#FtLionAwards 2024 Main of the Year shortlist

With a drink and a starter in for the running, Michelin-starred Chef Peter Joseph’s menu presented us this incredibly flavourful lamb Hydrabadi Biryani at his 5/5-rated Kahani in London’s Chelsea.

Having been cooked dum-stylemeant that not only did it lock in everything precious, but also delivered on moist, straight-grained rice that were enveloped in plenty of masala goodness, and were fragrant as hell. One of the better versions we’ve had in quite some time.

With two drinks and a starter in contention, Michelin-starred Chef Rohit Ghai’s Manthan in central London’s Mayfair served us this attractively-presented Paneer Mahkani.

Not only was the vibrantly orange, tomato-based curry sauce rich and creamy, with its hint of piquancy balanced by the sweetness of the cardamom, but the pieces of paneer utterly soft. A worthy contender.

Manthan also impressed with the Osso Buco, which proved Chef Rohit’s mastery of spices. The succulent lamb was enveloped in a luxuriously decadent, onion-based curry, which took our collective palates on a journey through spice heaven. An absolute pearler this and possibly the best dish of that review.

An authentic Malaysian restaurant behind the iconic Bentall Centre in the heart of Kingston upon Thames was Onde Onde, which served this utterly soothing bowl of Mee Kari Laksa soup.

With egg noodles immersed in an addictively good curry and coconut gravy, this also contained chicken, prawns, tofu, choi sum, carrot strips, bean sprouts, fish balls, and a boiled egg, all of which had our full attention right until the final slurp.

With two mocktails and a starter having already been nominated, Ribeye in Birmingham served us not one, but two amazing mains.

The first was this Herb Encrusted Lamb which was made by the spectacular jus it was served with. Covered in a herb coating, the loin of New Zealand lamb was handled well, turning out pink and juicy on the inside, with just that right amount of chewiness. But it was that silky smooth gravy, with bags of flavour, which combined with the sweetness of the caramelised shallots, and the bitter earthiness of the bed of kale and parsnip puree, to culminate in a thoroughly satisfying munch.

The second was this tender breast of chicken, which wasn’t just thoroughly filled with a minsed wild mushroom duxelle, but also came with another gravy to die for?

Presented on a bed of creamed leaks and surrounded by soft segments of oyster mushrooms to boot, the aromatic duxelle, with its concentrated mixture of earthy goodness, played just as significant a part as the meaty-flavoured jus in making this Pollo Allegro such an unforgettable dish.

With a drink already nominated, Uyghur restaurant Urumchi in Central London’s Cosmo Place has two mains up for contention.

The first was this rustically presented lamb curry, with chunky segments of potatoes and carrots. While the marinated meat was utterly soft, decorating the platter’s perimeter were pieces of bread, which you’ll be using to scoop up all that gorgeously rich sauce. A deeply satisfying dish.

The second by Urumchi was this signature Urumchi Spicy Noodle, with the addition of the sichuan peppers adjudged perfectly to deliver that customary numbing heat, but without overpowering the main flavours therein.

We enjoyed the long strands of flat noodles enveloped in a deeply rich beefy sauce powered by the wok hei. With chewy strips of beef, spring onions, red and green peppers, onions, and wood ear mushrooms, this was incredible.