The Notting Hill restaurant targeted by thugs during the riots has topped a prestigious poll on the best food in London.

The Ledbury in Notting Hill was named in Harden's London Restaurants guide as serving the best food in the Capital.

More than 8,000 diners were surveyed for the poll.

The award means that the restaurant’s Aussie chef, Brett Graham has prevented Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing –  the only chefs to have won the award since 2000 – from hogging the prize yet again.

This is all a far cry from three weeks ago, on the evening of August 8, when the two Michelin starred restaurant was stormed by baseball bat wielding rioters who proceeded to rob diners.

Staff saw the looters off with rolling pins and frying pans. When the mob returned later in the evening staff led diners into the safety of the wine cellar.

Peter Harden, co-editor of Harden's London Restaurants 2012, said: "Brett Graham and the team at the Ledbury, who acquitted themselves so well in defending their customers against a mob, deserve the highest credit for establishing it as the restaurant where you find London's best food."

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