The Munster Regional Final for the 2019 Irish Restaurant Awards has taken place in the Strand Hotel, Limerick.
Awards were presented to leading chefs, restaurants and pubs in the province.
Over 550 people attended the third of four regional events on Wednesday evening, where the top establishments in each county were named.
The awards covered a wide range of venues and the winners from each of Munster’s six counties were selected from the following categories: Best Casual Dining, Best Emerging Irish Cuisine, Best Kids Size Me, Best ‘Free From’, Best World Cuisine, Best Restaurant Manager, Best Wine Experience, Pub of the Year, Best Café, Best Customer Service, Best Gastro Pub, Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant, Best Newcomer, Best Chef and Best Restaurant.
There was also a special Regional award for Munster’s Local Food Hero.
Speaking at the awards, 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 90,000 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”.
All of those who won in Tipperary and Waterford at county level will now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Titles, which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards.
These will be held in the Clayton Hotel, Dublin on Monday 13th May, 2019.
The Tipperary and Waterford winners were:
Best Restaurant – Sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants
Waterford: The Tannery Restaurant
Tipperary: Dooks Fine Foods Fethard
Best Chef – Sponsored by Nisbets
Waterford: Peter Everett of Everretts Restaurant
Tipperary: Dermot Bannon of The Old Convent
Best Newcomer
Waterford: Everett's Restaurant
Tipperary: KYOTO
Best Hotel and Guesthouse – Sponsored by AIB Merchant Services
Waterford: The House Restaurant at Cliff House Hotel
Tipperary: The Old Convent
Best Restaurant Manager– Sponsored by BWG Food Service
Waterford: Kamila Bystrzonowska of Momo Restaurant
Tipperary: Christine Ganon of The Old Convent
Best Customer Service – Sponsored by Lockton
Waterford: Momo Restaurant
Tipperary: Lava Rock Restaurant
Best Café – Sponsored by Illy
Waterford: Coach House Coffee
Tipperary: Ponaire Coffee Roastery and Bar
Pub of the Year – Sponsored by Jameson Caskmates
Waterford: An Uisce Beatha
Tipperary: Jim O’ the Mill
Best Wine Experience – Sponsored by Gilbeys with Bibendum
Waterford: La Boheme Restaurant & Winebar
Tipperary: Chez Hans
Best Gastro Pub – Sponsored by Elavon
Waterford: Geoff's Cafe Bar
Tipperary: Mikey Ryan's Bar and Kitchen
Best World Cuisine
Waterford: KYOTO
Tipperary: Befani’s
Best “Free From” – Sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro Gluten Free
Waterford: GROW HQ
Tipperary: Jenny's Kitchen
Best Kids Size Me
Waterford: No. 9 Café
Tipperary: Tuscanny Bistro
Best Local Food Hero – Sponsored by Rewarding Times
Waterford: Colin Jephson of Ardkeen Quality Food Store
Tipperary: Lucy Lambe of The Green Sheep
Best Local Food Hero, Munster – Sponsored by Rewarding Times:
Chad Byrne of Chef Collab
Best Emerging Irish Cuisine – Sponsored by Odaios
Waterford: Seagull Bakery
Tipperary: Dooks Fine Foods Fethard
Best Casual Dining – Sponsored by Just Eat
Waterford: Bodega
Tipperary: O’Neills Bistro
