Top Mayo restaurants named last night

THE last of four regional finals in this year’s Irish Restaurant Awards took place in the Radisson Blu in Sligo last night (Tuesday) where over 50 awards were presented to the country’s leading chefs, restaurants and pubs.

Over 500 people attended the Connaught regional awards where the top establishments in each county were named.

The regional award for Best Kids Size Me sponsored by Heinz went to Café Rua, Castlebar.

The Mayo county award winners were:

Best Restaurant sponsored by Dalcassian Wines & Spirits and Cielo Wines - Sage Restaurant, Westport.

Best Chef sponsored by Pallas Foods - Jonathan Keane of The Lodge at Ashford Castle, Cong.

Best Gastro Pub sponsored by Coca Cola - Flanagan’s Gastro Pub, Claremorris.

Best Casual Dining sponsored by San Pellegrino - Bar One, Castlebar.

Best Hotel Restaurant sponsored by Elavon - Wildes at the Lodge, Cong.

Best Customer Service sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro - Library Restaurant at Belleek Castle, Ballina.

Best Wine Experience sponsored by CLASSICdrinks - Newport House Restaurant, Newport.

Best Newcomer sponsored by BWG Foodservice - Cian’s on Bridge Street, Westport.

Pub of the Year sponsored by Bushmills - John Moran’s Bar, Westport.

Speaking at the awards, Adrian Cummins, chief executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI), said: “Now in their ninth year, the Irish Restaurant Awards continue to showcase the exquisite and admirable calibre of food available in our restaurants and pubs nationwide. Our small island boasts everything from fine dining to high quality gastropubs, from the exotic taste explosions of world cuisine to the comfort of traditional dishes. We have an appreciation for what we eat, for the journey of our food from farm to fork, and for the dedication of those working in the food industry to serve up Ireland’s finest food.”

All county winners now compete for the regional and All-Ireland title which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin 2, on May 8.