Ulster Winners Revealed for 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MARCH 15th 2017.
TOP RESTAURANTS IN ULSTER ANNOUNCED AT THE IRISH RESTAURANT AWARDS 2017
- ULSTER’s BEST RESTAURANTS, CHEFS & PUBS HONOURED AT AWARDS
The second of four regional finals in this year’s Irish Restaurant Awards took place in the Lough Erne Resort, Fermanagh last night where 87 awards were presented to the country’s leading chefs, restaurants and pubs.
Over 600 people attended the Ulster Regional Final on Wednesday evening where the top establishments in each county were named.
The ceremony included six regional titles including: Best Café; Best Emerging Irish Cuisine; Best Kids Size Me; Best Restaurant Manager; Best World Cuisine; and Local Food Hero. County winners from each of Ulster’s nine counties were selected from the following categories: Best Restaurant; Best Chef; Best Gastro Pub; Best Casual Dining; Best Hotel Restaurant; Best Customer Service; Best Wine Experience; Best Newcomer; and Pub of the Year.
Speaking at the awards, Adrian Cummins, Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) said: “Now in their ninth 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.”
All County winners now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Title which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin 2, on Monday 8th May, 2017.
The Winners in Ulster are…
Regional Winning Categories in 2017
Best Café – Sponsored by Illy
- Lost & Found, Derry
Best Emerging Irish Cuisine – Sponsored by Odaios Foods
- Holohan’s At The Barge, Antrim
Best Kids Size Me – Sponsored by Heinz
- Fratelli Ristorante at Galgorm Resort & Spa, Antrim
Best Restaurant Manager – Sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants
- Alain Kerloch’h of Ox, Antrim
Best World Cuisine – Sponsored by Dubliner Cheese
- Usher Windrush Island Café, Antrim
Local Food Hero – Sponsored by Rewarding Times
- Paula McIntyre, one of Northern Ireland’s best loved chefs
County Winners 2017
Best Restaurant – Sponsored by Dalcassian Wines & Spirits and Cielo Wines
| Antrim Deane’s EIPIC Armagh 4 Vicars |
| Cavan MacNean House & Restaurant |
| Derry Browns Restaurant & Champagne Lounge |
| Donegal The Mill Restaurant |
| Down Noble |
| Fermanagh Watermill Lodge Restaurant |
| Monaghan Courthouse Restaurant |
| Tyrone Oysters Restaurant |
Best Chef – Sponsored by Pallas Foods
| Antrim Danni Barry of Deanes EIPIC Armagh Gareth Reid of 4 Vicars |
| Cavan Gearóid Lynch of The Olde Post Inn |
| Derry Zsolt Dikter of Walled City Brewery |
| Donegal Colin McKee of Lakeside Restaurant at Harvey’s Point |
| Down Chris McGowan of Wine & Brine |
| Fermanagh Noel McMeel of Catalina Restaurant at Lough Erne Resort |
| Monaghan Conor Mee of Courthouse Restaurant |
| Tyrone Brian McMonagle of The Brewer’s House |
Best Gastro Pub – Sponsored by Coca Cola
| Antrim The Morning Star Armagh The Yellow Heifer |
| Cavan Fox’s Bar and Lounge |
| Derry Walled City Brewery |
| Donegal Rosato’s Bar & Restaurant |
| Down The Poacher’s Pocket |
| Fermanagh The Tap House |
| Monaghan Andy’s Bar & Restaurant |
| Tyrone The Brewer’s House |
Best Casual Dining – Sponsored by San Pellegrino
| Antrim The Muddlers Club Armagh The Moody Boar |
| Cavan The Oak Room |
| Derry Primrose Café |
| Donegal The Lemon Tree Restaurant |
| Down The Wheathill |
| Fermanagh The Jolly Sandwich |
| Monaghan The Batch Loaf |
| Tyrone Viscounts Restaurant |
Best Hotel Restaurant – Sponsored by Elavon
| Antrim The Great Room at The Merchant Hotel Armagh Newforge House |
| Cavan St Kyrans Country House Restaurant |
| Derry Beech Hill Country House Hotel |
| Donegal Lakeside Restaurant at Harvey’s Point |
| Down Rayanne House |
| Fermanagh Catalina Restaurant at Lough Erne Resort |
| Monaghan Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie |
| Tyrone Carleton Restaurant at Corick House Hotel & Spa |
Best Customer Service – Sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro
| Antrim James Street South Armagh Digby’s Bar & Restaurant |
| Cavan MacNean House & Restaurant |
| Derry Ardtara Country House |
| Donegal Rathmullan House |
| Down Rayanne House |
| Fermanagh Café Merlot |
| Monaghan Nuremore Hotel & Country Club |
| Tyrone Chapter V Restaurant |
Best Wine Experience – Sponsored by CLASSICdrinks
| Antrim Ox Cave Armagh Uluru Bar & Grill |
| Cavan The Imperial Bar |
| Derry Church Street Restaurant |
| Donegal Harvey’s Bar at Harvey’s Point |
| Down Noble |
| Fermanagh Café Merlot |
| Monaghan Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie |
| Tyrone Oysters Restaurant |
Best Newcomer – Sponsored by BWG Foodservice
| Antrim Yügo Armagh Mulberry Bistro |
| Cavan People’s Restaurant |
| Derry Oscar’s Seafood Bar |
| Donegal 106 Atlantic at the Waterfront Hotel |
| Down Bull & Ram |
| Fermanagh Enniskillen Castle Café Tyrone Restaurant 1861 @ Sion Stables |
Pub of the Year – Sponsored by Bushmills
| Antrim The Harp Bar Armagh Courthouse Bar Cavan Gartlan’s Bar |
| Derry Peadar O’Donnells |
| Donegal Logue’s Bar |
| Down The Maghera Inn |
| Fermanagh Devenish Bar |
| Monaghan The Coach House & Olde Bar |
| Tyrone Tomney’s Bar |
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
Instagram: @irishrestawards
