A Mediterranean steakhouse serving international cuisine has won an award for best team.

IL Bistro, in Market Street, Brighton, received the title at the 2024 Best Restaurants Vote Online awards (BRAVO).

Owner Abe Garman, 31, said the 48-year-old restaurant is "one of the longest-serving restaurants" in the city.

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Abe, who took over the restaurant from his dad Michael Garman, told The Argus: "We are so delighted to win the best team in Brighton and Hove award as this is the award that means the most to us.

"Every one of us dedicates our lives to what we do to provide the best experience possible for our guests. 

"Our ethos at IL Bistro is the customer isn’t a king or queen and that’s because they’re a friend. I believe our attitude towards what we do is the reason we have been trading for nearly 50 years. 

The Argus: The restaurant has been trading for almost five decades

"We can’t thank our loyal guests enough, for every single person who voted and for every single person who supports us week in week out, come rain or shine it really means the world to us. 

"We're fully booked every weekend which speaks volumes in how loyal our guests are considering the amount of options there are to eat out in Brighton and Hove."

Abe and his partner are expecting their first child later this year.

He said he hopes to continue the business for years to come before handing over the restaurant to his future son.

He said: "The restaurant is in my blood and I’m very lucky it’s my passion and I don’t see it as a job. 

"I always joke saying I’ve got the pressure of doing this for another 50 years.

"Me and my partner are expecting a baby boy in September so my dream would be for one day to work alongside my son and to hand him the reigns."

The restaurant also achieved ninth place in the best restaurant category and third place for the best international cuisine in the city.