Leinster Regional Winners Announced!
Over Forty Restaurants, Hotel Restaurants & Chefs Honoured at Prestigious Awards
April 16th 2014, Dublin, Ireland.
The Leinster Regional Final of the Irish Restaurant Awards, in association with LIFE Magazine, took place in The Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin tonight and named the top restaurants in the eleven counties for 2014, as well as the shortlisted Dublin restaurants.
Over 300 restaurant owners and staff celebrated their hard work and achievements at the Awards, which saw many well-known restaurateurs of Leinster turn out to see if they had won one of the prestigious awards. The shortlist for the Dublin nominees were also announced, and the winners in the Dublin categories will be announced at the All-Ireland awards in June.
Speaking at the awards early this evening, Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland Adrian Cummins said; “The Irish Restaurant Awards celebrate their sixth year this year and have become the Island’s biggest food awards. The credibility that these awards have is reflected in the amount of nominations they received this year- 19,000 votes were cast across eight categories, showing that these are the awards that everyone wants to win.
“The Irish restaurant scene is internationally recognised for its high calibre of restaurateurs and chefs. These awards celebrate the people that make the restaurant sector the dynamic and exciting industry it is. They are the people who provide 64,000 jobs to our economy and generate revenue in excess of €2 billion. We’re recognising the talent, hard work and commitment that everyone here gives to the food industry. Tonight, everyone is a winner.”
Having won the Best Restaurant and Best Chef award for Wexford in 2012 and 2013, Aldridge Lodge and chef/ owner Billy Whitty has won both titles a third consecutive time. His partner and restaurant manager Joanne Harding also took home the award for Best Restaurant Manager in Leinster.
In the Dublin nominees, newcomer Forest Avenue is shortlisted for Best Customer Service, Best Chef and Best Restaurant, marking a great first year of business for the restaurant. For a full list of winners and Dublin nominees, see below.
Food outlets were nominated under the categories of Best Customer Service, Best Gastro Pub, Best Casual Dining, Best Hotel Restaurant, Best Chef, Best Restaurant, Best Wine Experience, Best Restaurant Manager and Best Kids Size Me Menu.
All County winners now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Title which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards in the Double Tree Hotel, Dublin on Monday 9th June, 2014.
There are 3 components to phase two of the process. Each element is independently assessed by Ernst and Young.
1. Mystery Guest Visit (55%) This component of the awards is conducted by Prism Consulting headed by Hugo Arnold, independent food writer and consultant. All County Winners receive a mystery guest visit throughout the month of April and May.
2. National Awards Academy (35%) Our National Awards Academy is made up representatives from each of the regional judging panels and will meet in May to Judge the County Winners. The Academy members include food writers, journalists, academics and hospitality magazine editors.
3. Menu Judging (10%) All County winners and the Dublin Shortlist in each category are asked to submit a copy of their food menu and wine list for judging. These menus are then independently reviewed by Bord Bia.
Voting in the Industry categories has now closed online. Voting in these categories is exclusive to Restaurants Association of Ireland members only, with members competing for:
Best Club Restaurant
Best Seafood Experience
Best World Cuisine
Best Newcomer
Best Café
Most Innovative Restaurant
Best Restaurant Design
Best Cocktail Experience
Best Restaurant Manager
Best Cookery School
Best Sustainable Restaurant
Best Digital Marketing
The winners of the Industry Categories will be announced at the All-Ireland event on 9th June, 2014.
Tickets for the All-Ireland Event can be bought directly from the awards team on (01) 677 9901 or awards@rai.ie.
Best Restaurant – Sponsored by Dalcassian & Wakefield Wines
- Carlow- Sha-Roe Bistro
- Kildare- The Brown Bear Restaurant
- Kilkenny- Campagne
- Laois- The Candied Walnut
- Longford- Black Olive Restaurant
- Louth- The Bay Tree Restaurant
- Meath- Zucchini’s
- Offaly- Sirocco’s
- Westmeath- Kin Khao
- Wexford- Aldridge Lodge
- Wicklow- The Three Q’s
Dublin Shortlist for Best Restaurant:
- Ananda
- Chapter One
- China Sichuan
- Dax Restaurant
- Forest Avenue
- L’Ecrivain
- Restaurant Forty One
- Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
- The Greenhouse
- Thornton’s Restaurant
Best Chef – Sponsored by La Rousse Foods
- Carlow- Alan Foley, The Cellar Restaurant at Step House Hotel
- Kildare- Barry Liscombe, Hartes of Kildare
- Kilkenny- Cormac Rowe, The Lady Helen at Mount Juliet
- Laois- Ryan Murphy, Ballyfin Demesne
- Longford- Gary O’Hanlon, VM Restaurant at Viewmount House
- Louth- Reuven Diaz, Eastern Seaboard Bar & Grill
- Meath- Robert Krawczyk, Brabazon at Tankardstown House
- Offaly- Dino Fenghour, Sirocco’s
- Westmeath- Feargal O’Donnell, The Fatted Calf
- Wexford- Billy Whitty, Aldridge Lodge
- Wicklow- Tim Daly, The Strawberry Tree at Brooklodge
Dublin Shortlist for Best Chef:
- Sunil Ghai, Ananda
- Phil Yeung, BANG Restaurant
- Ross Lewis, Chapter One
- Conor Dempsey, Dax Restarant
- Barry Fitzgerald, ETTO
- John Wyer, Forest Avenue
- Stephen Gibson, Pichet
- Graham Neville, Restaurant Forty One
- Michael Viljanen, The Greenhouse
- Kevin Thornton, Thornton’s Restaurant
Best Gastro Pub – Sponsored by Total Produce
- Carlow- Teach Dolmain
- Kildare- Fallons of Kilcullen
- Kilkenny- Marble City Bar at Langtons
- Laois- Lethean
- Longford- The Rustic Inn
- Louth- PJ O’Hares
- Meath- The Central Bar
- Offaly- The Thatch
- Westmeath- The Fatted Calf
- Wexford- The Lobster Pot
- Wicklow- Byrne & Woods
Dublin Shortlist for Best Gastro Pub:
- Ashton Gastropub
- Bison Bar & BBQ
- Ely gastropub
- House Dublin
- Le Bon Crubeen
- Matt the Threshers
- Tap House Bar & Kitchen
- The Chop House
- The Exchequer
- The Purty Kitchen
Best Casual Dining – Sponsored by Bunzl McLaughlin
v Carlow- Lennons @ Visual
v Kildare- Avenue Café & Restaurant
v Kilkenny- Foodworks
v Laois- Seasons Bistro
v Longford- Aubergine Gallery Café
v Louth- Eastern Seaboard Bar & Grill
v Meath- La Bucca
v Offaly- Emma’s Café
v Westmeath- An Tintean Restaurant
v Wexford- The Kitchen
v Wicklow- Firehouse Bakery
Dublin Shortlist for Best Casual Dining:
- 777
- ETTO
- Fade Street Social Restaurant
- Hartley’s Restaurant
- Las Tapas de Lola
- Saba
- San Lorenzo’s
- Sea Point
- The Fumbally
- Whitefriar Grill
Best Hotel Restaurant – Sponsored by Pallas Foods
v Carlow- The Cellar Restaurant at Step House Hotel
v Kildare- The River Room at The K Club
v Kilkenny- The Lady Helen at Mount Juliet
v Laois- The Restaurant at Preston House
v Longford- VM Restaurant at Viewmount House
v Louth- The Restaurant at Scholars Townhouse Hotel
v Meath- Brabazon at Tankardstown House
v Offaly- Slí Dala Restaurant at Kinnity Castle Hotel
v Westmeath- The Restaurant at Wineport Lodge
v Wexford- Ristorante Vista Mare at Seafield Golf & Spa Hotel
v Wicklow- The Strawberry Tree at Brooklodge
Dublin Shortlist for Best Hotel Restaurant:
- Bram Stoker Hotel
- Citron Restaurant at The Fitzwilliam Hotel
- Dylan Restaurant at Dylan Hotel
- Samphire at The Waterside House Hotel
- Seasons Restaurant at The Four Seasons
- The Brasserie at The Marker
- The Cellar Restaurant at The Merrion Hotel
- The Cliff Townhouse
- The Saddle Room at The Shelbourne
- Wilde at The Westbury
Best Customer Service- Sponsored by TheDiningRoom.ie
- Carlow- Clashganny House Restaurant
- Kildare- Vie de Châteaux
- Kilkenny- Café Sol
- Laois- The Candied Walnut
- Longford- VM Restaurant at Viewmount House
- Louth- Wm Cairnes & Son
- Meath- Jules Restaurant at Trim Castle Hotel
- Offaly- Charleville Restaurant at The Bridge House Hotel
- Westmeath- Red Earth Restaurant
- Wexford- The Restaurant at Marlfield House
- Wicklow- Campo de’ Fiori Restaurant
Dublin Shortlist for Best Customer Service:
- BANG Restaurant
- Chapter One
- China Sichuan
- Dax Restaurant
- Dublin Wine Rooms
- Forest Avenue
- Jaipur Dalkey
- Rasam
- Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
- The Brass Monkey
Best Wine Experience – Sponsored by Classic Drinks & Roundhill
- Carlow- Sha-Roe Bistro
- Kildare- The River Room at The K Club
- Kilkenny- The Lady Helen at Mount Juliet
- Laois- Castle Durrow Restaurant at Castle Durrow Country House Hotel
- Longford- VM Restaurant at Viewmount House
- Louth- Eastern Seaboard Bar & Grill
- Meath- Corks Café & Winebar
- Offaly- Sirocco’s
- Westmeath- Thyme Restaurant
- Wexford- Greenacres
- Wicklow- The Strawberry Tree at Brooklodge
Dublin Shortlist for Best Wine Experience:
- 64 Wine
- Dax Restaurant
- Dublin Wine Rooms
- Ely winebar
- Fallon & Byrne
- L’Ecrivain
- Monty’s of Kathmandu
- One Pico
- Restaurant Forty One
- Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
Best Kids Size Me – Sponsored by Heinz
- Black Olive Restaurant, Longford
Best Restaurant Manager- Sponsored by the Restaurants Association of Ireland
- Joanne Harding, Aldridge Lodge, Wexford
Dublin Shortlist for Best Restaurant Manager:
- Keith Hallissey, Brasserie 15
- John Healy, The Restaurant at Brown Thomas
- Carol Walsh, Chameleon
- Declan Maxwell, Chapter One
- Olivier Meisonnave, Dax Restaurant
- Jayraj Poojary, Jaipur Dalkey
- Stéphane Robin, Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
- James Sheridan, The Saddle Room at The Shelbourne Hotel
ENDS
For further information contact:
Adrian Cummins, Chief Executive Officer
Restaurants Association of Ireland
Mobile: +353 86 8263311
Telephone: +353 1 6779901
Fax: +353 1 6718414
Email: awards@rai.ie
Website: www.irishrestaurantawards.com
Twitter: @restawards
Facebook: www.facebook.com/IrishRestaurantAwards
