LAST week, the Advertiser revealed which Croydon eateries came rock bottom in last year's food hygiene ratings.
Now we speak to some of those who are celebrating top marks in inspections.
To receive five out of five, a venue has to score highly in food hygiene and safety, structural compliance and confidence in management.
Amongst those rated 'very good' is Fingers Kebab, in Central Parade, New Addington. Owner Tijen Mevlit, 40, of New Addington, has been running the business for 30 years and works hard with her partner and four members of staff to maintain high standards in food hygiene.
She said: "I'm overwhelmed that we always get five stars.
"You must cook and clean with love and we've won many awards including the Eat Well Croydon Award. Even when we are told we are getting five stars by the inspectors, I always ask them to take samples away to check for bacteria just in case.
"Those getting fails in food hygiene need to buck up their ideas a lot. I've been in a few places which are disgusting, you just walk straight back out again."
Top Star Café, in Lower Addiscombe Road, is run by manager John and only one member of staff, but he still ensures high quality cleaning is completed.
"For two years we have been five stars and I display my rating as it is important for the customer to know where they are eating and where the food is being prepared," said John.
"We make sure we clean the floor with de-greaser and use antibactieral spray everywhere every evening.
"It's good for our business to achieve this rating."
Since 2013, food outlets in Wales are legally required to display their food hygiene rating. In England, it is not yet to become compulsory.
Stuart Mok, 37, is manager at Fry Station, in Mitcham Road, and is proud to display their five star rating to show their hard work has paid off. He said: "After we close every evening we spend an hour to an hour and a half cleaning.
"It's good practice to display our rating but it's also so we can give the customers the information they need to choose where to eat.
"It's a matter of making sure paperwork is up to date and wanting it to be as clean as your kitchen at home."
"We work hard to maintain the rating and hopefully next year we will get five star again."
Many of the hundreds receiving five stars are Croydon's schools.
Linda O'Callaghan is headmistress at St. Mary's Catholic Infant School, in Bedford Park, where they run an "in house" kitchen rather than a contracted service. and praises
She praised the kitchen staff for continually reaching the highest rating, saying: She said: "Our extremely hard working kitchen team ensures that the kitchen is spotless, and food is hygienically handled and prepared, as well as being nutritious and very tasty.
"For our parents, the fact that we have such high standards of hygiene in all areas of our school shows that we care for their health and wellbeing as much as we care for their education."
Anyone can find out the food hygiene rating of any Croydon restaurant, school or takeaway by visiting http://ratings.food.gov.uk/authority-search/en-gb/croydon.
