Raval took the award for the best fine-dining restaurant at the Asian Restaurant Awards on Monday July 31 and we tried its celebratory Restaurant Week offering
By Daniel Hall
When Raval brushed aside competition from a host of London Michelin Star restaurants to scoop the best fine dining restaurant in the UK at last week’s Asian Restaurant Awards, you could say my interest was piqued.
And when it launched its own Restaurant Week deal to thanks its customers and celebrate the victory, it was a no-brainer to book instantly. Days later and the restaurant, which looks out onto the Tyne Bridge, already proudly displays the award immediately to the left of the entrance.
We were the first customers to arrive on Tuesday evening, and though we were new to Raval, we were welcomed like old friends. Naturally still on a high from last week’s news, the staff told us that they reckoned their secret ingredient was the location – and on seven visits, the judges fell in love with Geordie hospitality, edging them above the competition in London (though the Michelin-starred Quilon did also win).