A CAFE at a mental health centre was hailed for its home-grown salads and solar panels at an awards ceremony.

The Garden Café in Oxford took home the 'award for distinction' last night at the Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards, while securing third place in the sustainabilitycategory.

Based at the Restore charity off Cowley Road, the cafe was praised by judges for its warm working environment and ethically-sourced produce.

Restore community fundraiser Mackenzie Dancer said: "The Garden Café is a recovery group that provides members with opportunities to learn catering and other skills, gain insight into their strengths and consider positive changes they wish to make. 

"It uses solar panels and composting as well as using Oxford Food Bank’s supermarket surplus ingredients."

She said the staff crowdsourced for the funds to pay for two staff tickets to the event at the King's Centre in Osney Mead, while a third ticket was funded by Good Food Oxford.

Restore recovery coordinator Chrissie Jones said: "As a charity we are not used to going to things like that so it felt really special. It was fantastic.

"The whole ethos of the cafe is to provide a form of recovery. The most basic thing we do is serve food, all the work really happens behind the scenes.

"When I was putting together our plea for the award I said "we are punching above our weight" but we have got a chance to be recognised on a commercial level. We are first and foremost about fighting stigma with mental health.

"To be recognised is so empowering. Everyone was on a high today and feels valued."

She said they felt like they had already won after being shortlisted for the sustainability category against 'so many fantastic' restaurants.

See below for a full list of winners: 

Best express deli or cafe: Aston Pottery and Trading Co Country Cafe, Bampton

Most sustainable restaurant: Vaults and Garden Cafe, Oxford

Best Asian restaurant: Thaikhun, Oxford

Best college dining room: St Antony's College, Oxford

Living in Oxford editor's choice: Acanthus Restaurant, Oxford

Best traditional pub: The Swan Inn

Trainee of the year: Chris Angus from St Anne's College

Best gastronomic restaurant: Restaurant 56, Faringdon

Award for Distinction: The Garden Cafe at Restore Charity, Oxford

Best brasserie / gastro pub: The Baskerville, Henley

Chef of the year: Ryan Simpson & Liam Trotman from Orwells Restaurant

Outstanding Service: La Cucina, Oxford

Public vote: The White Hart, Fyfield

Belmond Le Manoir Award for excellence: The Oxford Kitchen

The 2016 Oxfordshire Restaurant of the Year: The Baskerville, Henley