Winners of the 2016 Restaurants Association of Ireland Awards.

Dublin restaurant Luna has just been recognised as the best eatery in Ireland. The Drury Street restaurant which only opened in June 2015 is based on the popular concept of a New York Italian restaurant.

The popular restaurant won the coveted All-Ireland “Best Restaurant Award” title and “Best Dublin Restaurant” at the Restaurants Association of Ireland Awards. Ideal for those planning on taking a trip to Ireland, these awards for many are the foundation of restaurants and eateries to be visited whilst taking a vacation in Ireland.

The restaurant not only won the best restaurant in Dublin city centre title but it also won “Best Customer Service in Dublin” and Declan Maxwell won the title “Best Restaurant Manager”.  In excess of 70,000 online nominations were received in the various categories for the prestigious awards. Based on the concept of a New York Italian Restaurant, the decor of Luna Restaurant is meant to convey the interiors of a 1950s style New York restaurant complete with leather modular seats and red velvet curtains.

Luna Restaurant in Dublin wins Best Restaurant Award at the Restaurant Association of Ireland Awards.

Luna Restaurant in Dublin wins Best Restaurant Award at the Restaurant Association of Ireland Awards.

The “Best Chef in Ireland” award was won by Enda McEvoy of Loam Restaurant in Fairgreen, Galway city. The “Best Hotel Restaurant” award went to The Dining Room at Gregan’s Castle Hotel in Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare and the “Best Casual Dining” award went to ETTO in Dublin and the “Best Gastro Pub” award was won by the Oarsman in Carrick on Shannon. “Best Café” was won by Rua in County Mayo.

The “Best Emerging Irish Cuisine” Award was won by Locks 1 in Windsor Terrace, Dublin and “Best Customer Service” was won by Kai Café and Restaurant in Galway.

The full list of All Ireland and Regional winners is as follows;

Best Restaurant

  • All -Ireland -Luna, Dublin
  • Dublin – Luna, Dublin
  • Connacht – Loam, Galway
  • Leinster- The Pigeon House, Wicklow
  • Munster- 1826 Adare, Limerick
  • Ulster- Browns Restaurant & Champagne Lounge, Derry

Best Chef

  • All-Ireland – Enda McEvoy of Loam, Galway
  • Dublin – John Wyer of Forest Avenue, Dublin
  • Connacht – Enda McEvoy of Loam, Galway
  • Leinster -Rob Krawczyk of Brabazon at Tankardstown House, Meath
  • Munster -David Hurley of The Dining Room at Gregan’s Castle Hotel, Clare
  • Ulster – David Gillmore of James Street South, Antrim

Best Restaurant Manager

  • All-Ireland – Alain Kerloc’h of OX, Antrim
  • Dublin – Declan Maxwell of Luna, Dublin

Best Hotel Restaurant

  • All-Ireland – The Dining Room at Gregan’s Castle Hotel, Clare
  • Dublin – The Brasserie at The Marker, Dublin
  • Connacht – The Library Restaurant at Belleek Castle, Mayo
  • Leinster – The Lady Helen at Mount Juliet, Kilkenny
  • Munster – The Dining Room at Gregan’s Castle Hotel, Clare
  • Ulster – Harvey‘s Restaurant at Harvey‘s Point, Donegal

Best Casual Dining

  • All-Ireland – ETTO, Dublin
  • Dublin – ETTO, Dublin
  • Connacht – The Pantry and Corkscrew, Mayo
  • Leinster – Foodworks, Kilkenny
  • Munster – Elbow Lane Brew & Smokehouse, Cork
  • Ulster – The Ginger Bistro, Antrim

Best Gastro Pub

  • All-Ireland – The Oarsman, Leitrim
  • Dublin – Mulligan Grocer, Dublin
  • Connacht – The Oarsman, Leitrim
  • Leinster –Left Bank, Kilkenny
  • Munster – Merry’s Gastro Pub, Waterford
  • Ulster – Sweet Afton Bar& Kitchen, Antrim

Best Café

  • All-Ireland – Rua, Mayo
  • Dublin – The Pepper Pot, Dublin
  • Connacht – Rua, Mayo
  • Leinster – Blackberry Café, Kilkenny
  • Munster – The Granary Café, Waterford
  • Ulster – Aroma Café, Donegal

Best World Cuisine

  • All-Ireland – Chakra by Jaipur, Wicklow
  • Dublin – Boqueria, Dublin
  • Connacht -Miso Sushi, Sligo
  • Leinster – Chakra by Jaipur, Wicklow
  • Munster – Iyer’s, Cork
  • Ulster – DinaDina, Antrim

Best Emerging Irish Cuisine

  • All-Ireland – Locks 1 Windsor Terrace, Dublin
  • Dublin – Locks 1 Windsor Terrace, Dublin

Best Customer Service

  • All-Ireland – Kai Café & Restaurant, Galway
  • Dublin – Luna, Dublin
  • Connacht – Kai Café & Restaurant, Galway
  • Leinster – Chakra by Jaipur, Wicklow
  • Munster – Inch House Country House & Restaurant, Tipperary
  • Ulster – The Great Room Restaurant at The Merchant Hotel, Antrim

Best Wine Experience

  • All-Ireland – George V Dining Room at Ashford Castle, Mayo
  • Dublin – ETTO, Dublin
  • Connacht – George V Dining Room at Ashford Castle, Mayo
  • Leinster – Ristorante Rinuccini, Kilkenny
  • Munster – La Bohème Restaurant & Winebar, Waterford
  • Ulster – OX Cave, Antrim

Local Food Hero

  • All-Ireland – JP McMahon of Aniar, Galway
  • Dublin – Pádraic Óg Gallagher of Gallagher‘s Boxty House, Dublin

Best Kids Size Menu

  • All-Ireland – Momo Restaurant, Waterford
  • Dublin – Jamie’s Italian, Dublin

Best Newcomer

  • All-Ireland – The Bay Tree Bistro, Waterford
  • Dublin – Craft, Dublin
  • Connacht – The Idle Wall, Mayo
  • Leinster – The Lighthouse Seafood Restaurant, Wicklow
  • Munster – The Bay Tree Bistro, Waterford
  • Ulster – The Muddler‘s Club, Antrim

Best Cocktail Experience

  • All-Ireland – The Exchequer, Dublin

Best Seafood Experience

  • All-Ireland – O’Grady’s on the Pier, Galway

Best Cookery School

  • All-Ireland – Tannery Cookery School, Waterford

Best Digital Marketing

  • All-Ireland – Coqbull, Cork

Best Private Dining & Club Restaurant

  • All-Ireland – Restaurant FortyOne at Residence, Dublin
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