Cork restaurant named best in Ireland at Irish Restaurant Awards
Dede at the Customs House in Baltimore, one of only five two-star Michelin restaurants in Ireland, was named best restaurant at the awards ceremony held at the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road in Dublin on Monday.
Dede is run by Turkish-born chef Ahmet Dede and his business partner Maria Archer, and offers a fusion of Turkish and Irish foods.
Together, they opened Dede after purchasing the village's Customs House in 2019, and the restaurant has since been awarded two Michelin stars - one in 2021 and one in 2023.
The restaurant was also crowned the All-Ireland winner at the 2024 Irish Restaurant Awards, continuing their success at the awards this year by winning best restaurant for the second consecutive year.
Posting on X following the restaurant's win, Dede wrote: "Amazing thank you @restawards for this incredible award, what a wonderful achievement again from the best team in the world so proud of you all. Consistently getting better and keep pushing for more that's the spirit and the dedication for what we do. Thank you all and congratulations to all other winners."
Ahmet Dede and Maria Archer at The Customs House, Baltimore. Picture: Miki Barlok
John Kelly of the Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate in Kilkenny was awarded best chef in Ireland, and renowned Chef Neven Maguire was also honoured with the Outstanding Achievement Award, recognising his contribution to Irish food and hospitality.
The All-Ireland final of the 2025 Irish Restaurant Awards took place at the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road in Dublin on Monday, where over 1,000 of the country's top hospitality professionals, including owners, chefs, managers, and staff, gathered to celebrate the finest establishments in Irish food and drink.
Now in its 16th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards received a record-breaking 165,000 public nominations for restaurants, cafés, and venues across the country - the highest in the Awards' history.
💫Amazing thank you @restawards for this incredible award, what a wonderful achievement again from the best team in the world so proud of you all. Consistently getting better and keep pushing for more tats the spirit and the dedication for what we do. Thank you all and… pic.twitter.com/SZ7kNDKYn7 — Ahmet Dede (@chefahmetdede) May 20, 2025
Entries were submitted by the public via The Irish Times website, media partner of the awards.
In the lead-up to the national final, regional awards ceremonies were hosted in Kildare, Cork, Sligo and Monaghan, where county-level winners were revealed across a range of categories. The national winners were selected from these regional champions.
Each year, funds are raised for chosen charity causes at the All-Ireland final of the Irish Restaurant Awards. This year, substantial funds were raised for both Friends of the Elderly and Tourist SOS.
Speaking on the night, president of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Seán Collender, said: 'At a time when our industry continues to face significant challenges, it's more important than ever to come together and celebrate the strength of Ireland's food and hospitality sector.
These Awards are about acknowledging the incredible talent and tireless work of those in our restaurants, cafés and kitchens across the country.
'They shine a light on the resilience and creativity that define our industry. Behind every meal served is a team of passionate professionals dedicated to delivering unforgettable experiences.
'This year's awards have once again highlighted the extraordinary standard of culinary talent across every region.
The Michelin Star Lady Helen Restaurant Head Chef John Kelly.
'I want to extend heartfelt congratulations to all of our winners and nominees - your commitment and passion inspire us all.'
In response to his win, Chef Kelly of the Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate, said: "This award reflects the creativity, passion, and teamwork that drives our kitchen every day.
'The Lady Helen is a celebration of the finest local ingredients, brought to life by an extraordinary team that shares my commitment to creating exceptional dining experiences."
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