#FtLionAwards 2020 Newcomer of the Year shortlist
After the #FtLionAwards 2020 Best Burger of the Year (proudly sponsored by the UK’s original Karak Chai brand and award-winning restaurant Chaiiwala®), we continue with Best Newcomer of the Year.
Of course, not only do you have the chance of voting for your favourite on our Instagram and Facebook pages, but you’ll also be entered into a prize draw, with three people chosen at random on 1st January 2021 to win x4 BREAKFAST VOUCHERS (sent via post) redeemable at any Chaiiwala® branch across the UK (T&C’s apply).
So we want you to either: 1) vote for the following nominees, or 2) let us know of your favourite new restaurant this year, all on our Facebook and/or Instagram pages.
THE BURGER CLUB
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With their Club Bacon, which one Lion declared “one of the best bacon burgers we’ve had”, in consideration for Best Burger of the Year, The Burger Club in Banstead surprised us with genuine endeavour towards fulfilling the true meaning of the word ‘gourmet’.
Not only did they create burgers that showed off some relatively innovative combinations, but also inhouse-made sauces which led us to rate them an impressive 4/5. In short, Banstead has been blessed with a fully Halal gourmet restaurant that not only puts many similar restaurants espousing to serve gourmet burgers to shame, but also has all the hallmarks for greatness.
ETLES
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Etles is unique for being London’s first authentic Uyghur restaurant. Having visit their first branch in east London’s Walthamstow, which we rated 3.5/5 back in 2018, their second in north London’s Childs Hill presented dishes that were better executed this time round, including others that we’d never had the chance of trying before.
Having rated this new addition a solid 4/5, they served us a fantastic Spiced Beef Tongue dish, which is currently up for the Best Starter of the Year award, as well as Lamb Skewers that could win this year’s Best Grill.
THE LEBANESE BAKERY
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The Lebanese Bakery (TLB) was an anticipated one not least because this particular venue was situated in the world famous luxury department store, Harrods, in Knightsbridge. We were also hoping for an improvement on the 3.5/5 rating their first branch in Covent Garden barely managed in 2018.
Well they certainly did that with their Baba Ghanouj up for both Best Sarter and Best Veggie award, their Muhammara also for Best Veggie, and their Debess & Tahini Manousheh (a traditional Lebanese flat white bread) for Best Dessert.
LONDON PIZZA DEPOT
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The London Pizza Depot in London Ilford only happens to have the ingredients required to be the Halal answer to Papa John’s and Domino’s, especially with Muniba at the helm who boasts two decades worth of experience having working for both brands.
Their three newest pizza additions to an impressive menu were a resounding success, with one up for Best Veggie of the Year, viz. the Mediterranean Mezza. We couldn’t help but rate them 4/5 for what is a promising beginning.
MONO WRAPS
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Mono Wraps in north London’s Holloway served us wraps that are not only up for the Best Main of the Year award, but were so good that we simply concluded in our review: “This is one of the best kebab wraps we have EVER had!”
Looking past the fact that they’re currently embroiled in controversy with kebab rivals E. Mono up the road in Kentish Town, we had to rate them 4/5 for those memorable wraps.
TURPAN
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Turpan happens to be our second Uyghur restaurant up for the Best Newcomer of the Year award. They have the distinction of being Central London’s first genuine Uyghur eatery.
Having been rated a whopping 4.5/5, we were unanimous that their cuisine was at its most authentic finest. Just sheer comfort food that delivered on simplicity while evoking feelings of homeliness. Currently, their hugely impressive Pachaq, which is a dish made up of lamb hooves and powered by potent sichuan peppers, is up for Best Main.
