The Connacht Regional Awards for the 2019 Irish Restaurant Awards took place in the Radisson Blu, Sligo, on Tuesday night, where awards were presented to the country’s leading chefs, restaurants and pubs. Over 500 people attended the event on Tuesday evening during which the top establishments in each county were named.
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 80,000 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."
The Mayo winners were: Best Restaurant - Cian's on Bridge Street in Westport; Best Chef - Barry Ralph from House of Plates in Castlebar; Best Newcomer - This Must Be The Place in Westport; Best Hotel and Gesthouse Restaurant - George V Dining Room in Ashford Castle; Best Restaurant Manager - Eva Ivanova of Sage Restaurant in Westport; Best Customer Service - House of Plates in Castlebar; Best Café - Café Rua, Castlebar; Pub of the Year - VJ Doherty's in Ballina; Best Wine Experience - Ashford Castle; Best Gastro Pub - Bar One, Castlebar; Best World Cuisine - Jalan Jalan, Ballina; Best Free From - Leafy Greens Café, Westport; Best Kids Size Meal - The Cot and Cobble, Ballina; Local Food Hero - John Clarke of Clarke's Salmon Smokery; Best Emerging Irish Cuisine - An Port Mór, Westport and Best Casual Dining - Cronin's Sheebeen, Westport.
