Dublin's Chapter One has been named Ireland's best restaurant and Eamonn O'Reilly of One Pico has been voted best chef by the Restaurants Association of Ireland.
The winners in the seven different categories of the Jacob's Creek Reserve Irish Restaurant Awards 2006 were announced in Dublin this afternoon.
Restaurants are nominated by other restaurateurs. The nominees voted are then assessed by the panel of critics and catering professionals on the Irish Restaurant Awards Academy.
Chapter One, in Parnell Square, seats 85 people and is possibly most famous for not having a Michelin star. Head chef Ross Lewis told the Irish Timesrecently: "We're happy with our standards and that we continue to do what we do, which is to cook the best food for our customers. If they want to reward us with a star at some stage in the future, that would be great."
The best restaurant service award went to the Park Hotel, Kenmare, while the George V Room at Ashford Castle in Cong, Co Mayo was adjudged to have the finest wine list.
Best newcomer, which was voted for by viewers of TV3's Ireland AM show, was O'Brien's Good Food & Drink House in Navan, Co Meath. Zuni Restaurant and Townhouse in Kilkenny City was named Most Stylish Restaurant by the readers of Image Magazine.
The Bord Iascaigh Mhara award for Best Seafood Experience was presented to Mackerel Restaurant in Bewleys, Grafton Street, Dublin.