Five restaurants in Cork have picked up awards at the 2019 Irish Restaurant Awards, which honoured the best of Ireland’s culinary talent at a ceremony in Dublin.
Two outlets from the city and three from the county were among the regional winners at last night’s black-tie gala dinner at the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road.
Indian street food restaurant Iyer’s on Popes Quay in Cork City won Best World Cuisine in Munster, while the sustainable foods café Good Day Deli, located in the grounds of Nano Nagle Place, picked up Best Café in the province.
In the county, Levi’s Corner House in Ballydehob, which is well regarded for its live music programme, won Munster Pub of the Year, Ballyvolane House in Castlelyons picked up Best Customer Service, and The Black Pig wine bar and café in Kinsale scooped the regional award for Best Wine Experience.
The winners were picked from more than 90,000 public nominations, which the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) said was the highest in the awards’ 11-year history.
All Munster counties were represented across the awards’ various categories, with wins for outlets in counties Limerick, Kerry, Clare, Waterford and Tipperary.
Galway’s Loam Restaurant was the big winner on the night, winning the All-Ireland Best Restaurant Award.
The Tack Room at Adare Manor in Co Limerick took home the prize for All-Ireland Best Cocktail Experience.
The All-Ireland Best Chef award went to Graham Neville from Dax Restaurant in Dublin.
Congratulations to @everettsrest, #Munster and All Ireland winner of Best Newcomer! @mytaxi_ie #MyTaxiHospitality #FoodOscars pic.twitter.com/OxOkHCwRT8
— IrishRestaurantAward (@restawards) May 13, 2019
Everett’s Restaurant in Waterford was named All- Ireland Best Newcomer, while All-Ireland Pub of the Year went to Doheny and Nesbitt in Dublin.
Chef Gautham Iyer, who along with his wife Caroline opened Iyer’s on Popes Quay at the end of 2012, said he is “absolutely delighted” to win the award, which they also won in 2016.
“I didn’t think we would get anywhere because I had been away at the time the vote was going on, so I had been worried that we had not promoted it enough. So for us to win is absolutely fantastic, we cannot believe it,” he said.
Confirming that plans are currently in the works for Iyers to move to new, larger premises in the city, he added: “The signs were there when we first opened six years ago that vegetarianism was the way to go.
"But even saying that, it is a great feeling to know that vegetarian food on such a small scale can be a success with the people of Cork.”
Commenting on the winners, RAI chief executive, Adrian Cummins, said: “Ireland may be a small country, but it boasts everything from fine dining to high-quality gastropubs.
"From the comfort of traditional Irish food to exploring the world through exotic world cuisine, the Irish restaurant industry has much to offer.
"We have an appreciation for what we eat and where our food comes from, as well as the dedication of those working in the food industry.”
See below for the full list of winners.
Best Restaurant – Sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants
Loam Restaurant
Dax Restaurant
Loam Restaurant
Eastern Seaboard Bar & Grill
Wild Honey Inn
OX
Best Chef – Sponsored by Nisbets
Graham Neville of Dax Restaurant
Graham Neville of Dax Restaurant
Barry Ralph of House of Plates
Deirdre Adamson of The Fatted Calf
Peter Everett of Everett's Restaurant
Chris McGowan of Wine and Brine
Best Restaurant Manager – AIB Merchant Services
Eva Ivanova of Sage Restaurant
Denise McBrien of The Old Spot
Eva Ivanova of Sage Restaurant
Edwina Hynes of La Côte Seafood Restaurant
John Edward Joyce of The Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge
Saul McConnell of NOBLE.
Pub of the Year – Sponsored by Jameson Caskmates
Doheny and Nesbitt
Doheny and Nesbitt
J Doherty's
Hamilton's Pub
Levis Corner House
Coach House & Olde Bar
Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant – Sponsored by BWG Food Service
Gregans Castle Hotel
The Saddle Room at The Shelbourne Hotel
West Restaurant at the Twelve Hotel
Brabazon Restaurant at Tankardstown House
Gregans Castle Hotel
Newforge House
Best Newcomer – Sponsored by mytaxi Hospitality
Everett's Restaurant
Uno Mas
Passione by the Slice
Lily's On Church Street
Everett's Restaurant
Hara
And congratulations to the #Dublin and All Ireland winner of Best Gastro Pub: @theoldspotdub! @Elavon_IE #FoodOscars pic.twitter.com/u6uPIon6Vh
— IrishRestaurantAward (@restawards) May 13, 2019
Best Gastro Pub – Sponsored by Elavon
The Old Spot
The Old Spot
Bar One
The Ballymore Inn
Mikey Ryan’s Bar and Kitchen
Clenaghans
Best Customer Service – Sponsored by Lockton
The Muddlers Club
Luna
Park House Hotel
LENNONS @ Visual
Ballyvolane House
The Muddlers Club
Best Casual Dining – Sponsored by Just Eat
777
777
HOOKED Sligo
Truffles Restaurant and Wine Bar
Bodega
The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant and Tea Room
And congratulations to @GreenManWines1: #Dublin and All Ireland winners of Best Wine Experience! @GilbeysWine #GilbeysWithBibendum #FoodOscars pic.twitter.com/VwkhsuFja9
— IrishRestaurantAward (@restawards) May 13, 2019
Best Wine Experience – Sponsored by Gilbeys with Bibendum
Green Man Wines
Green Man Wines
Le Petit Pois
Barrows Keep
The Black Pig
OX
Best Kids Size Me – Sponsored by BWG Food Service
Old Street Restaurant
Old Street Restaurant
Shells Seaside Bakery and Café
Tiffin by Sunil
9 Café
Oak Room Restaurant
Best World Cuisine – Sponsored by HiUp powered by Olive Group
3 Leaves
3 Leaves
Spice India
Pink Salt Indian Restaurant
Iyer's
Tuk Tuk Asian Bistro
Congratulations to the winners of Best Cafe, sponsored by @illyireland: @GoodDayDeli, @DinkinsBakery, @Knockdrinna and @Twopupscoffee1! #FoodOscars pic.twitter.com/5dStG9XZUy
— IrishRestaurantAward (@restawards) May 13, 2019
Best Café – Sponsored by Illy
Connemara Greenway Café & Restaurant
Two Pups
Connemara Greenway Café & Restaurant
Knockdrinna Farm Shop & Artisan Café
Good Day Deli
Dinkin's Home Bakery & Café
Best Free From – Sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro Gluten Free
GROW HQ
Urbanity
Drumanilra Farm Kitchen
Zucchini's Restaurant
GROW HQ
The Olde Post Inn
A massive congratulations to @jtattshotmailc1, Dublin and All Ireland winner of Local Food Hero! @RewardingTimes #FoodOscars pic.twitter.com/dq9L9tUhU0
— IrishRestaurantAward (@restawards) May 13, 2019
Local Food Hero – Sponsored by Rewarding Times
Seán Hussey of Hussey & Sons Fruit & Veg
Best Emerging Irish Cuisine – Sponsored by Odaios
35 Restaurant
Forest & Marcy
An Port Mór Restaurant
Thyme Restaurant
35 Restaurant
Wine and Brine
Best Digital Marketing – Sponsored by Digital Restaurant
Michael’s Mount Merrion
Best Cookery School – Sponsored by Avonmore
The Neven Maguire Cookery School
Well done to @nevenmaguire Cookery School, winner of Best Cookery School! #FoodOscars @Avonmoretaste pic.twitter.com/AgxcL4upx2
— IrishRestaurantAward (@restawards) May 13, 2019
Best Private Dining & Club Restaurant – Sponsored by Wild Irish Game
Stephens Green Hibernian Club
Best Seafood Experience – Sponsored by Musgrave Market Place
Fish Shop, Benburb Street
Best Cocktail Experience– Sponsored by Coca Cola HBC
The Tack Room at Adare Manor