The UK’s best restaurant has recently been named, and the prestigious title has been handed over to a small venue sitting just above a pub. This year’s National Restaurant Award was given to Bouchon Racine, a dining room above The Three Compasses pub in Clerkenwell, London.

The French restaurant run by chef and restaurateur Henry Harris and Dave Strauss climbed several spots from fifth place last year. It also managed to take the crown from the French fine-dining restaurant The Ritz, after being highlighted for its comforting French food, among the best served nationwide, despite opening in 2022.

Restaurant Online wrote: “Not only is Bouchon Racine utterly charming, but it is also without doubt serving some of the best traditional French food in the country, and its victory this year once again demonstrates that you don’t need a vast team or a huge budget to be named the best.

“Henry Harris’ food is sensational with flavour put before anything else. This is more than just a bistro; it is a temple to great gastronomy and is well deserving of this year’s top spot.”

The incredible dining spot is inspired by the bouchons of Lyon and the bistros of Paris, according to its official website.

Overlooking Cowcross Street, the family-run restaurant offers guests with “unashamed French cooking with a French led list and some fine apéritifs and digéstifs in an informal setting”.

The dining room has a glowing 4.6-star rating on TripAdvisor, with tons of positive reviews.

One person said: “An absolute delight! My foodie son (12) recommended we go here. With choices like this he can continue at the restaurant choosing helm!”

Another wrote: “This was my second visit and certainly won’t be my last. Everything was spot on; outstanding food, pleasant and professional service and a lovely ambience in the dining room. If you haven’t been before just book it!”

Bouchon Racine is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 12pm to 3pm and again from 6pm to 10pm. Reservations are available 30 days in advance.