Batoni’s is paradise for ‘real foodies’

A mouth-watering meal from Batoni’s of Emo. (Image: TripAdvisor)

PLUSH Emo eatery Batoni’s has scooped the prestigious title of Best Restaurant in Laois in this year’s Irish Restaurant Awards, and will be competing for the national title against the cream of the country when the awards are held in Dublin on May 16.

“To win against the likes of Ballyfin Demesne and the Heritage in Killenard, we’re very happy,” said proprietor, Philip Meagher. “The judges were impressed with a number of elements, such as the ambience and decor, the furnishings and the atmosphere overall.”

The ambience aimed for at Batoni’s, situated at the Gate House, Emo, is the classic luxury of a New England mansion, “a destination restaurant”, as Philip puts it, where diners feel they’ve stepped into a dining room from a whole new country and era.

The menu is predominantly Italian with a pan-European twist, as well as classic meat and pasta dishes, all courtesy of chefs Adrian Rusan and Sorin Olinici. The pair’s expertise surely sealed the restaurant’s win, with the judges in the competition particularly taken with the fillet steak surf and turf, aged Hereford beef with prawns and a choice of red wine jus.

Batoni’s has become a minor Mecca for “real foodies”, enthuses Philip, epicures who enjoy good food at good prices. The restaurant has also started a dedicated transport service around the neighbouring towns, with a Mercedes minibus available to pick up and return home those gourmets who enjoy a little vino with their veg.

This is not the first award to grace the wall of Batoni’s, having secured the title of best newcomer in Laois at last year’s event held in February 2015. The only reason it wasn’t nominated in last year’s best restaurant category was due to its youth, with the restaurant ineligible for inclusion as it had only been open for two months.

The Irish Restaurant Awards announced Batoni's as Dalcassian Wines & Spirits and Astoria Wines Best Restaurant in Co. Laois 2016, at the Irish Restaurant Awards Leinster regional event which took place in Croke Park on March 2.

Sponsored by Dalcassian Wines & Spirits and Astoria Wines, the Best Restaurant title is considered to be one of the highest accolades in the annual awards, and Batoni's will now go on to compete for the Leinster regional and All Ireland title at the Irish Restaurant Awards in the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel, Dublin on Monday May 16.