The IMRO sponsored All Ireland Final of Irish Restaurant Awards 2023 took place in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin 4 on Monday May 15th 2023.
Almost 1200 restaurant and hospitality business owners and staff celebrated their hard work and achievements at the Awards Event, which saw many well-known restaurateurs, hospitality business and staff turn out to see if they had won one of the prestigious awards.
Speaking at the Irish Restaurant Awards All Ireland Final, President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Paul Lenehan, said; “Now in their 14th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards returns with a record-breaking number of public nominations – over 130,000. This sheer number of votes highlights the support & appreciation by the general public for our hospitality sector and all who contribute to it.
The Awards continue to showcase the incredible food that is on offer in the cafes, hotels, pubs and restaurants of Ireland. As an industry, the restaurateurs, pub-owners and entrepreneurs of Ireland, continue to defy the odds. You strive to create jobs, expand upon Ireland’s understanding of food standards and world cuisine, all while maintaining exemplary customer service. Your support of Irish produce has never been greater and for this you should be wholeheartedly applauded. Tonight, is a celebration of your unrelenting commitment, ambition and devotion to the Irish Food Industry.
Our Regional Events held in March in Limerick, Kildare, Monaghan and Sligo had almost 4,000 attendees – an incredible turnout from proud owners, managers & staff. The Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the existing, and up and coming talent, in the sector and are a reminder that hospitality is nothing without their dedicated and passionate staff – it is a pleasure to be able to see these Individuals & teams recognised for their incredible efforts throughout the year during these events.”
The winners on the night were:
Best Restaurant Sponsored by San Miguel
- All Ireland Chapter One
- Leinster Thyme Restaurant
- Ulster MacNean House and Restaurant
- Munster Kingdom 1795
- Connaught Eala Bhán
- Dublin Chapter One
Best Chef Sponsored by BWG Food Service
- All Ireland Uno Mas, Paul McNamara
- Leinster Restaurant Lady Anne, Keith Boyle
- Ulster Browns Bonds Hill, Ian Orr
- Munster Takashi Miyazaki, Ichigo Ichie
- Connaught House of Plates, Barry Ralph
- Dublin Uno Mas, Paul McNamara
Best Gastro Pub Sponsored by Worldpay from FIS
- All Ireland The Dirty Duck
- Leinster Hartes of Kildare
- Ulster The Dirty Duck
- Munster O’Mahony’s of Watergrasshill
- Connaught Oarsman
- Dublin F.X. Buckley Monkstown
Best Customer Service Sponsored Restaurant-Insurance.ie Provided by Dolmen
- All Ireland Guinea Pig Restaurant
- Leinster Clashganny House Restaurant
- Ulster Rathmullan House
- Munster 1826 Adare
- Connaught Park House Hotel
- Dublin Guinea Pig Restaurant
Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant Sponsored By Frylite
- All Ireland The Bishop’s Buttery at Cashel Palace Hotel
- Leinster Fairmont Carton House
- Ulster Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie Estate
- Munster The Bishop’s Buttery at Cashel Palace Hotel
- Connaught Renvyle House
- Dublin Haddington House
Best Casual Dining Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace
- All Ireland Crudo
- Leinster One Hundred Degrees
- Ulster Edo
- Munster Momo
- Connaught Fish & Bean
- Dublin Crudo
Pub of the Year Sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro
- All Ireland Thomas Connolly
- Leinster T Morris Bar
- Ulster Maghera Inn
- Munster Friel’s Pub
- Connaught Thomas Connolly
- Dublin Walsh’s Stoneybatter
Best Newcomer Sponsored by Square
- All Ireland Blackrock Cottage
- Leinster Gourmet Food Parlour Dunshaughlin
- Ulster Roam
- Munster Terre Restaurant
- Connaught Blackrock Cottage
- Dublin D’Olier Street
Best World Cuisine Sponsored by San Pellegrino
- All Ireland Pickle
- Leinster Aroi Asian Fusion Restaurant
- Ulster Chili Lounge
- Munster Da Mirco Bridge St
- Connaught My Kitchen by Sham
- Dublin Pickle
Best Café Sponsored by Illy
- All Ireland The Vanilla Pod Blackrock
- Leinster Café La Coco
- Ulster The Pickled Duck Cafe
- Munster WunderKaffe
- Connaught Pota
- Dublin The Vanilla Pod Blackrock
Best Wine Experience Sponsored by Bibendum Ireland
- All Ireland Union Wine Bar
- Leinster Ristorante Rinuccini
- Ulster Wine and Brine
- Munster Union Wine Bar
- Connaught Sheridans
- Dublin Green Man Wines
Best Restaurant Manager Sponsored by Halcyon Group
- All Ireland Denise McBrien, The Old Spot
- Leinster Aga Kubinska, Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juilet Estate
- Ulster Saul McConnell, Noble
- Munster Neil Hynes, Number 35
- Connaught Gill Carroll, 56 Central
- Dublin Denise McBrien, The Old Spot
Best Emerging Irish Cuisine Sponsored by FBD Insurance
- All Ireland Library Street
- Leinster Thyme Restaurant
- Ulster The Banks Restaurant
- Munster Restaurant Chestnut
- Connaught The Cottage Restaurant
- Dublin Library Street
Best Free From Sponsored by the RestaurantS Association of Ireland
- All Ireland Glas
- Leinster The Cutting Vedge
- Ulster Chandpur Restaurant
- Munster Avo Café
- Connaught Shell’s Cafe
- Dublin Glas
Innovator of the Year Sponsored by Diageo
- All Ireland Lock 13 Gastropub & Brewpub
- Leinster Lock 13 Gastropub & Brewpub
- Ulster FRAE
- Munster The Fish Basket
- Connaught Nook.
- Dublin Bites by Kwanghi
Best Sustainable Practices Sponsored by Gas Networks Ireland
- All Ireland Grain Store Restaurant at Killruddery House and Gardens
- Leinster Grain Store Restaurant at Killruddery House and Gardens
- Ulster Kileavy Castle Estate
- Munster Fitzgeralds Woodlands Hotel
- Connaught Clare Island Oven
- Dublin Bujo Sandymount
Local Food Hero Sponsored by The Irish Times
- All Ireland Con Traas, The Apple Farm
- Leinster Mag Kirwan, Goatsbridge Trout Farm
- Ulster Chris Molloy, The Lemon Tree
- Munster Con Traas, The Apple Farm
- Connaught Prannie Rhatigan, Irish Seaweed Kitchen
- Dublin Ian Ussher, Cluck Chicken
Best Cocktail Experience Sponsored by Monin
- All Ireland – Haddington House
Best Learning & Development Sponsored by Restaurant & Hospitality Skillnet
- All Ireland – The Kingsley Hotel
Best Cookery School Sponsored by Avonmore
- All Ireland – Fiona Egan Cloughan Farm and Cookery School
Best Private Dining & Club Restaurant Sponsored by Wild Irish Game
- All Ireland – RDS Members Club
Sponsors of this Year’s Irish Restaurant Awards:
- Avonmore
- Bibendum Ireland
- BWG Foodservice
- Diageo
- FBD Insurance
- Frylite
- Gas Networks Ireland
- Halcyon Group
- Illy
- IMRO
- Irish Times
- Monin
- Musgrave Marketplace
- Peninsula
- Peroni Nastro Azzurro
- Restaurant & Hospitality Skillnet
- Restaurant-insurance.ie provided by Dolmen
- San Miguel
- San Pellegrino
- Square
- Wild Irish Game
- Worldpay from FIS
Food outlets were nominated under the categories of Local Food Hero, Best Sustainable Practices, Best Free From, Best Emerging Irish Cuisine, Best Restaurant Manager, Best Wine Experience, Best Café, Best World Cuisine, Best Newcomer, Pub of the Year, Best Casual Dining, Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant, Best Customer Service, Best Gastropub, Best Chef, and Best Restaurant and finally a new award category for 2023 Innovator of the Year.
Photo Credit: Paul Sherwood Photography
