And the best eatery if you’re L’Ecrivain some good food ...

DUBLIN eatery L’Ecrivain has won numerous awards from food experts but received the ultimate accolade yesterday when it was voted Ireland’s best restaurant by diners.

"It's always nice to get recognised not just for myself but the whole team," said chef-patron Derry Clarke at a gala event for the winners in the Restaurant of the Year 2002 competition in Dublin last night.

The black-tie affair in the Four Seasons Hotel, featuring a champagne reception and five-course dinner, was attended by the cream of the country's restaurateurs, hoteliers, chefs and other celebrities.

Clarke, though accustomed to receiving plaudits for his cuisine and service, was particularly pleased he was nominated by the dining public, who were invited by Food & Wine magazine to name their favourite places.

"The idea behind it is to give the people who pay for the food the chance to vote," said food writer Biddy White Lennon.

"There are lots of other restaurant awards, but this is the only one that allows that."

The 10-member judging panel was called in to make the final assessment where there was no clear-cut winner. Each made his or her decision on their own experiences in the establishments concerned.

Guillaume le Brun of Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud was voted Chef of the Year getting the nod ahead of Clarke.

And Guilbaud's establishment, located in the Merrion Hotel, took the Best Service award from L'Ecrivain inaugural winner in the category a year ago. This was a fiercely contested section, with a large response from magazine readers.

Best Dublin restaurant award went to Chapter One whose co-owners Ross Lewis and Martin Corbett got the verdict over Clarke's L'Ecrivain, last year's winner.

Third slot in the Restaurant of the Year award category went to Thornton's of Dublin last year's outright winners.