Ipswich Tandoori and Grill given four stars by Food Standards Agency

Ipswich Tandoori, 36 Dickens Rd, Ipswich.

An Ipswich Indian takeaway which last year was given a one-star rating by the Food Standards Agency has turning its fortunes around following a latest inspection.

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On Wednesday, inspectors returned to Ipswich Tandoori and Grill in Dickens Road almost one year after giving it a one star rating, but this time found the firm in a more favourable four-star position this time.

Owner Mohammed Ali has run the business for the last two-and-a-half years, and said it was paperwork, not cleanliness, that originally let the establishment down.

“A lot of it is not the place but the food safety pack we have to fill in.

“Everybody working here has been in the trade for however many years, but nobody realised we needed to go into that much detail.”

Some minor infringements included tidiness of the bins – which Mr Ali said was down to having bin bags rather than a bin, and a faulty seal on the freezer.

To turn around the takeaway’s fortunes, Mr Ali has undertaken a rigorous process of completing the paperwork, as well as carrying out more staff training, but admitted the demands on paperwork was too great.

“Everybody wants to be five stars – nobody sets out to get a one star,” he said.

“My main priority was is it clean, would I eat from this, is it safe?

“I think they are making too much emphasis on filling in paperwork.”

Now, Mr Ali has said he is committed to reaching five stars, with processes in place to maintain hygiene and safety files and continuing existing cleaning routines.