Sirocco's is top Offaly restaurant

Tullamore restaurant "Sirocco's" has been named Offaly's top restaurant. The popular eaterie was given the honour at the Leinster final of this year's Restaurant Awards in the Westin Hotel in Dublin last Tuesday, April 16. It will now go on to complete at a regional and national basis, with results expected at the Irish Restaurant Awards on May 14. Other Offaly winners include The Thatch in Crinkle in the gastro pub category, Emma's Cafe in Birr in the casual dining category, the Tullamore Court Hotel's Windmill Restaurant in the hotel restaurant category, Sirocco's in the customer service category and chef Jamie Owens of Jamie's Restaurant in Tullamore in the chef category. Nominees in line for the awards, which are sponsored by Santa Rita and the Sunday Independent Life Magazine, were judged by a panel of industry experts. Speaking at Tuesday's event President of the Restaurants Association Brian Fallon said entries to the awards have doubled since last year, with 5,000 nominations made this year for Ireland's favourite restaurants, chefs, gastro pubs, hotel restaurants and local food heroes.