see HERE for 2013 Irish Restaurant Awards Full Results
The Regional and All Ireland Titles of the Irish Restaurant Awards were announced at the Awards Ceremony which was held in the Burlington Hotel Dublin on Monday 14th May 2012.
The awards celebrate all aspects of the Industry from Chefs and Restaurants to Food Producers, Local Food Heroes and Cookery Schools. Nominations for the awards are made by readers of the Sunday Independent LIFE Magazine and members of the Restaurants Association of Ireland.
The event recognizes achievement and excellence in the Restaurant and Hospitality Industry throughout the Island of Ireland. The Irish Restaurant Awards are brought to you by The Restaurants Association of Ireland and are sponsored by Santa Rita/Sunday Independent LIFE Magazine & others. The awards are the largest and most coveted awards in the Irish Restaurant Industry.
County winners were announced at a number of Regional Events in the run up to this main event. Guests at the main event were treated to a five course menu prepared by the winning Chefs in each of the five regions from last year.
The Regional and All Ireland Titles of the Irish Restaurant Awards were announced at the Awards Ceremony which was held in the Burlington Hotel Dublin on Monday 14th May 2012.
The event recognizes achievement and excellence in the Restaurant and Hospitality Industry throughout the Island of Ireland. The Irish Restaurant Awards are brought to you by The Restaurants Association of Ireland and are sponsored by Santa Rita/Sunday Independent LIFE Magazine & others. The awards are the largest and most coveted awards in the Irish Restaurant Industry.
County winners were announced at a number of Regional Events in the run up to this main event. Guests at the main event were treated to a five course menu prepared by the winning Chefs in each of the five regions from last year.
There were 3 components to the final phase of the process & each element was independently assessed by KPMG.
1. Mystery Guest Visit (35%) -This component of the awards was conducted by Prism Consulting headed by Hugo Arnold, independent food writer and consultant (http://www.hugoarnold.com). All County Winners received a mystery guest visit throughout the month of April.
2. National Awards Academy (55%) -The National Awards Academy were made up by representatives from each of the regional judging panels and they met during May to Judge the County Winners.
3. Menu Judging (10%) -All County winners and the Dublin Shortlist in each category were asked to submit a copy of their food menu and wine list for judging.
The Winners in each of the following categories were:
BEST CASUAL DINING 2012
BEST CASUAL DINING 2012
This category recognises the dining experience which best offers outstanding value, excellent food, appropriate service, genuine hospitality and an appropriate overall dining experience.
ULSTER - Il PirataMUNSTER - La Cucina
LEINSTER - A. Caviston
CONNAUGHT - Mulberrys Restaurant & Wine Bar
DUBLIN - O'Connells
ALL-IRELAND WINNER - O'Connells
BEST HOTEL RESTAURANT 2012
This category will recognise a hotel restaurant that demonstrates the very best in a dining experience as evidenced by attention to detail, a well-structured, balanced and appropriate menu, exemplary customer service and enjoyable and suitable atmosphere.
- ULSTER - The River Room @ Galgorm Resort
- MUNSTER - The Long Room @ Doonbeg
- LEINSTER - Beaches Restaurant @ Kelly's Resort Hotel
- CONNAUGHT - Ballynahinch Castle
- DUBLIN - Seasons Restaurant @ The Four Seasons Hotel
- ALL-IRELAND WINNER - The Long Room @ Doonbeg
BEST GASTRO PUB 2012
Goes to the gastro pub with an impressive food aspect, genuine and demonstrable hospitality and an outstanding, relevant and complementary drinks offering.
- ULSTER - The Brewers House
- MUNSTER - The Roadside Tavern
- LEINSTER - The Fatted Calf
- CONNAUGHT - Bar One
- DUBLIN - The Chop House
- ALL-IRELAND WINNER - The Chop House
BEST CHEF 2012
The chef who most impresses in their approach, design and execution of dishes and who is clearly pushing at culinary boundaries in Ireland.
- ULSTER - Joery Castel, The Boathouse
- MUNSTER - Wade Murphy, The Long Room @ Doonbeg
- LEINSTER - Garrett Byrne, Campagne
- CONNAUGHT - Philippe Farineau, Mount Falcon
- DUBLIN - Ross Lewis, Chapter One
- ALL-IRELAND WINNER - Garrett Byrne, Campagne
BEST WINE EXPERIENCE 2012
This goes to the restaurant offering a balanced and appropriate wine list, an interesting range of producers and which strives for excellence in the service of wine.
Best Wine Experience Ireland - West @ The Twelve Hotel
Best Restaurant 2012
This goes to the restaurant offering a balanced and appropriate wine list, an interesting range of producers and which strives for excellence in the service of wine.
- ULSTER - James Street South
- MUNSTER - Les Gourmandises
- LEINSTER - Campagne
- CONNAUGHT - Artisan
- DUBLIN - Chapter One
- ALL-IRELAND WINNER - Chapter One
Best Kids Size Me 2012
This award goes to the restaurant who aims to ensure children have access to healthier food options when dining out by making child size portions of appropriate adult meals available as an alternative to ordering from the standard children's menu.
Best Kid Size Me Menu Ireland - Ely Gastro Pub, Dublin
Best Customer Service 2012
This award recognises the establishment that demonstrably goes above and beyond a normal level of service and does it consistently and in an appropriate manner.
ULSTER - Harveys Point Hotel
MUNSTER - Isaacs Restaurant
LEINSTER - Viewmount House
CONNAUGHT - Renvyle House
DUBLIN - Rasam
ALL-IRELAND WINNER - Harveys Point Hotel
ULSTER - Harveys Point Hotel
MUNSTER - Isaacs Restaurant
LEINSTER - Viewmount House
CONNAUGHT - Renvyle House
DUBLIN - Rasam
ALL-IRELAND WINNER - Harveys Point Hotel
INDUSTRY CATEGORIES
Best Restaurant Website sponsored by Lightbox - Milano, Ireland
Best Coffee Experience sponsored by Robert Roberts - 3FE, Dublin
Best Ethnic Restaurant sponsored by Tiger Beer - Ananda, Dublin
Best Artisan Producer sponsored by IFSA - Boulabane Ice-Cream
Best Club Restaurant sponsored by La Rousse - Restaurant FortyOne @ Residence, Dublin
Just Ask 2012 sponsored by Bord Bia - L. Mulligan Grocer, Dublin
Best Seafood Experience sponsored by Kish - O'Gradys On The Pier, Co. Galway
Best Supplier sponsored by RAI - Pallas Foods
Great Value Dining sponsored by Tourism Ireland - Thyme, Co. Westmeath
Best Practice in Energy Management sponsored by Calor - Dromoland Castle, Co. Clare
Best Innovative Restaurant sponsored by Failte Ireland - Mulberry Garden, Dublin
Best Restaurant Design sponsored by Hugh Jordan - Bijou, Dublin
Best Cocktail Experience sponsored by Smirnoff Mojito - The Exchequer, Dublin
Best Newcomer sponsored by Elavon - The Green House, Dublin
Best Cookery School sponsored by Avonmore - The Tannery Cookery School, Co. Waterford
The Irish Restaurant Awards 2012 are independently supervised by:Best Coffee Experience sponsored by Robert Roberts - 3FE, Dublin
Best Ethnic Restaurant sponsored by Tiger Beer - Ananda, Dublin
Best Artisan Producer sponsored by IFSA - Boulabane Ice-Cream
Best Club Restaurant sponsored by La Rousse - Restaurant FortyOne @ Residence, Dublin
Just Ask 2012 sponsored by Bord Bia - L. Mulligan Grocer, Dublin
Best Seafood Experience sponsored by Kish - O'Gradys On The Pier, Co. Galway
Best Supplier sponsored by RAI - Pallas Foods
Great Value Dining sponsored by Tourism Ireland - Thyme, Co. Westmeath
Best Practice in Energy Management sponsored by Calor - Dromoland Castle, Co. Clare
Best Innovative Restaurant sponsored by Failte Ireland - Mulberry Garden, Dublin
Best Restaurant Design sponsored by Hugh Jordan - Bijou, Dublin
Best Cocktail Experience sponsored by Smirnoff Mojito - The Exchequer, Dublin
Best Newcomer sponsored by Elavon - The Green House, Dublin
Best Cookery School sponsored by Avonmore - The Tannery Cookery School, Co. Waterford
For more details see http://www.rai.ie/news-top-restaurants-in-ireland-announced-at-the-santa-rita-life-magazine-irish-restaurant-awards-2012-105.html
Congrats to Everyone that got through to the finals and Well Done to All the Winners!
Zack
