Balti Spice never fails to dish up double award-winning curries

And if you’ve never visited Balti Spice, you’re simply a friend they haven’t met yet.

The Duke Street venue, owned by Steve Chowdhury, is St Helens’ Best for Curry 2023 – successfully taking the title for the second year in a row.

Each week, we will be searching for the best St Helens has to offer in different categories and we’ve given out 21 awards for 2023.

The winners so far:

Best for Hair – Hair by Alice Michelle

Best for Pies – Blackburn’s

Best for Nails – Kreative Kirsty

Best for Roast Dinner – The Brown Edge Pub

Best for Cocktails – The Townhouse

Best for Breakfast – Shakey J’s

Best for Fitness – Ashley-James Ward

Best for Fish and Chips – Paul’s Fishbar

Best for Tattoos – White Rabbit Tattoo Studio

Best for Pizza – Dial-A-Pizza

Best for Pets – The Dog House

Best Independent Shop or Business – Stone Tyres

Best for Dessert – Antonia’s Cakes

Best for Beauty – Chantel Louise

Best for Kids – Jo Jingles Warrington, St Helens and Wigan

Best Gym – Ruskin Fitness Club

Best Beer Garden – The Dam

Best for Afternoon Tea - Nirvana Coffee Shop

Best for Burgers – Shakey J’s

Best Café or Coffee Shop – Nirvana Coffee Shop

Voting for St Helens’ Best Pub or Bar is currently taking place and we’re also looking for nominations in our latest search - Best Restaurant.

Next on the menu was the search for St Helens’ Best for Curry and Balti Spice took the latest Best of 2023 crown – making them double award winners.

Steve Chowdhury at the Duke Street venue

Steve Chowdhury, who originally hails from Calcutta in India and moved to St Helens in 1978 when he was a teenager, has a long history in the restaurant trade having had businesses in Doncaster, Birmingham and Wakefield over the years.

He worked in several local restaurants before opening the Duke Street venue in 2008.

Steve, who is 60, said: “Working in other restaurants meant I got to know what curry lovers in St Helens really want.

“I love the town and its people and there are lots who come to the restaurant not just because we cater for their tastes and listen to their feedback and suggestions but because they’ve got know me, my family and our staff.

“For those reasons, they always feel welcome.

“To anyone who has never been here I would say they are simply friends we haven’t met yet.”

Chefs can cater for all tastes, allergies and intolerances

Balti Spice provides a great selection of affordable Indian dishes to suit curry lovers whether they’re meat eaters, vegetarian or vegan or looking for something low calorie.

The restaurant is cosy with a friendly, relaxed atmosphere and they offer home delivery or collection orders.

Steve said: “I’ve always worked in Indian restaurants and loved cooking with fresh ingredients.

“In 2008, it was the right time to put all that knowledge and experience, together with my accountancy qualifications, into my own business.

“Many local people will remember The Shapla and the Koh-i-Noor restaurants and I learnt about the hospitality business here from the age of 17.

“I have so much experience and knowledge in the hospitality industry that it was a natural progression to bring it altogether at Balti Spice.

“I’m essentially a people person and I’m never happier than when I’m surrounded by the interesting and good-humoured people who come through the door.

“It also helps that I love feeding people great food and hear them say our food is fantastic.”

A tempting feast of flavours

What makes Balti Spice different to other restaurants?

Steve says his curries aren’t swimming in oil and his chefs concentrate on the great flavours in the food.

His knowledgeable team can help customers make suitable choices and they can adapt dishes to suit their tastes and preferences as well as allergies and intolerances.

His hard-working team places emphasis on ambience in the restaurant and customers say it’s like a “home from home”.

Steve said: “We like to create a friendly place where customers feel truly relaxed and always receive a warm welcome.

“We try to keep our prices as affordable as possible – we put the exotic in reach of your pocket!”

Balti Spice opened in 2008

Thawa dishes, which are named after the sizzling cast iron dish they are served on, are popular on the menu with specially made sauces and various spices, onions, pepper, garlic and ginger.

The Hari Pata – affectionately known as Harry Potter – is popular with younger customers as it’s a mild curry with spinach, yoghurt and mango.

After winning St Helens’ Best for Curry last year, Steve and the team were thrilled to be shortlisted in this year’s awards.

Steve said: “It’s an honour to be nominated and we’re so grateful to our loyal customers.

“We meet some lovely and interesting people at Balti Spice and it’s great when they become regulars.

“It’s a pleasure to see them return time after time - customers should ever be taken for granted.

“These competitions always inject a bit of fun into our social media and it shows that our customers still appreciate us.

“To win the award for the second year running made us exceptionally happy because it shows we’re still doing things right.

“It’s such great feedback and we’d like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who took time to vote and for their continued loyalty and custom.

“Some of customers have moved across the country or abroad but they never fail to visit our restaurant when they ‘return home’.”

For more details go to facebook.com/dukeststhelens

Chicken tikka and vegetable salad