As award season continues at pace, Tuesday night in Dundalk saw this year’s Yes Chef awards take place.
Butcher, located on the Butter Slip in the heart of Kilkenny city was named Steakhouse of the Year for 2024, seeing off competition from Farnham Estate (Ulster winner), Buffalo Boy (Connaught winner) with The Grillshack highly commended.
For The Kings Mill in Kells village, it was double joy with owner Agata Rybak named Front of House Manager of the Year ahead of Grainne Hourican (Chapter One Food & Living), Maeve O’Donovan (The Lobster) and Darragh McGarry (Ocean Sands Hotel) with the mill-based eatery also named as overall Restaurant Interior of the Year. It builds on the success for the restaurant at least year’s awards where they had picked up the Rising Star and Outdoor Dining Space of the Year awards for Leinster.
“We couldn’t be more happier”, Rybak told my KCLR colleagues on Wednesday morning.
“It’s the third year in a row we have received that kind of award. For us, it’s unbelievable success. We’ve been winning awards in different categories which means for us we’re still growing, still putting all ourselves (sic) into our business. The Kings Mill restaurant is a family-run business. It’s a huge milestone for us, the third year in a row we’ve won a prestigious award, not only for Leinster but the whole of Ireland.”
In all, 30 awards were given out on Tuesday night, and you can check the full list below.
Yes Chef 2024 Award Winners
- Street Food of the Year: Little Catch Seafood Bar
- Golf Club Restaurant of the Year: 19 @ Lucan Golf Club
- World Food Restaurant of the Year: Mekong
- Indian Restaurant of the Year: Chandpur
- Vegetarian Menu of the Year: Room8
- Country House Restaurant of the Year: Castlegrove Country House
- Café of the Year: Pota Café
- Front of House Team of the Year: The Old Lodge Gastro Pub, Shannon Springs Hotel
- Italian Restaurant of the Year: La Bottega
- Local Restaurant of the Year: The Rusty Keg
- Outdoor Dining Space of the Year: Castleknock Hotel
- Luxury Hotel Restaurant of the Year: Ashford Castle
- Hotel Restaurant of the Year: Castleknock Hotel
- The Social Media Award: James St.
- Seafood Restaurant of the Year: Mourne Seafood Bar
- Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year: Brasserie on the Corner
- Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: Oar Restaurant
- Casual Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: Shandon Hotel
- Gastropub of the Year: The Roadside Tavern
- Steakhouse of the Year: Butcher (Kilkenny)
- Newcomer of the Year: IASC Seafood Bistro
- The Judges Award: Sam Cronin, for outstanding commitment to mentoring
- Restaurant Interior of the Year: The King’s Mill (Kilkenny)
- Rising Star of the Year: TRIBE
- Irish Culinary Experience of the Year: Waterford Castle
- Wine Experience of the Year: No. 3 Wine Bar & Restaurant
- Front of House Manager of the Year: Agata Rybak, The King’s Mill (Kilkenny)
- Young Chef of the Year: Ian Hartford, Aniar
- Pastry Chef of the Year: Andrew Ryan, Ashford Castle
- Chef of the Year: Jenny Flynn, Faithlegg
You’ll find more highlights on the Yes Chef Ireland Facebook page.
