The finalists have been announced for The 1 st Northern Ireland Restaurant Awards 2023

The inaugural Northern Ireland Restaurant Awards has announced the 2023 finalists following a long voting process where the public submitted their nominations.

Theses prestigious awards celebrate the best restaurants and culinary talent in the country while acknowledging the dedication and hard work of restaurants, chefs, and their teams in delivering exceptional dining experiences to customers.

The winners of each category will be announced at the elegant ceremony which will take place in Belfast next month.

The awards provide an opportunity to showcase the diversity and quality of the country’s cuisine, which is known for its use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients and traditional cooking techniques. 

By recognising outstanding restaurants and dining establishments, the awards help to raise the profile of the Northern Irish food and restaurant industry and contribute to its ongoing growth and success.

A Spokesperson for The Northern Ireland Restaurant Awards 2023 said: “The Northern Ireland Restaurant Awards are an amazing opportunity to celebrate and showcase the very best and diverse range in the country’s dining scene. With Mediterranean, Japanese, Nepalese, Seafood and Mexican restaurants amongst others, Northern Ireland is a real paradise for foodies.

The Awards are expected to be one of the biggest gatherings for restaurant owners in the country. We are thrilled to announce our finalists for 2023 and look forward to revealing the winners at the awards ceremony. Congratulations to all the finalists and we wish them the best of good luck!”

The finalists of The 1st Northern Ireland Restaurant Awards 2023 have been shortlisted into the final categories:

Restaurant of the Year

Herd NI(Newtownards)

No 14 at The Georgian House (Newtownards)

The Ponderosa (Londonderry)

Indian Ocean Restaurant(Holywood)

Great Jones (Newcastle)

Sleepy Hollow (Newtownabbey)

The Northern Whig(Belfast)

Neill’s Hill Brasserie (Belfast)

Fish & Chips Restaurant of the Year

McCanns Traditional Fish and Chips (Castlewellan) 

The Chippy (Antrim) 

Merchant fish and chips (Ballymena) 

Captain Jacks(Portaferry)

Frew’s Fish & Chips(Ballymena)

Kraken(Portrush)

Talbots Catch(Ballyhalbert)

Rolo’s Traditional Fish and Chips(Antrim)

Morrisons Fish and Chips Co(Belfast)

Ruddy Duck Fish House(Holywood) 

Burger Restaurant of the Year

Phat Bastrd Burger(Bangor)

Bootleggers(Belfast)

Tribal Burger(Belfast)

The Burger Club (Belfast)

MeatBox (Coleraine)

Pablos(Belfast)

Springsteen’s Diner (Belfast)

Herd NI(Newtownards)

Wolfes(Belfast)

Sixty Nine & Seventy Co.(Belfast)

Noodles Restaurant of the Year

Thai Noodle(Banbridge)

Madame Pho(Belfast)

Zen(Belfast)

Thap Thai(Carrickfergus)

Viet By Vee(Country)

Little Thai Cafe and Bistro(Belfast)

Macau(Belfast)

Khao(Belfast)

Thai House(Belfast)

Hotel Restaurant of the Year

Belmont Hotel(Banbridge)

Clockhouse Restaurant (Ballymena)

Ross Park Hotel(Ballymena) 

The Mellon Country Inn(Omagh)

5 corners guest inn(Ballyclare)

Ardtara Country House (Maghera )

Bayview Hotel(Antrim)

Clenaghans Restaurant(Craigavon)

Pier 36(Donaghadee )

Bishop’s Gate Hotel Derry(Londonderry)

Portrush Atlantic Hotel(Portrush) 

European Restaurant of the Year

Deanes EIPIC(Belfast)

No 14 at The Georgian House (Newtownards)

Waterman Restaurant(Belfast)

The Muddlers Club Restaurant(Belfast)

Noble (Holywood)

JAMES ST(Belfast)

Church Street Brasserie(Magherafelt )

Sozo(Newtownabbey)

A Peculiar Tea(Belfast)

Howard Street(Belfast)

Spanish Restaurant of the Year

2 Taps Wine Bar(Belfast)

EDO Restaurant (Belfast) 

Ora Wine and Tapas(Belfast)

Tapitas (Belfast)

Ocho Bistro(Coleraine)

El Tapas Grá(Londonderry)

Prime Burrito(Craigavon)

Pacha Restaurant(Newcastle)

The River Rooms (Belfast)

Mediterranean Restaurant of the Year

Chef and Manager(Newtownards) 

The Scullery(Portadown )

Villa Vinci (Newcastle)

44 Hill Street(Belfast )

Zio(Portadown )

The burrito bar(Andersonstown )

The Parkland(Armagh)

Nora’s Palace (Belfast )

Italian Restaurant of the Year

Coppi Restaurant(Belfast ) 

Little O’s Ormeau Road (Belfast )

La Gondola (Omagh) 

Scalini(Belfast ) 

Il Pirata (Belfast ) 

The Chubby Cherub(Belfast ) 

Fratelli (Belfast )

Villa Italia (Belfast) 

Turkish Restaurant of the Year

Istanbul Turkish Restaurant (Londonderry)

Turkish Kebab and Pizza House (Lisburn)

The King Turkish Kebab & Pizzeria (Ballyclare)

Istanbull kebab house (Antrim)

Turkish Kebab House (Cookstown)

The West Turkish Kebab House (Belfast)

Istanbul Kebab and Pizza(Belfast)

Turkish Kebab And Pizzeria(Terrace)

Lebanese / Arabic Restaurant of the Year

Deerah(Belfast)

Umi Falafel (Belfast)

Falafel Eatery & Coffee House(Belfast)

Damascus Restaurant(Belfast)

Cedar Restaurant (Londonderry)

Belfalafel(Belfast)

Bankquet Grill(Belfast)

Lyaly Baghdad(Belfast) 

Falafel Cuisine (Belfast)

Restaurant Team of the Year

The Ponderosa (Londonderry)

Courthouse Bar(Lurgan)

Gattos(Ballymena)

Clockhouse Restaurant (Ballymena)

Laragh Lodge (Ballymena)

Guapo Fresh Mexican (Londonderry )

TPM Fusion(Ballymena )

Silky’s Bistro(Londonderry)

Brother’s Chinese Buffet & Takeaway (Crumlin )

Curry Restaurant of the Year

Spice(Antrim)

Radhuni Indian Restaurant(Belfast)

Nu Delhi Restaurant Lounge (Belfast)

The Raj Authentic Indian Food (Belfast)

Panjab Indian Restaurant(Belfast)

Bengal Spice( Dungannon )

Sanjha (Ballymena)

Mumbai 27(Belfast)

The Jharna (Belfast)

Little India Restaurant (Carrickfergus)

Pizza Restaurant of the Year

Pizza Punks Belfast(Belfast)

Little Wing Pizzeria(Belfast)

Il Pirata (Belfast )

Pizza Place(Belfast)

Greens Pizza(Belfast )

Villa Italia (Belfast) 

Pizza on the Square(Belfast)

La Gondola (Omagh) 

Indian Restaurant of the Year

India Gate(Belfast)

Indian Ocean(Newtownabbey)

The Naz Indian Cuisine(Belfast)

The Raj Authentic Indian Food (Belfast)

The East Bengal (Belfast)

Diwali Indian cuisine(Belfast)

Little India Restaurant (Carrickfergus )

Archana (Belfast)

Nu Delhi Restaurant Lounge (Belfast)

Sanjha (Ballymena)

Bangladeshi Restaurant of the Year

Bangla(Bangor)

Bengal Brasserie (Belfast)

Bengal Spice(Belfast)

7 Spice Belfast (Belfast)

Star Of Bengal(Bangor)

Shapla(Armagh)

The East Bengal (Belfast)

Mama Masala(Londonderry )

Bengal Tandoori(Craigavon)

The Jharna (Belfast

Chinese Restaurant of the Year

The Welcome Restaurant(Belfast)

Same Happy(Belfast)

Lee Garden(Belfast)

Go Sun (Ballymena)

Harmony Palace(Belfast)

Golden Phoenix (Cookstown)

Imperial Palace(Magherafelt)

Shangri-La Chinese (Belfast)

Golden Bridge Chinese ( Cookstown)

Castle Hill Carryout (Belfast)

Japanese Restaurant of the Year

Sakura Japanese Restaurant (Belfast)

Kamakura Sushi & Ramen (Belfast)

Ginza Kitchen (Belfast)

Sumo cat(Belfast )

Kyoto Taste Belfast (Belfast)

Kamakura Carrick (Carrickfergus)

Teppan-Genie (Newtownards)

Sushi Cafe (Belfast)

Obento Japanese Express(Belfast)

Nepalese Restaurant of the Year

SarpN Group(Belfast)

Yaks(Bangor)

Himalayan(Belfast)

Kathmandu Inn(Ballyclare)

Indie Spice Grill(Belfast)

Indian Nights(Armagh)

Nu Delhi Restaurant Lounge(Belfast )

Babus Indian Spice (Gilford )

Bites of India Botanic(Belfast)

Thai Restaurant of the Year

Camile Thai Ballyahackmore (Belfast)

Little Thai Cafe and Bistro(Belfast)

Thaitanic Cuisine(Belfast)

The Golden Elephant(Belfast)

Bo Tree Kitchen (Belfast)

Baan Thai(Antrim)

THAI SQUARE(Lisburn)

My Thai(Armagh)

Tuk Tuk Asian Bistro (Newtownards)

Thap Thai(Carrickfergus)

Mexican Restaurant of the Year

Little Mexican Deli(Dairyfarm )

Bebe Adrianos Mexicanos(Bangor)

Guapo Fresh Mexican (Londonderry )

Acapulco(Belfast )

Taquitos(Antrim)

Cú(Belfast )

La Taqueria Ormeau(Belfast )

Boojum – Victoria Square(Belfast)

Tortilla Belfast(Belfast)

Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year

East Chinese(Armagh)

Mei Garden(Armagh)

Sperrin Restaurant(Ballycastle)

The Cheeky Fox(Omagh)

Vegetarian Restaurant of the Year

Umi Falafel  (Belfast )

387 Ormeau Road(Belfast )

The Jolly Sandwich Bar(Enniskillen)

Shu(Belfast )

Old School House Inn (Newtownards) 

Falafel Cuisine (Belfast)

Quinn’s Corner (Dungannon) 

Belvedere Cafe Restaurant (Belfast )

The Welcome Restaurant(Belfast)

Buffet Restaurant of the Year

Cuisine Buffet(Belfast)

COSMO All You Can Eat World Buffet Restaurant(Belfast)

Bravo Live Cuisine Restaurant(Nevry)

K11 Restaurant & Bar(Craigavon)

Steamboat (Belfast)

Mandarin Buffet(Cookstown)

Brother’s Chinese Buffet & Takeaway (Crumlin )

Gilberry Fayre Wedding Catering and Restaurant(Craigavon)

Seasons Restaurant at The Mount Conference Centre(Belfast)

Granny Kelly’s (Belfast)

Outstanding Restaurant of the Year

Golden Boat (Cookstown)

Lee’s Kitchen(Dungannon)

Dragon Dynasty(Omagh )

Great Jones (Newcastle)

The Top of the Town (Antrim)

The Welcome Restaurant(Belfast)

Sintons at the Bridge(Craigavon)

Sleepy Hollow (Newtownabbey)  

Best World Cuisine

Thyme restaurant (Navy)

Deanes at Queens(Belfast )

Fontana Restaurant(Holywood)

Little Wing(Enniskillen)

The Poachers Pocket(Newtownards)

5 corners guest inn(Ballyclare)

COSMO (Belfast)

Home Restaurant (Belfast )

Noble (Holywood)

Bank Square Brasserie(Belfast)

Street Food Restaurant of the Year

Romeo’s Takeaway (Derry)

Dolphin Traditional Fish & Chips (Dungannon)

Chaska(Enniskillen)

Street Dogs(Belfast)

Oui Poutine (Belfast)

Duddies Street Food (Strabane)

Foodpath (Portadown)

Hungry Hungarian(Armagh)

Hope Street Restaurant (Belfast)

Seafood Restaurant of the Year

Fish City(Belfast )

John Long’s(Belfast )

Raymie’s Seafood Bar & Grill(Newry)

Fontana Restaurant(Holywood)

Oysters Restaurant (Strabane)

Mourne Seafood Bar (Belfast )

Lobster Pot(Strangford )

The Salthouse restaurant (Portaferry )

Morton’s(Ballycastle )

Family Restaurant of the Year

Cyprus Avenue(Belfast)

Buba (Belfast)

Scalini (Belfast )

Little O’s Ormeau Road (Belfast )

Granny Kelly’s (Belfast)

Tapitas (Belfast)

Viscounts(Dungannon)

Basil Sheils(Armagh)

Romantic Restaurant of the Year

Villa Vinci (Newcastle)

The Ginger Bistro(Belfast )

Flame(Belfast)

Wine and Brine(Craigavon)

Clenaghans Restaurant(Craigavon)

The Mill (Downpatrick)

Nora’s Palace (Belfast)

Pier 36(Donaghadee )

Overwood at Balloo(Newtownards)

Best of Belfast

The Burger Club 

Neill’s Hill Brasserie

Mandarin Ballyhackamore   

EDO Restaurant 

Bengal Brasserie

Blu Restaurant

Springsteen’s Diner

Steamboat 

Sushi Restaurant of the Year

Kamakura Sushi & Ramen (Belfast )

Kyoto Taste Belfast(Belfast )

Sushi King(Bangor)

Sakura Japanese Restaurant (Belfast )

Home made Sushi(Armagh)

Sushi Cafe (Belfast)

Obento Japanese Express(Belfast)

Yügo(Belfast )

FireStone(Belfast )

Best of Northern Ireland

AMPM(Belfast )

The Lantern(Belfast)

Bo Tree Kitchen (Belfast)

Castle Hill Carryout (Belfast)

Go Sun (Ballymena)

Tuk Tuk Asian Bistro (Newtownards)

Hope Street Restaurant (Belfast)

Country Restaurant of the Year

Belleek Country House(Newry)

Ardtara Country House(Maghera)

The Barn Bar & Country Kitchen(Downpatrick )

Knockninny Country House(Enniskillen)

Kilmore Country House(Ballymena)

Manor House Country Hotel(Enniskillen)

The Mellon Country Inn(Omagh)

Daft Eddy’s(Newtownards)

Greenvale Hotel & Restaurant(Cookstown)

The Hungry Goat (Dungannon)

Diner of the Year

7 Spice Belfast (Belfast)

Deerah  (Belfast) 

The River Rooms (Belfast)

Pacha Restaurant(Newcastle)

The Olderfleet Bar & Restaurant(Larne)

The King Turkish Kebab & Pizzeria (Ballyclare)

Number 7 Duke Street(Newry)

Burger Burger(Dungannon)