Lignum restaurant in Galway finally receives a Michelin star after an eight-year wait. Awards given out Monday night.
Danny Africano runs Lignum restaurant and can now boast a Michelin star, joining other honored Irish chefs. The awards happened Monday night and recognized top restaurants in both Ireland and the UK.
Adam Nevin and Richard Picard-Edwards also won, receiving one-star Michelin awards for their restaurants in Ireland. Zsolt Lukas, working at Daróg wine bar in Galway, won Best Sommelier award for the UK and Ireland.
Kai restaurant holds a “green star,” an award for sustainable practices, highlighting their focus on eco-friendly dining.
It’s been a hard year for hospitality in Ireland. Galway saw Ean restaurant close down this past December. Éan once held a Bib Gourmand and was listed in The Irish Times’ top ten, making the restaurant very well-known.
The owners announced their closure online, after trading for over four years, including tough times and challenges due to lockdowns. They signed their lease right before the first lockdown, and the restaurant faced both highs and lows.
Closing was a very sad choice as winter brought rising costs and weather issues. They felt the government neglected hospitality and said they had no other option. They thanked their staff and customers for their support.