Rising star in Salthill takes home coveted prize at Irish Restaurant Awards

Blackrock Cottage restaurant in seaside Salthill is seeing its star rising, taking home the Best Newcomer award at this year’s Irish Restaurant Awards.

The Salthill restaurant was one of the big winners announced at the All Ireland Final of Irish Restaurant Awards 2023 announced this week.

In other good news for Galway on the night, the Park House Hotel in Galway City was the regional winner of the Best Customer Service award category.

Renvyle House in Connemara was the Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant in Connacht, while Pota in Baile na hAbhann was named the Best Café in the province.

Sheridan’s in the city is the Best Wine Experience to be had in Connacht, and Gill Carroll of 56 Central is the Best Restaurant Manager in the region.

Almost 1200 restaurant and hospitality business owners and staff celebrated their hard work and achievements at the Awards Event, which saw many well-known restaurateurs, hospitality business and staff turn out to see if they had won one of the prestigious awards.

Speaking at the awards, 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.”

“This sheer number of votes highlights the support & appreciation by the general public for our hospitality sector and all who contribute to it.”

“The Awards continue to showcase the incredible food that is on offer in the cafes, hotels, pubs and restaurants of Ireland. As an industry, the restaurateurs, pub-owners and entrepreneurs of Ireland, continue to defy the odds.”

“You strive to create jobs, expand upon Ireland’s understanding of food standards and world cuisine, all while maintaining exemplary customer service.”

“Your support of Irish produce has never been greater and for this you should be wholeheartedly applauded. Tonight, is a celebration of your unrelenting commitment, ambition and devotion to the Irish Food Industry.”

The overall Best Restaurant in Ireland named on the night was Chapter One in Parnell Square, Dublin.

The full list of winners in the annual Food Oscars is:

Best Restaurant Sponsored by San Miguel  

• All Ireland Chapter One  
• Leinster Thyme Restaurant  

• Ulster MacNean House and Restaurant 
• Munster Kingdom 1795  
• Connaught Eala Bhán 
• Dublin Chapter One  

Best Chef Sponsored by BWG Food Service 

• All Ireland Uno Mas, Paul McNamara  
• Leinster Restaurant Lady Anne, Keith Boyle  
• Ulster Browns Bonds Hill, Ian Orr 
• Munster Takashi Miyazaki, Ichigo Ichie  
• Connaught House of Plates, Barry Ralph 

• Dublin Uno Mas, Paul McNamara  

Best Gastro Pub Sponsored by Worldpay from FIS 

• All Ireland The Dirty Duck  
• Leinster Hartes of Kildare  
• Ulster The Dirty Duck  

• Munster O’Mahony’s of Watergrasshill  
• Connaught Oarsman  
• Dublin F.X. Buckley Monkstown  

Best Customer Service Sponsored Restaurant-Insurance.ie Provided by Dolmen 

• All Ireland Guinea Pig Restaurant  

• Leinster Clashganny House Restaurant  
• Ulster Rathmullan House  
• Munster 1826 Adare  
• Connaught Park House Hotel 
• Dublin Guinea Pig Restaurant  

Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant Sponsored By Frylite  

• All Ireland The Bishop’s Buttery at Cashel Palace Hotel  
• Leinster Fairmont Carton House  
• Ulster Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie Estate  
• Munster The Bishop’s Buttery at Cashel Palace Hotel 

• Connaught Renvyle House  
• Dublin Haddington House  

Best Casual Dining Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace  

• All Ireland Crudo  
• Leinster One Hundred Degrees  

• Ulster Edo  
• Munster Momo  
• Connaught Fish & Bean  
• Dublin Crudo  

Pub of the Year Sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro   

• All Ireland Thomas Connolly  
• Leinster T Morris Bar  
• Ulster Maghera Inn  
• Munster Friel’s Pub  
• Connaught Thomas Connolly  

• Dublin Walsh’s Stoneybatter  

Best Newcomer Sponsored by Square 

• All Ireland Blackrock Cottage  
• Leinster Gourmet Food Parlour Dunshaughlin 
• Ulster Roam  

• Munster Terre Restaurant  
• Connaught Blackrock Cottage  
• Dublin D’Olier Street  

Best World Cuisine Sponsored by San Pellegrino 

• All Ireland Pickle  

• Leinster Aroi Asian Fusion Restaurant 
• Ulster Chili Lounge 
• Munster Da Mirco Bridge St 
• Connaught My Kitchen by Sham 
• Dublin Pickle  

Best Café Sponsored by Illy 

• All Ireland The Vanilla Pod Blackrock  
• Leinster Café La Coco 
• Ulster The Pickled Duck Cafe 
• Munster WunderKaffe 

• Connaught Pota 
• Dublin The Vanilla Pod Blackrock  

Best Wine Experience Sponsored by Bibendum Ireland 

• All Ireland Union Wine Bar  
• Leinster Ristorante Rinuccini 

• Ulster Wine and Brine  
• Munster Union Wine Bar 
• Connaught Sheridans  
• Dublin Green Man Wines  

Best Restaurant Manager Sponsored by Halcyon Group  

• All Ireland Denise McBrien, The Old Spot  
• Leinster Aga Kubinska, Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juilet Estate  
• Ulster Saul McConnell, Noble 
• Munster Neil Hynes, Number 35 
• Connaught Gill Carroll, 56 Central  

• Dublin Denise McBrien, The Old Spot  

Best Emerging Irish Cuisine Sponsored by FBD Insurance 

• All Ireland Library Street  
• Leinster Thyme Restaurant 
• Ulster The Banks Restaurant 

• Munster Restaurant Chestnut 
• Connaught The Cottage Restaurant 
• Dublin Library Street  

Best Free From Sponsored by the RestaurantS Association of Ireland 

• All Ireland Glas  

• Leinster The Cutting Vedge 
• Ulster Chandpur Restaurant 
• Munster Avo Café  
• Connaught Shell’s Cafe 
• Dublin Glas  

Innovator of the Year Sponsored by Diageo 

• All Ireland Lock 13 Gastropub & Brewpub  
• Leinster Lock 13 Gastropub & Brewpub 
• Ulster FRAE 
• Munster The Fish Basket  

• Connaught Nook. 
• Dublin Bites by Kwanghi  

Best Sustainable Practices Sponsored by Gas Networks Ireland 

• All Ireland Grain Store Restaurant at Killruddery House and Gardens  
• Leinster Grain Store Restaurant at Killruddery House and Gardens 

• Ulster Kileavy Castle Estate 
• Munster Fitzgeralds Woodlands Hotel 
• Connaught Clare Island Oven 
• Dublin Bujo Sandymount  

Local Food Hero Sponsored by The Irish Times 

• All Ireland Con Traas, The Apple Farm  
• Leinster Mag Kirwan, Goatsbridge Trout Farm 
• Ulster Chris Molloy, The Lemon Tree 
• Munster Con Traas, The Apple Farm 
• Connaught Prannie Rhatigan, Irish Seaweed Kitchen 

• Dublin Ian Ussher, Cluck Chicken 

Best Cocktail Experience Sponsored by Monin 

• All Ireland – Haddington House  

Best Learning & Development Sponsored by Restaurant & Hospitality Skillnet 

• All Ireland – The Kingsley Hotel  

Best Cookery School Sponsored by Avonmore 

• All Ireland – Fiona Egan Cloughan Farm and Cookery School  

Best Private Dining & Club Restaurant Sponsored by Wild Irish Game 

• All Ireland – RDS Members Club