A total of 16 Channel Island restaurants feature in the book, which was first published in 1951.
Michelin-star restaurant Bohemia, in Green Street, is the highest-ranking CI restaurant. It has been ranked in 21st place – below Heston Blumenthal’s three-Michelin-starred The Fat Duck, which sits in 18th place, and
Gordon Ramsay’s eponymous restaurant in Chelsea, in seventh place.
Describing Bohemia, inspectors from the Good Food Guide said: ‘Embedded within a luxury hotel, this sophisticated dining room inspired by the clean geometric simplicity of art deco style brings the added appeal of a paved roof terrace and bar and a very commodious chef’s table banquette.
‘It is in many ways peak St Helier and Steve Smith’s restless creative intelligence plays no small part in that. Sourcing primarily from Jersey’s abundance, his menus explore the possibilities of a recognisable modern European idiom, but with unsuspected intensities of flavour and curiosities of texture popping up throughout.’
Mr Smith, executive chef at Bohemia, said: ‘Myself and the team are incredibly proud to have ranked first in the Channel Islands for this year’s guide.
‘It is great to receive recognition for our hard work, and also fantastic that the Channel Islands has performed so well overall.’
Ten other Jersey restaurants were also recognised in the guide including No 10 Restaurant and Bar, a new entry which was said to have let ‘Island produce shine’, and Longueville Manor, where judges said that the ‘cooking remains as energetic and satisfying as ever’.
Other Jersey eateries that feature include Samphire, Tassili, Ocean Restaurant, The Green Olive, Oyster Box, Mark Jordan at the Beach, Sumas and Green Island Restaurant.
In the other islands, Guernsey’s Octopus restaurant in St Peter Port is described as having ‘an all-day menu touting everything from fish and chips to tofu ramen’ and Sark’s Stocks Hotel is is described ‘an oak-panelled dining room in a country hotel’ and has been included in the guide’s list of ‘Local Gems’.
Elizabeth Carter, the Waitrose Good Food Guide’s editor, said: ‘The arrival of No 10 Restaurant and Bar in St Helier is proof that, when it comes to eating out, the Channel Islands have not stood still. We hope to see even more new entries from the region next year.’ Simon Rogan’s L’Enclume, in Cumbria – which has two Michelin stars – was named as the best restaurant in the 2020 guide. Inspectors gave it a rare score of ten.
