City favourite Aveika has won the title of Best Restaurant in Newcastle at a UK awards ceremony.
The late-bar and restaurant on Newcastle Quayside was up against stiff competition for the regional title at the British Restaurant Awards and, following a round of public voting, it beat rivals including Michelin star-winner The House of Tides. It is delighted at its success which comes as it looks ahead to a major revamp planned for January.
Aveika, which serves contemporary-style Asian food including a Japanese sushi bar menu, was one of 10 local finalists in the Best Restaurant Newcastle category of the awards which are organised by the World Restaurant Awards Group. Now in its fourth year, the event draws up shortlists from nominations and then opens voting so that customers can have their say.
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Aveika emerged victorious in a category which included The House of Tides - the city's Michelin star winner - and other top restaurants: The Broad Chare; Dobson & Parnell; Blackfriars; Route; Silk Room; Bistro du Vin; Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill and Peace and Loaf.
Imran Khaliq, director of Gainford Group which runs Aveika and several other local bar-restaurants, said the team is "delighted to receive the award for Best Restaurant Newcastle". He added: This is the third time we have consecutively won such a prestigious award, despite a number of new venues that have opened in the city over the years including some big name national brands.
"We would like to thank all our customers that voted for us." And those customers soon will be seeing changes to the Sandhill venue. Imran added: "Gainford are in the process of putting plans together for a multi-million-pound refurbishment of Aveika that will commence in January 2023."
Another Newcastle eatery had also made the shortlist at Monday night's awards, which took place in London and paid tribute to the late Queen with a two-minute silence, a special award renamed in her honour and guests wearing black. Parisian-style café and patisserie Flore, which opened in the city at the end of last year had been nominated for Best New Restaurant, a category won on the night by Miro Mayfair in London.
Aveika also had been nominated for Best Culinary Experience: the only North East restaurant to feature in the category which, although dominated by London venues, was then won by Peter Street Kitchen in Manchester. On awards on the night included Best Food Ordering Company which went to Deliveroo.
Big winners at the event included The Ritz, winner of Best Luxury Restaurant; Aldo Zilli, who was named Best Chef, and Jean Christophe Novelli who won the renamed Queen Elizabeth Lifetime Achievement Award. For the full list of winners see here.
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