Revealed: North West's regional winners in the Irish Restaurant Awards 2018
The special award of the night, the Ulster Regional Best Local Food Hero, went to renowned Inishowen Chef Brian McDermott.
The Derry, Donegal and Tyrone winners (full list below) were among 135 from across the nine counties of Ulster who received their accolades at La Mon Hotel, Belfast, on Wednesday night.
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Hide AdOver 400 people attended the Ulster Regional Final on Wednesday evening where the winning establishments in each county were named.
The Sooty Olive Restaurant in Derry picked up two awards for ‘Best Emerging Irish Cuisine’ and ‘Best Free From’.
Best Chef went to Derek Creagh of Primrose, which also won the accolade for Best Newcomer.
Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant went to the Beech Hill Country House in Ardmore, while Best Customer Service went to Mama Masala’s Restaurant in the city centre.
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Hide AdThe popular Peadar O’Donnells Bar on Waterloo Street won Pub of the Year, while the Best Wine Experience was awarded to Browns Bonds Hill.
Beyond Derry city, Anger’s Rest in Benone walked away with the award for Best Gastro Pub.
District 45 in Magherafelt received two awards, with James McKee scooping Best Restaurant Manager, while it also came out on top in the Best Casual Dining category.
Also in Magherafelt, the Best Restaurant in the county went to Church Street Restaurant.
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Hide AdThe Best Kids Size Me category went to Amici, Portstewart, and the seaside town also saw Warke’s Deli take the accolade for Best Café.
The final County Derry award, Best World Cuisine, went to Indus Valley Cuisine, Coleraine.
Speaking at the Ulster Regional awards, Adrian Cummins, Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) said: “Now in their tenth year, the Irish Restaurant Awards continue to showcase the exquisite and admirable calibre of food available in our restaurants and pubs nationwide.
“Online nominations have increased from 9,000 in 2013 to over 80,000 this year and with the increase in interest comes an increase in standards, making the judging process more difficult than ever.
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Hide Ad“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.”
Derry winners are as follows:
Best Casual Dining sponsored by San Pellegrino - District 45
Best Emerging Irish Cuisine sponsored by Odaios Foods - The Sooty Olive Restaurant
Best Kids Size Me sponsored by Dubliner Cheese - Amici
Best ‘Free From’ sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro Gluten Free - The Sooty Olive
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Hide AdBest World Cuisine sponsored by Aryzta - Indus Valley Cuisine
Best Newcomer sponsored by Elavon - Primrose Derry
Best Wine Experience sponsored by ClassicDrinks - Browns Bonds Hill
Pub of the Year sponsored by Bushmills - Peadar O’Donnells Bar
Best Café sponsored by Illy - Warke’s Deli
Best Gastro Pub sponsored by Coca Cola & Schweppes - Anglers Restaurant
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Hide AdBest Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant sponsored by BWG Foodservice - Beech Hill Country House
Best Customer Service - Mama Masala
Best Restaurant Manager sponsored by AIB Merchant Services - James McKee of District 45
Best Chef sponsored by Nisbets - Derek Creagh of Primrose Derry
Best Restaurant sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants - Church Street Restaurant
Donegal winners are as follows:
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Hide AdBest Casual Dining sponsored by San Pellegrino - Quay West Restaurant Donegal Town
Best Emerging Irish Cuisine sponsored by Odaios Foods - The Lemon Tree Restaurant
Best Kids Size Me sponsored by Dubliner Cheese - Market House Restaurant
Best ‘Free From’ sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro Gluten Free - Simple Simons
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Hide AdBest World Cuisine sponsored by Aryzta - Chandpur Restaurant
Best Newcomer sponsored by Elavon - Benny & Co Coffee Bar & Restaurant
Best Wine Experience sponsored by ClassicDrinks - Lough Eske Castle, a Solís Hotel & Spa
Pub of the Year sponsored by Bushmills - The Forge
Best Café sponsored by Illy - Sonder
Best Gastro Pub sponsored by Coca Cola & Schweppes Kennedy’s Bar & Restaurant
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Hide AdBest Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant sponsored by BWG Foodservice - Lakeside Restaurant at Harvey’s Point
Best Customer Service sponsored by - Harvey’s Point
Best Restaurant Manager sponsored by AIB Merchant Services - Jo Daly of Quay West Restaurant
Best Chef sponsored by Nisbets - Colin McKee of Harvey’s Point
Best Restaurant sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants - Cook & Gardener Restaurant at Rathmullan House
Tyrone winners are as follows:
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Hide AdBest Casual Dining sponsored by San Pellegrino – Oysters Restaurant
Best Emerging Irish Cuisine sponsored by Odaios Foods – Restaurant 1861 at Sion Stables
Best Kids Size Me sponsored by Dubliner Cheese – Oysters Restaurant
Best ‘Free From’ sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro Gluten Free – Dungannon Golf Club Bar and Restaurant
Best World Cuisine sponsored by Aryzta – Dragon Garden
Best Newcomer sponsored by Elavon – The Moy Larder
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Hide AdBest Wine Experience sponsored by ClassicDrinks – The Brewer’s House
Pub of the Year sponsored by Bushmills – Tomneys Bar
Best Café sponsored by Illy – Deli On The Green
Best Gastro Pub sponsored by Coca Cola & Schweppes – The Brewer’s House
Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant sponsored by BWG Foodservice – O’Brien’s Restaurant at The Mellon Country Inn
Best Customer Service – The Red Pepper Restaurant
Best Restaurant Manager sponsored by AIB Merchant Services – Ann Marie McMenamin of The Red Pepper Restaurant
Best Chef sponsored by Nisbets – Tommy Mangan of The Brewer’s House
Best Restaurant sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants – Oysters Restaurant