Louth and Meath winners of regional Irish Restaurant Awards will now vie for national title

There was a brace of delighted local winners in Leinster Regional Final of Irish Restaurant Awards 2023 took place in the Killashee Hotel in Kildare on Tuesday March 14.

Restaurants from Dundalk, Carlingford, Drogheda, Clogherhead, Slane, Julianstown and Duleek were just some of the triumphant winners of the prestigious awards, who will all be in with a shot of the national title in May.

Over 1,000 restaurant and hospitality business owners and staff celebrated their hard work and achievements at the Awards Event, which saw many well-known restaurateurs of Leinster turn out to see if they had won one of the prestigious awards.

Local winners were:

Local Food Hero Sponsored by The Irish Times

Louth - Marita Collier, Drummond House Garlic

Best Sustainable Practices Sponsored by Gas Networks Ireland

Louth -Wildwood Café

Innovator of the Year Sponsored by Diageo

Louth -Rocksalt Cafe

Meath - Tribe Restaurant

Free From

Louth -Strandfield Cafe Florist And Grocer

Best Emerging Irish Cuisine Sponsored by FBD Insurance

Louth - Square Restaurant Townparks

Meath -Inside Out

Best Restaurant Manager Sponsored by Halcyon Group

Louth - Emily Carton, The Smugglers Rest

Best Wine Experience Sponsored by Bibendum Ireland

Louth - D'vine Bistro & Tapas Bar

Best Café Sponsored by Illy

Louth - Rocksalt Café

Best World Cuisine Sponsored by San Pellegrino

Louth - Sally Cinnamon’s Bar

Best Newcomer Sponsored by Square

Louth - Stack'd Coffee

Pub of the Year Sponsored by Peroni

Louth - Russell's Saloon

Best Casual Dining Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace

Louth - The Spotted Dog

Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant Sponsored By Frylite

Louth - The Bay Tree Restaurant & Guesthouse

Best Customer Service Sponsored Restaurant-Insurance.ie Provided by Dolmen

Louth - Dooleys Of Edmondstown

Best Gastro Pub Sponsored by Worldpay from FIS

Louth - The Trinity Quarter

Meath - The Lime Kiln Gastropub

Best Chef Sponsored by BWG Foodservice

Louth - Ronan Lawless, The Clermont

Best Restaurant Sponsored by San Miguel

Louth - Square Restaurant

Meath - Brabazon Restaurant At Tankardstown House

“Now in their 14th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards returns with a record-breaking number of public nominations (over 130,000). This sheer number of votes highlights the support & appreciation of the general public for our hospitality sector and all who contribute to it,” said President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland Paul Lenehan, at the Leinster Regional Awards.

“The Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the existing, and up and coming talent, in the sector and are a reminder that hospitality is nothing without their dedicated and passionate staff. The Awards continue to showcase the incredible food that is on offer in the cafes, hotels, pubs and restaurants of Ireland. We are delighted to be here in Limerick for the first of the Regional Events for 2023 and look forward to welcoming all winners in Leinster to the All-Ireland Awards on May 15th.”

Food outlets were nominated under the categories of Local Food Hero, Best Sustainable Practices, Best Free From, Best Emerging Irish Cuisine, Best Restaurant Manager, Best Wine Experience, Best Café, Best World Cuisine, Best Newcomer, Pub of the Year, Best Casual Dining, Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant, Best Customer Service, Best Gastropub, Best Chef, and Best Restaurant and finally a new award category for 2023 Innovator of the Year.

All of the county winners now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Titles, which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards All Ireland Final on Monday, May 15, in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin 4.