AN award-winning Cheshire West restaurant could be adding to its list of accolades after being shortlisted for a national curry award.

Bombay Lounge – who has won Mid Cheshire’s Best Curry and Best Restaurant for the past two years – is one of the finalists in the Prestige Curry Awards after being shortlisted for Best Restaurant in Cheshire.

In February, the Wharton Road, Winsford, venue was awarded Outstanding Curry of the Year at the Nation’s Curry Awards in Manchester.

The popular restaurant on Wharton Road was a finalist in Curry Kitchen of the Year and Customer Service of the Year and took home the Outstanding Curry of the Year honour.

Bombay Lounge is one of the finalists for Best Restaurant in Cheshire at this year’s Prestige Curry Awards and “it is testament to the exceptional culinary standards and outstanding dining experience that [they] consistently offer patrons”.

The selection process for the finals is vigorous and involves a series of evaluations by the awards’ panel of expert judges and Bombay Lounge hosted a visit from a secret diner assessing the quality of the food and the level of service.

The restaurant was praised for its “exquisite cuisine and impeccable service” and highlighted the “dedication and passion of the entire team” at Bombay Lounge.

Five years ago, Hassan took over as the new owner of Bombay Lounge, formerly Bombay Tea Lounge, with big plans to relaunch the business and make it thrive.

He grew up in London but has lived in Cheshire and Staffordshire for the previous 20 years before opening Bombay Lounge in 2019.

The venue offers dine in, takeaway and a delivery services.

Specialities on the menu include Bombay firecracker, mezbani lamb and rajastanti chicken as well as murgh malabar and, of course, the nation’s favourite chicken tikka masala.

Owner Afzal Hassan, who is 37, said: “I am thrilled that Bombay Lounge has been shortlisted for the Best Restaurant in Cheshire at the renowned Prestige Curry Awards 2024.

“This recognition highlights our dedication to delivering exceptional dining experiences and our commitment to culinary excellence.
“Adding to this excitement, we recently had a visit from a secret diner who came to judge our food and service.

“We are proud to share that they complimented both our food and service in their follow-up email, which further underscores the quality and effort we put into every aspect of our restaurant.
“We are incredibly honoured to be considered for this prestigious award and we believe this achievement reflects the vibrant dining scene here in Cheshire.

“We are looking forward to attending the awards night later in the year.”
Asif Iqbal, founder and chairman of the Prestige Curry Awards, said: “We are incredibly honoured to have Bombay Lounge on this year’s shortlist.

“Their commitment to excellence and innovation in Indian cuisine truly stands out.

“Recognition like this celebrates the hard work and passion that restaurants like Bombay Lounge put into creating memorable dining experiences.

“We look forward to celebrating their achievements at the awards ceremony.”

The glittering event will be held at the Hilton Watford Hotel on Monday, October 21.