Uber Eats has revealed the national finalists for its UK & Ireland Restaurant of the Year Awards, representing the very best of small businesses available on the platform.
From a pool of over 130 restaurants, 12 have made it to the grand finale, including a few returning favourites from 2023 - Natty’s Jerk Shack (South East), Haystack Cafe (Wales) and Locke Burger (Ireland).
This year, the judging panel set to determine the winner of the coveted ‘Restaurant of The Year’ award is bigger than ever.
Leading the charge is chef, television and radio broadcaster Andi Oliver, joined by street food connoisseur Kieran Monlouis, and 2023 winner Josh Kleiner from Sandwich Sandwich.
Uber Eats GM Matthew Price and Lorraine Copes, Founder and CEO at Be Inclusive Hospitality will also return to the panel, to help decide who will take home the grand prize of £100,000 to invest in their business.
While there can only be one ‘Restaurant of the Year’, Uber Eats, which is currently made up of 60% small or medium businesses, is offering each of the finalists a £5,000 prize alongside a bespoke support package to accelerate their business’ growth.
The finalist for Scotland is Salt & Chilli Oriental, which has outlets in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Hamilton. It's the brainchild of chef Jimmy Lee, who also owns Lychee Oriental.
Salt & Chilli Oriental opened in Whiteinch in Glasgow in 2021 as a pop-up, and its popularity has seen other venues open since, including in Bonnie & Wild in Edinburgh's St James Quarter.
Matthew Price, general manager UK, Ireland and Northern Europe at Uber Eats said: “A massive congratulations to our Scotland finalist, Salt & Chilli Oriental.
"The calibre of businesses taking part in our Restaurant of the Year Awards continues to grow. I look forward to welcoming the Salt & Chilli Oriental team to the Awards in November, and hearing more about their journey as a small restaurant business”
