The Maldon Tandoori reckons its "passion for cooking" is the reason Essex Chronicle readers voted it as the best Indian restaurant in the county.
The popular curry house attracted 49 per cent of the votes in a survey of our online voters during National Curry Week last month.
Manager Jhual Ahmed said: "It's fantastic news, I am very happy the restaurant has been voted Essex's favourite Indian restaurant.
"It's all about having a passion for cooking.
"We offer more choice and variety than other restaurants normally would, it's all about leaving your own mark."
The restaurant fought off close competition from the nine other restaurants shortlisted. These included Chelmsford mainstays The Shahjan, which came second with 10 per cent of the vote, while Indian Night came third with seven per cent.
The Sitar, Bilash, Balti King, The Gulshan and Everest Gurkha, Omar's Tandoori in Hatfield Peverel, and Curry Nights in Maldon made up the rest of the list.
Mr Ahmed added: "My brother, who is the restaurant's head chef, creates new dishes all the time.
"He's important as he gets the right products and spices, the key to any good Indian dish."
