2023 Award Winners RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2023

Neighbourhood Restaurant, Naas, Co Kildare

Neighbourhood hit the ground running when it opened in 2022, and no wonder. Before you have eaten a morsel, you're sure to be charmed by the TLC that owner Tom McGrath and his team have put into reimagining a former pub to create a beautifully warm and welcoming restaurant. The hand of experience can be seen in the confident design and sheer quality of the restaurant, with its handsome bespoke tables, chairs, and wine display units, all proudly hand crafted by Waterford Wood of Ardmore - and graced by tactile Fermoyle Pottery made in Kerry by Stephen O’Connell and Alexis Bowman. And what a back story. Chef Gareth Naughton opened Dublin's much-missed Circa in 2019 before joining the former Kildare star Aimsir, where the French-born Bar Manager (and mixologist) Kevin Hegarty also spent time before opening Neighbourhood. It should come as no surprise that the influence of erstwhile Aimsir supremo, Jordan Bailey, runs deep, both in the overall philosophy and through consulting on the menus at Neighbourhood, which are keenly focused on supporting local suppliers. Chef Naughton has a lovely lightness of touch in all his cooking. Every dish is beautifully constructed and cooked, and there is simultaneously a complexity and simplicity that raises them to a new level without affectation – clearly pleasing guests, who not only relish the finesse and flavour of the cooking and the warmly welcoming experience, but - delighted also by the good value offered - keep coming back for more. Neighbourhood is that rare gem - an inclusive dining destination. If only every Irish town had a restaurant like Neighbourhood - Naas has no shortage of good places to eat, but it is very lucky to have this one. It’s a class act.