Food & Wine

Winners revealed at the 2023 Food&Wine Awards

The Food&Wine Restaurant of the Year Awards in association with Rémy Martin took place at The Round Room at The Mansion House today. Hosted by Food&Wine editor Gillian Nelis, the event celebrated the best of Irish food and drink.

Ahmet Dede, who won Chef of the Year and Restaurant of the Year, and Rory O’Connell, who won the Hall of Fame, at the 2023 Food&Wine Restaurant of the Year Awards in association with Rémy Martin

No other event brings together the hospitality industry like the Food&Wine Restaurant of the Year Awards in association with Rémy Martin - it really is the highlight of our culinary calendar. After such a tough couple of years for the industry, we were delighted to be able to celebrate the best of the best at the ceremony.

On arrival, guests were treated to a Rémy Martin Grand Tonic cocktail, a new iteration on a classic from our title sponsors Rémy Martin before enjoying a three course meal devised by With Taste, with support from Kish Fish, Irish Hereford Prime Beef and HireAll. To start, we enjoyed wild Irish kombu cured monkfish from Kish Fish with confit tomato, sea purslane, pistachio, borage, and Gubeen chorizo.

For mains, there was roast Irish Hereford beef sirloin and smoked cheek from Irish Hereford Prime Beef with potato and horseradish purée, charred celeriac, kale, and black garlic jus. Dessert consisted of spiced Champagne apple mille feuille with an Irish honey and white chocolate cigar, pecan butterscotch, and buttermilk parfait.

Wine pairings from our partner Liberty Wines, who also sponsored our Wine Experience awards, were the crisp Vesevo Beneventano Falanghina 2022 and the subtly spicy Quinta Dos Carvalhais Dao Tinto 2021. Additionally, our water partners S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna kept everyone refreshed throughout the event.

The event was attended by some of Ireland's best chefs and restaurateurs from across the country, but if you weren't able to join us at the awards, we have the full list of winners below, so read on to find out who took home the top prizes.

Rory O’Connell won the Hall of Fame Award, which was presented by Brian McGinn

Regional Awards, in association with Rémy Martin

Ulster

Best Restaurant Ulster

Winner: Ox

Highly commended: The Olde Glen

Best Chef Ulster

Winner: Stevie McCarry

Highly commended: Gemma Austin

Best Casual Dining Ulster

Winner: Stereo

Highly commended: Monad

Best wine experience, sponsored by Liberty Wines

Winner: Frae

Highly commended: Noble

Leinster

Best Restaurant Leinster

Winner: Keith Boyle at the Bridge House

Highly commended: Neighbourhood

Best Chef Leinster

Winner: John Coffey

Highly commended: Gareth Naughton

Best Casual Dining Leinster

Winner: Dubh

Highly commended: Nine

Best Wine Experience Leinster, sponsored by Liberty Wines

Winner: Kelly’s Resort & Spa

Highly commended: Ristorante Rinuccini

Connaught

Best Restaurant Connaught

Winner: Aniar

Highly commended: Lignum

Best Chef Connaught

Winner: Martin O’Donnell

Highly commended: Kevin Stirzaker

Best Casual Dining Connaught

Winner: Ard Bia at Nimmos

Highly commended: The Fisherman’s Pub and Ranji Room at Ballynahinch Castle

Best Wine Experience Connaught, sponsored by Liberty Wines

Winner: Daróg

Highly commended: Éan

Munster

Best Restaurant Munster

Winner: Dede at the Customs House

Highly commended: Terre

Best Chef Munster

Winner: Ahmet Dede

Highly commended: Vincent Crepel

Best Casual Dining Munster

Winner: St Francis Provisions

Highly commended: Goldie

Best Wine Experience Munster, sponsored by Liberty Wines

Winner: L’Atitude 51

Highly commended: Paradiso

Dublin

Best Restaurant Dublin

Winner: Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen

Highly commended: Mamó

Best Chef Dublin

Winner: Damien Grey

Highly commended: Barry Sun

Best Casual Dining Dublin

Winner: Fish Shop

Highly commended: Korean Table

Best Wine Experience Dublin, sponsored by Liberty Wines

Winner: A Fianco

Highly commended: Big Mike’s

National Awards, in association with Rémy Martin

Hall of Fame

Rory O’Connell

Café of the Year

Winner: Warehouse Food Market Café, Dublin

Highly commended: Izz, Cork

Customer Service of the Year

Winner: Big Mike’s, Dublin

Highly commended: Rúibín, Galway

Pastry Chef of the Year

Winner: Paula Stakelum

Highly commended: Orna Larkin

Young Chef of the Year

Winner: Aishling Moore

Highly commended: Attila Galambos

Newcomer of the Year

Winner: Homestead Cottage

Highly commended: Row Wines

Hotel Restaurant of the Year

Winner: Terre

Highly commended: The Bishop’s Buttery

Cocktail Experience of the Year

Winner: Bar 1661

Highly commended: Hawksmoor

Innovator of the Year, sponsored by Tomkins

Winner: Cork Urban Soil Project

Highly commended: Conor Spacey

Ahmet Dede and the team from Dede at the Customs House celebrating their wins

Overall Winners, in association with Rémy Martin

Wine Experience of the Year, sponsored by Liberty Wines

A Fianco

Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year

St Francis Provisions

Chef of the Year

Ahmet Dede

Restaurant of the Year

Dede at the Customs House

Photography by Andres Poveda