New Zealand's best local restaurants are being celebrating in an annual restaurant awards.

Nominations are now open for the People's Choice category in Food delivery platform, Menulog's Restaurant Awards.

The Awards aim to provide added support at a difficult time for the industry, as well as celebrating local restaurants delivering delicious meals to customers across New Zealand.

Last year's People's Choice winner, Tauranga-based Indian restaurant Great Spice, beat out more than 80 other restaurants for the award with its wide variety of authentic Indian cuisine using fresh local products and Indian spices.

Owner of Great Spice, Khem Aryal, says people come back to Great Spice for its top-quality food and exceptional customer service.

'Not only do we provide professional service, we care about our customers - we want them to feel at home here. We create delicious food and they keep coming back.”

Menulog is calling for its Restaurant Partners to nominate themselves for People's Choice, which will then be taken to the public for a winner-takes-all vote.

The People's Choice winner for 2020 will win an advertising and media package worth $2500 to help promote and grow their business as well as $1000 cash.

Members of the public will then be invited to vote for the nominated restaurants, with one lucky vote chosen to win a year's worth of Menulog.

'We love running the Restaurant Awards each year as not only does it give us a great opportunity to recognise our restaurant partners, but we see such fantastic support from the local community,” Menulog Managing Director Morten Belling.

'The People's Choice category ensures more customers can get involved and helps showcase more of New Zealand's best local eateries.”

HOW TO ENTER PEOPLE'S CHOICE

Restaurant Partners can simply head to restaurantawards.menulog.co.nz to nominate their restaurant in the People's Choice category. Restaurants will have until Friday, September 4, to nominate their restaurant. Customers can then vote for their favourite eatery when voting opens on September 14.

Key dates for Menulog Restaurant Awards

Nominations for People's Choice Award open - 18 August

People's Choice Award close - 4 September

Australia's Greatest Armchair Food Critic announced - 14 September

People's Choice Award voting opens - 14 September

People's Choice Award voting closes - 27 September

Winners are announced - 1 October