Thanet restaurants top awards ceremony

No fewer than ten Thanet restaurants have been named as finalists in the Kent Restaurant Awards 2009.

Kent Restaurant Awards in association with OrderOnlineNow.co.uk – the Kent-based online restaurant booking and takeaway ordering system – has announced the finalists for the awards ceremony being held in January.

Ramsgate has six venues in the finals: Age & Sons, Bon Appetit, Harvey’s Fish Market & Oyster Bar, La Magnolia, Portobello and Surin,

From Broadstairs there will be Oscar Road and Osteria Posillipo.

Margate is represented by No.6 Brasserie and Birchington has Minnis Bar.

Public online voting to www.KentRestaurantAwards saw more than 300 Kent restaurants nominated and over 6,000 votes cast.

The Awards have now moved on the judging phases where a panel of respected independent food critics and journalists are visiting each of the finalists and evaluate restaurants according to certain criteria.

Marks out of a 100 will be awarded according to quality of the cooking (up to 50), service (20), ambience (10), use of local produce (10) and support of sustainable farming practices (10).

Commenting on the proliferation of finalists drawn from Thanet, Event Director George Shaw said; “The preponderance on finalists being drawn from the isle augers well for the area’s gastro tourism.

“A number recent of high profile openings is certainly putting Thanet on the foodie map,” he said.

The winners will be honoured at a glittering black tie dinner being held at Ashford International Hotel on Thursday 28th January. Tickets available from 01892 759851 or online at www.KentRestaurantAwards.co.uk.

Ramsgate’s Eddie Gilbert’s fishmongers, whose new upstairs gourmet fish restaurant opened after voting has closed, is to sponsor the “Best Seafood Restaurant” category.