That may have been due to Covid-19 restrictions, which affected the way the competition operated this year, and meant The Hits radio presenter Charmaine Soljak had to announce the results online instead of at a gala evening.
''I think we've established a pretty good proposition for people to have an approachable, relaxed time,'' Loosley said.
''I've been very lucky to retain really strong staff who are exceptionally good at creating that relaxed atmosphere. I think the award is largely to do with that.''
Given Hone's location, a large proportion of customers were tourists, but locals were also supportive.
''Hone's is something for everyone. If people come to Russell they tend to go there at least once," he said.
If Hone's was in a big city Loosley would expect an immediate influx of people curious to check out the winner. That was unlikely in Russell, but it could still help put the restaurant on the map and encourage Northlanders to take a day trip and try it out, but with domestic tourism thriving it would be hard to separate out any effect of the award from the upswing in people exploring their own country.
The other 16 awards were spread across the district, with Whangārei, the Town Basin especially, picking up a large share of the titles. Waipū punched above its weight by picking up two awards, while Paihia businesses picked up three, including the coveted best barista title (which went to Tom Richardson at the Third Wheel Coffee Co.
Marcus Berndt, at the Terra Restaurant, was named the outstanding chef, while the Tipsy Oyster was the best bar.
The annual competition is run by the Restaurant Association of New Zealand. Anyone working in the hospitality industry is able to nominate a business or individual; a list of finalists is drawn up based on the number of nominations, then industry members vote online to decide the winners. The exception is People's Choice which, as the name suggests, is decided by public votes.
