guide also ranked the top restaurants placing Gordon Ramsey’s little pad at 68 Royal Hospital Road at number 1.

The Top London Restaurants

1. Gordon Ramsey at 68 Royal Hospital Road, SW3
2. Fat Duck, Bray
3. La Gavroche W1
4. Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons, Great Milton
5. Waterside Inn, Bray
6. Roussillon, SW1
7. Pied a Terre, W1
8. Square, W1
9. Chez Bruce, SW17
10. Petrus, SW1