A curry house that treats its diners "like extended family" has scooped a clutch of awards and been voted in the top 10% of restaurants worldwide.

The Taste of Nawab restaurant and takeaway, which has been serving Indian and Bengali food in Muswell Hill for 27 years, won the Editor’s Choice Restaurant category at the Curry Life Awards 2023 on October 15.

The Colney Hatch Lane eatery was also a Gold Seal winner at the 2023 Good Food Awards and earned a place in the top 10% of restaurants worldwide in Trip Advisor's Customers Choice and Travellers' Choice awards.

Paul Scully MP, Curry Life editor Syed Belal Ahmed and Lord Bilimoria presented the prize to Abdul Rahman, who was accompanied by his son Sain, 17, and daughter Sima, 13.

Ham & High: Paul Scully MP, Curry Life Editor Syed Belal Ahmed and Lord Bilimoria presented Best Restaurant award to Abdul Rahman, his son Sain, 17, and daughter Sima, 13Paul Scully MP, Curry Life Editor Syed Belal Ahmed and Lord Bilimoria presented Best Restaurant award to Abdul Rahman, his son Sain, 17, and daughter Sima, 13 (Image: Taste of Nawab)

Abdul, who owns the restaurant with his wife Rasna, said: "This is great, absolutely fantastic. This is all thanks to the community who we've been supporting ever since we moved here.

"Our customers are so loyal it's unbelievable - we treat customers like our extended family."

The Curry Life win and other prizes are only the most recent in a series of accolades. 

During the pandemic the family fed people more than 70 for free and shopped for those who could not leave their homes.

And it caters for curry-hungry celebrities, with an A-list clientele including Spandau Ballet frontman Tony Hadley, actor Maureen Lipman, and Labour leader and Holborn and St Pancras MP Sir Keir Starmer.

Father-of-two Abdul, who is a regular at the Muswell Hill Festival and street celebrations also credited his chefs - Shah Bablu, Mohammed Saad, Kaswar Saddik and Shaesta Miah.

They offer guests a range of traditional dishes as well as a diverse range of regional specialities, the most popular being the Korai, a medium-spiced dish that "melts on the tongue".

Abdul has attracted global suitors for his Nawab sauce – a pink spicy concoction with 15 ingredients, which can be served with poppadoms, meat or vegetables.

Customers have called from around the world including China, Canada and the US to try to find out the secrets behind the special sauce – but Abdul says he keeps the magic close to his chest.