A LOCAL restaurant has the recipe for success after being recognised for its quality cuisine by two top awards bodies.

Curry Lounge in Port Glasgow won New Takeaway of The Year at the 13th Scottish Curry Awards, straight after picking up a Good Food Award earlier in the month.

The Princes Street restaurant was also nominated for New Restaurant of The Year, but narrowly lost out.

The Curry Awards, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Glasgow, recognised its 'hard work, determination, impeccable service and efforts'.

Curry Lounge owner Sal Mohammed was delighted to receive the honour.

Sal, who also runs Frangos and Cakes & Shakes in Port Glasgow, told the Tele he was thrilled to triumph in such a hotly-contested field full of strong contenders.

He said: "It's a big achievement for us.

"We've worked hard, especially during lockdown when we did a lot of takeaways because the restaurant was closed.

"This was a big reward for us and we're pleased to accept it."

The two awards are the first that Curry Lounge has received since it opened in 2019, but Sal hopes that they will be the first of many.

While Sal and the Curry Lounge team strive to provide customers with good quality food and service, they've also been able to find time to help out in the local community.

The restaurant regularly donates to local foodbanks and offered free pakora to NHS workers during lockdown.

Sal told the Tele that he felt the local community had supported the restaurant and that it was only right they pay that kindness back.

He said: "We're grateful for the support we receive and we think it's important we give back to the community.

"We did a lot of community work during lockdown - donating to foodbanks, offering free food to key workers and discounts for emergency staff.

"We're always looking to give something back."