LONDON
Bistrot Bruno Loubet An instant classic when it opened last year, and a fitting way to mark the return of one of the great French chefs to the capital. 86-88 Clerkenwell Road, EC1M 5RJ; 020 7324 4455
Hawksmoor The popularity of this superb London steakhouse continues to rise and there's a third on the way near St Paul's.11 Langley Street, WC2H 9JG; 157 Commercial Street, E1 6BJ
The Ledbury Quite a year for Aussie chef Brett Graham, with the two-star Ledbury this year's highest new entry in Restaurant magazine's Top 50, and its staff fending off looters during the riots. 127 Ledbury Road, W11 2AQ; 020 7792 9090
Moro Sam and Sam Clark's densely flavoured Moorish food isn't cheap, but it's still worth every penny. 34-36 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QE; 020 7833 8336
Brula This intimate neighbourhood restaurant serves subtly complex, French food. Try the ragout of Burgundian snails. 43 Crown Road, St Margarets, Twickenham, TW1 3EJ; 020 8892 0602
SOUTH & WEST
Terre a Terre The commitment to innovative flesh-free cooking makes this maybe the most exciting vegetarian restaurant in the country. 71 East Street, Brighton, BN1 1HQ; 01273 729 051
Riverford Field Kitchen The Devon farm kitchen's feasting formula of one generous meat dish plus five veg side dishes to each table is a perennial favourite. Buckfastleigh, Devon, TQ11 0JU; 01803 762 059
MIDLANDS & EAST
Restaurant Sat Bains OFM Awards judge Bains's restaurant won this category in 2008 and he's just bagged his second Michelin star. Should you be feeling adventurous, you can eat in his development kitchen. Old Lenton Lane, Nottingham, NG7 2SA; 0115 986 6566
Memsaab Hugely popular fine dining Indian restaurant with Naj Aziz's menu reflecting regional Indian and Pakistani dishes, as well as street food. 12-14 Maid Marian Way, Nottingham, NG1 6HS; 0115 957 0009
Iberico World Tapas Intimate vaulted, restaurant which serves refined tapas, with prices starting from an extraordinarily reasonable £2.95. The Shire Hall, High Pavement Lace Market, Nottingham, NG1 1HN; 0115 9410 410
Aqua Eight Super-stylish fusion cuisine from across east Asia, such as fried soft shell crab with chilli and curry leaf. 8 Lion Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 IDQ; 01473 218 994
NORTH
Silversmiths Award-winning, family-run restaurant and a survivor of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmare, Silversmith's serves the finest Yorkshire produce and a great Sunday roast menu. 111 Arundel Street, Sheffield, S1 2NT; 0114 270 6160
Cafe No 8 Warm, relaxed city bistro with north African influences. Try the pressed lamb shoulder. 8 Gillygate, York YO31 7EQ; 01904 653 074
Lockwoods Family-run restaurant and art gallery offering modern European food at very affordable prices. 83 North Street, Ripon, HG4 1DP; 01765 607 555
Northcote Manor Nigel Haworth continues to bring out the best of what his Lancashire landscape has to offer in his Michelin-starred manor hotel restaurant. Northcote Road, Langho, Blackburn, BB6 8BE; 01254 240 555
WALES
The Hardwick Don't be fooled by its country pub looks, the Hardwick's superb chef Stephen Terry trained with Marco Pierre White and Michel Roux Jnr, and uses south Wales's finest produce. Old Raglan Road, Abergavenny, NP7 9AA; 01873 854 220
The Crown at Whitebrook Chef James Sommerin's imaginative, Michelin-starred cooking makes this spot in the beautiful Wye Valley idyllic. Whitebrook, Near Monmouth, NP25 4TX; 01600 860 254
Mint & Mustard Keralan cooking, refined to an exceptional standard. Try the tasting menu. 134 Whitchurch Road, Cardiff, CF14 3LZ; 02920 620 333
Y Polyn Their mission statement may be "We're not trying to win prizes with innovative cooking," but Y Polyn's deceptively simple flavour combinations pack a punch. Capel Dewi, Carmarthen SA32 7LH; 01267 290 000
SCOTLAND
Moonfish Café Christian Recomio, owner of the popular Moonfish Café, has worked in some of the best restaurants in Barcelona and northern France and it shows on his eclectic menu. Perfect for a romantic evening. 9 Correction Wynd, Aberdeen, AB10 1HP; 01224 644 166
The Kitchin Winner of best restaurant in last year's OFM Awards, the Kitchin's manifesto is "From Nature to Plate". This autumn that means Aberdeenshire ox cheek, hand-dived Orkney scallops and wild halibut. 78 Commercial Quay, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6LX; 0131 555 1755
Restaurant Martin Wishart Local produce cooked deceptively simply by the highly rated Wishart. Edinburgh's first Michelin-starred restaurant delivers pure flavour. 54 The Shore, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6RA; 0131 553 3557
The Wee Restaurant Chef Craig Wood, previously head chef at the Crinan Hotel, owns this small, 40-seat gem of a restaurant serving simple, seasonal food. Waterside, Chapel Place, North Queensferry, KY11 1JT; 01383 616 263
NORTHERN IRELAND
The Bay Tree Holywood Unpretentious, robust menus (now available to takeaway) and super-friendly staff – not to mention their cinnamon scones – make this one of the most popular restaurants in Northern Ireland. 118 High Street, Holywood BT18 9HW; 02890 421 419
James Street South Chefs Niall McKenna and Stephen Toman's elegant, French-inspired food is as crisp and clean as James Street South's old linen mill dining room. 21 James Street South, Belfast, BT2 7GA; 02890 434 310
Cayenne Paul Rankin won Northern Ireland's first Michelin star in 1989, and continues to excite with his Asian-influenced cooking. 7 Ascot House, Shaftesbury Square, Belfast, BT2 7DB; 02890 331 532
Deanes Prolific chef Michael Deane's city-centre hot spot continues to offer seasonal produce of the finest quality. 36-40 Howard Street, Belfast, BT1 6PF; 02890 331 134
