Seven Asian restaurants in south east London and Dartford have been named as finalists for a national awards.
The Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards (ARTA) celebrates Pan Asian cuisine and brings together some of the UK’s most popular restaurants.
This year the finals will take place at London’s Royal Lancaster on October 6, hosted by BBC journalist Samantha Simmonds and magician Paul Martin, with the winners across 28 categories named.
Seven south east London and Dartford restaurants were named as finalists across two categories – Regional Restaurant of the Year in Kent and Regional Takeaway of the Year in Kent.
This year ARTA received over 900,000 nominations for 1,250 restaurants from customers across the UK, with the final selection named by a panel of judges.
10 restaurants across each category were shortlisted for the awards later this year.
Shortlisted for Regional Restaurant of the Year - Kent
Mittee Indian Restaurant, Bromley
If it’s Indian fine dining you are looking for, Mittee Indian Restaurant in Bromley was named as one of the finalists by judges.
The business offers “authentic Indian cuisine” and a fine dining experience, with dishes made to order ranging from tandoori and biryani dishes, along with a menu that caters to vegans and vegetarians.
The business has a rustic approach to food, with cooking that is “rooted in the earth” using fresh ingredients and a broad range of cooking styles from across the regions of India.
Mumbai Madness, Hayes, Bromley
Offering a relaxed and casual dining experience along with authentic Indian dishes, Mumbai Madness was created by the same team that run the popular Mumbai Central Sevenoaks business.
The restaurant cooks using locally sourced produce and serves a range of firm favourites like chicken tikka, tandoori mix grill, hyderabadi lamb dum biryani, and pani puri.
Ginger & Spice, Chislehurst
Whether you love a lot of spice or can’t handle much at all, Ginger & Spice offers a more tailored approach to guests, where they can customise their dish to be more or less spicy depending on what they prefer.
This popular Indian restaurant on Chislehurst High Street uses local produce along with aromatic spices, with some of their most popular dishes according to Google reviews including their lamb dishes as well as their vegan-friendly options.
Indian Diner, West Wickham
If you’re after a lively eating experience, Indian Diner in West Wickham regularly combines dining experiences with musical acts like Elvis and Freddie Mercury tribute nights priced at £27.95.
The restaurant offers authentic Indian food with a ”healthy approach” to cooking, with dishes ranging from classics like biryani and balti to their own signature dishes if you fancy trying something more unique.
The Bombay, Orpington
First opened in 1994, The Bombay Restaurant in Orpington is a family business currently run by Kobir Hussain and his two brothers Sah and MJ, who took on the management from their uncle who initially founded the business.
It serves guests a range of traditional Indian cuisine from tandoori to masala dishes.
The restaurant offers seating for 110 customers with three different spaces, including a party-themed area for celebrations and a jungle-inspired seating area for families.
Shortlisted for Regional Takeaway of the Year – Kent
Sher E Bangla, Longfield, Dartford
This Dartford-based Indian takeaway serves spicy Indian dishes ranging from tandoori, balti and biryani to their own house specials like duck peshwari.
You can choose from a set menu starting at £23.95, or order from the full menu where diners can get 5 percent off orders over £40 for delivery.
Mr India, Longfield, Dartford
Also in Dartford, Mr India also made the top ten, offering classic dishes like korma and madras curries starting from £7.45.
Mohammed Munim, Founder Member and CEO of ARTA, said: “Asian restaurants and takeaways have made a significant contribution to the UK economy, both historically and in recent times. They deserve recognition and rewards for their efforts. These restaurants & takeaways have not only created thousands of jobs but have also boosted local economies through their presence, especially post Brexit.
“To provide staunch support to the thriving Asian restaurants in Britain, ARTA acknowledges and highlights their importance in the culinary landscape. Each nominee is a worthy winner and we look forward to celebrating with them all at the award ceremony on October 6."
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