Streetly Balti named ‘best takeaway service in West Midlands’ at International Indian Chef Awards
A restaurant in Sutton Coldfield has picked up its latest honour in Birmingham in a prestigious industry awards ceremony. Streetly Balti has been named The Best Takeaway Service in The West Midlands at the Tommy Miah’s International Indian Chef Awards, held at the Second City’s Burlington Hotel on Sunday, September 29.
After nominations were received, the restaurant received a mystery diner visit, with the eatery’s popularity ‘scrutinised’ on social media and review sites. Owner, Shab Uddin, was delighted to win the award from a well-known name in the industry, ‘a renowned chef since the 80s and his awards have been around since 1991’.
He said: “The Tommy Miah Chef Institute has been around for over 4 decades now, one of the first winners of his chef competitions was none other than the late, charismatic, Enam Ali, a pioneer for our industry."
Read more: Restaurant defends menu change - ‘if it doesn’t work for someone that’s cool’
Shab continued: “For Streetly Balti to be recognised by an age-old institute like The Tommy Miah Institute is just huge. A few years ago, winning accolades such as this was just a dream. Now those dreams [are] starting to become a reality. Still not sunk in yet. Have to say a big thank you to my sons, and all the hardworking staff at the restaurant.”
Shab said Tony Miah has been in his restaurant twice before in 2019 and 2021 but nothing came of it. When he visited this year, given the past experience he did not think anything of it. He said a few days after the visit a takeaway order came in, almost identical to the food Tony and two associates had on the visit.
He believes the winning dishes were starters - Pata Chatt – deep fried baby spinach in batter with daal, tamarind sauce and pomegranate seeds. Dali Bora- little balls of crunchy, crispy lentils to be eaten with crispy fried chillies. And Sardine Satni - sardines cooked in herbs and light spices, stuffed in a sweet red pepper.
Mains included King Prawn Kali Mirch - King prawns with crushed black peppercorns in a coconut-flavoured sauce. Railway Gosth - diced muon, slowly simmered in a rich, dark spicy gravy, ‘aromatic and full of flavour’. And Handi Murgh – a chicken curry in a traditional homestyle sauce. All with chilli lemon rice and sizzling rice - Basmati rice, cooked with spring onions, grated cauliflower and infused with liquid seasoning. But Shab cannot be certain if they were what he was judged on.
Tripadvisor continues to have the Chester Road restaurant as Sutton’s ‘Number 1’ out of 263 in the town, with a five out of five rating. Marcus H posted this month and said: “Bl**dy brilliant, butter chicken was superb. King Prawn Kali Mirch was excellent too. Well done Shab and co. Would definitely recommend.”
Ziggy said: “Very busy Indian restaurant which shows just how popular it is. The host was really nice followed by one of the best Indian meals I have had for a long time. I would highly recommend everything about Streetly Balti.”
And Neiljai commented: “Delicious food in a welcoming environment. First time visiting and very impressed. From start to finish, everything was perfect.”
Get the latest Sutton Coldfield news delivered direct to your inbox
The restaurant won the Best Indian Takeaway in the Midlands 2023 at the seventh Euro Asia Curry Awards, a title it scooped in 2022 also. And then days later was named Restaurant and Takeaway of the Year at The Prestige Curry Awards. It also won the Best of the Midlands crown at the second Nation’s Curry Awards in February this year.
This year it is in the running for the Local Restaurant Award at the Prestige Curry Awards this year and has also been shortlisted for the Food Awards England 2023 in the Best Indian Establishment – Midlands, alongside seven others