ONE of the best known resturants in Suffolk is celebrating today after winning the coveted The Which Good Food Guide’s East England Restaurant of the Year Award.

It is the second time Maison Bleue, in Bury St Edmunds, has picked up the title, which recognises consistently great food and excellent service at independently-owned restaurants, pubs and cafes and is voted for by the public.

Maison Bleue, which is in Churchage Street, is owned by East Anglia’s leading chef and restaurateur, Regis Crepy, and Pascal and Karine Canevet, who have run the business for the past 14 years.

Mrs Canevet said: “Pascal and I are absolutely thrilled to be the Good Food Guide’s East England Restaurant of the Year. Winning this award means so much to us, not only because it comes from our clientele. It is also testament to the unswerving hard work and dedication of our loyal team and, as it is the second time we have won this award in three years, it makes us extremely proud.”

Mr Crepy added: “We are very thrilled to have won this prestigious award for the second time. It is a huge achievement and it makes all our team extremely proud. We thank all our customers for voting for us and for their fantastic support over the years.”

Maison Bleue won the title in 2009 and its sister restaurant The Great House, in Lavenham, won it in 2008

Renowned for its selection of fish dishes, Maison Bleue’s menu also offers a choice for those who may prefer meat or vegetarian.

Dishes include black olive, egg, chive and parsley gateau served with croutons and wild mushroom sauce, followed by monkfish with Bangladeshi lemon, coriander and coconut milk sauce or a roasted rack of Horringer lamb with fondant potato and smoked garlic sauce.

Desserts include feuillantine biscuit with white chocolate and pistachio mousse and dark chocolate parfait.

The cheese trolley offers a range of some 20 different varieties of French cheeses.

A record 44,500 food-lovers put forward their favourites from around the UK for the annual awards.

The other nine regional winners were: Charlotte’s Place, Ealing; The Bluebell, Henley-in-Arden; Van Zeller, Harrogate; Grenache, Manchester; Mourne Seafood Bar, Belfast; Ubiquitous Chip, Glasgow; Jeremy’s Restaurant, Haywards Heath; The Swan, Wedmore and Y Polyn, Carmarthen.