One of the most influential annual national rankings of restaurants has revealed who is in contention for 2019, and the west coast has much to be proud of.
Air Canada's list of 35 nominees for Canada’s Best New Restaurants of 2019 include two Vancouver restaurants, and four more located elsewhere in the province, for a total of six B.C. nominations.
Ugly Dumpling. Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome
Previously called the enRoute Canada's Best New Restaurants, the awards this year seem to have shifted their branding ever so slightly to put more emphasis on the Air Canada part, though it is still strongly affiliated to the on-board enRoute publication.
Air Canada sent one writer across the country to try restaurants, armed with several fake names for making reservations, and with the airline picking up the tab for the meals.
Now a panel of industry judges will winnow down the list to ten winners, to be revealed this fall.
The two Vancouver spots hitting the "long list" for 2019 are Commercial Drive's French-Asian-Pacific Northwest Ugly Dumpling and Main Street's Spanish tapas bar Como? Taperia.
Also representing B.C. are Home Block at CedarCreek Estate Winery in Kelowna; House of Boateng in Victoria; Nowhere *A Restaurant in Victoria; and Pluvio in Ucluelet.
"Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2019 highlights the top restaurants that have opened across the country over the last 12 months and deliver exceptional experiences through the quality of their food, level of service and commitment to culinary creativity," explains a media release.
Curious which spots are getting the buzz across the Canada? We've got the full list of nominees below (which includes Monarque, a spot V.I.A. just highlighted from travels in Montreal).
Lamb ravioli with peas at Monarque in Montreal. Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome
The 2019 nominees for Canada’s Best New Restaurants are:
- Alma, Montreal
- Alobar Yorkville, Toronto
- ARVI, Quebec City
- Beach Hill Smokehouse, Toronto
- Beau Mont, Montreal
- Black Rabbit, Moncton
- Como Taperia, Vancouver
- Dispatch, St. Catharines
- Donna’s, Toronto
- Dreyfus, Toronto
- Flame + Smith, Bloomfield
- Frilu, Thornhill
- Grand Cru Deli, Toronto
- Hearth, Saskatoon
- Home Block at CedarCreek Estate Winery, Kelowna
- House of Boateng, Victoria
- La Petit Boeuf, Calgary
- Le Petit Mousso, Montreal
- Le Swan, Toronto
- Lulu Bar, Calgary
- McKiernan Luncheonette, Montreal
- Moccione, Montreal
- Monarque, Montreal
- Nowhere *A Restaurant, Victoria
- Origines, Caraquet
- Partake, Edmonton
- Pastel, Montreal
- Pluvio, Ucluelet
- Sakai Bar, Toronto
- The Sensory, Canmore
- Seoul Shakers, Toronto
- Ten, Toronto
- Ugly Dumpling, Vancouver
- Wayfarer Oyster House, Whitehorse
- Zuì Là, Markham
