REVEALED: Louth winners of the Irish Restaurant Awards 2023

The best hospitality businesses in Louth were crowned at the Leinster Regional Final of Irish Restaurant Awards 2023 took place in the Killashee Hotel in Kildare on Tuesday 14th of March.

Louth winners will now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Titles, which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards All Ireland Final on Monday 15th May in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin 4. 

Over 1000 restaurant and hospitality business owners and staff celebrated their hard work and achievements at the Awards Event, which saw many well-known restaurateurs of Leinster turn out to see if they had won one of the prestigious awards. 

Speaking at the Leinster Regional Awards President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Paul Lenehan, said:

“Now in their 14th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards returns with a record breaking number of public nominations (over 130,000). 

“This sheer number of votes highlights the support & appreciation by the general public for our hospitality sector and all who contribute to it. 

“The Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the existing, and up and coming talent, in the sector and are a reminder that hospitality is nothing without their dedicated and passionate staff. 

“The Awards continue to showcase the incredible food that is on offer in the cafes, hotels, pubs and restaurants of Ireland. 

“We are delighted to be here in Limerick for the first of the Regional Events for 2023 and look forward to welcoming all winners in Leinster to the All Ireland Awards on 15th May.”  

Food outlets were nominated under the categories of Local Food Hero, Best Sustainable Practices, Best Free From, Best Emerging Irish Cuisine, Best Restaurant Manager, Best Wine Experience, Best Café, Best World Cuisine, Best Newcomer, Pub of the Year, Best Casual Dining, Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant, Best Customer Service, Best Gastropub, Best Chef, and Best Restaurant and finally a new award category for 2023 Innovator of the Year. 

The Louth winners on the night were: 

Local Food Hero Sponsored by The Irish Times 

• Marita Collier, Drummond House Garlic

Best Sustainable Practices Sponsored by Gas Networks Ireland

• Wildwood Café   

Innovator of the Year Sponsored by Diageo

• Rocksalt Cafe   

Free From  

• Strandfield Cafe Florist And Grocer 

Best Emerging Irish Cuisine Sponsored by FBD Insurance 

• Square Restaurant Townparks  

Best Restaurant Manager Sponsored by Halcyon Group 

• Emily Carton, The Smugglers Rest   

Best Wine Experience Sponsored by Bibendum Ireland

• D'vine Bistro & Tapas Bar  

Best Café Sponsored by Illy 

• Rocksalt Café  

Best World Cuisine Sponsored by San Pellegrino 

• Sally Cinnamons Bar   

Best Newcomer Sponsored by Square 

• Stack'd Coffee  

Pub of the Year Sponsored by Peroni 

• Russell's Saloon   

Best Casual Dining Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace 

• The Spotted Dog

Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant Sponsored By Frylite

• The Bay Tree Restaurant & Guesthouse 

Best Customer Service Sponsored Restaurant-Insurance.ie Provided by Dolmen 

• Dooleys Of Edmondstown  

Best Gastro Pub Sponsored by Worldpay from FIS

•  The Trinity Quarter  

Best Chef Sponsored by BWG Foodservice 

• Ronan Lawless, The Clermont  

Best Restaurant Sponsored by San Miguel

• Square Restaurant