A YORK restaurant which specialises in food for people with restricted diets is hoping to grow its list of awards after being shortlisted in a new national competition.

El Piano, in Grape Lane, has been nominated as a finalist in the Restaurant of the Year category at the inaugural FreeFrom Eating Out Awards.

Its shortlisting comes just weeks after the restaurant was named as runner up in the 2014 national VEGFEST awards.

El Piano director Magdelena Chavez said: "We are delighted to be nominated. After 17 years of preparing and cooking vegan and gluten-free meals it seems as if El Piano is at last coming of age - and not just for people with eating restrictions but as a general dining destination of excellence as is best illustrated through our enthusiastic TripAdvisor reviews and multiple mainstream eatery awards in Yorkshire, plus our recent placing as first runner up in the 2014 national VEGFEST awards.

"As one of an increasing number of providers who are very aware of people's specialist requirements, we really take pleasure and pride in producing delicious food for all."

The FreeFrom Eating Out Awards were launched in advance of the new allergen declaration regulations coming into force in December this year.

The winners will be announced at a presentation party on November 18, the first day of the Food Matters Live event at Excel in London’s Docklands.

The shortlist includes nationwide chains such as Pizza Express and Costa Coffee as well as small cafés in Camden Lock, B&B’s in the Lake district and university colleges.