Indian restaurant in Birr wins two awards, including 'Best Chef'

An Indian restaurant in Birr has taken two top awards at the Leinster Regional Finals of the Irish Restaurant awards 2023, including the ‘Best Chef’ award for Sanjay Vishwakarma.

As well as taking the ‘Best Chef’ award, Sanjay’s Kitchen in Birr’s Market Square also took the award for ‘Best World Cuisine’ at the Leinster Finals, while while the Blue Apron Restaurant was once again named as ‘Best Restaurant’ in Offaly.

Tullamore-based Browne’s Bistro took home two awards, including ‘Best Wine Experience’ and ‘Best Casual Dining’ while newcomer to the hospitality scene in Tullamore, the Old Warehouse, which is a joint venture between entrepreneur Alan Clancy and PGA golf star Shane Lowry, won the award for ‘Best Newcomer’

The ‘Best Café’ in Offaly award went to Meet and Fit on Tullamore’s Main Street, while another Tullamore-based eatery, The Foxy Bean, won the “Best Customer Service’ award.

The ‘Pub of the Year’ award for Offaly went once again to J.J. Hough’s in Banagher, while Fallons in Shannonbridge took the county award for ‘Best Emerging Irish Cuisine.’ The ‘Best Gastro Pub’ awarf went to Hennessy’s in Ferbane.

The ‘Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant’ in the county was named as The Dungeon Bar at Kinnity Castle Hotel, while the ‘Best Restaurant Manager’ award went to Sherry Wilawan, from Chanapa Thai in Tullamore.

Woodfield Café and Garden Centre in Birr scooped two awards at the Leinster Regional Finals, including ‘Best Sustainable Practices’ and ‘Free From’ while Ballycommon Bakehouse on the Grand Canal Greenway was named as ‘Innovator of the Year.’

The final award, for ‘Local Food Hero’ went to The Feighery Family at Feighery’s Farm outside Kilcormac.

The Leinster Regional Final of Irish Restaurant Awards 2023 took place in the Killashee Hotel in Kildare this week, where over 1,000 restaurant and hospitality business owners and staff celebrated their hard work and achievements.

All the Regional winners will now go forward to the All-Ireland Restaurant Awards on May 15 next.