TWO East Lothian restaurants won top prizes at this year’s Food Awards Scotland last night.

East Coast Restaurant in Musselburgh won the award for best seafood establishment, while the Tyneside Tavern Mazzoli Italian Kitchen in Haddington won restaurant of the year in south-east Scotland.

Representatives from both restaurants were present on the night of the final as they picked up their awards at the Glasgow Marriott Hotel. 

The Food Awards Scotland celebrate and reward restaurants and food businesses in the industry.

The awards are voted for by the public and are designed to recognise the efforts of the best restaurants, takeaways, gastro pubs, hotel restaurants, cafes and bistros in Scotland.

Carlo Crolla, owner of East Coast in Musselburgh, said: “We’re honoured to have been voted best seafood establishment in Scotland by the public and industry experts. 

“This national award is owed to the hard work and effort of the whole East Coast team who strive every single day to be the best and help put East Lothian on the map as a real foodie destination.

“Restaurants in smaller towns like Musselburgh are often overlooked in Scotland-wide competitions, so it means so much to us to represent the town on a national level."

Paul Kinnoch, owner of Tyneside Tavern Mazzoli Italian, said he was amazed that the business won restaurant of the year in south-east Scotland and thanked staff and customers for their support.

He said: “We’re over the moon to have won the award, it’s a huge honour for us to be recognised on a national level like this.

“It’s been a tough time for the restaurant industry recently so to win it during these challenging times means a lot to us.

“We are thankful to all the staff involved in making the restaurant what it is today.

“And of course we are thankful to all the customers who voted for us in the awards, without them it wouldn’t be possible and without them the restaurant wouldn’t be possible.

Tyneside Tavern are now planning for a busy winter period which Paul hopes will make up for a challenging December month last year.

He said: “We’ve changed our menu and updated and improved it a bit which is a big thing for us.

“We’re already taking bookings for December so hopefully it’s a busy time for us.

“Last Christmas was challenging with many people still hesitant to come out to the restaurant so we’re hoping that this year we will make up for it and be really busy.”