Glasgow-based Gamba has seen off strong competition from four other high-profile seafood specialist restaurants to scoop the inaugural U.K. Restaurant of the Year 2015 award.
The competition was co-organized by The Caterer magazine and Seafish.
The already two AA rosette award-winning seafood restaurant, owned by chef Derek Marshall, impressed the judges during the various judging rounds, which included mystery dining visits by Seafish auditors.
According to the judging panel – comprising chefs, restaurateurs and food experts – Gamba demonstrated a passion for responsible and local sourcing, displayed robust sustainability policies and practices, as well as excelling in customer service. Marshall and his team also excelled in promoting lesser known species and supporting its staff’s seafood product knowledge through its training program.
Gamba was presented with its trophy at a special ceremony in London.
“Celebrating the people and businesses that are the public face of our industry and who do such an amazing job in promoting the great wealth and variety of fish and shellfish available to the U.K. consumer is extremely important,” said Paul Williams, CEO of Seafish.
“That is why Seafish is honored to be part of these awards, crowning Gamba as the 2015 Restaurant of the Year, and demonstrating the importance of the responsible sourcing of the freshest, sustainable produce which, thanks to the skill and expertise of chefs like Derek Marshall and his kitchen and restaurant teams, goes into creating inspiring cuisine for everyone to enjoy.”
Alongside Gamba, the other shortlisted finalists were: Hix Oyster & Fish House, Lyme Regis; Outlaw’s at the Capital, London; Rocksalt, Folkestone; and The Jetty, Christchurch.
The organizers said the Restaurant of the Year 2015 was created to find restaurants demonstrating both excellent examples of the cooking and serving of fish and shellfish, as well as evidence of fish and shellfish knowledge among its staff, both front and back of house.
