2025 Award Winners CASUAL DINING AWARDS 2025

CASUAL DINING AWARDS 2025

HISTORIC DESTINATION: Petronella, Kilkenny, Co Kilkenny

Not many restaurants capture history and atmosphere quite like Petronella, on Kilkenny’s famous Butterslip Lane off High Street. Behind the cut-stone façade of a building dating back to 1602, this stylish restaurant blends centuries-old character with a vibrant modern dining experience and it has become a favourite with locals and visitors alike. The name recalls Petronella de Meath, burned at the stake nearby in 1324 and, while the story is sad, the welcome inside is anything but. Guests enter at street level to a small bar and cosy seating area, before moving upstairs to the main dining room, where original beams and exposed stone walls set a wonderfully atmospheric tone. Large gilded mirrors and soft, mismatched lighting add intimacy, making this one of the city’s most appealing dining spaces. Opened in 2024 as the sister restaurant to the O’Neill family’s renowned Mountain View destination in south Kilkenny, Petronella carries the same hallmark of warmth and professionalism, offering menus that are concise yet imaginative, showcasing excellent local produce in a mix of Small and Large Plates. Seafood is a highlight, whether a generous bowl of mussels with sourdough or pan-seared hake on bouillabaisse, while slow-cooked beef rib with creamy colcannon exemplifies the kitchen’s flavour-first ethos. With its balance of heritage, hospitality and modern Irish cooking, Petronella is a true gem of The Marble City.

CAFÉ-BAR: Jacob’s Bar, Baltimore, Co Cork

Few families have shaped the dining and hospitality scene of a town quite like the Jacobs of Baltimore. When the late Youen Jacob linked his long-established Baltimore Bay Guesthouse to the neighbouring pub in 2004, it was the start of a transformation that created today’s stylish Waterfront Hotel and La Jolie Brise pizzeria next door – and gave new life to the square. Now run by Youen Jnr and his wife Kate, the enterprise remains rooted in the same values of quality, conviviality and community that made the original Chez Youen restaurant such a success. Jacob’s Bar lies at the heart of it all: a bright, welcoming bar with large windows and an open fire for cooler days, with a stage for the many music events that animate this lively harbour town. The continental café-style spirit is echoed outdoors, where tables spill onto the square and encourage locals and visitors alike to linger over a glass of wine, a local craft beer or a plate of fresh seafood. While the former first floor restaurant has only served breakfast since the pandemic, the food offering in Jacob’s Bar is filling the dining gap impressively. Drawing on the family’s Breton heritage as well as West Cork’s bounty, its food is deliciously simple, seasonal and full of flavour – with favourites like the famous seafood platters from the original Chez Youen still finding a place alongside modern bar menus. Add in the cheerfully relaxed service, good value, and the unbeatable sense of place, and it’s easy to see why Jacob’s Bar is such a cornerstone of Baltimore life - and a favourite destination for many.

SMART-CASUAL DINING: OAR, Doolin, Co Clare

On the edge of lively Doolin village, Oar Doolin offers all the charm of a bustling tourist hotspot while enjoying the quiet of its own setting, complete with private parking. Formerly the highly regarded Roadford House, it was taken over in 2018 by Kieran O’Halloran – well known from the former Kieran’s Kitchen in Lisdoonvarna – and stylishly reimagined with the help of Ciara McGrath Walsh. The result is a dining destination that lives up to its promise of “rustic fine dining” with flair and confidence.
Head chef Cezary Sodel and his team take pride in championing the very best of Clare and the West of Ireland, with menus that showcase produce from trusted local butchers, fishmongers, fishermen and farmers. A starter might feature Hereford prime fillet beef carpaccio brightened with lemongrass and chilli oil, or a delicate clam and smoked fish broth; while mains could include cod paired with figs, aubergine and Parma ham, or a pork fillet parcel with bubble and squeak and apple relish. The mood is one of understated elegance, with crisp white cloths, gleaming glassware, attentive service that enhances rather than intrudes – and warm exchanges between Kieran and his guests. Desserts are suitably indulgent – think dark chocolate truffle cake or passionfruit soufflé – and drinks include a carefully chosen wine list, craft beers from Western Herd Brewery, and maybe even a trio of kombucha, offered with cocktail suggestions. Thoughtful, creative, and rooted in its place, Oar Doolin is firmly established as a must-visit dining destination in Co Clare – and you can stay here too.
 

NEIGHBOURHOOD RESTAURANT: Square Bistro, Lisburn, Co Antrim

Since opening in 2006, Stephen and Cristina Higginson’s Square Bistro has become a byword for quality and consistency in Lisburn. Much loved by its loyal clientèle, it’s the kind of warm and atmospheric neighbourhood restaurant that every town needs – a place where guests return again and again, knowing they will find excellent food, terrific service, and exceptional value.
‘It’s all about the food’ is their guiding mantra, and it shows. Stephen’s cooking champions carefully sourced ingredients from some of Northern Ireland’s most respected producers: seafood from Walter Ewing, meats from Peter Hannan, Draynes Farm dairy, Fred Murphy potatoes, Cavanagh free-range eggs, and the wonderful Abernethy butter. Their superb steaks from Peter Hannan are a particular highlight, but the menu always offers something for everyone, with thoughtful vegetarian and vegan dishes as well.
The atmosphere is welcoming and relaxed, underpinned by a well-trained team whose warmth and professionalism set the tone for the whole experience. From a great-value weekday lunch to a convivial evening meal, the emphasis is on hospitality that feels genuine and food that is both flavourful and rooted in the best local produce. Popular with families, friends and business diners alike, and seamlessly blending quality with accessibility, Square Bistro is a restaurant that Lisburn can be proud of and it embodies everything that makes neighbourhood dining so important.
 

BAKERY-CAFÉ: Belle's Kitchen, Rathmullan, Co Donegal

Just a short stroll up Pier Road from the harbour, Belle’s Kitchen has become a beloved Rathmullan destination for locals and visitors alike. Ronnie and Caroline Blake have created a smartly presented, buzzing spot where the welcome is as warm as the baking ovens, and the consistent quality of food and service is the key to its enduring success. Formerly home to a lively fish and chip shop as well as the café, the space has evolved into a stylish bakery-café and daytime/early evening destination, Belle’s Kitchen. There’s an easy-going charm, with wholesome homemade dishes and excellent coffee drawing queues out the door. A seafood pancake, perhaps, or a plate of golden hand-cut chips with the freshest fish – or maybe just a slice of cake and a perfect cup of coffee. Later on some days the tone shifts slightly towards the bistro, offering a more leisurely experience, but always with the same hallmark of care and quality. The bakery has quickly become a star attraction in its own right, famous for its super sourdough breads and patisserie. Ronnie’s wide-ranging experience, including a decade in France and time in many respected Irish kitchens such as nearby Rathmullan House, underpins everything served here. His understanding of balance, flavour and consistency shines through in even the simplest of plates. With its combination of smart casual style, superb baking, and honest, delicious cooking, Belle’s Kitchen is a must-visit when in Donegal.