If you’re looking to enjoy the crème de la crème the next time you dine out, then the winners of the Ulster Irish Restaurant Awards will be a good place to start.
Local restaurants, pubs, food heroes and chefs enjoyed great success at the regional finals last night in Monaghan, which was attended by over 450 restaurant owners and staff.
The awards covered a wide range of venues and the winners from each of Ulster’s nine counties. Harvey’s Point on Lough Eske was a big winner on the night as the team picked up four titles.
The Donegal winners were:
- Best Restaurant – The Lemon Tree Restaurant, Letterkenny
- Best Chef – Colin McKee of Harvey’s Point
- Best Restaurant Manager – Orhan Erinc of Harvey’s Point
- Best Customer Service – Harvey’s Point
- Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant – Rathmullan House
- Best Gastro Pub – The House Gastro Pub, Donegal Town
- Best Café – The Salty Fox, Bundoran
- Pub of the Year – The Rusty Mackerel, Teelin
- Best Wine Experience – Harvey’s Point
- Best Newcomer – Fisk Seafood Bar, Downings
- Best World Cuisine – Chandpur Restaurant, Donegal Town
- Best “Free From” – Wholegreen Healthfood Letterkenny
- Best Kids Size Me – Mill Park Hotel, Donegal Town
- Best Local Food Hero – Mairead Anderson of Killybegs Seafood Shack
- Best Emerging Irish Cuisine – Foyle Hotel and Restaurant, Moville
- Best Casual Dining – Olde Glen Bar, Glen
Those who won at county level will progress to the All-Ireland event on the 13th May with the restaurants that have already won in Leinster, where they will all compete for the Regional and All-Ireland titles.
Speaking at the Ulster Regional Finals in Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan, 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”.