THREE Scottish restaurants have been named among the best new dining spots in the UK by Conde Nast Traveller.
Introducing the prestigious award, Divia Thani, global editorial director for the travel magazine, said: "Food brings so much joy to people. Since I moved to London it has been such a privilege to discover the fantastic range of culinary talent.
“Condé Nast Traveller’s inaugural UK’s Top New Restaurant Awards showcase a diverse range of talent across the United Kingdom. I am delighted to have collaborated with our renowned judges to reveal some of the best hidden gems and chefs in the British food scene.”
The Scottish restaurants named among the best new dining spots in the UK
The three Scottish restaurants named among the best new dining spots in the UK were Eòrna and Lyla in Edinburgh and the Fish Shop in Aberdeenshire.
The winners at the Conde Nast Traveller awards were selected by a "distinguished" panel of expert judges from across the British food scene.
Discussing Eórna, the magazine said: "A crack chef-sommelier team are behind Edinburgh's latest and smartest fine-dining restaurant. Scot Brian Grigor cut his teeth cooking at the Balmoral Hotel, while Irishman Glen Montgomery looked after all things wine at the likes of Gleneagles' Andrew Farlie and Michelin-starred Heron, also in Edinburgh.
READ MORE: Edinburgh: Newly refurbished restaurant opens near city centre
"The duo looked to the Scottish and Irish Gaelic word for ‘barley’ for the restaurant's name (pronounced yor-na), and kick-started the 12-person chef's table last spring."
The Fish Shop in Ballater, Aberdeenshire received equal praise with the publication writing: "25 minutes from Scotland’s slickest hotel, The Fife Arms, sits its sister property, the deceptively named Fish Shop. Not so much a classic Aberdeenshire chippy, it turns out, as a beautifully designed seafood restaurant dishing up elevated Scottish fish and shellfish."
Lyla, located on the site of Paul Kitching's iconic 21212 restaurant, was the other eatery in the Scottish capital named.
After its Georgian townhouse location was turned down by another well-known name in the city's food scene, Stuart Ralston, who was already at the helm of three successful restaurants, couldn't pass up the opportunity to open a kitchen here.
The full list and everything said about each of the winners can be found on the Conde Nast Traveller website.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here