THREE IRISH restaurants have been added to the Bib Gourmand list in the 2013 Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland, which will be available in bookshops from Friday.
Courthouse Restaurant in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan; Downstairs Restaurant in Clontarf, Dublin; and Deasy’s Harbour Bar and Seafood Restaurant in Clonakilty, Co Cork, have all been added to the list. The Bib Gourmand is awarded to restaurants which provide value for money – the current limit is €40 for three courses.
The three new entants join 11 other restaurants which have retained their Bib Gourmands. They are: White Sage in Adare, Co Limerick; Sha Roe Bistro in Clonegal, Co Carlow; Chart House in Dingle, Co Kerry; Pichet, the Pig’s Ear and the Box Tree, all in Dublin; Aldridge Lodge in Duncannon, Co Wexford; Fishy Fishy Cafe in Kinsale, Co Cork; the Wild Honey Inn in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare; O’Brien’s Chop House in Lismore, Co Waterford; and O’Dowds in Roundstone, Co Galway.
Good Things Cafe in Durrus, Co Cork, lost its Bib Gourmand. Its owner, Carmel Somers, said it was prestigious to be named in such a guide but she didn’t believe the loss of the symbol would affect business. “We have been open now for 10 years and we have such loyal and regular customers. I don’t believe that not being in the guide will affect that,” she said.
Four Northern Ireland restaurants have retained their Bib Gourmands. They are Cayenne in Belfast, Oregano in Ballyclare, Fontana in Holywood, and Restaurant 23 in Warrenpoint.
The awards in the latest Michelin Guide were due for release today but were posted in error on the Michelin website last week. They revealed two Irish restaurants had won their first Michelin stars: Locks Brasserie in Dublin and Aniar in Galway.
The guide said both restaurants “offer fairly simple surroundings and focus their attention where it really matters: on excellent quality food”.
The other six restaurants currently holding Michelin stars retained them. They are Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud – the only restaurant with two Michelin stars; House at the Cliff House Hotel, Ardmore, Co Waterford; and Dublin restaurants Thornton’s at the Fitzwilliam Hotel, Chapter One, L’Ecrivain and Bon Appetit.
