AA serves up four-rosette rating as Kilkenny restaurant takes place among best in Ireland

A Kilkenny restaurant is celebrating today after it received a huge endorsement from one of the world’s most notable food guides.

The Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate has been recognised as one of the best eateries in Great Britain and Ireland after being upgraded from a three-rosette rated establishment to a four-rosette restaurant.

The Lady Helen was one of just two restaurants upgraded to the second highest rating a business can receive from the AA in their latest rosette guide.

There are just 17 five-rosette restaurant’s in the guide, none of which are in Ireland at present, Patrick Guilbaud in Dublin being the only other four-rosette restaurant in Ireland.

To achieve a four-rosette award an establishment becomes: “Among the top restaurants in the UK and Ireland where the cooking demands national recognition,” according to the AA.

“These restaurants exhibit intense ambition, a passion for excellence, superb technical skills, and remarkable consistency.

“They will combine appreciation of culinary traditions with a passionate desire for further exploration and improvement.

“There are very few restaurants with four AA Rosettes,” the guide says.

The Lady Helen Restaurant in Thomastown also holds a Michelin Star.