Kildare eateries win big at regional restaurant awards
Graham Herterich, owner of Ernie's @ Shackleton Experience with Ernie's Manager, Ellen Doogue
ATHY native, Graham Herterich, bagged two awards at this year’s Irish Restaurant Awards Regional Event.
Graham was honoured with the Local Food Hero award, as well as the Best Newcomer award for his newly opened café Ernies @ Shackleton Experience.
The Athy awardee is a well-established baker who has been previously dubbed ‘The Cupcake Bloke’ and has impressed sweet treat lovers with his baked goods in his bakery in Rialto, Dublin.
In October, he brought his love for food back to his home town with the opening of Ernies @ Shackleton Experience – a café located inside the museum building, with sweet and savoury food items and quality barista coffee.
Graham attended the award night held in the Killashee Hotel on Tuesday 2 March along with many other businesses across the province of Leinster, and was shocked to receive not just one, but two awards.
“I am absolutely delighted and truly honoured to receive the Local Food Hero award and if I’m honest, completely shocked. To also have Ernie’s @ Shackleton Experience recognised as Best Newcomer makes it even more special.
He continued: “From the very beginning, our aim was to celebrate traditional Irish food while bringing a fresh. Modern perspective. Not only in how we cook, but in how we source and present our produce. This recognition belongs to our entire team and the people of Athy who have supported us since we opened.” Many other Kildare restaurants, cafés and bars received awards on the night.
In Athy, Kildare’s Best Customer Service award went to the Clanard Court Hotel and The Green Barn won the award for Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine.
In Naas, the Best Restaurant award went to Neighbourhood Naas, the Employee Excellence award went to Tom Breen of Vi’s Restaurant at Lawlor’s and the award for Best Café went to Hey Darling Naas. While Sallins pub, Lock 13 Gastropub & Brewpub won Innovator of the Year.
Monasterevin’s Woodstack Café received an award for Best Sustainable Practices.
Hartes of Kildare won the Best Gastro Pub award, and Best Restaurant Manager award, which went to Manager, Shauna Ronan. The Best Pub award went to James Nolan’s Pub in Kildare Town in Kildare and Firecastle Kildare won the award for Best use of Social Media.
Straffan’s Barton Grill Restaurant at the K Club won Best Wine Experience for 2026.
Maynooth’s The Morrison Room at Carton House won awards for Best Chef (Adam Nevin) and Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant, and Asian restaurant Red Torch Ginger won Best World Cuisine.
Once all regional finals conclude, both Regional and All Ireland winners will be revealed at the All-Ireland Awards Gala Dinner on Monday 18 May at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin.
