Tasting success: Top restaurants to battle it out for national title

A good restaurant does not go unnoticed for long, and the best featured in the Munster regional final of the Irish Restaurant Awards.

The Tannery in Waterford, winner last year of best restaurant in Ireland, best chef and best restaurant in Munster, features again among the top players.

Best restaurant in Limerick was awarded to 1826 Adare, marking a successful first year of business for chef Wade Murphy and his wife Elaine.

Chief executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Adrian Cummins said: “These awards celebrate the people that make the restaurant sector the dynamic and exciting industry it is. They are the people who provide 64,000 jobs to our economy and generate revenue in excess of €2bn. We’re recognising the talent, hard work and commitment that everyone here gives to the food industry.”

All county winners will be competing for the regional and all-Ireland title to be announced next month. Munster regional winners are:

* Best Restaurant

Clare: Gallagher’s Seafood Restaurant of Bunratty.

Cork: Fenn’s Quay Restaurant.

Kerry: Mulcahy’s Wild Garlic Restaurant.

Limerick: 1826 Adare.

Tipperary: The Old Convent.

Waterford: The Tannery.

* Best Chef

Clare: David Hurley, The Dining Room at Gregans Castle Hotel.

Cork: Kevin Aherne, Sage Restaurant.

Kerry: Theo Lynch, Allo’s Restaurant, Bistro, Bar & Townhouse.

Limerick: Tom Flavin, The River Restaurant at Limerick Strand Hotel.

Tipperary: Dermot Gannon, The Old Convent.

Waterford: Paul Flynn, The Tannery.

* Best Hotel Restaurant

Clare: The Dining Room, Gregans Castle Hotel.

Cork: The Presidents’ Room, Longueville House.

Kerry: Panorama Restaurant, The Europe Hotel & Resort.

Limerick: The Oakroom Restaurant, Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort.

Tipperary: Inch House Restaurant, Inch House.

Waterford: The Munster Room Restaurant, Waterford Castle.

* Best Casual Dining

Clare: L’Arco Italian Restaurant.

Cork: Nash 19.

Kerry: The Boat Yard Restaurant.

Limerick: Canteen.

Tipperary: The Pantry Café.

Waterford: Bodéga Restaurant & Wine Bar.

* Best Gastro Pub

Clare: Vaughan’s Anchor Inn.

Cork: Electric.

Kerry: Nick’s Seafood Restaurant and Piano Bar.

Limerick: The Curragower Seafood Bar.

Tipperary: The Derg Inn.

Waterford: Merry’s Gastro Pub.

* Best Wine Experience

Clare: Earl of Thomond at Dromoland Castle Hotel.

Cork: The Black Pig Wine Bar & Café.

Kerry: Killarney Wine Rooms at The Malton.

Limerick: No. 1 Pery Square.

Tipperary: Mitchel House Restaurant.

Waterford: L’Atmosphere Restaurant.

* Best Customer Service

Clare: Earl of Thomond at Dromoland Castle Hotel.

Cork: Market Lane.

Kerry: Brooks Restaurant at Ballygarry House Hotel & Spa.

Limerick: The Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge.

Tipperary: Stonehouse Restaurant.

Waterford: La Bohème Restaurant.

* Best Kids Size Meal

The Cornstore Restaurant, Cork.

* Best Restaurant Manager for Munster

Dan Mullane, The Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge, Limerick.