The rising number of internationally acclaimed chefs who credit Britain as their homeland have also swayed some votes in its favor. It is the country that has given us Jamie Oliver, Heston Blumenthal, Marco Pierre White, Gordon Ramsay, and Nigella Lawson, among others.

Food in Britain has improved monumentally in the last decades and the proof lies in London, where over 20 anticipated restaurants are lined up for opening even before we hit mid-2016.

Eager to show the world that the big city is above pea soup fog and has more to offer now than just stodgy pies and infamous newspaper-wrapped fish and chips, British Airways has come up with a list of their Top 10 Tastiest London Restaurants for travelers.

British Airways head chef Mark Tazzioli and the airline’s food and beverage manager Christopher Cole reveal the list of their favorite restaurants that they feel visitors to the city should check out. The list spans fine dining establishments and curry houses to tasty BBQ spots.

Pitt Cue, Soho

Where else to find good, greasy BBQ than at Pitt Cue? Started as a tiny food truck business, Pitt Cue became so popular that it now holds a prime Soho spot. With only 30 seats available in this joint, you can see a long queue of hungry folks lining up outside the restaurant from far away. Unfortunately, this BBQ spot known for is mouth-watering pulled pork and bone marrow mash doesn’t take any reservations. So, be prepared to stand in line if you want to get your hands on the grub.

The Ledbury, Notting Hill

Australian chef Brett Graham helms the kitchen of this two Michelin-starred upscale eatery. It even won the “Best Restaurant in the UK” title in 2014. The Ledbury is known for its no-advertising policy, yet somehow the restaurant is still always fully booked without the additional exposure. Is it because of the food? You bet. So obviously a reservation is a must if you want to enjoy Graham’s mouthwatering dishes. It offers a seven-course tasting menu at £115 (RM645) per person, and four-course lunch and dinner menus. A vegetarian tasting menu is also available.

Cau, Blackheath, St Catherine’s Dock and Wimbledon

If you find yourself craving a nice steak in London, then head straight for Cau. The sister brand of the Gaucho chain, Cau’s steaks are Argentinian and oh-so-good at a reasonable price. There are currently 13 Cau outlets with three in London. The classic cuts – medallions, rib-eye, rump and sirloin – are priced between £13.95 (RM78) to £22.95 (RM128), but you can also try the premium cuts such as fine fillet of rump at £33.50 (RM187) or the spiral cut of rib-eye at £38.50 (RM215). Cau also serves anticuchos and other traditional South American dishes.

Cinnamon Club, Westminster

Chef Vivek Singh is behind the capital’s plushest curry house which sits inside the Grade II listed former Westminster Library. Cinnamon Club redefines modern Indian cooking and serves up a stunning menu of classic game and delicately-spiced fish dishes, on top of seasonal options. Smoked Herdwick Lamb Mille Feuille, Tandoori Loin of Oisin Red Deer and Char-grilled Halibut with Tomato and Lemon Sauce are just some of Cinnamon Club’s must-try dishes.

Jason Atherton Social Eating House, Soho

Chef Jason Atherton paid his dues in the kitchen working alongside great mentors such as Pierre Koffmann, Marco Pierre White, Nico Ladenis and Ferran Adria at el Bulli. Atherton joined the Gordon Ramsay Group in 2001, and after launching and overseeing the opening of Maze around the world, Atherton left the company to strike out on his own. The result? The Social Company. Social Eating House serves bistro-style food in a relaxed and modern environment. Tempura Dover Sole, Slow-cooked Venison Haunch and Roasted Cornish Cod are just some of the items on the seasonal menu.

The Ivy, West End

This is the place to dine with stars. Like literally. Kate Moss and George Clooney are just some of the famous people you could rub shoulders with at The Ivy. With a retro chic interior and distinctive stain-glass mullioned windows, the restaurant is also a good place just to get hearty British fare that isn’t too posh like Shepherd’s Pie at £17.75 (RM98) and Truffled Leek and Potato Soup at £8 (RM44). The Ivy implements a smart casual dress code and gentlemen are required to wear jackets when sporting a short-sleeved shirt. Shorts are an absolute no-no.

Nobu, The Metropolitan Hotel on Park Lane

Madonna once said that you gauge how much fun a city would be if there is a Nobu restaurant there. Well, you can prove her theory right at this eatery that boasts and incredible view across Hyde Park – one of the Royal Parks of London. Besides a great view, Nobu also specializes in the interesting marriage of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine, like Beef Rib Eye Anticucho with Tempura at £32 (RM178). Nobu London also has a separate sushi restaurant within the premise.

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, The Mandarin Oriental

This is Heston Blumenthal’s first restaurant in London. One of Britain’s most famous chefs, Blumenthal is known for his inventive take on dishes. He is the chef who put bacon and egg ice cream on the map, so Dinner too has an incredibly quirky menu inspired by historic British gastronomy dating back centuries. Among the dishes on the menu to keep an eye out for is the incredible ‘meat fruit’, which looks like a mandarin but is actually made from chicken liver parfait.

Duck and Waffle, Heron Tower, East London

Situated on the 40th floor of Heron Tower, this really takes British and European cuisine to new heights. It is also currently the highest restaurant in all of Britain, so the city view is undeniably magnificent and something no other eatery can offer. Executive Chef Daniel Doherty has introduced some really creative dishes to the menu such as Spicy Ox Cheek Doughnut at £10 (RM55), and of course, the star of the restaurant, Duck and Waffle at £17 (RM95) served with crispy leg confit, fried duck egg and a side of mustard maple syrup.

Amaya, Mayfair

A good place to find delicious Indian tapas. This Michelin-starred eatery specializes in grilling using Tandoor clay ovens, Sigri coal flames and Tava hot plates. It’s the third London eatery from the team behind Chutney Mary in Chelsea and the West End venue Veeraswamy. The menu changes constantly but the equivalent of a three-course meal with wine and service averages about £70 (RM392) per head. At least 45 items are always on the menu, on top of the 15 vegetarian dishes. Amaya also serves briyani made from a year-old basmati rice which has incredible length and consistency.

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