Winners of 2015 Irish Restaurant Awards announced

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