The Best Restaurants in Ulster have been announced as part of 2020 Irish Restaurant Awards

The regional results for the 2020 Irish Restaurant Awards continue this month with the best restaurants in Ulster revealed last night.

The Slieve Russell Hotel in Cavan played host to over 600 people from the Ulster restaurant and hospitality sector. The county winners go forth to compete for the regional and All-Ireland titles which are slated for Monday 18 May in Dublin.

It’s a fairly comprehensive list, so here’s all your winners.

Best Restaurant

• Antrim – OX Belfast
• Armagh – Wine and Brine
• Cavan – MacNean House and Restaurant
• Derry – Brown’s Bonds Hill
• Donegal – Danny Minnies Country House
• Down – Noble.
• Fermanagh – 28 Darling St
• Monaghan – Courthouse Restaurant
• Tyrone – Chapter V Restaurant

Best Chef

• Antrim – Stevie Toman of OX Belfast
• Armagh – Chris McGowan of Wine & Brine
• Cavan – Gearóid Lynch of The Olde Post Inn
• Derry – Sean Harrigan of The Sooty Olive
• Donegal – Colin McKee of Harvey’s Point
• Down – Pearson Morris of Noble.
• Fermanagh – Glen Wheeler of 28 Darling St
• Monaghan – Conor Mee of Courthouse Restaurant
• Tyrone – Brian McMonagle of The Gables Bar and Restaurant

Best Newcomer

• Antrim – Orá Wine and Tapas
• Armagh – Chapman’s Little Gem
• Cavan – La Piazza
• Derry – Sixteen22 Gastro Pub at Beech Hill Country House
• Donegal – Boathouse Restaurant Killybegs
• Down – Copper
• Fermanagh – FOLK Expresso & Boulangerie
• Monaghan – Pocono Glaslough
• Tyrone – The Cheeky Fox Restaurant

Best Restaurant Manager

• Antrim – Cristina Higginson of Square Bistro
• Armagh – Davina McGowan of Wine and Brine
• Cavan – Blaithin McCabe of MacNean House and Restaurant
• Derry – Zara Adair of The Sooty Olive
• Donegal – Jo Roarty of Quay West
• Down – Saul McConnell of Noble.
• Fermanagh – Charlie Oldcroft of The Moorings
• Monaghan – Charlotte Carr of Courthouse Restaurant
• Tyrone – Ann Marie McMenamin of The Red Pepper

Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant

• Antrim – Taylor and Clay Grill at Bullitt Hotel
• Armagh – Newforge House
• Cavan – The Courtroom Restaurant at Cabra Castle
• Derry – Bishop’s Gate Hotel Derry
• Donegal – The Foyle Hotel Eatery and Wine Bar
• Down – The Starfish at Cairn Bay Lodge
• Fermanagh – Catalina Restaurant at Lough Erne Resort
• Monaghan – Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie
• Tyrone – Mellon Country Hotel

Best Customer Service

• Antrim – Holohan’s Pantry
• Armagh – Zio
• Cavan – Oak Room Restaurant
• Derry – The Gown Restaurant at Bishop’s Gate Hotel
• Donegal – Harvey’s Point
• Down – Primrose
• Fermanagh – Catalina Restaurant at Lough Erne Resort
• Monaghan – Monaghan Spice
• Tyrone – The Brewer’s House

Best Gastro Pub

• Antrim – Sweet Afton Bar and Kitchen
• Armagh – Digby’s Bar and Restaurant
• Cavan – Murph’s Gastro Pub at the Derragarra Inn
• Derry – Walled City Brewery
• Donegal – The Rusty Mackerel
• Down – The Poacher’s Pocket
• Fermanagh – The TapHouse
• Monaghan – Andy’s Bar and Restaurant
• Tyrone – The Brewer’s House

Best Café

• Antrim – Five Percent Café
• Armagh – McCrum’s Motorcycles Coffee & Bistro
• Cavan – The Hard Boiled Egg Café
• Derry – The Green Cat Bakery
• Donegal – Benny and Co. Coffee Bar and Restaurant
• Down – The Café at Montalto Estate
• Fermanagh – The Jolly Sandwich Bar
• Monaghan – Eileen’s Tea Rooms
• Tyrone – Café No.47

Pub of the Year

• Antrim – The Jeggy Nettle Pub
• Armagh – The Corner House
• Cavan – McCauls Bar & Guesthouse
• Derry – Blackbird
• Donegal – The Forge
• Down – The Maypole
• Fermanagh – Linnet Inn
• Monaghan – McCague’s Bar
• Tyrone – The Bottle of Benburb

Best Wine Experience

• Antrim – OX Belfast
• Armagh – Clenaghans
• Cavan – MacNean House and Restaurant
• Derry – Brown’s Bonds Hill
• Donegal – Harvey’s Point
• Down – Noble.
• Fermanagh – The Moorings
• Monaghan – Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie
• Tyrone – Oysters Restaurant

Best World Cuisine

• Antrim – Bia Rebel Ramen
• Armagh – Babu’s Indian Spice
• Cavan – Chilli Lounge
• Derry – Mekong Street Food
• Donegal – Chandpur Indian Restaurant
• Down – Tuk Tuk Asian Bistro
• Fermanagh – Dollakis Greek Restaurant
• Monaghan – Eastern Balti
• Tyrone – Riverside Chinese Restaurant

Best “Free From”

• Antrim – Jumon
• Armagh – Digby’s Bar & Restaurant
• Cavan – Chapter 1 Living & Food
• Derry – Hidden City Café
• Donegal – Sonder Café
• Down – The Dirty Duck Alehouse
• Fermanagh – Tully Mill Restaurant
• Monaghan – Caroline’s Café
• Tyrone – Oysters Restaurant

Best Kids Size Me

• Antrim – Neill’s Hill
• Armagh – Zio
• Cavan – People’s Restaurant
• Derry – Pyke ‘N’ Pommes
• Donegal – The Edge Restaurant at Redcastle Hotel
• Down – The Salty Dog Hotel & Bistro
• Fermanagh – Taco Loco
• Monaghan – The Fiddlers Elbow
• Tyrone – Salley’s Restaurant

Best Local Food Hero

• Antrim – Charlie Cole of Broughgammon Farm
• Armagh – Kenny & Jennifer Gracey of Forthill Farm
• Cavan – Kieron & Claire Moran of Moran’s Mega Jam
• Derry – James Huey of Walled City Brewery
• Donegal – Kieron Doherty of Nancy’s Barn
• Down – Laura Bradley & Johnny McDowell of Indie Füde
• Fermanagh – Declan O’Donoghue of Erne Larder Preserves
• Monaghan – Meredith & Glennys Pollock of Pollock Pickles
• Tyrone – Johnny Cuddy of Ispini Charcuterie

Ulster Regional Local Food Hero

• Tyrone – Johnny Cuddy of Ispini Charcuterie

Best Emerging Irish Cuisine

• Antrim – Cyprus Avenue
• Armagh – Sinton’s at the Bridge
• Cavan – The Olde Post Inn
• Derry – Soda & Starch
• Donegal – The Lemon Tree Restaurant
• Down – Brunel’s Restaurant
• Fermanagh – 28 Darling St
• Monaghan – The Squealing Pig
• Tyrone – Chapter V Restaurant

Best Casual Dining

• Antrim – Yügo
• Armagh – Groucho’s on the Square
• Cavan – Oak Room Restaurant
• Derry – Nonnas Wood Fired Pizzas
• Donegal – Fisk at the Harbour Bar
• Down – Underground Dining
• Fermanagh – Tully Mill Restaurant
• Monaghan – The Old Coach Inn
• Tyrone – The Gables Bar & Restaurant

Next in line for the regional results are Munster, slated for 24 March.

See IrishRestaurantAwards.com for more.