Gourmet Society Awards 2009.

We have been recently voted the best Restaurant in Sunderland and South Tyneside.

Heres what the Sunderland Echo had to say about us:-

Husband and wife team Helen and Chris Clark proved they have the recipe for success after winning a North East Restaurant Award. The couple own Paprika Cafe, in Frederick Street, Sunderland. They are celebrating after being named Best Restaurant in South Shields and Sunderland at the North East Food Awards 2009.

Chef Chris said: “Absolute constancy, that’s the secret of our success. It is the most important thing and something we’ve worked very hard on. “It’s also about not getting stagnated. That is why we keep the menu small and fresh.” Chris is the only cook at the cafe and creates every dish himself. The only food they buy in is ice cream. Helen works front of house in the restaurant, which opened in December 2003.

The couple, of Roseberry Park, Sea ham, knew their nomination had made it to the final but had no idea they had won. Helen told Chris when they arrived for the ceremony, at The Sage, Gateshead, that if they did win she was not going on stage. The mum-of-two said: “When they called out ‘Paprika’ I ran off and left Chris behind.

I was straight up on the stage and I even said a few words. “This is something we have worked really hard for and we never thought we would get the recognition. “It has given us a real boost.” They said they were as happy to bring the award back to Sunderland as they were to bring It to Paprika. Helen said: “I’m not sure if this is the first time Sunderland has won an award like this but it is good for the area.