Best NI eateries, hotels and bars crowned at Irish Restaurant Awards

The winners of the Ulster Regional awards for the Irish Restaurant Awards 2023 have been announced.

Restaurants, cafes and eateries across the country have been selected to represent their country at the All Ireland final later this year.

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).

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"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."

Here are the NI winners at the Ulster Regional awards by county:

Antrim

• Local Food Hero - Phil Ervine, Taste and Tour
• Best Sustainable Practices - Academy Restaurant, Ulster University
  

• Innovator of the Year - Flout Belfast

• Free From - Home

• Best Emerging Irish Cuisine - Blank

• Best Restaurant Manager - Alain Kerloc’h, OX

• Best Wine Experience - La Bottega

• Best Café -Neighbourhood

• Best World Cuisine - Bo Tree

• Best Newcomer - Roam

• Pub of the Year - John Hewitt

• Best Casual Dining - Edo

• Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant - River Room Restaurant at Galgorm

• Best Customer Service - Blank

• Best Gastro Pub - Deer’s Head

• Best Chef - Gareth McCaughey, The Muddlers Club

• Best Restaurant - OX

Armagh

The Corner House Bar, Lurgan (Google)

• Local Food Hero - John & Sarah Murray, Embers
• Best Sustainable Practices - Killeavy Castle Estate
  

• Innovator of the Year- The Corner House Bar

• Free From - The Portmor

• Best Emerging Irish Cuisine - Clenaghans Restaurant

• Best Restaurant Manager - James Scott, The Bawn Pantry

• Best Wine Experience - Wine and Brine

• Best Café -Caife Mhacha

• Best World Cuisine - Shapla

• Best Newcomer - Sojourn Coffee

• Pub of the Year - Hole in the Wall

• Best Casual Dining - Sally McNally’s

• Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant - Newforge House

• Best Customer Service - Newforge House

• Best Gastro Pub - Digby’s Bar & Restaurant

• Best Chef - Chris McGowan, Wine and Brine

• Best Restaurant - Wine and Brine

Derry

• Local Food Hero - Kevin Pyke, Pykes “N” Pommes

• Best Sustainable Practices - The City Hotel Derry

• Innovator of the Year - Brøn Cafe Bar and Restaurant

• Free From - Cedar Restaurant

• Best Emerging Irish Cuisine - The Sooty Olive

• Best Restaurant Manager - James McKee, District 45

• Best Wine Experience - Artis Restaurant by Phelim O’Hagan

• Best Café - The Pickled Duck

• Best World Cuisine - Mekong

• Best Newcomer - Coupe

• Pub of the Year - Sandinos

• Best Casual Dining - El Tapas Grá

• Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant - The Gown, Bishops Gate Hotel

• Best Customer Service - Shipquay Restaurant

• Best Gastro Pub - Walled City Brewery

• Best Chef -Ian Orr, Browns Bonds Hill

• Best Restaurant - Browns Bonds Hill

Down

• Local Food Hero - Peter Hannan, Hannan Meats

• Best Sustainable Practices - Slieve Donard Hotel

• Innovator of the Year - Frae

• Free From - The Smugglers Table

• Best Emerging Irish Cuisine -The Cuan

• Best Restaurant Manager - Saul McConnell, Noble

• Best Wine Experience - Noble

• Best Café - The Bearded Goat

• Best World Cuisine - Tuk Tuk Asian Bistro

• Best Newcomer - Joxer Holywood

• Pub of the Year - Maghera Inn

• Best Casual Dining - Frae

• Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant - The Salty Dog Hotel & Bistro

• Best Customer Service - Brunel’s

• Best Gastro Pub - The Dirty Duck

• Best Chef - Pearson Morris, Noble

• Best Restaurant - Noble

Fermanagh

• Local Food Hero - Marty McAdam, The Street Kitchen Enniskillen

• Best Sustainable Practices - Manor House Country Hotel

• Innovator of the Year - The Giddy Box

• Free From - Milly’s Restaurant

• Best Emerging Irish Cuisine - Finn Lough

• Best Restaurant Manager -Mario Breban-McDonald, Tully Mill Restaurant

• Best Wine Experience - 28 At The Hollow

• Best Café - The Toastery

• Best World Cuisine - Taco Loco

• Best Newcomer - The Dog and Duck Inn

• Pub of the Year - Devenish Bar

• Best Casual Dining - Dollakis

• Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant - Catalina Restaurant at Lough Erne

• Best Customer Service - Francos

• Best Gastro Pub - Granny Annies

• Best Chef - Glen Wheeler, 28 At The Hollow

• Best Restaurant - 28 At The Hollow

Tyrone

Tomney's Bar in Moy village (Justin Kernoghan/Belfast Live)

• Local Food Hero Sponsored by The Irish Times - Colin McMenamin, The Red Pepper

• Best Sustainable Practices - Corick House Hotel & Spa

• Innovator of the Year - The Millstonebar and Restaurant

• Free From - The Tailor’s House

• Best Emerging Irish Cuisine - The Banks Restaurant

• Best Restaurant Manager - Ellen McCabrey, Chapter V

• Best Wine Experience - The Wine Rack

• Best Café - Moy Larder

• Best World Cuisine - Tusk

• Best Newcomer - The Banks Restaurant

• Pub of the Year - Tomneys Bar

• Best Casual Dining - Salleys Restaurant

• Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant - The Sika 1888 @ The Cedar Country Hotel

• Best Customer Service - Oysters Restaurant

• Best Gastro Pub - The Brewer’s House

• Best Chef - Conor McCabrey, Chapter V

• Best Restaurant - Chapter V

All of the county winners now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Titles, which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards All Ireland Final on Monday 15th May.

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