Restaurants in Canada
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A
Blethering Place
The name means 'voluble, senseless talking' but don't act like a blethering idiot at this traditional tearoom.
reviewed
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B
Giorgio's Cucina
The best place in town for Italian has creative specials. The semi-open kitchen flames things up and the steaks are prime. Portions are mother lode size – make certain your room has a fridge.
reviewed
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C
Gusto
Go for the Gusto and enjoy a hearty Italian meal between trickling fountains and a cavernous wine cellar. The effervescent ambience falls somewhere between 'modern trattoria' and 'medieval Tuscan villa.'
reviewed
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D
Sweetgrass Aboriginal Bistro
Usually, you would have to travel to a distant reservation to sample bannock, corn soup or elk. This unique aboriginal kitchen will save you that grueling $200 train ride, so why not leave an extra-big tip.
reviewed
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E
Casbah
Fun, sassy waiters serve fun, sassy food in colorful Casbah. They keep everyone happy by offering small, medium and large plates, which might contain maple-roasted pumpkin soup or halibut burger with wasabi mayo.
reviewed
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F
New Dubrovnik
Try something different at this quaint family-owned Croatian restaurant south of downtown. Sample a variety of Eastern European favorites like Dalmatian veal, a lightly breaded escalope served with ham, cheese and fresh vegetable sauce.
reviewed
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G
Fireside Bistro
Stationed on a quiet suburban street, this converted Victorian former guesthouse has style. Steaks, pasta and seafood highlight the broad menu; outside on the superb patio you can enjoy casual fare like fine burgers. Don't forget to ask about the ghost.
reviewed
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H
Phayathai
Although the jury is out on who serves the city’s best Thai food, this elegant little restaurant on Laurier is a strong contender. It’s hard to go wrong with anything on the menu, with delicious and flavorful seafood soup, tender roasted duck and whole red snapper basted in red chili.
reviewed
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I
Bison
At street level this chic restaurant has an upscale deli serving exquisite little sandwiches and other gourmet treats. Upstairs the bright and airy dining room overlooks both the peaks and an open kitchen. Wood-fired pizzas are tops, as are boldly flavored seafood and meat mains. Many specials.
reviewed
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J
Wanda's Pie in the Sky
Be prepared for flexibility when ordering, since daily specials advertising a healthy half-sandwich with soup or salad ($7) sell out faster than you can get in the door. A sugar rush is guaranteed by one of Wanda's fantastical dessert creations, maybe a slice of Ontario sour cherry or Niagara peach pie.
reviewed
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K
Il Mulino
Arguably the best Italian restaurant in town. This family-style restaurant is low-key and homey with old black-and-white photos on the walls. Lamb chops are the house specialty and the vegetarian starter plate with sautéed peppers and olives, stuffed eggplant and grilled mushrooms is still considered a classic.
reviewed
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L
La Gargote
An Old Montréal standard, this bistro pumps along with quality bistro fare served in a cozy dining room with stone walls and beamed ceilings. There’s nothing particularly inventive about the menu, but the fresh salads, grilled meats and crème brûlée are hard to fault. Good people-watching from the outdoor tables in summer.
reviewed
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M
Jano
The scent of charcoal-grilled meats and seafood lingers in the air at this welcoming, family-friendly Portuguese restaurant. The menu features straightforward selections of fresh fish, pork and steak, all grilled to choice tenderness. Warm colors, small tables and a buzzing atmosphere draw in the crowds, particularly on weekends, when waits can be long.
reviewed
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N
Le Grain de Riz
A foodie favorite, this Western-Asian fusion restaurant lies just off Rue St-Joseph. Creative twists on Vietnamese and Chinese dishes appear in menu items like chicken with Earl Grey cream sauce served on couscous, or coconut shrimp with mango salsa. Helpful staff give tips on navigating the complex menu flavors. The attached store sells imported rice and tea.
reviewed
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O
Café le Sultan
This warm, cozy café is head and shoulders above the normal, soulless Lebanese fast-food restaurant. There are hookah pipes in the windows, music playing in the background, oriental tapestries and tiny tables. The service isn’t particularly friendly but the atmosphere is terrific. Try the merguez (spicy lamb sausage), falafel or the leg of lamb.
reviewed
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P
Glow World Cuisine
Occupying a handsome old brick fire hall building, the dark tones and mood lighting at Glow create a mysterious and secluded atmosphere. The adventurous menu combines traditional meat and seafood dishes with international influences (especially Asian) and local ingredients. Drop by for the Sunday brunch, an around C$21 smorgasbord of Western and Asian breakfast treats.
reviewed
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Q
Oh! Pino
One of the most authentic French bistros in town, the elegantly set Oh! Pino attracts a well-heeled, slightly older crowd that comes for tasty bouillabaisse, grilled filet mignon or roasted scallops in pear sauce with leek fondue; Oh! Pino also offers more than 20 different mussel dishes. The roomy terrace in front is a fine spot for people-watching. Thursday nights feature a live accordionist, to help give the place that Rive Gauche (Left Bank) feel.
reviewed
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R
Samba Brazilian Steakhouse
In a city with plenty of boring North American steak joints, this unusual subterranean gem is recommended, especially if you’re a blood-sucking carnivore. Despite the uninspiring family-restaurant interior and large but oft-ignored salad bar, diners come here to gorge on meat, including beef, lamb and ostrich – all served in a kitschy manner from swords wielded by wandering waiters. It’s all-you-can-eat and there’s a regular side dish of Brazilian dancers on most evenings.
reviewed
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S
Café Krieghoff
This brilliant little resto is a city classic, with a varied bistro menu, extensive breakfast choices and some of the best coffee in town. If it’s warm, you can watch the comings and goings on Ave Cartier from a table on the massive front porch, or head to the laid-back terrace out back. Inside, the dining room is decorated with reproductions from the café’s namesake artist, Cornelius Krieghoff (1815–72), one of Québec’s master painters of the 20th century, who lived just down the street from here on Grande Allée.
reviewed
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T
21 Steps Kitchen & Bar
With small plates for nibblers, the main dishes at this cozy upstairs spot have a high-end comfort-food approach. Not a great place for vegetarians – unless you like stuffed Portobello mushroom – with steak, chops and seafood featuring heavily. Check out the great attic bar, a Whistlerite favorite.
reviewed
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U
Araxi Restaurant & Lounge
Whistler's best splurge restaurant, Araxi chefs up an inventive and exquisite Pacific Northwest menu plus charming and courteous service. Try the BC halibut and drain the 15,000-bottle wine selection but save room for a dessert: a regional cheese plate or the amazing Okanagan apple cheesecake…or both.
reviewed
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V
Bison Mountain Bistro
The Bison might look like it's full of trendy, well-off Calgarians dressed in expensive hiking gear, but its prices are actually very reasonable (nothing over $20). And rather than saturating the menu in AAA Alberta beef, there are big salads here and weird starch-heavy pizzas with butternut squash and rosemary potato toppings. The modern decor is set off by an outdoor patio and ground-floor boutique deli that serves up gourmet cheese and other such delights.
reviewed
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W
St-Viateur Bagel
Currently the bagel favorite of Montréal, St-Viateur Bagel has a reputation stretching across Canada and beyond for its perfectly crusty, chewy and slightly sweet creations – check out the newspaper articles from around the world.
reviewed
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Cheap Appetite
reviewed
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X
RauDZ
Noted chef Rod Butters returns with this casual bistro that is a temple to Okanagan produce and wine. The dining room is as airy and open as the kitchen and the seasonal menu takes global inspiration for Med-infused dishes good for sharing, as well as steaks and seafood. Suppliers include locally renowned Carmelis goat cheese.
reviewed