Restaurants in Canada
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Stash Café
Hearty Polish cuisine is served up with good humor in a dining room with seats made of church pews and daringly low red lights illuminating the tables. Staff range from warm and gregarious to completely stand-offish, but the food is consistent, with quality fare like pierogy (dumplings stuffed with meat or cheese, with sour cream) and potato pancakes with apple sauce. An enthusiastic pianist hammers away from time to time.
reviewed
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Eatery
Wooden booths, lava lamps and a neon ‘miso horny’ sign are all part of the ambience at this pop-culture reinvention of the traditional sushi joint. Bring your manga comic and dip into the giant, well-priced menu of soba bowls, curry-rice and several sushi combos, all washed down with a good selection of Japanese and Canadian bottled beers. There are plenty of vegetarian options, including some shareable platters for all those veggies who travel in packs.
reviewed
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360°
You don't need to tell us that dining at the top of the CN Tower is an obvious cliché, and it's damn pricey too, but come on, how can you compete with those views?! Even if the food was ordinary (which it most certainly isn't), there would be no better place in Toronto, if not Canada, for a high-class meal and a conversation about mankind's magnificent achievements. And the elevator ride is free!
reviewed
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Da-De-O
The best Cajun diner this side of The Big Easy, with checkerboard floors, '50s-style booths and tunes born on the bayou. Hitch yourself up to the counter and tuck into an order of jambalaya. It's a little slice of Bourbon St in the Great White North. Go on, eat to the beat, you know you want to.
reviewed
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Naam
A rare and evocative relic of Kitsilano’s hippie past, this vegetarian restaurant has the feel of a comfy, highly chatty farmhouse. It’s not unusual to have to wait for a table here at peak times, but it’s worth it for the hearty stir-fries, Mexican platters and sesame-fried potatoes with miso gravy. This is the kind of veggie spot where carnivores are also happy to dine. There’s nightly live music, an array of great organic beers and a popular patio – it’s covered, so you can cozy up here with a bowl of broth and still enjoy the rain.
reviewed
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Bridges
You’ll easily spot this bright yellow bistro as you pass over the Granville Bridge on your way here. In summer it offers one of the best sunset patios in town from which to enjoy well-executed classics like seafood chowder, halibut and chips and thin-crust pizzas – the smoked-salmon variety is recommended. Also consider a pitcher of Granville Island Iced Tea (if you have enough friends to finish it). Diners can escape the patio clamor at the quieter, more upscale upstairs dining room (dinner only).
reviewed
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Paillard Café-Boulangerie
This bright and buzzy space has high ceilings, huge windows looking onto the street and a long wooden table down the middle where diners tuck into tasty gourmet sandwiches (ham with green apples and brie; hot roast beef sandwiches with blue cheese, caramelized onions and horseradish), satisfying soups and fresh salads. The attached bakery with its displays of sweet temptation is too hard to resist. It’s a bit of a madhouse at lunchtime.
reviewed
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Mint
This loungey late-night hang-out is popular with bar staff winding down after their shifts. But they don't just come to bitch about their non-tipping customers; Mint offers an eclectic, finger-licking menu of Nepalese, Tibetan and fusion delicacies that runs from spicy lamb cooked with apricots to almond-and-cashew pesto fettuccine. There's an equally diverse menu of regular DJ performances.
reviewed
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Café Santropol
This is an iconic Montréal eatery known for its towering and creative sandwiches, its colorful digs, and lush outdoor garden patio. Its creations range from the sweet root (carrots, raisins, coriander, nuts, mayo and fresh apple) to pepper island with ham (which comes with jalapeño pepper jelly, pesto and cream cheese spread).
reviewed
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Peter's Drive-In
In 1962 Peter's opened its doors and locals have been flocking there ever since for the super-thick shakes, burgers off the grill and fries done the way they should be. It's a true drive-in, so either bring the car along or be happy to eat on the lawn out front. On a Friday night, it's a popular hangout for the automotive set.
reviewed
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St-Viateur Bagel & Café
A splendid café that serves its signature bagels, grilled or nature, with soup or salad. There are about a dozen sandwiches but most popular are the traditional smoked lox with cream cheese, and roast beef with Swiss cheese and tomato. You can also find breakfast bagels with eggs and ham.
reviewed
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Pagliacci’s
At Pagliacci’s, unlimited baskets of fresh focaccia bread are delivered to the marble-topped tables. Generous pasta servings from the cinema-themed menu almost defy devouring; try the Hemingway Short Story (beef-stuffed tortellini).
reviewed
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Alycia's
One of those must-visit places without any real draw except that it's Winnipeg's favorite Ukrainian restaurant. Everything is deliciously bad for you and daily made pierogi has a tendency to sell out.
reviewed
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High Level Diner
If you want to catch up with some locals over eggs then the High Level Diner is the place to go. It's a friendly, popular eatery, right beside the river, and a great way to start the day.
reviewed
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Go Fish
A two-minute walk west along the seawall from the Granville Island entrance, this wildly popular seafood shack is one of the city’s best fish-and-chip joints, offering a choice of halibut, salmon or cod encased in crispy golden batter. The smashing (and lighter) fish tacos are also highly recommended, while the ever-changing daily specials – brought in by the nearby fishing boats – often include praiseworthy scallop burgers or ahi tuna sandwiches. There’s not much of a seating area, so pack your grub and continue along the seawall to Vanier Park for a picnic with the ever-watchful seagulls.
reviewed
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Dave’s Fish & Chips
Join the throngs of locals strolling the boardwalks in the old fishing village of Steveston on the southern border of Richmond – a great sunset spot – then head a couple of blocks inland to this unassuming old-school fish-and-chippery. With a simple brown-wood and wobbly-table interior that hasn’t changed in decades, Dave’s puts all its effort into what goes on the plate. All the traditional dishes are here, but for something different try the oysters and chips or the velvet-soft battered salmon and chips. Great value.
reviewed
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Elbow Room
Expect some verbal sparring at this local hangout where the jokily abusive servers will greet you with the line ‘Move your ass to the table, ’ then shimmy over to demand ‘Are you ready to order, or what?’ It’s all meant warmly – if they don’t insult you, they really don’t like you – so make sure you give as good as you get. Breakfasts (including omelets, eggs Benny and ‘big-ass pancakes’) are legendary here, but the bulging burgers are excellent, too.
reviewed
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Fish House in Stanley Park
The park’s fanciest dine-out, the double-patioed Fish House serves some of the city’s best seafood. The menu changes based on seasonal availability but typical favorites include chili sablefish and cedar-planked char, while the fresh oyster bar is ever-popular with visiting shuckers. Weekend brunch is a highlight – salmon bagel Benedict is recommended – and if you haven’t eaten enough already the desserts are also surprisingly creative: save room for chocolate lava cake, then run around the park four times to work it off.
reviewed
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Richtree Market Restaurant
Inside the skeletal BC Place, this rainbow-flag-dappled market-style eatery plates up generous serves to satisfy every whim – cakes, freshly made soups, pizza slices, pasta dishes, roast chicken, fried rice, baked goods, fresh juices and coffee. Contemporary adult Brit-rock (Sting, Clapton et al) lends an air of affluent self-satisfaction to themed eating areas. Most of the pot-plants are real; the parrot in the cage isn't. There's another branch in the Eaton Centre.
reviewed
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Le Hobbit
This popular and inviting bistro on Rue St-Jean has outdoor seating, a casual atmosphere and good-value lunch and dinner specials (check out the chalkboard). The classics are all nicely done, including French onion soup, juicy duck confit and steak frites – plus Québécois specialties like elk with sautéed apples and leeks. There’s a small but fairly priced wine list. Various fresh pasta dishes and salads round out the menu.
reviewed
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La Louisiane
Montréal meets the Deep South in this casual Cajun eatery, with amazing results. The menu bears the hearty, delicious flavors of jambalaya, shrimp Creole or chicken étoufée, all armed with mysterious peppers and spices. The rich ‘voodoo pasta’ has spicy Cajun sausage and tomatoes in white wine and cream. While you’re here, be sure to check out paintings of street scenes by New Orleans native James Michelopoulos.
reviewed
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Noodle Box
Southeast Asian cuisine with a strong Malaysian influence is the approach at this buzzing business that started out as a street vendor. A great place for takeout - served in those funky boxes - it's also a chatty eat-in spot. Popular stir-fries include Thai-style chow mein, and the Cambodian Jungle Curry is recommended for those who like their meals with a spicy kick.
reviewed
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La Paryse
Often credited with the thickest, juiciest burgers and best fries in town, this smart little retro diner offers an excellent variety of toppings and thick, rich milkshakes. This place is an integral part of the neighborhood and when owner Madame Paryse recently celebrated 25 years in business, employees and customers alike sent her a flood of congratulatory emails.
reviewed
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La Maison Kam Fung
This is generally considered the best place in town for dim sum, and is especially popular for Saturday and Sunday brunch. Waiters circle the tables with carts of dim sum ($4 to $6 each) – you pick and choose from tender dumplings, spare ribs, mushrooms, spicy shrimp and much more. The entrance is hidden in the rear of a shopping passage up an escalator.
reviewed
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Lotus Pond
Behind the unassuming, almost shabby exterior of this downtown Chinese restaurant is an extensive, all-vegan menu of delights created using Buddhist principles. Even meat eaters have been known to swoon here, as they tuck into surprisingly tasty spring rolls, dim sum and pot stickers. Combo meals are the best option, as they offer an array of different flavors.
reviewed
