AN Indian takeaway has been given a five-star hygiene rating – just a few months after being infested with rats and closed down.

Owner Jabid Abden said their problems are now behind them and they will become the top takeaway in town and ‘a huge part of the community.’

The Rasoi takeaway in Ross-on-Wye got off to a catastrophic start when the new owners moved in last June.

First they say they were so popular in the first few days they could not cope and left people waiting. But the bigger issue was that, not spotted by them, building maintenance problems were allowing rats to get in via the basement and through other entry points.

A health inspection led to the restaurant being told to close and Jabid and his brother-in-law, Rahat Chowdhury, getting in pest control experts, arranging new building work and doing staff training.

“We always knew we would come out with five stars,” said Jabid. “We have another Rasoi restaurant in Cheltenham and that is five star.

“It was out of our control because the condition of the building was bad. But now we have upgraded it. We refitted everything.”

“Now we have a five-star rating its time for us to grow. We will be the best in the town.

“We want to raise money for charity and sponsor a local sports team and be a huge part of the community.”

Jabid says Rasoi – it means kitchen – concentrates on modern Indian fusion dishes and they make sure it’s as healthy as possible by stripping out colourings and artificial elements.

“Five star was always our minimum expectation. We were always confident. It’s a relief.”

The takeaway is still open during the lockdown and is offering contactless delivery.

For two weeks they also offered NHS workers in the area a free curry, free rice or naan and a portion of poppadoms.