Restaurant owner Harry Khinda has his fingers crossed that his Bradford venue will become the first curry restaurant outside London to gain a coveted Michelin star for its cuisine.

For Harry, who has run Zaara’s on Bradford Road, Shipley, since 2007, it would mark a Michelin double after the restaurant became the only Indian restaurant in Yorkshire and the only restaurant of its type in Bradford to be listed in the Michelin Guide in 2010.

Zaara’s has maintained its Michelin listing every year since then, and Harry has been told by the organisation that Zaara’s is being considered for a one-star rating due for achieving consistent culinary high standards Michelin inspectors will make a series of incognito visits during the year and Harry will find out in the autumn whether Zaara’s has achieved a star.

“If we do get a Michelin star it will be fantastic for us and for Bradford. We’ll only be successful if we maintain the quality of our dishes which have to be exactly the same Mondays to Saturdays – which can be difficult with Indian food due to the large number of herbs and spices the recipes include.

“We only use fresh ingredients and never take a short cut. We buy our vegetables daily from the wholesale market and never use packet food – which too many restaurants rely on these days.

“The fact that we’ve been Michelin-listed since 2010 has put us in the running for a star and I’m keeping everything crossed that we achieve it. This is one award that money can’t buy nor can it be influenced by people in high places. It’s all down to the quality of the food.”

The potential boost for Zaara’s comes after lobbying group Bradford Breakthrough unveiled plans for a major event to attract more restaurants and leisure businesses to the city.

More than 700 restaurant companies have been invited to the Taste of Bradford event at the Midland Hotel in March.