Nergiz on Magdalen Street in Norwich earns five-star rating

When a food inspector for Norwich City Council visited Kurdish takeaway Nergiz in Magdalen Street last March, they found that the shop required "major improvement" and said that "a revisit is planned and formal enforcement is likely".

However, a year after the takeaway received its low rating, hygiene inspectors awarded the premises the full five stars and praised the cleanliness of the shop.

"Food hygiene standards are high," read the report.

"You demonstrated a very good standard of compliance with legal requirements.

"You have safe food handling practices and procedures and all the necessary control measures to prevent cross-contamination are in place."

The takeaway specialises in Kurdish cuisine (Image: Newsquest)

Owner of Nergiz, Muhammad Muhammadi, is over the moon with the re-rating.

"We have literally changed the whole shop and rebuilt it," said Mr Muhammadi.

"Everything has been done again.

"Our customers have been commenting that it is really beautiful and nice and clean.

"I am very happy."

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Nergiz is a hit spot for those in the city looking to enjoy some Kurdish cuisine and has maintained a high 4.5 out of five stars on Google from nearly 400 reviews despite the shock food hygiene rating last March.

Nergiz opened on September 27, 2019 in Magdalen Street, taking over from the Green Chilli Indian restaurant (Image: Newsquest)

The 2023 report referenced numerous concerns, ranging from having the "raw meat display next to dirty walls and plug sockets" to "the silicon sealant above the kitchen sinks being mouldy".

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Nergiz opened in September 2019 after taking over from the Green Chilli Indian restaurant.

Owner Mr Muhammadi also mentioned that the site had once been home to a bank.

The restaurant serves meat and chicken shawarma wraps as well as sea bass with naan bread, chicken wings, lamb chops and chicken biryani.