2016 Award Winners NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR 2016

Maisons Restaurant, Rostrevor, Co Down

This is always one of our most exciting awards … the ‘short list’ is anything but - and how could it be otherwise when the establishments under consideration are all fresh and new and full of enthusiasm? Recent openings have been in cities, especially Dublin, so it is particularly pleasing to give recognition to an excellent new small town restaurant, opened by a talented and experienced team that’s headed up by a well known and very dedicated owner chef.

Scenically set on a south-facing hill overlooking Carlingford Lough and the distant Cooley Mountains, Rostrevor is a very attractive little town on the edge of the Mournes.

It's a magic spot for an outing and, thanks to the arrival of Raymond McArdle's super restaurant, Maisons, it's become a place that's earning its stripes as a food destination.

Formerly the Celtic Fjord, the pretty old house had been closed up for some years - so the opening of Maisons (pronounced to rhyme with 'basins') is an exciting development for the town, and the area.

Raymond McArdle is one of Ireland's most highly regarded chefs (and a former GCGuides Award Winner) and it is good to see him back on his own home patch.

Although he is a classically trained chef known primarily for exquisitely executed fine dining, he understands very well the appeal of informality and good value and the smart 2-storey operation at Maisons offers a combination of quality daytime fare on the ground floor and relaxed fine dining upstairs in the evenings.

Don’t miss the house speciality, a luscious Black Truffle & Bacon Soup with Treacle Bread that featured on The Great British Menu.