The Leinster Regional Final of Irish Restaurant Awards took place in the Killashee House Hotel tonight where the top restaurants in each county for 2019 were announced.

Over 600 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.

Speaking at the awards early this evening Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Adrian Cummins, said; “Now in their 11^th 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”.

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, Best Kids Size Me Menu, Local Food Hero, Best Emerging Irish Cuisine and Best Newcomer.

All of the county winners now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Titles, which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards. These will be held in the Clayton Hotel, Dublin on Monday 13^th May, 2019.

Best Restaurant – Sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants

• Carlow- Sha-Roe Bistro
• Kilkenny- Campagne
• Laois- Batonis
• Longford- Nine Arches Restaurant
• Louth- Eastern Seaboard
• Meath- Zucchini
• Offaly- The Blue Apron
• Westmeath- Thyme Restaurant
• Wexford- La Cote Seafood Restaurant
• Wicklow- Pink Salt Indian Restaurant
• Kildare- Two Cooks Restaurant and Wine Bar

Best Chef – Sponsored by Nisbets

• Carlow- Henry Stone of Sha-Roe Bistro
• Kilkenny- John Kelly of Lady Helen Dining Room at Mount Juliet Estate
• Laois- Sam Moody of Ballyfin Demesne
• Longford- Robert Groot Koerkamp of VM Restaurant at Viewmount House
• Louth- Stephanie Le Sourne of Ghan House
• Meath- Paddy Quinn of The Cross Guns Gastropub
• Offaly- Robert Kelly of William St. Bar & Eatery
• Westmeath- Deirdre Adamson of The Fatted Calf
• Wexford- Eugene O’Callaghan of Kelly’s Hotel
• Wicklow- James Kavanagh of The Strawberry Tree at Brooklodge & Macreddin Village
• Kildare- Josef Zammit of TwoCooks Restaurant & Wine Bar

Best Newcomer

• Carlow- Walter’s Bar & Grill
• Kilkenny- Butcher Restaurant
• Laois- The Willow Tree @ Rathdowney Golf Club
• Longford- Vocella’sLouth-
• Louth- The Spotted Dog
• Meath- Forge Restaurant
• Offaly- William St. Bar & Eatery
• Wexford- Sebz Restaurant
• Wicklow- Lily’s On Church Street
• Kildare- The Grill Shack

Best Restaurant Manager – AIB Merchant Services

• Carlow- Alma Sheeran of Plum Tree Bistro
• Kilkenny- Riccardo Cavaliere of Ristorante Rinuccini
• Laois- Adrian Rusan of Batoni’s
• Longford- Lorna Halligan of Nine Arches Restaurant
• Louth- Aoife Downes of Fifty4 Seafood Bar
• Meath- Lareina Quigley of Vanilla Pod at The Headfort Arms Hotel
• Offaly- Arif Soysal of Captain House Restaurant
• Westmeath- Fiona O’Donnell of The Fatted Calf
• Wexford- Edwina Hynes of La Côte Seafood Restaurant
• Wicklow- John Walsh of Pigeon House Café
• Kildare- Soizic Humbert of Canteen

Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant – Sponsored by BWG Food Service

• Carlow- The Cellar Restaurant at the Step House Hotel
• Kilkenny- Lady Helen Dining Room at Mount Juliet Estate
• Laois- Ballyfin Demesne
• Longford- VM Restaurant at Viewmount House
• Louth- Scholars Restaurant at Scholars Townhouse Hotel
• Meath- Brabazon Restaurant at Tankardstown House
• Offaly- Slí Dala Restaurant at Kinnitty Castle
• Westmeath- The Wineport Lodge
• Wexford- The Duck Restaurant at Marlfield House
• Wicklow- The Strawberry Tree at Brooklodge & Macreddin Village
• Kildare- The Linden Tree at Carton House

Best Customer Service – Sponsored by Lockton

• Carlow- LENNONS @ VISUAL
• Kilkenny- Zuni Restaurant, Bar & Boutique Hotel
• Laois- Mayur Indian RestaurantLongford-
• Longford – Tús Nua Restaurant
• Louth- McGeough’s Bar & Restaurant
• Meath- La Bucca
• Offaly- Captain House Restaurant
• Westmeath- Oscars
• Wexford- La Marine Bistro at Kelly’s Hotel
• Wicklow- The Roundwood Inn
• Kildare- FALLONS

Best Gastro Pub – Sponsored by Elavon

• Carlow- Teach Dolmain
• Kilkenny- Paris Texas Bar And Restaurant
• Laois- Bog Road
• Longford- The Rustic Inn
• Louth- Lennons Gastro Pub
• Meath- The Central Navan
• Offaly- Hennessy’s
• Westmeath- Grogan’s
• Wexford- Strand Cahore
• Wicklow- The Roundwood Inn
• Kildare- The Ballymore Inn

Best Cafe – Sponsored by Illy

• Carlow- Birdcage Café
• Kilkenny- Knockdrinna Farm Shop & Artisan Café
• Laois- The Pantry Café & Walled Garden
• Longford- Macs Shack
• Louth- Rocksalt Café
• Meath- Maguires Café
• Offaly- Woodfield Café and Garden Centre
• Westmeath- Red Earth
• Wexford- The Wilds
• Wicklow- Firehouse Bakery
• Kildare- Timeless Café

Pub of the Year – Sponsored by Jameson Caskmates

• Carlow- Osbourne’s Bar
• Kilkenny- The Dylan Whiskey Bar
• Laois- Jeremiah Grant Bar & Eatery
• Longford- Milo’s Bar
• Louth- The Neptune Bar
• Meath- James Griffin Pub
• Offaly- Hamilton’s Pub
• Westmeath- Sean’s Bar
• Wexford- French’s Pub
• Wicklow- Harbour Bar
• Kildare- Lock 13

Best Wine Experience – Sponsored by Gilbeys with Bibendum

• Carlow- Lord Bagenal Inn
• Kilkenny- Barrows Keep
• Laois- Ballyfin Demesne
• Longford- Skellys Bar & Guest House
• Louth- D’Vine Bistro & Tapas Bar
• Meath- Brabazon Restaurant at Tankardstown House
• Offaly- Townsend House Tapas & Wine Bar
• Westmeath- The Left Bank Bistro
• Wexford- Greenacres
• Wicklow- La Touche Wines 4 U
• Kildare- The K Club

Best World Cuisine

• Carlow- New Moon Tandoori
• Kilkenny- Indique Indian Restaurant
• Laois- Batoni’s
• Longford- Spice India
• Louth- Atami Japanese Cuisine
• Meath- Copper & Spices
• Offaly- Sanjay’s Kitchen
• Westmeath- Kin Khao Thai
• Wexford- The Forge Italian Restaurant
• Wicklow- Pink Salt Indian Restaurant
• Kildare- Novak’s Restaurant

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

• Carlow- Basil Asian Street Food
• Kilkenny- The Cutting Vedge
• Laois- Stradbally Fayre
• Longford- Torc Café
• Louth- Strandfield
• Meath- Zucchini’s Restaurant
• Offaly- Woodfield Café and Garden Centre
• Westmeath- Beans & Leaves
• Wexford- The Cracked Teapot
• Wicklow- The Happy Pear
• Kildare- Beetroot Healthy Food

Best Kids Size Me

• Carlow- Tea Rooms at Duckett’s Grove
• Kilkenny- The Hungry Moose
• Laois- Treacy’s Bar & Restaurant
• Longford- Jac-O-Bites Café
• Louth- Roots & Green
• Meath- Room8
• Offaly- Sirocco’s Italian Restaurant
• Westmeath- Corner House Bistro
• Wexford- Whitford House Hotel Wexford
• Wicklow- Tiffin by Sunil
• Kildare- Hartes of Kildare

Best Local Food Hero – Sponsored by Rewarding Times

• Carlow- Eva Milka of Gaelic Escargot
• Kilkenny- Siobhan Lawler of Glasraí & Goodies
• Laois- Blathnaid Bergin of The Business of Food
• Longford- Eilish McLoughlin of Dial a Chef
• Louth- Janice Casey Bracken of An Grianán Cookery School
• Meath- Georg Heise of George’s Patisserie, Delicatessen & Café
• Offaly- Sharon Greene of Wild Irish Foragers & Preservers
• Westmeath- Pat Lalor of Kilbeggan Organic Foods
• Wexford- Fiona Falconer of Wild About
• Wicklow- Patrick Ryan of Firehouse Bakery & Breadschool
• Kildare- Olivier Pauloin-Valory of Les Olives Farm and Food

Leinster Regional Local Food Hero – Sponsored by Rewarding Times

• Wexford- Fiona Falconer of Wild About

Best Emerging Irish Cuisine – Sponsored by Odaios

• Carlow- Riverbank Restaurant
• Kilkenny- Barrows Keep
• Laois- O’Dea’s Bar And Bistro
• Longford- Tús Nua Restaurant
• Louth- Ghan House
• Meath- Vanilla Pod at The Headfort Arms Hotel
• Offaly- Spinners
• Westmeath- Thyme Restaurant
• Wexford- Cistín Eile
• Wicklow- Cowfish
• Kildare- Canteen

Best Casual Dining – Sponsored by Just Eat

• Carlow- Plum Tree Bistro
• Kilkenny- Truffles Restaurant & Wine Bar
• Laois- Kelly’s Steakhouse
• Longford- Richmond Inn
• Louth- The Glyde Inn & Linn Duachaill Restaurant
• Meath- Browne’s Bar at Slane Castle
• Offaly- Lana Restaurant – Asian Street Food
• Westmeath- Savoury Fare at the Fernhill Garden Centre
• Wexford- Katie Daly’s Bar & Restaurant
• Wicklow- Pigeon House Café
• Kildare- The Green Barn at Burtown House & Gardens