2024 Award Winners NEIGHBOURHOOD FINE DINING RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2024

The Lemon Tree Restaurant, Letterkenny, Co Donegal

A Letterkenny favourite since 1999, this family-run restaurant celebrates 25 years in business this year although it has been in a spacious new setting near the original premises since 2017. To the relief of its many fans, it was a case of “same staff, same food, just new location” – and that really sums up the enduring popularity of The Lemon Tree as, along with the special attraction of being so much a family affair (it’s run on an everyday basis by a number of multi-talented Molloy family members), it is a byword for consistency. There’s no showing off about the smartly understated decor – the beautiful food comes first of course, but after that it’s all about the customers here and diners enjoy watching Euro-Toques chef, Christopher Molloy, and his team at work preparing and serving the excellent modern meals that proudly showcase the local Donegal produce they hold in such high esteem. A local food ambassador for many years, Chris represented the Wild Atlantic Way in the former Fáilte Ireland Food Champions programme and is a keen supporter of the Food Coast Donegal regional initiative – a developing food and hospitality business collaboration, of which we are sure to hear more. And, as a growing number of diners continue to discover the ‘fine dining without the fuss’ that they do so well at The Lemon Tree, this fine restaurant’s well-deserved place as a Donegal legend is secure.