Review of 2024. Part 1: 20 – 34
It's very hard to believe that it's that time of year again. Scores overall are significantly higher than in 2023. It could be that I'm getting softer as an assessor, but I think not. I can think of only two or three places where the food was mediocre or worse. Most of those at the lower end had service issues.
Once again the trade is being battered by the perfect storm of food price inflation, rises in energy costs and staff shortages. 2025 will see the additional whammy of National Insurance increases. Thank you to all of the restaurateurs who have fed me during 2024, and to your staff who have looked after me so well. Merry Christmas, and good luck for 2025.
| RANK | RESTAURANT | TOWN | SCORE | COMMENTS |
| 20= | Café Marlayne | Edinburgh | 19 | Good luck getting a table here. Terrific French bistro fare at unfeasibly low prices |
| 20= | The Spanish Butcher | Edinburgh | 19 | We ate here for lunch only. I'm desperate to return for the fabled Galician steak |
| 20= | La P'tite Folie | Edinburgh | 19 | Been here forever, in the incongruous Tudor House in Edinburgh's West End. Reliable French bistro classics |
| 20= | Da Etta | Rome | 19 | Quirky place in Rome's Trastevere. Wine list fatter than an encyclopaedia |
| 24 | the West Room | Edinburgh | 18.5 | Eccentric menu, proclaimed to be Italian tapas. There are large and small plates; there are Italian and non-Italian plates. You will eat well here at very reasonable prices |
| 25= | Ragu Pasta | Edinburgh | 17 | A knock off of Glasgow's infinitely better Sugo Pasta. Average |
| 25= | Il Tucano 2 | Genoa | 17 | We were whisked along here by the lady who owned the art shop. OK, but I've been whisked better |
| 25= | The Fat Pheasant | Newton | 17 | Bizarre. A meal of two halves. I loved mine: L hated hers. I recommend that you go and try for yourself |
| 28= | Salerno Pizza | Edinburgh | 16.5 | A knock off of Glasgow's infinitely better Paesano Pizza. Average |
| 28= | The Citizen | Glasgow | 16.5 | Purporting to provide Scottish produce with an authentic Glasgow influence, this place fell short on all counts barring service |
| 30 | Maison Francois | London | 16 | If you want to be taken seriously as a classic French brasserie in St James, dress your waiters accordingly. Cheap quality tee shirts and unironed jackets are a poor show. Some of the food was quite good, though |
| 31 | Veeno | Edinburgh | 15.5 | Rereading this review, perhaps I was a little unfair. Decent Italian regional plates and pastas. I took the hump when chef tried to bulls**t me about something. Probably worth a try if you're hungry in Rose Street |
| 32= | Cobbler's Cove | Barbados | 15 | Probably the most beautiful hotel I've ever stayed in. Almost certainly the most expensive. So why the hell can't they serve decent food? |
| 32= | Educated Flea | Edinburgh | 15 | Dreary local bistro in Broughton Street, living on the reputation of its sister restaurants. Now closed, I see. No loss |
| 34 | Daika Kanm | Edinburgh | 13 | Kurdish restaurant. My barbers are from Kurdistan. No good Kurdish restaurants in Edinburgh, they tell me. They are right |