A POPULAR Indian restaurant in Basingstoke has been named as the best in the UK, with its owners saying the award is testament to the dedication of its ‘incredible team’.

Spices and Spirits, in Kings Furlong Drive, was announced as the Restaurant of the Year 2023 in the UK at the eighth Asian Food and Restaurant Awards International in December.

Spices and Spirits is the brainchild of husband and wife team Anushree and Nitin Patil, who strive to create a restaurant serving the exciting taste of the many regions of India, combined with style, flair, and presentation.

READ MORE: Indian restaurant which 'strives for culinary excellence' wins top food award

Basingstoke Gazette: Spices and Spirits was named Restaurant of the Year 2023 in the UK Asian Food and Restaurant AwardsThey said: “We are truly humbled and honoured to receive the best restaurant award across UK, including London.

“Most of our awards have been regional winner awards so far. This time it’s truly a sense of an achievement. This achievement is a testament to the dedication our incredible team and unwavering support from our amazing patrons. Thank you for making this possible – we are thrilled and grateful beyond words.”

The achievement comes after the restaurant was awarded a Gold Seal by the Good Food Awards in November, being recognised as "a hard-working team which strives for culinary excellence within their field". 

Anushree has spent time with the best chefs from various parts of India, to learn and understand from their experience within the best of Indian regional cuisine in restaurants, private homes, stately palaces and street vendors.

SEE ALSO: Award-winning Basingstoke restaurant re-inspected and given four-star hygiene rating

The Asian Food and Restaurant Awards International (AFRA) is a celebration of South Asian contributions to the international food industry, honouring those who have propelled Asian flavours into mainstream culture.

The meticulous selection process involves AFRA management and a panel of judges narrowing down the extensive list to the top 100 finalists. Judges from AFRA personally visited candidates, determining the overall category victors.

Spanning a myriad of Asian and Oriental cuisines, including Indian, Pakistani, Chinese, Japanese, and more, AFRA underscores the cultural richness and culinary diversity shaping the contemporary culinary landscape.

AFRA vice chairman Maria Saroya was delighted with the success of the annual culinary celebration. She said: “We are seeing some remarkable innovation by pioneering food brands and restaurateurs adapting to challenging trading conditions and more sophisticated customer preferences.”