Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud in Dublin's Merrion Hotel has been chosen as the best restaurant in the country.
The restaurant, the only eaterie in Ireland to hold a two-star Michelin rating, has won the top prize at the Irish Restaurant Awards and was also chosen as Dublin's restaurant of the year.
Mickael Viljanen, who previously worked at Gregan's Castle hotel in Ballyvaughan, Co Clare, won again as best chef for his cooking at The Greenhouse off St Stephen's Green in Dublin.
The Oakroom Restaurant at Adare Manor Hotel in Limerick was selected as the best hotel restaurant in Ireland.
The best restaurant in Connacht was Kai Café & Restaurant in Galway, the best in Leinster was Campagne in Kilkenny which has a Michelin star, in Munster it was the 1826 Adare, and Ox in Belfast was the best in Ulster.
The best gastro pub in Ireland was The Poacher’s Pocket, Down. The best newcomer in Ireland went North to Michael Deane’s latest restaurant venture, Deanes EIPIC in Belfast.
The 2015 Irish Restaurant Awards are a joint venture between the Restaurants Association of Ireland and The Irish Times.
Restaurant Association of Ireland president Anthony Gray said they had received some 30,000 nominations in the various categories.
“This year’s awards have been the biggest, brightest and the best. They are the awards everyone wants to be associated with, and everyone wants to be a winner,” he added.
“The Irish restaurant scene is vital to the economy, employing 72,000 people and generating revenue in excess of €2 billion per year. It’s great to celebrate the work that all of our restaurateurs around the country do to keep this aspect of our culture alive and kicking.”
The judging panel consisted of a mystery guest visit (55 per cent), a national awards academy (35 per cent) and 10 per cent was reserved for judging the menu in each category.
Irish Restaurant Awards
Best Restaurant – Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, Dublin
Best Chef – Mickael Viljanen of The Greenhouse, Dublin
Best Hotel Restaurant – The Oakroom Restaurant at Adare Manor Hotel, Limerick
Best Casual Dining – Rua, Mayo
Best Gastro Pub in Ireland – The Poacher’s Pocket, Down
Best Wine Experience – OX, Belfast
Best Customer Service – Ristorante Rinuccini, Kilkenny
Best Newcomer – Deanes EIPIC, Belfast
Best Restaurant Manager – Saul McConnell of Deanes at Queens, Belfast
Best Kids Size Meal – Beaufield Mews, Dublin
Local Food Hero – Ronan Byrne "The Friendly Farmer", Galway
Best Café – Idaho Café, Cork
Best Cocktail Experience – Vintage Cocktail Club, Dublin
Best Cookery School – Dublin Cookery School
Best Digital Marketing – The Happy Pear, Wicklow
Best Emerging Irish Cuisine – Loam, Galway
Best Private Dining Club Restaurant – Restaurant Forty One at Residence, Dublin
Best Seafood Experience – Fishy Fishy Restaurant, Cork
Best Eco Friendly Restaurant – The Ocean Restaurant at The Maritime Hotel, Cork
Best World Cuisine – Ananda, Dublin
Full list
Regional & All-Ireland Award Winners:
Connaught - Kai Café & Restaurant, Galway
Dublin - Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
Leinster - Campagne, Kilkenny
Munster - 1826 Adare, Limerick
Ulster - Ox, Antrim
All-Ireland- Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, Dublin
Best Chef
Connaught - Jessica Murphy of Kai Café and Restaurant, Galway
Dublin - Mickael Viljanen of The Greenhouse
Leinster - Rob Krawczyk of Brabazon at Tankardstown House, Meath
Munster - David Hurley of The Dining Room at Gregans Castle Hotel, Clare
Ulster - Neven Maguire of MacNean House and Restaurant, Cavan
All-Ireland- Mickael Viljanen of The Greenhouse, Dublin
Best Hotel Restaurant
Connaught- West at The Twelve, Galway
Dublin - The Cliff Townhouse
Leinster - The Cellar Restaurant at Step House Hotel, Carlow
Munster - The Oakroom Restaurant at Adare Manor Hotel, Limerick
Ulster - Ardtara Country House, Derry
All-Ireland- The Oakroom Restaurant at Adare Manor Hotel, Limerick
Best Casual Dining
Connaught- Rua, Mayo
Dublin - ETTO
Leinster - Eastern Seaboard Bar & Grill, Louth
Munster - Liberty Grill, Cork
Ulster - Graze, Antrim
All-Ireland- Rua, Mayo
Best Gastro Pub
Connaught- Blakes Corner Bar, Galway
Dublin - East Side Tavern
Leinster - Hartes of Kildare, Kildare
Munster - Toddies at the Bulman, Cork
Ulster - The Poacher‘s Pocket, Down
All-Ireland- The Poacher‘s Pocket, Down
Best Newcomer
Connaught - The Dough Bro‘s Wood Fired Pizza, Galway
Dublin - Amuse
Leinster - La Côte, Wexford
Munster - AROI, Limerick
Ulster - Deanes EIPIC, Belfast
All-Ireland - Deanes EIPIC, Belfast
Best Wine Experience
Connaught- West at The Twelve, Galway
Dublin - Montys of Kathmandu
Leinster - Greenacres, Wexford
Munster - The Black Pig, Cork
Ulster - Ox, Antrim
All-Ireland- Ox, Antrim
Best Customer Service
Connaught- Roisin Dubh Restaurant at Renvyle House Hotel, Galway
Dublin - Jaipur, Dalkey
Leinster - Ristorante Rinuccini, Kilkenny
Munster - La Bohème Restaurant & Wine Bar, Waterford
Ulster - Church Street Restaurant, Derry
All-Ireland- Ristorante Rinuccini, Kilkenny
Best Kids Size Meal
Dublin- Beaufield Mews
All-Ireland- Beaufield Mews, Dublin
Best Restaurant Manager
Dublin - Stéphane Robin of Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
All-Ireland - Saul McConnell of Deanes at Queens, Belfast
Best Emerging Irish Cuisine
Dublin - Delahunt
All-Ireland - Loam, Galway
• An earlier version of this article listed Mickael Viljanen’s previous place of work incorrectly
