The Recognition

Over the years the Rajput, Perveen and Shaan have picked up numerous awards and excellent local and national reviews. There have been appearances in cookery programmes, news articles and broadcast pieces, and local and national competitions.

In a town with over sixty restaurants The Rajput is the only Indian restaurant to be consistently awarded the 'Hardens Good Food Guide Award' every year. The Hardens Award is voted for by the public.

It has also received awards from Leeds curry guide and Plush magazine.

A memorable review by Clarissa Dickson Wright (of 'The Two Fat Ladies' fame), stated "I was about to drive back to Ripon when God sent me to the Rajput. A woman in an Indian restaurant kitchen - good heavens". Clarissa continued "My first intimation I was onto something special was when my shish kebab arrived. For years I have persisted in ordering these as a starter in the misplaced belief that one day, somewhere it will be good; at last I was served one that was simply delicious". Clarissa concluded "Perveen Khan is clearly the best cook in Britain. It is appropriate that she should be in Yorkshire".

To this day, Perveen comes across diners who have traveled hundreds of miles to sample the cuisine Clarissa spoke so highly of in her 2007 autobiography. They are never disappointed.

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Here are a few snippets about the Rajput Restaurant and Head Chef, Shaan Khan

The Rajput Restaurant's Chefs Shaan and Mum Perveen have been lovingly mentioned in Clarissa Dickson Wright's 2007 autobiography

I was involved with in the IFAA Bollywood celebration with BBC1's Look North and Christa Ackroid

"He's a man that looks as smooth as his award winning dishes, with his hand made suits and designer casuals" Yorkshire Evening Post

Winner of the Leeds Guide Curry Awards 2005. BEATING THE BEST LEEDS AND BRADFORD HAD TO OFFER!

Harrogate is home to the best Indian restaurant in Britain - Clarissa Dickson Wright of The Two Fat Ladies

Harrogate Advertiser, "The Rajput is a local institution"

"Shaan, a young man handsome enough to be an Indian legend", Clarissa Dickson Wright, of The Two Fat Ladies

"His fish with ginger and coriander is likely to join my best-dishes ever-eaten-list" - Clarissa Dickson Wright, of The Two Fat Ladies.

In August 2003, Shaan Khan hosted a cookery sketch on YTV's Girl Talk

Hardens Good Food Guide 'One of Harrogate's best kept secrets'

Harrogate Advertiser 'A family restaurant in a league of its own'

Out of 5000 entrants and at the young age of 21 Shaan Khan won through to the final of the UK International Chef of the Year 2001 Competition

'Curry addicts from near and far have made the Rajput Restaurant on Cheltenham Parade a local institution', The Harrogate Advertiser

For the past nine years we have been the only Indian restaurant in North Yorkshire to be featured in the Hardens Good Food Guide with a maximum rating of two stars

'Shaan Khan, The Indian Jamie Oliver', Asian Express

Winner of Harrogate's Plush Awards 2006 and 2007, 'The Best International Restaurant', voted for by the people of Harrogate

Former regular guest chef on BBC Asian Network's 'Amanda Hussain Show', in Birmingham