About

The Irish Restaurant Awards are brought to you by The Restaurants Association of Ireland and are kindly sponsored by Santa Rita/Sunday Independent LIFE Magazine. The awards are the largest and most coveted awards in the Irish Restaurant Industry.

This year’s event will recognize achievement and excellence in the Restaurant and Hospitality Industry throughout the Island of Ireland in 23 categories. The awards celebrate all aspects of the Industry from Chefs and Restaurants to Food Producers, Local Food Heroes and Cookery Schools. 

Nominations for the awards are made by readers of the Sunday Independent LIFE Magazine and members of the Restaurants Association of Ireland.

The awards process runs from the beginning of February 2012 until the 14th of May 2012. It is a detailed and thorough process whereby nominated Restaurants face rigorous scrutiny from the Consumer, Regional Judges, a Mystery Guest Visitor and finally the National Awards Academy.

County winners are announced at a number of Regional Events in the run up to the Main Event on the 14th May in the Burlington Hotel Dublin. Guests at the main event are treated to a five course menu prepared by the winning Chefs in each of the five regions from the year before.