A number of local eateries are celebrating this morning after collecting awards last night.
The Leinster section of the Irish Restaurant awards were handed out with the best of the best in Kilkenny and Carlow rewarded for their efforts.
Best Chef in Kilkenny went to Ken Harker, Lady Helen Mount Juliet.
Best Chef in Carlow was announced as Alan Foley, Step House Hotel.
Campagne was crowned best restaurant in Kilkenny while Sha roe bistro in Clonegal took the honours in Carlow.
Best hotel and guest house restaurant in Kilkenny was awarded to Lady Helen at Mount Juliet and in Carlow to the Plum Tree Bistro at Woodford Dolmen hotel
The prizes for Best gastro pub went to Dinn Rí in Carlow and Left bank in Kilkenny
Rinuccini won Best customer service and best wine experience in Kilkenny and Mimosa wine bar took both of those awards too for Carlow
Pub of the year in Carlow was Carpe Diem and Billy Byrnes in Kilkenny
Best Restaurant manager in Kilkenny went to Milko Mihaylov of Truffles while in Carlow Stephanie Stone, Sha Roe Bistro took that prize.
Bombay Diner was awarded for Best World Cuisine in Carlow and Indique won the equivalent in Kilkenny.
Awards for ‘Free From’ went to Rive Gauche in Kilkenny and Pimento in Carlow.
The winner of Best Emerging Irish cuisine in Kilkenny was Kernel and Clashganny house won that prize in Carlow.
Best Kids Size Me menu went to Langtons in Kilkenny and Rachel’s Garden Cafe at Arboretum in Carlow
Kernel also won Best newcomer in Kilkenny while Barrows Keep in Tinnahinch took the Carlow award for Best newcomer.
Best casual dining prizes went to Truffles in Kilkenny and The Clink in Carlow.
Finally CakeFace in Kilkenny and Caffe 500 in Carlow won the Best Cafe awards.
