Eight Liverpool city region restaurants have been recognised in the latest Good Food Awards list and Antonio’s in Knowsley is among them. Tony McDonough reports

Family restaurant Antonio’s is one of eight venues in Liverpool city region to have won a Good Food Award for 2022.

Launched in 2002, the Good Food Awards recognise restaurants across the UK that are judged to keep the highest standards in areas such as food, customer feedback and food hygiene.

Founded eight years ago by Tony Cummins and run with his partner Donna, Antonio’s is housed in one of the former Earl of Derby Estate Cottages with a Shakespearean and Old English-inspired menu and feel. In July, Tony told LBN how the business adapted to survive the COVID-19 pandemic.

In late 2019, he had made a significant investment into the restaurant to give it a fresh feel. But just weeks after relaunch in February 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a lockdown with all hospitality venues forced to close. However, they were allowed to maintain a takeaway service.

“We had already been offering takeaways for a number of years,” said Tony. “The most difficult part of doing that is maintaining the quality. But it is something we have been working on for a long time. For many restaurants it is about getting the quantity out there. But for us the quality always has to come first.”

Now his and his team’s commitment to quality has been recognised in the Good Food Awards. They are by invitation only and each year the judges hand pick selected eating establishments to join the awards programme.

This accolade means a huge amount to the team at Antonio’s as it is voted for by their guests of whom they say each day just continue to support everything they do. Earlier in the year they scooped their first award the Tripadvisor travellers choice award and the restaurant now proudly sits in the No1 position as best restaurant in Merseyside.

In a message to his customers, Tony said: “We would like to take the opportunity to thank all of you that continue to support what we do without all of you. None of this is possible and the biggest thank you to our team.

“Our fantastic front of house, our amazing chefs and kitchen team, these awards are hopefully the start of many awards in our pursuit of gastro and hospitality perfection.”

The other seven Merseyside restaurants recognised in the Good Food Awards 2022, were: Thai Cuisine Express Liverpool, Silk Road Liverpool, Silk Road Heswall, Salt and Pepper House in Liverpool, Khaja Indian Cuisine in Woolton, the Whistle Stop Cafe in Southport, and Yannis Fish and Chips in Liverpool.