ULSTER RESTAURANTS & CHEFS

HONOURED AT PRESTIGIOUS IRISH RESTAURANT AWARDS 2018

The last of four regional finals in this year’s Irish Restaurant Awards took place at La Mon Hotel, Belfast, last night where 135 awards were presented to the country’s leading chefs, restaurants and pubs.

Over 400 people attended the Ulster Regional Final on Wednesday evening where the top establishments in each county were named.

The awards covered a wide range of venues and the winners from each of Ulster’s nine counties were selected from the following categories: Best Casual Dining, Best Emerging Irish Cuisine, Best Kids Size Me, Best ‘Free From’, Best World Cuisine, Best Restaurant Manager, Best Wine Experience, Pub of the Year, Best Café, Best Customer Service, Best Gastro Pub, Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant, Best Newcomer, Best Chef and Best Restaurant. There was also a special Regional award for Ulster’s Local Food Hero.

Speaking at the awards, Adrian Cummins, Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) said: “Now in their tenth year, the Irish Restaurant Awards continue to showcase the exquisite and admirable calibre of food available in our restaurants and pubs nationwide. Online nominations have increased from 9,000 in 2013 to over 80,000 this year and with the increase in interest comes an increase in standards, making the judging process more difficult than ever.

“Our small island boasts everything from fine dining to high quality gastropubs, from the exotic taste explosions of world cuisine to the comfort of traditional dishes. We have an appreciation for what we eat, for the journey of our food from farm to fork, and for the dedication of those working in the food industry to serve up Ireland’s finest food.”

Armagh winners are as follows:

• Best Casual Dining sponsored by San Pellegrino – 4 Vicars
• Best Emerging Irish Cuisine sponsored by Odaios Foods – Wee Paddy’s Bistro
• Best Kids Size Me sponsored by Dubliner Cheese – Uluru Bar & Grill
• Best ‘Free From’ sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro Gluten Free – Mulberry Bistro
• Best World Cuisine sponsored by Aryzta – Uluru Bar & Grill
• Best Newcomer sponsored by Elavon – Clenaghans
• Best Wine Experience sponsored by ClassicDrinks – The Moody Boar
• Pub of the Year sponsored by Bushmills – Grouchos On The Square
• Best Café sponsored by Illy – Uluru Bar & Grill
• Best Gastro Pub sponsored by Coca Cola & Schweppes – Clenaghans
• Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant sponsored by BWG Foodservice – Newforge House
• Best Customer Service – Mulberry Bistro
• Best Restaurant Manager sponsored by AIB Merchant Services – Claire Macklin of Digbys Bar & Restaurant
• Best Chef sponsored by Nisbets – Chris McGowan of Wine & Brine
• Best Restaurant sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants – Wine & Brine

Cavan winners are as follows:

• Best Casual Dining sponsored by San Pellegrino – Oak Room Restaurant
• Best Emerging Irish Cuisine sponsored by Odaios Foods – The Olde Post Inn
• Best Kids Size Me sponsored by Dubliner Cheese – The Wishing Well
• Best ‘Free From’ sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro Gluten Free – The Olde Post Inn
• Best World Cuisine sponsored by Aryzta – Barduccis
• Best Newcomer sponsored by Elavon – Chilli Lounge
• Best Wine Experience sponsored by ClassicDrinks – MacNean House & Restaurant
• Pub of the Year sponsored by Bushmills – Gartlan’s
• Best Café sponsored by Illy – Hard Boiled Egg Café
• Best Gastro Pub sponsored by Coca Cola & Schweppes – Murph’s Bistro at the Derragarra Inn
• Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant sponsored by BWG Foodservice – St Kyrans Country House Restaurant
• Best Customer Service – The Olde Post Inn
• Best Restaurant Manager sponsored by AIB Merchant Services – Blaithin McCabe at MacNean House & Restaurant
• Best Chef sponsored by Nisbets – Gearóid Lynch of The Olde Post Inn
• Best Restaurant sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants – MacNean House & Restaurant

Derry winners are as follows:

• Best Casual Dining sponsored by San Pellegrino – District 45
• Best Emerging Irish Cuisine sponsored by Odaios Foods – The Sooty Olive Restaurant
• Best Kids Size Me sponsored by Dubliner Cheese – Amici
• Best ‘Free From’ sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro Gluten Free – The Sooty Olive
• Best World Cuisine sponsored by Aryzta – Indus Valley Cuisine
• Best Newcomer sponsored by Elavon – Primrose Derry
• Best Wine Experience sponsored by ClassicDrinks – Browns Bonds Hill
• Pub of the Year sponsored by Bushmills – Peadar O’Donnells Bar
• Best Café sponsored by Illy – Warke’s Deli
• Best Gastro Pub sponsored by Coca Cola & Schweppes – Anglers Restaurant
• Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant sponsored by BWG Foodservice – Beech Hill Country House
• Best Customer Service – Mama Masala
• Best Restaurant Manager sponsored by AIB Merchant Services – James McKee of District 45
• Best Chef sponsored by Nisbets – Derek Creagh of Primrose Derry
• Best Restaurant sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants – Church Street Restaurant

Donegal winners are as follows:

• Best Casual Dining sponsored by San Pellegrino – Quay West Restaurant Donegal Town
• Best Emerging Irish Cuisine sponsored by Odaios Foods – The Lemon Tree Restaurant
• Best Kids Size Me sponsored by Dubliner Cheese – Market House Restaurant
• Best ‘Free From’ sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro Gluten Free – Simple Simons
• Best World Cuisine sponsored by Aryzta – Chandpur Restaurant
• Best Newcomer sponsored by Elavon – Benny & Co Coffee Bar & Restaurant
• Best Wine Experience sponsored by ClassicDrinks – Lough Eske Castle, a Solís Hotel & Spa
• Pub of the Year sponsored by Bushmills – The Forge
• Best Café sponsored by Illy – Sonder
• Best Gastro Pub sponsored by Coca Cola & Schweppes   Kennedy’s Bar & Restaurant
• Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant sponsored by BWG Foodservice – Lakeside Restaurant at Harvey’s Point
• Best Customer Service sponsored by – Harvey’s Point
• Best Restaurant Manager sponsored by AIB Merchant Services – Jo Daly of Quay West Restaurant
• Best Chef sponsored by Nisbets – Colin McKee of Harvey’s Point
• Best Restaurant sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants – Cook & Gardener Restaurant at Rathmullan House

Down winners are as follows:

• Best Casual Dining sponsored by San Pellegrino – The Lobster Pot Strangford
• Best Emerging Irish Cuisine sponsored by Odaios Foods – NOBLE Holywood
• Best Kids Size Me sponsored by Dubliner Cheese – Little Wing Pizzeria
• Best ‘Free From’ sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro Gluten Free  – The Dirty Duck
• Best World Cuisine sponsored by Aryzta – TUK TUK ASIAN RESTAURANT
• Best Newcomer sponsored by Elavon – Brunel’s Restaurant
• Best Wine Experience sponsored by ClassicDrinks – The Poachers Pocket
• Pub of the Year sponsored by Bushmills – Ned’s Bar
• Best Café sponsored by Illy – Haptik
• Best Gastro Pub sponsored by Coca Cola & Schweppes – The Poachers Pocket
• Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant sponsored by BWG Foodservice – Rayanne House
• Best Customer Service – The Guillemot Kitchen Cafe & Winebar
• Best Restaurant Manager sponsored by AIB Merchant Services – Saul McConnell  of NOBLE Holywood
• Best Chef sponsored by Nisbets – Pearson Morris of NOBLE Holywood
• Best Restaurant sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants – NOBLE Holywood

Fermanagh winners are as follows:

• Best Casual Dining sponsored by San Pellegrino – The Jolly Sandwich Bar
• Best Emerging Irish Cuisine sponsored by Odaios Foods – 28 Darling St
• Best Kids Size Me sponsored by Dubliner Cheese – Custom House Country Inn
• Best ‘Free From’ sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro Gluten Free – The Kissin Crust
• Best World Cuisine sponsored by Aryzta – Dollakis Restaurant
• Best Newcomer sponsored by Elavon – 28 Darling St
• Best Wine Experience sponsored by ClassicDrinks – Lough Erne Resort
• Pub of the Year sponsored by Bushmills – Blakes Of The Hollow
• Best Café sponsored by Illy – The Jolly Sandwich Bar
• Best Gastro Pub sponsored by Coca Cola & Schweppes – Café Merlot
• Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant sponsored by BWG Foodservice – The Catalina Restaurant at Lough Erne Resort
• Best Customer Service – Café Merlot
• Best Restaurant Manager sponsored by AIB Merchant Services – Hazel Johnston of The Jolly Sandwich Bar
• Best Chef sponsored by Nisbets – Glen Wheeler of 28 Darling St
• Best Restaurant sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants – Watermill Lodge Restaurant

Monaghan winners are as follows:

• Best Casual Dining sponsored by San Pellegrino – Conor’s Bar at Castle Leslie
• Best Emerging Irish Cuisine sponsored by Odaios Foods  – Andy’s
• Best Kids Size Me sponsored by Dubliner Cheese – Hillgrove Hotel
• Best ‘Free From’ sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro Gluten Free – The Batch Loaf
• Best World Cuisine sponsored by Aryzta – Eastern Balti
• Best Wine Experience sponsored by ClassicDrinks – Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie
• Pub of the Year sponsored by Bushmills – Coachhouse & Olde Bar
• Best Café sponsored by Illy – Roberto’s
• Best Gastro Pub sponsored by Coca Cola & Schweppes – Andy’s Bar & Restaurant
• Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant sponsored by BWG Foodservice – Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie
• Best Customer Service – The Fiddlers Elbow
• Best Restaurant Manager sponsored by AIB Merchant Services – Shane Treanor of The Squealing Pig Bar and Restaurant
• Best Chef sponsored by Nisbets – Conor Mee of Courthouse Restaurant
• Best Restaurant sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants – Courthouse Restaurant

Tyrone winners are as follows:

• Best Casual Dining sponsored by San Pellegrino – Oysters Restaurant
• Best Emerging Irish Cuisine sponsored by Odaios Foods – Restaurant 1861 at Sion Stables
• Best Kids Size Me sponsored by Dubliner Cheese – Oysters Restaurant
• Best ‘Free From’ sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro Gluten Free – Dungannon Golf Club Bar and Restaurant
• Best World Cuisine sponsored by Aryzta – Dragon Garden
• Best Newcomer sponsored by Elavon – The Moy Larder
• Best Wine Experience sponsored by ClassicDrinks – The Brewer’s House
• Pub of the Year sponsored by Bushmills – Tomneys Bar
• Best Café sponsored by Illy – Deli On The Green
• Best Gastro Pub sponsored by Coca Cola & Schweppes – The Brewer’s House
• Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant sponsored by BWG Foodservice – O’Brien’s Restaurant at The Mellon Country Inn
• Best Customer Service – The Red Pepper Restaurant
• Best Restaurant Manager sponsored by AIB Merchant Services – Ann Marie McMenamin of The Red Pepper Restaurant
• Best Chef sponsored by Nisbets – Tommy Mangan of The Brewer’s House
• Best Restaurant sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants – Oysters Restaurant

Antrim winners are as follows:

• Best Casual Dining sponsored by San Pellegrino – Shu Restaurant Belfast
• Best Emerging Irish Cuisine sponsored by Odaios Foods – Slemish Market Supper Club
• Best Kids Size Me sponsored by Dubliner Cheese – Coppi
• Best ‘Free From’ sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro Gluten Free – Home
• Best World Cuisine sponsored by Aryzta – Yügo
• Best Newcomer sponsored by Elavon – Bo Tree Kitchen
• Best Wine Experience sponsored by ClassicDrinks – Ox Cave
• Pub of the Year sponsored by Bushmills – The Woodworkers
• Best Café sponsored by Illy – Established Coffee
• Best Gastro Pub sponsored by Coca Cola & Schweppes – The Morning Star
• Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant sponsored by BWG Foodservice – The Taylor & Clay Restaurant at Bullitt Hotel
• Best Customer Service – The Muddlers Club
• Best Restaurant Manager sponsored by AIB Merchant Services – William King of James Street South
• Best Chef sponsored by Nisbets – Stevie Toman of OX
• Best Restaurant sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants – The Muddlers Club

Best Local Food Hero sponsored by Rewarding Times – Chef Brian McDermott

ENDS

For further information contact:

Orla Connolly, Communications Executive

Restaurants Association of Ireland

Telephone: +353 1 6779901

Fax: +353 1 6718414

Email: orla@rai.ie

Website: www.irishrestaurantawards.com

Twitter: @restawards

Facebook: www.facebook.com/IrishRestaurantAwards

Instagram:@irishrestawards

Notes for the Editor:

Judging Process

• Public Nomination – During the initial stage of the Ulster Regional Restaurant Awards members of the public voted to nominate their favourite restaurants, hotels and hospitality personal. These nominations were independently assessed by BDO.

• Judging Panel – Our judging panel, made up of industry experts, food writers, culinary academics and critics, then narrowed down the list of nominations to our final regional winners.