Dublin’s Etto Wins Top Restaurant Award

/ 15th May 2018 /

Dublin eatery Etto has been named Restaurant of the Year at the Irish Restaurant Awards, with chef Jess Murphy of Kai Restaurant in Galway named as Best Chef.

Etto (pictured), located on Merrion Row in D2, offers a daily, seasonal menu, has a relaxed and informal environment and describes its dishes as honest and simple, using ingredients from local producers and suppliers where possible. The restaurant was awarded a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Jess Murphy says her philosophy at Kai is using fresh, organic produce from local suppliers to create daily menus of flavour, texture and colour. The judges were impressed with her commitment to high-quality, local produce.

Now in their tenth year, the awards received more than 90,000 online nominations for Irish restaurants and hospitality businesses this year. The awards range across 21 categories and introduced a new category this year, Best ‘Free From’, an award category catering to people with dietary needs such as no gluten, lactic acid, and the like.

Restaurants Association of Ireland president Liam Edwards said: “As an industry the restaurateurs, pub-owners and entrepreneurs of Ireland, continue to defy the odds. You strive to create jobs, expand upon Ireland’s understanding of food standards and world cuisine, all while maintaining exemplary customer service. Your support of Irish produce has never been greater and for this you should be wholeheartedly applauded.”