The UK’s best Indian restaurant has been named as London’s Imli, sister site to Michelin-starred Tamarind.

It was one of a host of winners in the 2007 Cobra Good Curry Awards, which were dominated by London-based restaurants and took place yesterday at the London Hilton hotel on Park Lane.

The best in the Midlands and best UK restaurant titles went to Birmingham’s Itihaas restaurant.

Under the auspices of executive chef Samir Sadekar, Imli has been credited for pioneering the use of “light and refreshing” dishes not traditionally associated with Indian cuisine on its menu.

Best restaurant in London was named as Mint Leaf in Haymarket, with best newcomer named as Café Naz in the capital’s Brick Lane.

There are currently 10,000 Indian restaurants in the UK employing around 80,000 people with combined annual turnover of £3.2b.

The full list of category winners were:

Best in London – Mint Leaf, SW1
Best Indian Restaurant – Imli, W1F
Best Nepalese – Monty’s, W5
Best Chef – Café Naz, Brick Lane E1
Best in South & West – Tamasha, Bromley, Kent
Best Sri Lankan – Elephant Walk, NW6
Best Vegetarian – Chai Pani, W1H
Best Newcomer – Moti Mahal, WC2
Best Punjabi – Brilliant restaurant, Southall
Best in North England – Indian Ocean, Ashton
Best in Midlands, Itihaas, Birmingham
Best in Wales – Misbah, South Wales
Best Pakistani – Kinara, Pitts Cottage

Imli, Soho - menuwatch >>

Samir Sadekar, sous chef at London's Tamarind restaurant >>

Restaurants honoured in Good Curry Awards >>

Nail in the coffin of the curry restaurant >>

By Chris Druce

E-mail your comments to Chris Druce here.

Get your copy of Caterer and Hotelkeeper every week - click here to subscribe and save 25%.