A SCOTTISH restaurant has been named as the third best in the UK in a new poll from Harden’s.
Known as the UK’s original “user-generated content” restaurant guide, ratings are derived statistically from the yearly survey which is run on market research principles.
Stephen McLaughlin (below), the head chef at Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, has said he is thrilled to have earned a top three spot in the guide’s Top 100 list, after the Gleneagles Hotel eatery was praised for its “exceptional cuisine”.
“We were honoured last year to be crowned number one in the Harden’s Guide, and to remain in the top three on the back of this is an unexpected – very welcome – accolade,” the chef said.
“We’re proud to know that while guests are coming to us with high expectations, we’re continuing to meet and even surpass them.”
McLaughlin has worked with general manager Dale Dewsbury since the loss of its founder Andrew Fairlie in January 2019.
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The 33rd edition of Harden’s is one of just two established UK guides which are available in print and the only one to be based on the feedback from regular diners rather than those working in the industry.
McLaughlin added: “As a diner-led poll, a positive Harden’s ranking is a special honour.
“This is a true testament to the hard work of the full team to ensure every guest has the best possible experience when they dine with us.”
Outside of London, Edinburgh was tied with Cambridge as the city boasting the most top 100 restaurants outside London.
Meanwhile, Cail Bruich in Glasgow jumped from 50th in the rankings to 16th and has been hailed as “a star of Glasgow’s culinary scene”.
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The Three Chimneys in Dunvegan was ranked in 80th place and received praise for having “some of the freshest and best seafood in the UK”.
Co-founder of Harden’s Peter Harden said: "As one of our most consistently performing restaurants in the guide, it is fantastic to see last year’s winner Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles still in the top three and even more of Scotland’s culinary starts finding their way into the Top 100 and Top 500, coming together to place the city of Edinburgh in particular at the forefront of the UK’s dining scene.”
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