Karl Rennicks and Justine Norton from The Central receiving their gastropub award from Marie Tumilty of Santa Rita and Padraig Gallagher of the RAI.

Six local eateries in restaurant awards

Six Meath restaurants celebrated their success at the Leinster Regional Irish Restaurant Awards, and will now go on to represent their county for the national titles at the All-Ireland at Santa Rita/ LIFE Magazine Irish Restaurant Awards 2013.

The All-Ireland Santa Rita/LIFE Magazine Irish Restaurant Awards will take place on Monday, 10th June in The Burlington Hotel, Dublin, to name and fame the top restaurants in the island of Ireland for 2013. The night will see and expected crowd of up to 800 fellow restaurant owners, staff and industry experts gather in The Burlington Hotel to celebrate their hard work and achievements in the run up to the coveted Awards.

Nominated across six categories, restaurants from Meath will face competition in a pool of 32 county award winners and a shortlist of Dublin restaurants in each category, sponsored by Santa Rita, Faustino, Joseph Drouhin, Pallas Foods and Tipperary Water.

The Meath nominations are: Best Customer Service in Ireland - Conyngham Arms, Slane; Faustino Best Gastro Pub in Ireland - The Central, Navan; Joseph Drouhin Best Casual Dining in Ireland  - La Bucca; Pallas Foods Best Hotel Restaurant in Ireland  - Brabazon Restaurant at Tankardstown House, Stackallen;   Tipperary Water Best Chef in Ireland - Paul McCullagh of Zucchinis; Santa Rita Best Restaurant in Ireland  - Zucchinis.

The awards recognise achievement and excellence in the restaurant and hospitality industry throughout the 32 counties of the Island of Ireland in 21 categories and celebrate all aspects of the Industry from chefs and restaurants, cafes and gastro pubs, to food producers, local food heroes and cookery schools.

Nominations for the awards are made by readers of the Sunday Independent LIFE Magazine and members of the Restaurants Association of Ireland.