5/5 Hoots: L’Astrance, Restaurant Story, Helene Darroze at the Connaught, Victoria and Albert’s, Texture, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, The Fat Duck, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Momofuku Ko, Il Ristoranti Trussardi alla Scala, Sketch (The Lecture Room and Library), Librije’s Zusje, Mistral, The Araki, The Waterside Inn, The Moon, House of Tides

4/5 Hoots: Ristorante Quadri, Kokkeriet, The Bazaar, Bror, Steve Wynn Steakhouse, Tartufo, Rouge Tomate, Sushisamba, Duck and Waffle, Hawksmoor, Le Relais de Venise, Fera, Restaurant Guy Savoy, Murano, Petrus, Maze, Per Se, Gerbeaud, Balthazar, Minetta Tavern, Manatus, Magnolia Bakery, The Greenhouse, Bath Priory, Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, Cinnamon Club, Pasta e basta, De Luwte, Gymkhana, Vun, Hotel du Lac, Suisse, The Swan at Tetsworth, MASH, Bar Boulud, Imago, Seryna, Andaz Tavern, Boutique de qualité et salon de the rosage, Gora Kadan restaurant, La Locanda, Kappa Sakamoto, Tempura Mizuki, New York Grill, Zuma, Gauthier Soho, Le Ciel, Procacci, Sohe, Engawa, Cantina Laredo, J Sheekey, Berners Tavern, Au Petit Riche, Arpege, Savini, Sticks ‘n’ Sushi, No. 97, Rabot 1745, L’Ombre del Leone, Alle Corone, Cip’s Club, Amarone, De Pisis

3/5 Hoots: La Cave, Bice, Stripsteak (Michael Mina), Boulestin, Jaleo, 28-50 degrees, Salt, Bravo 24, HKK, Le Pont de la Tour, Les Deux Salons, Marseille, Skylon, The Square, Brasserie Chavot, Comerc 24, Nobu, Le Gavroche, Pollen Street Social, Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley, Picasso, Clos Maggiore, Galvin La Chapelle, Wild Honey, Pied a Terre, The Ledbury, Roux at the Landau, City Social, Lima, Miller and Carter, Sea Containers, Chapters, Hakkasan, Gaucho, Ivy Market Grill, L’Anima, Spring, Hoofdstad Brasserie, Biffi, Hotel Florence, T bar, Cafe Il Balcone sul Lago, La Punta, La Goletta, Bread Street Kitchen, San Carlo Cicchetti, 2veneti, Fitzbillies, Terrazza, Coast, Catch, Spago, Catal, Fashion It, Baccano, Polpo, Ristorante Il David, Gucci Museo Caffe, OX, Grain Store, Sarabeth’s, Ard Bia at Nimmos, Tredwell’s, Kitchenette, Gerstner, Laduree, Li Veli, M, Barrafina, Brasserie Zédel, Quod, Rumsey’s Chocolaterie, Searcys St Pancras Grand Restaurant & Champagne Bar, Le Florentin, Brasserie Gallopin, Humble Grape, Peace and Loaf, AG’s, Reflections, Principessa

2/5 Hoots: Bouchon, Hibiscus, L’Autre Pied, Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester, Arbutus, Gilbert Scott, Cafe Murano, Aqua Nueva, Cafe Sacher

1/5 Hoots: None so far …

Explanation: Within each restaurant review, I set out both its rating in the Michelin Guide at the time of my visit (not in the Guide, Recommended (and/or Bib Gourmand), 1 star, 2 star, or 3 stars) and/or its rating according to the Guide now, and most importantly, my own ‘hoot’ ratings out of 5. I have also built up a list of special Dining Owl awards for certain restaurants.

Here is a guide to what the number of ‘hoots’ indicates:

5 hoots = an excellent example of what it is trying to achieve; worth multiple visits; unforgettable

4 hoots = a very good example of what the restaurant is trying to do; some special points; memorable

3 hoots = a fairly good / solid example of the standard it is trying to achieve

2 hoots = some minor flaws, and/or a lack of charm, service, or quality of food

1 hoot = seriously lacking in what the restaurant is trying to do; major flaws