Select a local food and drink star
After a turbulent two years for the hospitality sector, the Edinburgh Evening News Restaurant Awards is set to return bigger than ever.
Across 14 categories, the awards will recognise the incredible achievements of the Capital’s thriving food and drink scene in unprecedented times.
From Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants to cosy cafes and vibrant street food hotspots, there are plenty of rich culinary delights to celebrate across the city and Lothians.
The Edinburgh Evening News believes it is now more important than ever to recognise excellence across this valuable sector.
The event, sponsored by Zettle, a point-of-sale solution, will take place at Brewhemia in Market Street on Monday, 6 June.
The categories are Edinburgh Chef of the Year, Best Fine Dining Experience, Best Newcomer, Best Cafe/Deli, Best World Food Restaurant, Best Gastro Pub & Brewery, Best Family Friendly, Best Speciality, Best Takeaway Offering, Best Use of Outdoor Space, Best Customer Service, Best Seafood, Sustainability Award and Edinburgh Restaurant of the Year.
The Best Cafe/Deli award focuses entirely on cafes and delicatessens, assessing them by their menu selections and value for money.
The judges will be looking for establishments that stand out for their uniqueness, where bespoke dishes are combined with a slick, well-drilled operation.
The most recent award went to The Bearded Baker on Rodney Street, which impressed with their range of tasty handmade filled bagels and doughnuts.
Edinburgh Chef of the Year, sponsored by kitchen apparel suppliers Chef Works and Bragard, is one of the most prestigious accolades and will be judged by industry experts who are already immersed in the local dining scene.
As well as the results on the plate, they will assess the way nominees run their kitchens and will recognise the talent whose ingenuity helps mark out a restaurant as a must-visit.
The award was won by chef Paul Wedgewood of the eponymous restaurant on the Canongate when the event was last held in 2019, with the judges taking note of his “interesting menu and impressive wine list”.
New for this year is the Sustainability Award, sponsored by business for good advocates Everyone’s Edinburgh.
Reducing carbon footprints, protecting the planet and creating a sustainable way of life has never been more relevant, and judges will be rating eateries on both how eco-friendly their operations are, as well as how taste bud-friendly their output is.
You have until Friday, 22 April to submit your nominations for this year’s event at edinburghrestaurantawards.co.uk
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