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Jay Rayner

Jay Rayner is the Observer's restaurant critic and a feature writer. His most recent book is Nights Out At Home. He keeps an archive of all his journalism at jayrayner.co.uk

February 2025

  • The family-owned restaurant emen Heaven at 98 Walmgate in York, North Yorkshire. Yemen Heaven is a Middle Eastern restaurant.

    Jay Rayner on restaurants
    Yemen Heaven, York: ‘Very hard not to like’ – restaurant review

    After a troubled start, this family-run Yemeni outpost in York has won a loving following in the local community

January 2025

  • Dzo Viet Kitchen, Upper Street, Islington, for Jay Rayner's restaurant review, OM, 15/01/2025. Sophia Evans for The Observer

    Jay Rayner on restaurants
    Dzo! Viet Kitchen, London: ‘Worth your money and your time’ – restaurant review

    This charismatic Vietnamese place stands out, even among all the attention-seekers on Upper Street Islington
  • Illustration of Jay Rayner holding a masala dabba and sniffing spices

    Happy eater
    It’s time to declutter my chaotic spice cupboard. Luckily, I have a secret weapon

    Jay Rayner
    A new bit of kit gave me a chance for a kitchen declutter, and revealed my most used spices

    • Jay Rayner on restaurants
      The Blue Stoops, London: ‘It’s all about the details’ – restaurant review

    • Jay Rayner on restaurants
      Fonda, London: ‘An exuberantly good meal’: restaurant review

    • Jay Rayner on restaurants
      Lucky Yu, Edinburgh: ‘An amiable, relaxed kind of chaos’ – restaurant review

December 2024

  • Chef proprietors of the Maida Grill House in Salford in front of their food counter and kitchen

    Jay Rayner on restaurants
    2024 restaurant roundup: looking back on the year’s culinary highs

  • The Don, 20 St Swithin's Lane, London EC4, for Jay Rayner's restaurant review, OM, 20/11/2024. Sophia Evans for The Observer

    Jay Rayner on restaurants
    The Don, London: ‘The expectation was for something warmer’ – restaurant review

  • ‘A huge, elegant block of a space’: Claro, London.

    Jay Rayner on restaurants
    Claro, London: Many of the dishes are wonderful, but the endless emails are a real pain – restaurant review

  • Hachi Japanese BBQ restaurant, Brewer St, Soho, for Jay Rayner's restaurant review, OM, 13/11/2024. Sophia Evans for The Observer

    Jay Rayner on restaurants
    Hachi Japanese BBQ, London: ‘Proper fun’ – restaurant review

  • Happy eater
    I’ve made Christmas lunch for the past 30 years. Now I want a year off

    Jay Rayner

  • Jay Rayner on restaurants
    Desi Yew Tree, Wolverhampton: ‘Part of the brilliance of Desi pub culture’ – restaurant review

November 2024

  • Jay Rayner The Guardian The Martlet Kitchen 04 11 2024 3453

    Jay Rayner on restaurants
    The Martlet, Rochdale: ‘A victory of professionalism’ – restaurant review

    Civic pride meets glorious cooking at a remarkably fair price
  • Once bittern: Hugh Corcoran and Lady Frances von Hofmannsthal in the dining room.

    Jay Rayner on restaurants
    The Yellow Bittern, London: ‘Leaves you muttering about school dinners’ – restaurant review

    A new destination in Kings Cross turns its back on mod cons to cater to a fantasy of past times

    • Happy eater
      What’s the silliest question you can ask a restaurant critic? (And yes, I have the answer)

      Jay Rayner

    • Jay Rayner on restaurants
      Joseph’s Brasserie, London: ‘Let’s celebrate’ – restaurant review

    • Jay Rayner on restaurants
      Mauby, London: ‘Exactly the vibe you want’ – restaurant review

October 2024

  • 1 York Place 083

    Jay Rayner on restaurants
    1 York Place, Bristol: ‘Does the job beautifully’ – restaurant review

    The eclectic menu here wanders right across Europe – but diners will want to stay right where they are
  • Maroto, 4 Were Street, London W1, for Jay Rayner's restaurant review, OM, 04/10/2024. Sophia Evans for The Observer

    Jay Rayner on restaurants
    Maroto, London: ‘I really can’t recommend it’ – restaurant review

    The experiment with five flavours at this Brazilian-inspired place will leave diners feeling only bitter
  • Illustration of Jay Rayner sitting at a bar, being served by a bartender singing into a microphone

    Happy eater
    When pubs and restaurants close, our culture is a casualty

    Jay Rayner
    Hospitality jobs have long kept struggling artists, actors and musicians going. When those gigs go, the arts are diminished too
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