THE BEST pubs and restaurants on offer across Ireland have been revealed.
Ireland’s best bars and eateries were announced at the All-Ireland Finals of the Irish Restaurant Awards at the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road in Dublin this week.
It was a night that saw the best restaurants, pubs and other food business honoured in a night that will give those visiting Ireland plenty of food for thought, so to speak.
Knowing the best bars and restaurants on offer represents essential information for any visiting tourists and it’s no different here with the winners representing a selection of the very best from the Emerald Isle.
Loam Restaurant in Galway was one of the big winners after being name the best restaurant in Ireland.
Graham Neville of Dax in Dublin was named Best Chef while Everett’s restaurant in Waterford was named Best Newcomer.
Dax Restaurant, Eastern Seaboard Bar & Grill, Wild Honey Inn, and OX also took home awards in the restaurant category.
The Pub of the Year award meanwhile went to Doheny and Nesbitt in Dublin.
J Doherty's, Hamilton's Pub, Coach House & Olde Bar, and Levis Corner House also won awards for the best pubs in their respective regions of Ireland.
The winners were picked from a total of more than 90,000 public nominations, which represents the highest number in the awards’ 11-year history.
Speaking at the awards, Adrian Cummins, Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, said: “This is the 11th year of the Irish Restaurant Awards, and it has been the biggest year for the awards to date.
"Over 90,000 nominations were received from the public in January, and over 2,000 restaurateurs attended the Regional Awards, which were held in Kildare, Monaghan, Limerick and Sligo. The standard for judging this year has been very high."
The main winners list reads as follows:
Best Restaurant
All-Ireland: Loam Restaurant
Dublin: Dax Restaurant
Connacht Loam Restaurant
Leinster: Eastern Seaboard Bar & Grill
Munster: Wild Honey Inn
Ulster: OX
Best Chef
All-Ireland: Graham Neville of Dax Restaurant
Dublin: Graham Neville of Dax Restaurant
Connacht Barry Ralph of House of Plates
Leinster: Deirdre Adamson of The Fatted Calf
Munster: Peter Everett of Everett's Restaurant
Ulster: Chris McGowan of Wine and Brine
Best Restaurant Manager
All-Ireland: Eva Ivanova of Sage Restaurant
Dublin: Denise McBrien of The Old Spot
Connacht Eva Ivanova of Sage Restaurant
Leinster: Edwina Hynes of La Côte Seafood Restaurant
Munster: John Edward Joyce of The Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge
Ulster: Saul McConnell of NOBLE.
Pub of the Year
All-Ireland: Doheny and Nesbitt
Dublin: Doheny and Nesbitt
Connacht: J Doherty's
Leinster: Hamilton's Pub
Munster: Levis Corner House
Ulster: Coach House & Olde Bar
Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant
All-Ireland: Gregans Castle Hotel
Dublin: The Saddle Room at The Shelbourne Hotel
Connacht: West Restaurant at the Twelve Hotel
Leinster: Brabazon Restaurant at Tankardstown House
Munster: Gregans Castle Hotel
Ulster: Newforge House
Best Newcomer
All-Ireland: Everett's Restaurant
Dublin: Uno Mas
Connacht: Passione by the Slice
Leinster: Lily's On Church Street
Munster: Everett's Restaurant
Ulster: Hara
Best Gastro Pub
All-Ireland: The Old Spot
Dublin: The Old Spot
Connacht: Bar One
Leinster: The Ballymore Inn
Munster: Mikey Ryan’s Bar and Kitchen
Ulster: Clenaghans
Best Customer Service
All-Ireland: The Muddlers Club
Dublin: Luna
Connacht: Park House Hotel
Leinster: LENNONS @ Visual
Munster: Ballyvolane House
Ulster: The Muddlers Club
Best Casual Dining
All-Ireland: 777
Dublin: 777
Connacht: HOOKED Sligo
Leinster:Truffles Restaurant and Wine Bar
Munster: Bodega
Ulster: The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant and Tea Room
Best Wine Experience
All-Ireland: Green Man Wines
Dublin: Green Man Wines
Connacht: Le Petit Pois
Leinster: Barrows Keep
Munster: The Black Pig
Ulster: OX
Best Kids Size Me
All-Ireland: Old Street Restaurant
Dublin: Old Street Restaurant
Connacht: Shells Seaside Bakery and Café
Leinster: Tiffin by Sunil
Munster: 9 Café
Ulster:Oak Room Restaurant
Best World Cuisine
All-Ireland: 3 Leaves
Dublin: 3 Leaves
Connacht: Spice India
Leinster: Pink Salt Indian Restaurant
Munster: Iyer's
Ulster: Tuk Tuk Asian Bistro
Best Café
All-Ireland: Connemara Greenway Café & Restaurant
Dublin: Two Pups
Connacht: Connemara Greenway Café & Restaurant
Leinster: Knockdrinna Farm Shop & Artisan Café
Munster: Good Day Deli
Ulster: Dinkin's Home Bakery & Café
Best Free From
All-Ireland: GROW HQ
Dublin: Urbanity
Connacht: Drumanilra Farm Kitchen
Leinster: Zucchini's Restaurant
Munster: GROW HQ
Ulster: The Olde Post Inn
Local Food Hero
All-Ireland: Seán Hussey of Hussey & Sons Fruit & Veg
Best Emerging Irish Cuisine
All-Ireland: 35 Restaurant
Dublin: Forest & Marcy
Connacht: An Port Mór Restaurant
Leinster: Thyme Restaurant
Munster: 35 Restaurant
Ulster: Wine and Brine
Best Digital Marketing
All-Ireland: Michael’s Mount Merrion
Best Cookery School
All-Ireland: The Neven Maguire Cookery School
Best Private Dining & Club Restaurant
All-Ireland: Stephens Green Hibernian Club
Best Seafood Experience
All-Ireland: Fish Shop, Benburb Street
Best Cocktail Experience
All-Ireland: The Tack Room at Adare Manor