And the winners are... our Taste awards 2017

BEST RESTAURANT - 1909

SUSSEX is packed with quality restaurants, several of which you could make a case for winning the top award. But we are awarding the prestigious gong to 1909 in East Street, Brighton.

The restaurant is above the Pressleys jewellers with a dozen or so tables around a kitchen and bar.

The chefs serve an ever changing selection of small plates, each one challenging and tantalising the taste buds.

If you’ve been you will know what we are talking about. If you haven’t, go.

BEST NEWCOMER - PIKE AND PINE

THERE have been a number of notable openings this year.

Masterchef The Professionals winner Steven Edwards launched his first restaurant, Etch, in Church Road and Brighton foodie golden boy Michael Bremner opened his seafront venture, Murmur.

But the winner is Pike and Pine in St James’s Street, Brighton, run by Matt Gillan. His incredible food is only outdone by the restaurant’s stunning interiors.

BEST CURRY - CURRY LEAF KEMPTOWN KITCHEN

OVER the last few years Brighton has established itself as the curry capital of the south east. Think Indian Summer, The Chilli Pickle, Planet India and Hove Tandoori. But our winner is Curry Leaf’s Kemptown Kitchen.

Opened earlier in the year, to name it winner of best curry is slightly misleading.

Curry is just the start of it, with the kitchen serving all kinds of the delicious morsels of Indian street food. A must for any spice lover.

BEST VALUE - CIN CIN

SUCH has been the success of Cin Cin in Vine Street, Brighton, the Italian masters are opening in Hove in the new year.

For us, it still does the best value and best quality midweek dinner in town.

For £10 on a Tuesday you get one of their outstanding pasta dishes, such as the pappardelle with cavolo nero, mascarpone and pancetta, along with a glass of wine or beer.

What’s not to like?

BEST CHIPS - BEFRIES

LIKE the burger boom a couple of years ago, many chefs are now turning their hand to chips. But not your usually deep fried bags of frozen chips.

These are chips with a little TLC. For us, there is only one winner and that is Befries in West Street, Brighton.

Their double cooked beauties come with a range of sauces, which you can now buy in jars.

BEST PUB - BREWDOG

YOU could fill a whole paper debating the best pub.

Different people will judge a pub on a different things. Cosiness, bar staff, atmosphere, beer garden or even pub games, to name a few.

But we are going purely on the beer for this one. And you won’t find anywhere better than Brewdog in Grand Parade, Brighton.

Forget flat, warm, lifeless beer. Brewdog has dozens of different beers, each with their own flavour and character.

BEST FISH AND CHIPS - WOLFIES

FISH and chip shops are like football teams. People pick theirs and stay with them for life.

Which is such a shame with so many fantastic chippies in Sussex.

Our pick is Wolfies in Goldstone Villas, Hove. Think crisp batter, flaky white fish and sumptuous sides. They do a decent pie too.

BEST PIZZA - FATTO A MANO

GETTING a table at either the Church Road or London Road restaurant can be a challenge. But if you do, you’re in for a treat.

It’s all about the base which is then brought to life in a wood fire pizza oven. Perfection.

BEST BURGER - BURGER BROTHERS

THERE is no shortage of quality burger joints in Brighton and Hove. But for us, head and shoulders above the rest is Burger Brothers, North Road, Brighton.

Don’t expect a seat or to eat off an arty chopping board like other burger joints. Burger Brothers don’t try to make burgers fine dining. Because they aren’t.

They just focus on quality produce and lip smacking-taste.

BEST CAFE - MARMALADE

Set in Eastern Road, Brighton, Marmalade has everything you could want from a cafe. Great coffee, majestic cakes, stunning fresh food, sandwiches and salads and a cosy interior.

You can easily while away a Saturday afternoon in there with friends and the newspaper.