The Connacht regional final of the Santa Rita/LIFE Magazine Irish Restaurant Awards took place in Hotel Westport, Mayo, this week and named the top restaurants in the west for 2014. Some 250 restaurant owners and staff celebrated their hard work and achievements at the Awards, which saw many well-known restaurateurs of Connacht turn out to see if they had won one of the prestigious awards.
Kai Café and Restaurant took home the prize for best restaurant in Galway, with head chef Jessica Murphy also winning Best Chef in Galway. However there was success for numerous Mayo restaurants being named the best in the county. Sol Rio Restaurant in Westport won Best Customer Service and Best Casual Dining gongs. Bar One picked the up the Best Gastro Pub award, while An Port Mór celebrated wins for Frankie Mallon for Best Chef and the Best Restaurant in general award for the county. Bellek Castle picked up the Best Hotel Restaurant award along with the manager Daniel Mayer getting the Best Manager award and Ashford Castle was named the Best Wine Experience in the county.
