Sunday afternoon saw the annual 2024 running of the Food & Wine Restaurant of the Year awards staged in Dublin.
A strong Kilkenny contingent were in the running this year across several categories with Campagne and chef-proprietor Garrett Byrne, The Lady Helen at Mount Juliet – including pastry chef Tom Phelan – Arán, Stathams, Ristorante Rinuccini and Nóinin all finding themselves on the shortlist at the start of October.
Of the 11 nominations in total going to Kilkenny restaurants and chefs, the Michelin-starred Campagne collected the ‘highly commended’ honour, missing out on Best Restaurant in Leinster to The Morrison Room at Carton House.
This year’s Hall of Fame Award, honouring those who have made an incredible impact on Irish food, went to James Street South duo Niall and Joanne McKenna. Their Chef Apprenticeship Programme trains 16-24 year olds and gives hospitality students the opportunity to learn from some of Northern Ireland’s best chefs.
Here’s a look at the winners from this year’s awards.
Leinster Winners
- Best wine experience: Ely Wine Store (Maynooth); Conlon’s Wine Bar (Bray) highly commended
- Best casual dining: Bearú (Wexford); Dubh (Kildare) highly commended
- Best chef: Adam Nevin (The Morrison Room at Carton House, Maynooth); John Coffey (Thyme, Athlone) highly commended
- Best restaurant: The Morrison Room at Carton House (Maynooth); Campagne (Kilkenny) highly commended
Connaught Winners
- Best wine experience: Daróg Wine Bar (Galway); The George V Dining Room at Ashford Castle highly commended
- Best casual dining: Savoire Faire (Westport); Wa Sushi (Galway) highly commended
- Best chef: Liam Finnegan (Ashford Castle); Shannon Schiano di Cola (Galway) highly commened
- Best restaurant: Daróg Wine Bar (Galway); Lignum (Galway) highly commended
Munster Winners
- Best wine experience: The Black Pig; L’atitude 51 highly commended
- Best casual dining: Union (Waterford); Izz Cafe (Cork) highly commended
- Best chef: Robby McCauley (Homestead Cottage, Doolin, Co. Clare); Aishling Moore (Goldie, Cork) highly commended
- Best restaurant: Homestead Cottage (Doolin, Co. Clare); Gregan’s Castle (The Burren, Co. Clare) highly commended
Ulster Winners
- Best wine experience: MacNean House & Restaurant (Blacklion, Co. Cavan); Frae (Holywood, Co. Down) highly commended
- Best casual dining: Moghrá (Dungannon, Co. Tyrone); Umi (Derry) highly commended
- Best chef: Stevie Toman (Ox, Belfast); Chris McGowan (Wine & Brine, Moira, Co. Armagh) highly commended
- Best restaurant: Ox (Belfast); Frae (Holywood, Co. Down) highly commended
Dublin Winners
- Best wine experience: Bar Pez; 64 Wine highly commended
- Best casual dining: Big Fan; Row Wines highly commended
- Best chef: Mickael Viljanen (Chapter One By Mickael Viljanen); Kevin Burke highly commended
- Best restaurant: Chapter One By Mickael Viljanen; D’Olier Street highly commended
Overall Winners
- Innovator of the Year: Eoin Clusky (Bread 41); Brian McCarthy (Cork Rooftop Farm) highly commended
- Café of the Year: Roundwood Stores (Roundwood, Co. Wicklow); Café Rua (Castlebar, Co. Mayo) highly commended
- Pastry Chef of the Year: Darren Hogarty; Gokhan Gokbayrak highly commended
- Young Chef of the Year: Atilla Galambos (Daróg Wine Bar, Galway); Áine Budds (Allta, Dublin) highly commended
- Hotel Restaurant of the Year: Adrift at Dunmore House (Clonakilty, Co. Cork); The Oak Room at Adare Manor (Adare, Co. Limerick) highly commended
- Best Cocktail Experience: Merchant Cocktail Bar (Merchant Hotel, Belfast); 1661 Bar (Dublin) highly commended
- Newcomer of the Year: Kicky’s (Dublin); Andhra Bhavan (Dublin) highly commended
- Customer Service of the Year: The Old Spot (Dublin); Mamó (Howth, Co. Dublin) highly commended
- Wine Experience of the Year: Daróg Wine Bar, Galway
- Casual Dining of the Year: Big Fan, Dublin
- Chef of the Year: Mickael Viljanen (Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen, Dublin)
- Restaurant of the Year: Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen, Dublin
You can find more about the awards, the judging panel, and orignal shortlists by visiting restaurantoftheyear.ie.
