The Ledbury in London has two Michelin stars, a brand new ranking on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list (34, the highest newcomer this year), and a totally badass staff that was ready "with rolling pins, fry baskets, and other dangerous kitchen tools" when rioters smashed through the window to loot the place. Not too shabby.
During the third night of rioting in London, blogger Louise Yang and her husband were at the restaurant when "the front door, a solid piece of glass shattered and people came crashing in with hoodies, masks, and random weapons."
A rioter got her wedding and engagement rings (Yang hopes he gets "a case of flaming diarrhea for the rest of your life"), but the Ledbury staff was on it, having the diners hide in the locked wine cellar and giving them champagne and whiskey to calm their nerves. Now that is service.
Elsewhere in England, Jamie Oliver's Jamie's Italian location in Birmingham also got smashed up. According the celebrity chef's tweets, both staff and customers were unharmed.
· London Riots Come to The Ledbury [Naked Sushi via @toadmeister]
· Jamie Oliver's Birmingham Eatery Ransacked by Rioters [Hello]
· All London Coverage on Eater [-E-]