2023 Award Winners SEAFOOD RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2023

Oscars Seafood Bistro Galway

Ask a local food lover which is their favourite Galway seafood restaurant and, even in this city of great choice, chances are they’ll come up with Oscars. Together with his wife Sinead Hughes, chef Michael O’Meara has been delighting diners at this atmospheric restaurant in the lively Westside area since 2000. Showcasing the freshest of local seafood, it not only offers some of the best fish cooking in the country, but also some of the most interesting thinking about fish and the environment, as shared in Michael’s remarkable book Sea Gastronomy, Fish & Shellfish of the North Atlantic - this 15-year labour of love is out of print at the moment, so snap it up whenever a copy is spotted. Alongside prime fish, the carefully sourced seasonal dishes may feature less familiar varieties, such as conger eel and razor clams, as well as several interesting meat choices - and his kitchen wizardry garners well-deserved praise from visitors as well as the lucky locals. Charming service too, so a meal here is always a thoroughly enjoyable experience.