The Good Food Guide 2008

The Latin phrase `sui generis' means `unique, of its own kind' -- and that's exactly what The Good Food Guide is. This 2008 edition of the guide to the best restaurants in the UK reviewed by Which magazine remains, quite simply, the bible for those seeking independent expert opinion on where to dine. What makes the guide particularly invaluable is the fact that all the inspections of restaurants herein are anonymous, and the reviewers pay for every meal they review. GFG turns its face against advertising, sponsorship or other incentives, and absolutely guarantees the most dispassionate and balanced view of everything from the grandest to the most modest restaurant. And of how many other guides can one say that?

This 50th edition places under its rigorous eye over 1200 restaurants, stretching from intimate Scottish eateries to much-loved haunts on the Cornish coast. It goes without saying that we are provided with all the usual information on what you can expect to pay in most restaurants (particularly valuable when you can pay an arm and a leg in some restaurants these days), but there are also extensive sections on wine lists, menus, chefs and new openings. The latter two categories, of course, mean that the guide has to have a new edition each year, as every opening is accompanied by a closing somewhere else. What comes across most here, though, is the sheer enthusiasm for some of the best restaurants in Britain. Pick it up and you won't put it down in a hurry. --Barry Forshaw

View other editions of The Good Food Guide 2008.

Great info, lousy layout - Rated
Altho this book has a lot of valuable info, and I believe the layout has been improved over previous versions, it still has it's flaws.

For starters there is no index for suburbs / boroughs. There is also no index for cuisine types. So if you are looking for a specific cuisine anywhere in London for instance, you have to page through 130 pages and go through each and every entry. An absolute disaster.

There are about 4 pages of London maps in the book which proved pretty useless as they don't flow into eachother. They are just random segments with no way of telling where they are in London. This is fine for someone that knows London, but not everyone does.

Hopefully these flaws can be ironed out in the next release. But if it's taken them this long to get to this stage, I won't hold my breath.

I'm giving this book a 2 star because even though there is a lot of info, it's an absolute pain to use. And I already found incorrect opening times on our first restaurant.

great improvement - Rated
I was given this book having bought the guide in the past. The change from my last one is dramatic. It looks really classy and is so much easier to use. Also there seeem to be loads more cheaper restaurants. I'd like to see an index for cuisine and maybe veggie food as that's how we often decide where to go. Also, maybe more on cheap eats (like a list on the best places by place. But I was really impressed by the changes. I only got the book a fortnight ago and we've already used it four times!

Clean and classy - Rated
Like other reviewers, I had not bought the Guide for a few years, relying instead on online reviews and sites like Top Table. However, after a few terrible experiences at highly-rated restaurants, I came back to the Good Food Guide as a source of independent info. I think the new look is very classy and even had an interview with the gorgeous Tom Aitkens - lucky whover got ot meet him! Seriously though, i think the smaller format works and it's actually something to read now, instead of just a directory. Highly recommended and pretty good value if you but from Amazon.

so much better - Rated
I've bought the guide on and off for years but always thought it was quite expensive for how it looked. The reviews were good but you couldn't look up the counties and it was quite dull. The new book looks so much better --- it is really classy. And now it's in county order which is brilliant. I did find the new London ordering a bit tricky at first but now I understand it, I think its a lot better because I can look up the west end really easily.

As good as ever, possibly better - Rated
Last year's guide saw an extensive redesign; this year sees another. The effect is to make it brighter and clearer than before, a world away from the guide up until 2006. There is now more colour, more mini chef interviews and impressive, detailed reproductions of city maps, particularly the London area, along with the normal larger maps at the back.
London restaurants still take up the chunk of the book, unfairly perhaps, but that is the nature of these things - most people who go to posh restaurants and write reviews of them live in the south east. What a dismal reflection on our 'second city', Birmingham, that it has just five restaurants worthy of mention! The London section is split into different areas - central, Victoria etc, which can be slightly confusing if you're not sure where you are. (I know this sounds silly, but for many visitors this is the case.)
Returning this year is the list of contributors (how could they think to leave them out last year?), notably thanked in 'this book could not exist' terms. Other interesting points: the Guide doesn't deem it worthy to even mention that Britain is now completely non-smoking, which I found surprising. 'Readers' choice' restaurants have been introduced, which on top of the 'Also Recommended' places seems excessive. (I hope this isn't the sign of more dumbing down to come!) Also dropped is the list of 'London restaurants by cuisine', a shame, as it was extremely helpful. Plus, personally speaking I'd like to see a list every year of eateries that have dropped out since the previous edition, and why (closure, drop in standards etc).
As usual, the rating for a main section restaurants starts at 1/10, and the guide again tries to stress that this is a considerable achievement. It's certainly true that many of those places can be darn expensive. No one gets 10/10 - Gordon Ramsay did a few years back - but a few get 9, including The Fat Duck. Just reading reviews of venues like this makes the mouth water. Those of us on lower budgets can but dream and remain content with ticking off the more moderately priced venues.
Lastly, the shape and cover of the Guide look good and underline its authority. It remains one of the most carefully researched, meticulously proofed guide books available.