The Ulster Regional Awards for the 2019 Irish Restaurant Awards took place in the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan, last night, where the country’s leading chefs, restaurants and pubs were recognised for their hard work and dedication.

Over 450 restaurant owners and staff attended the second of four regional events on Tuesday 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 11th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards continue to showcase the incredible food that is on offer in the cafes, pubs and restaurants of Ireland, as well as recognising the teams behind these establishments and the hard work and dedication that they put in. With well over 80,000 nominations received from the public this year, the standard for the judging process was higher than ever.

Ireland may be a small country, but it boasts everything from fine dining to high quality gastropubs, from the comfort of traditional Irish food to exploring the world though exotic world cuisine, the Irish restaurant industry has much to offer. We have an appreciation for what we eat and where our food comes from, as well as the dedication of those working in the food industry”.

Those who won at county level will progress to the All-Ireland event on the 13^th May with the restaurants that have already won in Leinster, where they will all compete for the Regional and All-Ireland titles.

Best Restaurant – Sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants

• Antrim: Ox
• Armagh: 4 Vicars
• Cavan: MacNean House and Restaurant
• Derry: The Sooty Olive
• Donegal: The Lemon Tree Restaurant
• Down: NOBLE.
• Fermanagh: 28 Darling Street
• Tyrone: Oysters Restaurants
• Monaghan: Courthouse Restaurant

Best Chef – Sponsored by Nisbets

• Antrim: Alex Greene of Deanes Eipic
• Armagh: Simon Dougan of The Yellow Door
• Cavan: Gearóid Lynch of The Olde Post Inn
• Derry: Bryn Evans of Primrose Derry
• Donegal: Colin McKee of Harvey’s Point
• Down: Chris McGowan of Wine & Brine
• Fermanagh: Noel McMeel of The Catalina Restaurant at Lough Erne Resort
• Tyrone: Colin Mc Menamin of The Red Pepper
• Monaghan: Conor Mee of Courthouse Restaurant

Best Restaurant Manager – Sponsored by AIB Merchant Services

• Antrim: Gareth McCaughey of The Muddlers Club
• Armagh: James Scott at The Bawn Pantry
• Cavan: Blaithin McCabe at MacNean House & Restaurant
• Derry: Stephanie Bradley of Walled City Brewery
• Donegal: Orhan Erinc of Harvey’s Point
• Down: Saul McConnell  of NOBLE.
• Fermanagh: Charlie Oldcroft of The Moorings Restaurant
• Tyrone: Caroline Clarke of Oysters Restaurant
• Monaghan: Shane Treanor  of Porky’s Restaurant at The Squealing Pig

Best Customer Service – Sponsored by Lockton

• Antrim: The Muddlers Club
• Armagh: Newforge House
• Cavan: People’s Restaurant
• Derry: Bishop’s Gate Hotel
• Donegal: Harvey’s Point
• Down: NOBLE.
• Fermanagh: Tully Mill Restaurant
• Tyrone: Restaurant 1861 at Sion Stables
• Monaghan: Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie

Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant – Sponsored by BWG Food Service

• Antrim: The Taylor & Clay Restaurant at Bullitt Hotel
• Armagh: Newforge House
• Cavan: The Courtroom Restaurant at Cabra Castle Hotel
• Derry: The Shipquay Hotel
• Donegal: Rathmullan House
• Down: Rayanne House
• Fermanagh: The Catalina Restaurant at Lough Erne Resort
• Tyrone: The Kitchen at Tullylagan Country House Hotel
• Monaghan: Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie

Best Gastro Pub – Sponsored by Elavon

• Antrim: The Morning Star
• Armagh: Clenaghans
• Cavan: Murph’s Bistro at the Derragarra Inn
• Derry: Walled City Brewery
• Donegal: The House Gastro Pub
• Down: The Dirty Duck
• Fermanagh: The TapHouse
• Tyrone: The Brewer’s House
• Monaghan: Andy’s Bar & Restaurant

Best Café – Sponsored by Illy

• Antrim: Curated Kitchen & Coffee
• Armagh: The Bawn Pantry
• Cavan: Hard Boiled Egg Cafe
• Derry: Primrose on the Quay
• Donegal: The Salty Fox
• Down: McCooey’s
• Fermanagh: The Jolly Sandwich Bar
• Tyrone: Deli On The Green
• Monaghan: Dinkin’s Home Bakery & Cafe 

Pub of the Year – Sponsored by Jameson Caskmates

• Antrim: Sunflower Public House
• Armagh: McConville’s
• Cavan: Gartlan’s
• Derry: Peadar O’Donnell’s
• Donegal: The Rusty Mackerel
• Down: Ned’s Bar
• Fermanagh: Blakes Of The Hollow
• Tyrone: Tomneys Bar
• Monaghan: Coach House & Olde Bar

Best Wine Experience – Sponsored by Gilbeys with Bibendum

• Antrim: OX
• Armagh: Clenaghans
• Cavan: MacNean House & Restaurant
• Derry: Browns In Town
• Donegal: Harvey’s Point
• Down: NOBLE.
• Fermanagh: Watermill Lodge Restaurant
• Tyrone: The Brewer’s House
• Monaghan: The Fiddlers Elbow

Best Newcomer

• Antrim: Bia Rebel Ramen
• Armagh: Arose Coffee Shop
• Cavan: The Stone Cottage Restaurant
• Derry: Nonnas Wood Fired Pizzas
• Donegal: Fisk Seafood Bar
• Down: Hara
• Fermanagh: Belle Isle Bistro
• Tyrone: District 80 Restaurant
• Monaghan: Kinga’s Café

Best World Cuisine

• Antrim: Jumon
• Armagh: Bengal Tandoori
• Cavan: Chilli Lounge
• Derry: Mekong Street Food
• Donegal: Chandpur Restaurant
• Down: Tuk Tuk Asian Bistro
• Fermanagh: Dollakis Restaurant
• Tyrone: Dragon Garden
• Monaghan: Eastern Balti

Best “Free From” – Sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro Gluten Free

• Antrim: Home Restaurant
• Armagh: Digby’s Bar & Restaurant
• Cavan: The Olde Post Inn
• Derry: Hidden City Café
• Donegal: Wholegreen Healthfood
• Down: Yaks
• Fermanagh: Becketts Dining Room at The Enniskillen Hotel
• Tyrone: Oysters Restaurant
• Monaghan: Neighbourhood

Best Kids Size Me

• Antrim: Ramore Wine Bar
• Armagh: Zio
• Cavan: Oak Room Restaurant
• Derry: Church Street Restaurant
• Donegal: Mill Park Hotel
• Down: Coast
• Fermanagh: Café Merlot
• Tyrone: Tullylagan hotel
• Monaghan: Meeting House

Best Local Food Hero – Sponsored by Rewarding Times

• Antrim: Dara and Ciara O hArtghaile of Ursa Minor Bakehouse
• Armagh: Susie Hamilton Stubber of Burren Balsamics
• Cavan: John Smith & Charles Smith of Farmers to Market
• Derry: Ian Orr of Browns Bonds Hill
• Donegal: Mairead Anderson of Killybegs Seafood Shack
• Down: Johnny McDowell & Laura Anne Bradley of Indie Füde
• Fermanagh: Joe McGirr of The Boatyard Distillery
• Tyrone: Jonathan Cuddy of Ispini Charcuterie
• Monaghan: Trevor Connolly

Ulster Regional Local Food Hero –  Sponsored by Rewarding Times

• Trevor Connolly of Monaghan Town Team

Best Emerging Irish Cuisine – Sponsored by Odaios

• Antrim: The Slemish Market Supper Club
• Armagh: Wee Paddy’s Bistro
• Cavan: The Olde Post Inn
• Derry: Soda and Starch
• Donegal: Foyle’s Hotel and Restaurant
• Down: Wine and Brine
• Fermanagh: 28 Darling St
• Tyrone: Restaurant 1861 at Sion Stables
• Monaghan: Andy’s Bar and Restaurant

Best Casual Dining – Sponsored by Just Eat

• Antrim: Cypress Avenue
• Armagh: Wee Paddy’s Bistro
• Cavan: Oak Room Restaurant
• Derry: Pyke and Pommes
• Donegal: The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant and Tea Room
• Down: The Wheathill
• Fermanagh: Dollakis Restaurant
• Tyrone: The Red Pepper
• Monaghan: The Batch Loaf

Congratulations to all the winners!