WHETHER you choose Chinese, incline for Indian or like to pick out the perfect pizza, why settle for anything less than the best when it comes to your weekend takeaway?

This year, the top takeaway award in the Guardian's Food and Drink Awards goes to Fantastic Pizza Kebab in Middlewich.

Jayson Kose, owner of the shop, said: “We have always used the best and freshest ingredients in all our dishes which has an obvious effect on the final quality that the customers receive.

“I’ve grown up working in the takeaway food industry, so I’ve learned a lot over the years and then even more since we opened the shop.”

Based in Wheelock Street, Jayson has been running the takeaway since 2002.

Living up to their name, their fantastic pizzas are made with fresh dough on a daily basis and a variety of toppings, meaning customers can create their own ideal pizza.

Customers come from far and wide to try their chicken kebabs, which have a secret recipe that Jayson guards closely.

The 35-year-old added: “Our takeaway gets lots of customers from other towns as well, like Northwich and Winsford.

“They also ask us quite regularly if we are going to open any other branches in other towns, but we want stay unique and couldn’t bring what makes the Middlewich store so fantastic to another area.”

Feedback left on their website credit the takeaway for its hot, fresh food; value for money and the fast and friendly service on offer.

With takeaway shops seeming to be in abundance recently, shop owners must do something to stand out from the crowd if they are to succeed in the business.

Jayson credits their 'abnormally creative approach' to food combinations as setting them apart from other shops in the area, and by striving to give the customer a perfect experience every time they visit.

He said: “We continually search for a great and very dynamic way to better serve our customers, which is why we recently introduced the online ordering system.”

The shop also launched a range of tempting milkshakes and Belgian waffles.

With almost 60 shake flavours, from classic strawberry and chocolate to inventive chocolate orange or Nutella flavours, there is plenty on offer to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth.

YOUR FAVOURITE FIVE

  • Fantastic Pizza Kebab, Middlewich
  • Pastiche, Knutsford
  • Canton Fusions, Winsford
  • Cheshire Tandoori, Northwich
  • Balti Cottage, Winsford

Highly commended: Pastiche, Knutsford

TAKING the runner-up spot for best takeaway is Pastiche in Knutsford.

Lucy McDonough, manager, answered some questions for the Guardian about the establishment.

Lucy said: “We offer good quality takeaway food at a very good price. “We enjoy working with people and every day is different.”

The restaurant has been going for 16 years and the favourite dishes for customers are the fire cracker pizza and seafood linguine.

Lucy believes consistency and quality to be the secret to success for Pastiche.

She said: “We are a small, family run business with the same chefs every time, so our food doesn’t differ in quality.”

Pastiche is a valued part of the Knutsford community and they have one particular offer that is very popular with customers: “Our £6 takeaway deal, where else would you get that?” said Lucy

Readers voted in our Food and Drink Awards during the spring across our sister titles. 

We've been revealing the winners over the past week. Keep your eyes peeled for the remaining categories.