Mickael Viljanen of Chapter One in Dublin, Stephen Toman of Ox in Belfast and Adam Nevin of the Morrison Room in Maynooth were among the chefs who attended the launch of this year’s 101 Great Irish Restaurants magazine.
Produced in partnership with Nespresso Professional, the 2025 edition of the magazine again showcases the depth and breadth of Ireland’s food scene, from casual bistros to Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants.
This year’s launch took place in Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, with guests gathering for a Champagne reception on the restaurant’s terrace before lunch was served in the private dining room.
Gillian Nelis, managing editor of the Business Post and editor of 101 Great Irish Restaurants, reflected on the growth seen in the Irish food scene since the first edition of the magazine was published in 2017.
“Back then, all of us could probably have predicted the names of the entries in advance,” she said.
“In the years since, the Irish hospitality scene has expanded so much that curating a collection of 101 entries is both a pleasure and a pain - a pleasure because of the overall quality, a pain because we could easily have produced a listing of 202 restaurants.”
Gordon Thompson, sales manager for Nespresso Professional in Ireland, paid tribute to Patrick Guilbaud’s forty-year plus commitment to Ireland’s food scene, and in particularly his mentorship of young chefs.
In turn, Guilbaud praised the tenacity of the country’s restaurateurs. “It is not an easy business, as you all know, but your commitment to your businesses, and to Ireland’s farmers and fishermen, is so important,” he said.
For lunch, guests started with hand dived scallops with spiced carrots and XO oil, before a main course of milk-fed veal with artichoke and truffle jus. The dessert of Gariguette strawberries with elderflower, accompanied by a brioche bouchon encased in meringue, matched the sunny weather in the capital.
After lunch, guests enjoyed Nespresso coffees and petits fours, with Nespresso martinis also on offer.
This year’s judges for 101 Great Irish Restaurants in partnership with Nespresso Professional were Gillian Nelis, Marie-Claire Digby, Kate Ryan, Joris Minne and Marcus O’Laoire.
Find out who made the list at businesspost.ie on Friday May 16, and in print with the Business Post on Sunday May 18.