A family-run Mauritian restaurant has won a ‘Good Food Award.’

Flavour of Mauritius in Caversham Road, Reading, was started by Yogetta Faulkner, who moved to the UK from Mauritius in 2005.

Ms Faulkner said: "This is the first time that we have been awarded the Good Food Award and we are so happy to be acknowledged by customers and the community.

"We are so grateful that people have given us a chance and believed in us.

"It’s not easy to run a restaurant in this day and age and it certainly hasn’t been an easy journey."

The restaurant started as a food truck in 2017, travelling to different family events and festivals to serve food to the community.

Although the owners hoped to open the restaurant in the town centre in 2020, they were hindered slightly by the Covid-19 pandemic, delaying the opening until 2021.

Since opening, Ms Faulkner said she is "proud to say that we have encouraged over 250 families to visit Mauritius after trying the food."

Talking about what makes the restaurant special, she said: "What makes the restaurant so different is the vibe and the food.

"It’s so different and there is no other Mauritian restaurant in the area as far as I’m aware.

"It’s just a really unique restaurant with excellent food."

The owner said the most challenging thing over the last few years has been "getting customers through the doors."

She said: "There really isn’t enough support for independent businesses which is why so many are closing down.

"We just need the community to keep supporting independent businesses or they will all vanish."

She made clear how grateful she is to the community for supporting her business and making this award possible.

Mauritian food is a fusion of African, Indian, Chinese, and French cuisines, with popular dishes at the restaurant including squirrel and rabbit.

The restaurant also won the Southern Enterprise Award 2023 for the most authentic restaurant.