[O-Town Hockey]

This is inspired by a post 1ajs made in another thread.

I want everyone to list your two favorite restaurants in your city. It's obviously quite subjective, but please give a short reason why you chose the ones you did. One or two photos would be nice too, but remember this IS NOT a photo thread. It will be interesting to see where everyone's tastes lie and may serve as a good resource when travelling to different Canadian cities.

For Ottawa restaurants I would have to choose:

Beckta (http://www.beckta.com/Home/tabid/697/Default.aspx)- Rated Ottawa's #1 restaurant for 2 years in a row (2006 and 2007), it has become a mecca for those looking for inspiring flavors and world class wine. It's Ottawa's only New York Times-rated restaurant and owner Stephen Beckta developed his skills as sommelier at a number of very popular Manhattan restaurants. I find the food is very different from anything you can find in Ottawa and the service is in a class of its own....it's not cheap though.

http://www.beckta.com/Portals/18/HomePage-2007-02-15.jpg

http://www.beckta.com/Portals/18/CustomPages/IMG/DSC01556.jpg

and

Empire Grill (http://www.empiregrill.com/index.html)- Situated in the heart of the Byward Market, it's the perfect place for a steak or prime rib in my opinion. It's always a fun place to eat, with great service, and you can't forget the memorable wine list. It's another amazing looking restaurant, but I couldn't find any good pictures online.
http://www.empiregrill.com/images/splash_title.jpg
http://www.empiregrill.com/images/splash_main.jpg

[feepa]

^ Thanks, now I'm hungry

[Jimby]

Tim Horton's is fine dining at its best in Calgary.

[jeremy_haak]

For KW, my favourite restaurant is Verse's in Kitchener. It's also a bit pricey, but the food and service have always been immaculate. It is a converted church, so the atmosphere is also very unique.
http://www.versesrestaurant.ca/images/about/pops/floorplan_01_main.jpg

Apparently Langdon Hall in Cambridge is one of three five diamond restaurants in Ontario, but I haven't actually made my way there yet.

For the Bruce Peninsula (Wiarton is a bit small to list on its own), my favourite would have to be Grosvenor's of Southampton, in a converted train station.

[miketoronto]

Sometimes the best rated are not really the best :)

So here is my pick of one of the best restaurants in Toronto to eat. My parents and I love it.


Siegfried's, George Brown College Restaurant.
This is a high end restaurant in the heart of downtown Toronto that is operated by the hospitality and chef students. Hospitality students are the waiters. Chef students are the chefs. The chief teacher use to be the chef for the Queen in England. So they are in good hands :)
The menus is prix-fixed, and you basically pay around $30 dollars a person for four courses. The same dinner would run you a hundred or more in a normal high end restaurant. But of course at this one, the students only get paid with credits :). Anyway the food is amazing and the menu changes all the time. Great place to go for dinner, and also while it is usually always full, it is not well known by everyone. So its a nice different place to take someone. They are also open for lunch.

http://www.georgebrown.ca/diningroom/menu.aspx


George Brown Dining Room (Siegfried's) is located in the Centre for Hospitality and Tourism at:
300 Adelaide Street East
Toronto, Ontario M5A 1N1
416-415-2260.

My parents just went last night and had another amazing meal. My dad can't stop talking about this place, and he is very hard to please when it comes to restaurants. But he will make the drive downtown to eat at this one.

George Brown happened to and still does train some of the most famous chefs out there. Many of the chefs on TV went to George Brown. The only reason I know about this place, is because before going to University, I was in college at George Brown, and as part of the Hospitaliy course, I had to do my stint in Siegfried's also.
I have been in love with the restaurant since then.
Make sure you tip the server good :)

Photos thanks to George Brown College.

http://www.georgebrown.ca/culinarystudio/CulinaryStudio1/images/Sobeys-photo-shoot-026.jpg

http://www.georgebrown.ca/culinarystudio/CulinaryStudio3/images/chef-apprenticeship-program.jpg

http://www.georgebrown.ca/chefschool/ChefsintheCity2007/CITC2007Food/images/CITC-07-food-02.jpg

http://www.georgebrown.ca/chefschool/ChefsintheCity2007/CITC2007Food/images/CITC-07-food-06.jpg

[WhipperSnapper]

^I wouldn't call a culinary school a restaurant

[Rusty van Reddick]

Tim Horton's is fine dining at its best in Calgary.

This is so not funny.

If I had to nominate the two best restos in Calgary, the first choice would be easy: The River Cafe. (http://www.river-cafe.com/index.php) In a city awash with great new, creative, beautiful (and unfortunately almost all very high end) restaurants, River Cafe is something of a grande dame here. It is a destination restaurant, the only place I consider a MUST for visitors (not discounting "steak," which River does spectacularly by the way, and lowbrow delights like Peter's Drive In or Silver Inn, the Chinese resto where ginger beef was invented). Pic from ffwd:

http://www.ffwdweekly.com/media/article_images/216.jpg

River Cafe sources local whenever possible--they even cure their own bacon in-house--and while it is very expensive, the value is there. I blogged about my most recent visit here (http://jfmanzo.wordpress.com/2007/10/28/river-cafe-getting-what-we-pay-for-and-then-some/). I'd say that River Cafe is among the top tier of Canadian restos, period, in the company of places like West and Perigee. It's that good.

Second place? For me it might be a dependable higher-end place like Muse or Brava Bistro, or a fantastic ethnic hole-in-the-wall that never disappoints, a joint like Han's for amazing, amazing Taiwanese, Vogglio's for tremendous pizza (Colombian style- until you've actually tasted guava paste and cherries on a pizza do not judge), outstanding sushi of shocking value from Uptown Sushi, or the best fast Indian you'll ever taste at Mirchi or Tiffin... but lately I've been loving the creative and delicious tapas at JAROBlue. This place had all its ducks in a row from day 1 and it's been nothing but a pleasure. If you haven't tried it, you should.

[Rico Rommheim]

There are too many "fine dining" establishments here in Montreal. These places look nice, and the food looks like some museum piece but when it comes down to some good eatin' this place is the spot, cheap, quick and very good, its also opened 24hrs a day and offers a $4.75 breakfast starting at 6am (but I've once negotiated it at 5am).

They also have a liquor license.

It serves conventional quebec fast food dishes ( souvlakis, gyros, pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs and poutines)

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/1698/p1010129qv9.jpg

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/8374/p1010130ej9.jpg

:tup:

Hmm-hmm!

[ibz]

Somewhere near the top of Edmonton's list has got to be Koutouki - forget about the tv show and all that, the food there is amazing.

[401_King]

Burrito Boyz

[Rusty van Reddick]

Burrito Boyz

Oh sweet Jesus yes... that and Island Foods!

[clynnog]

[QUOTE=Rico Rommheim;3293771]but when it comes down to some good eatin' this place is the spot, cheap, quick and very good, its also opened 24hrs a day and offers a $4.75 breakfast starting at 6am (but I've once negotiated it at 5am).

They also have a liquor license.

It serves conventional quebec fast food dishes ( souvlakis, gyros, pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs and poutines)

/QUOTE]

Where in Mtl is this place...do they serve 'steamies' and spruce beer.

[Rico Rommheim]

^Le nouveau palais is on Bernard and parc Avenue in the mile-end. I'm not sure if they serve either but its possible.

edit: can you guys see my two pics or do they nor appear?

[401_King]

i dont live in calgary, but Shawarma King downtown is damn good

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

For Ottawa, I'd have to say Wasabi in the Byward market is a fantastic place. The presentation of the food is great and their sashimi literally melts in your mouth.

My number two choice is Mexicali Rosa's. Not the priciest or best rated, but I challenge people to find a place that makes better nachos and margaritas(according to my friend Melissa... ;) ). The atmosphere(southwestern States) is very unique and Mexi's boasts some of the best TexMex in the region.

[1ajs]

yuki sushi in the a block north of city hall in the mclarin hotel a friendly place lol with color tv's lol
little slow but worth the wait :D
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1218/1227409764_51fe607d43.jpg?v=0


and pyrimid falaful eitheopen food at sargent and young in the strip mall on the se corner
http://www.google.ca/maps?ie=UTF8&ll=49.896345,-97.154428&spn=0.001825,0.004989&t=h&z=18&om=0

[ScottFromCalgary]

This is so not funny.

If I had to nominate the two best restos in Calgary...

Had to know Furry would be all over this thread.

[Cambridgite]

There's tons of good restaurants around Waterloo Region, but I think Ye's Sushi is my personal favourite.

Located in the heart of downtown Kitchener, it has amazing food, huge selection, good service, and low prices. All-you-can-eat for $20 at dinner and $13 at lunch. Not too fancy and sophisticated, so I can go inside without feeling like a bum.

http://www.therecord.com/graphics/entertainment/dining/946152-223219.jpg

The second choice is harder. I know this is a chain (the first time I went here was in Montreal), but Cora's is an amazing place for breakfast on Hespeler Road in Cambridge. Nutella and banana crepe, what's not to love? And their sun face always brightens up my morning. :)

http://www.cambridgenow.ca/images/cd/Coras-Breakfastandlunch.jpg

[RHINO]

Ricks mediterranean grill in Kamloops
http://www.ricsgrill.com/images/black-logogif.gif

Ric's has done more to revitalize the downtown dining scene than any other restaurant. Out in Kamloops, nobody cares if you mix cuisines, so you'll find a wide-ranging menu -- among the lighter fare, selections such as a Thai sirloin steak salad; and from the dinner menu, chutney prawns and scallops, Tequila lime barbecued ribs, or citrus-chile-glazed swordfish. The decor matches the food; Ric's is a handsome place with warm wood furnishings and dramatic black and gold accents.

[vid]

You say best restaurants, and then you say you want us to list favourite restaurants? My favourites aren't our best.. and they are McKellar Confectionery (Which only has five or six items on their menu but their coney burgers are fucking amazing, and the guy that runs it is at least 100) and Oriental Garden (which I haven't been to in a couple years now) has the best Vietnamese-North Ontarian food in the city. They also make a really good spring roll.

The best restaurants? I don't know exactly. I don't eat out much. :/ There is an east Indian place on Algoma that's supposed to be good (Mama Masala or something?? Iono) and pretty much every locally owned restaurant in downtown PA is amazing. FW is mostly small fast food places and diners, etc., PA has a lot the of more upscale places. We also have a place called Wasabi but I'm not a fan of water creatures, especially when they're raw. Unlike most Asian places in town, they don't have burgers. :(

[O-Town Hockey]

Just thought I should throw in my little pitch for restaurant chains. My favorite restaurant in the world is Baton Rouge. There are 2 of them in Ottawa, a handfull in the Toronto area, and a bunch in Quebec (where it started in Laval). They have the absolute best baby back ribs in the world! I think I would eat there once a week if it wasn't so expensive and I wouldn't develop heart failure from all of the salt. Definately deserves a mention. Those of you from out West; when you visit Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, or Quebec a dinner at a Baton Rouge Restaurant is a must.

http://www.go-montreal.com/baton_rouge_decarie/logo.gif
http://www.dine.to/DineTOimages/pic_batonrouge.jpg

[Jimby]

There's tons of good restaurants around Waterloo Region, but I think Ye's Sushi is my personal favourite.

The second choice is harder. I know this is a chain (the first time I went here was in Montreal), but Cora's is an amazing place for breakfast on Hespeler Road in Cambridge. Nutella and banana crepe, what's not to love? And their sun face always brightens up my morning. :)

http://www.cambridgenow.ca/images/cd/Coras-Breakfastandlunch.jpg

I love Cora's! We have one here and I hope more open up.
The best egg salad sandwich!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/56/408874008_87a1f2d939_b.jpg

[Boreal]

Personal favourite, all things considered:
Liquid Lounge (on Corydon) &
Amici's (on Broadway)

I'm a pasta guy, and Liquid Lounge serves some of the best in town at ridiclously cheap prices. The setting is ultra-modern and the service is friendly and greats many patrons on a first name basis.

Amici's is class all the way, where they treat you like gold. It's not the cheapest place in town, but if you like fine Italian cuisine, to the best of knowledge, nobody in the city does it better.

Probably the best in town:
529 Wellington (on Wellington) &
Gates on Roblin (on Roblin)

Fine dining at its best. Both are primarily steak houses. The former regarded by many to be the best steak house in the country. Take that for what you will. Although worth every penny for outstanding food, service and location, be prepared to pay. Particularlily at the former which lies at the foot of the Maryland bridge, just a stones throw from Winnipeg's poshests residential establishment.

[SHOFEAR]

My favorite in Edmonton has to be Blue Plate and The Garlic Clove in Calgary.

Probably not the best... but I like em.

[kitchener-lrt]

That Cora's picture looks very bright and colourful.

Restaurants that are well known in Waterloo Region are the Black Forest Inn, Langdon Hall, Golfs Steak House
http://ci.yp.ca/13784654ab_i.jpg

Charcoal Steak House
http://www.radisson.com/rad/images/hotels/ONKITCHE/food6_450.jpg

Ali Baba's
http://www.therecord.com/graphics/entertainment/dining/921888-217130.jpg

I like the restaurant at the Concordia Club. It has good German food.

[Only The Lonely..]

In Winnipeg I vote for Shanghai, a Winnipeg institution and a chinatown restaurant that Vike and I are both familiar with.

It opened in 1920 and hasn't changed a day since the 50's.

The food is good, the beer is cold and as cheap as they can legally sell it.

My grandparents say it was also a pretty hot night club for a while in the 1940's.

President Clinton apparently ate here in private a few years ago when he came to town to give a speech. One of the waitors holds an autographed napkin as proof.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/7/10861500_9e2ee3417e.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2274/2172631092_c92ed908ca.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2110/2035648799_e476f9657e.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/7/10862115_a092a24681.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/7/10862187_b88806a449.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/8/10862050_a0dfde4448.jpg?v=0

[trueviking]

ha...i was just looking to see if i had any photos if the ol' shanghai.....141C is man's finest creation....20% of the reason that i have not moved away from winnipeg.

the same guy has been running it for 50 years.

[trueviking]

oh...and cora's sucks....the bread is from safeway's day old shelf and anything but the fruit cup is cardboard.....way overpriced too.

[Colin]

In Winnipeg I vote for Shanghai, a Winnipeg institution and a chinatown restaurant that Vike and I are both familiar with.

It opened in 1920 and hasn't changed a day since the 50's.

The food is good, the beer is cold and as cheap as they can legally sell it.

My grandparents say it was also a pretty hot night club for a while in the 1940's.

President Clinton apparently ate here in private a few years ago when he came to town to give a speech. One of the waitors holds an autographed napkin as proof.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/7/10861500_9e2ee3417e.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2274/2172631092_c92ed908ca.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2110/2035648799_e476f9657e.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/7/10862115_a092a24681.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/7/10862187_b88806a449.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/8/10862050_a0dfde4448.jpg?v=0

Thanks for posting these pictures. In 2000, my family and I drove from Calgary to Toronto and we stopped by Winnipeg and had dinner at Shanghai so it brings back a lot of good memories. I just knew that Chop Suey written on the building looked so familiar.

[vid]

oh...and cora's sucks....the bread is from safeway's day old shelf and anything but the fruit cup is cardboard.....way overpriced too.

You're just a lovely little bucket of optimism today, aren'tcha?

[Kilgore Trout]

when it comes down to some good eatin' this place is the spot, cheap, quick and very good, its also opened 24hrs a day and offers a $4.75 breakfast starting at 6am (but I've once negotiated it at 5am)

That's my corner restaurant! It's far from great but who cares at 3am?

My friend Ylan has a huge hate-on for the bitchy ultra-tanned waitress.

[Kilgore Trout]

I'm not going to list Montreal's "best" restaurants (I haven't eaten at most of them anyway) so here, instead, is a random assortment of restaurants I like.

Patati Patata
Nice take on the typical Montreal diner. The place is tiny (13 seats), very cheap and everything is prepared with care and attention to detail. Best fries in Montreal, great homemade salad dressing, good beet soup. They have good beer on tap, too.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2206/2092882125_2d7d07df03.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/coreyu/2092882125/


Schwartz's
Normally, restaurants like this are tacky tourist traps, but Schwartz's is the real deal. It cuts no corners, makes no compromises and has the best smoked meat, period.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1054/1339562941_b352b11cc7.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fermata_daily/1339562941/


Au Pied de Cochon
Eating at APDC is a rare occurance for me, but I'd include in here because it just gets so much right: ethos, atmosphere, food. It's unpretentious and innovative.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/60/152852581_1642e3fa8f.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/magtravels/152852581/


Pho Cali
Everybody needs a favourite Vietnamese restaurant; this is mine. I doubt it's the best in Montreal but it does the basics well and that's good enough for me. Plus they just got a new plasma screen TV and they're always playing odd Viet action movies.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2018/1817996961_1c0f531776.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/christopherdewolf/1817996961/


Halal 786
The best Pakistani/Punjabi food I've ever tasted. The second-floor location in a former Greek seafood restaurant (nautical decor intact) makes it even better. They recently opened a second location on the Gerrard St. strip in Toronto.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/1/3768917_405963ee0a.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43518700@N00/3768917/

Last, but definitely not least...


Les Délices de l'Île Maurice
Definitely a hidden gem. Tiny restaurant in an out-of-the-way neighbourhood run by a guy from Mauritius named Sylvestre. Home-cooked Mauritian food (a mix of Chinese, Indian and East African influences). BYOB, but when it closes at 10pm, Sylvestre locks the door and has a smoke and drink with everyone. Last time I went he ordered me to finish my wine so he could full my glass with rum.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2339/2117491350_d99422138e.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2201/2117492232_3009a3c983.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chefdeck/2117492232/

[O-Town Hockey]

While I do appreciate all of the suggestions for Montreal eateries, I am not satisfied, and will thus present my pick for Montreal's best restaurant.

Gibby's (http://www.gibbys.com/) in Old Montreal!
The food is great and the atmosphere/location is second to none. It's located in the Youville Stables (built in 1700's) and it's very popular. Every time I walk by, there is at least 1 Ferrari or Lamborghini parked out front.

http://www.gibbys.com/a-images/index/img_center.jpg
http://www.gibbys.com/a-images/oldmtl/pics/nosmpic.jpg
http://www.gibbys.com/a-images/oldmtl/pics/lounge.jpg

[Jimby]

Thanks for the Gibby's memories! What a great place. Also thanks to Kilgour for his list of Montreal restaurants. After all the best restaurants are the ones you go to, not necessarily the ones the critics are raving about.

[Aylmer]

You're just a lovely little bucket of optimism today, aren'tcha?


:haha:

[miketoronto]

^I wouldn't call a culinary school a restaurant

It happens to be a restaurant. You go there, they have waiters, a menu, and food. Its totally a restaurant.

[rapid_business]

/\ good to know... I'll check it out for-sure.


Edmonton - Jack's Grill and Hardware Grill (I'm a sucker for some other places though... Sugar Bowl, Blue Chair Cafe, etc.)

Calgary - River Cafe! Yes Furrycanuck is bang on... this place is great.

KW - Not too sure as I've only been to a dozen or so, so far.... Wildcraft actually makes some really good food... been a couple of times... (I'll have to think about this...)

Not in Canada, and I won't continue to list London, Prague, Kiev, etc.... but Cambridgeite's selection of Versus which is in a church got me thinking of this...

Nothingham, UK - The Pitcher and Piano a higher-end bar/pub chain in England. This one is an old converted cathedral. Seriously the coolest bar I have ever been in in my life. Google it.

[Cambridgite]

but Cambridgeite's selection of Versus which is in a church got me thinking of this...

I selected Ye's Sushi. Jeremy Haak selected Versus.

[rapid_business]

Well, there you go....

[feepa]

I can't wait for Cora's to open in Edmonton. I'm jealous that they are already open in Calgary...
http://www.chezcora.com/a/05-ou-dejeuner/5-2-avenir.htm

[Mille Sabords]

Not a restaurant, but some of the best lunch sandwiches in Ottawa are at Di Rienzo's off Preston Street in Little Italy. $4 buys you a huge schnitzel sandwich with cheese and tomato sauce. It's our version of Satriale's Meats (those who recognize the reference will know what I mean). I've never checked out the meat cutting room for cadavers, though.

[Surrealplaces]

This is so not funny.

If I had to nominate the two best restos in Calgary, the first choice would be easy: The River Cafe. (http://www.river-cafe.com/index.php) In a city awash with great new, creative, beautiful (and unfortunately almost all very high end) restaurants, River Cafe is something of a grande dame here. It is a destination restaurant, the only place I consider a MUST for visitors (not discounting "steak," which River does spectacularly by the way, and lowbrow delights like Peter's Drive In or Silver Inn, the Chinese resto where ginger beef was invented). Pic from ffwd:



River Cafe sources local whenever possible--they even cure their own bacon in-house--and while it is very expensive, the value is there. I blogged about my most recent visit here (http://jfmanzo.wordpress.com/2007/10/28/river-cafe-getting-what-we-pay-for-and-then-some/). I'd say that River Cafe is among the top tier of Canadian restos, period, in the company of places like West and Perigee. It's that good.

Second place? For me it might be a dependable higher-end place like Muse or Brava Bistro, or a fantastic ethnic hole-in-the-wall that never disappoints, a joint like Han's for amazing, amazing Taiwanese, Vogglio's for tremendous pizza (Colombian style- until you've actually tasted guava paste and cherries on a pizza do not judge), outstanding sushi of shocking value from Uptown Sushi, or the best fast Indian you'll ever taste at Mirchi or Tiffin... but lately I've been loving the creative and delicious tapas at JAROBlue. This place had all its ducks in a row from day 1 and it's been nothing but a pleasure. If you haven't tried it, you should.

I was going to mention Brava Bistro as a choice. It's expensive, but it has been excellent the two or three times I've been there. The lobster poutine, is the best poutine I've ever tasted...and yes I've had poutine in Quebec, and one of the best dished I've tasted period.


A restaurant you don't hear much about in Calgary is The Belvedere, but I've really enjoyed it the two times I've been there.

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/1050/0000pw2.jpghttp://img167.imageshack.us/img167/8820/0000km4.jpg

[Rusty van Reddick]

I was going to mention Brava Bistro as a choice. It's expensive, but it has been excellent the two or three times I've been there. The lobster poutine, is the best poutine I've ever tasted...and yes I've had poutine in Quebec, and one of the best dished I've tasted period

Off to Brava for my birthday dinner tomorrow night!

[clynnog]

Not a restaurant, but some of the best lunch sandwiches in Ottawa are at Di Rienzo's off Preston Street in Little Italy. $4 buys you a huge schnitzel sandwich with cheese and tomato sauce.

Everytime I want to go to Di Rienzo's the lineup is massive etc. Nearby, the pizzas, and desserts at Patisserie la Gelaticeria (sp?) on Preston is worth a visit. As well, for Italian sandwiches et al, the various Nicastro's in town are good (the full service restaurant in Westboro is a bit too expensive, IMO).

[clynnog]

^Le nouveau palais is on Bernard and parc Avenue in the mile-end. I'm not sure if they serve either but its possible.

edit: can you guys see my two pics or do they nor appear?

The pictures come through loud and clear. I wished I had known about this place last week when I was in Montreal. I ended up having breakfast at Cafe Vienna (or something like that) at Sherbrooke/St. Denis and it wasn't the most inspriring. I did go to a good brew pub on St. Denis with excellent lamb burgers.

[clynnog]

Just thought I should throw in my little pitch for restaurant chains. My favorite restaurant in the world is Baton Rouge.

I've been twice (Anjou and Ottawa) and I find it uninspiring, overpriced and the portions are too large. It is basically what you get for chains these days.

[noodlenoodle]

My favorite in Edmonton has to be Blue Plate and The Garlic Clove in Calgary.

Probably not the best... but I like em.

I adore The Blue Plate. It's in my top 3 for sure.

[TheMeltyMan]

Patati Patata
Nice take on the typical Montreal diner. The place is tiny (13 seats), very cheap and everything is prepared with care and attention to detail. Best fries in Montreal, great homemade salad dressing, good beet soup. They have good beer on tap, too.


Seconded. I absolutely love the food there but the place is so tiny and festering with vain pseudo-creative types.

[Rico Rommheim]

Seconded. but the place is so tiny and festering with vain pseudo-creative types.

seconded.


Although I ate there once and I loved it.

[WaterlooInvestor]

For Waterloo Region, Langdon Hall was already mentioned but I wanted to add a photo. It was originally built in 1902 as a summer residence by a wealthy Englishman and converted to a Hotel/Restaurant/Spa in 1989. It's one of three Five Diamond restaurants in Ontario along with Truffles Restaurant (Toronto) and Le Cordon Bleu Signatures (Ottawa).

http://flickr.com/photos/79049720@N00/388553059/
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/178/388553059_6681f722a8_o.jpg


Another restaurant is Peter Martin's 20 King in Downtown Kitchener which makes a really good steak.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/segaert/kitchener/00007.jpg
Flar's Photo

[zerokarma]

i will have to book mark this thread for later

[Kilgore Trout]

Seconded. I absolutely love the food there but the place is so tiny and festering with vain pseudo-creative types.

I haven't been there since September because everytime I show up it's full.

Fortunately, there is no shortage of good places nearby. One of my favourites is the Mexican place at the corner of Clark and Marie-Anne. Great empanadas, quesadillas and burritos. There's also Super Marché Andes a block away, which has a lunch counter serving excellent empanadas and pupusas, with the added bonus of clerks who only speak Spanish.

[CCF]

The Willow on Wascana

The Creek in Cathedral Bistro

Zest

Bushwakkers

[TheMeltyMan]

There's also Super Marché Andes a block away, which has a lunch counter serving excellent empanadas and pupusas, with the added bonus of clerks who only speak Spanish.

I actually planned on going there in a couple hours for some papusas, jarritos and salsa verde. ooh boy i need my mexican food.

[GoflamesGo]

Here's my list of great CALGARY restaurants, in many categories:

Italian (fine) - La Luna Rossa, 14th street and 8th ave. NW OUTSTANDING seafood, the seabass is amazing! as well the Rack Of Lamb is incredible.

Italian (pizza) - Il Centro, off of 3rd steet se and 58th ave SE. Sttuzicina pizza it my fav, proscuito bocconcini and tomatoes.

Vietnamese - Pho-Hong Viet - corner of 33rd street, and Bow Trail SW
Get #C2, haha. Beef curry.

Indian - Moti Majal - 14th street and 17th ave SW, the Vindaloo, and the fish Pataks?? i think thats how its pronounced.

Steak - Ceasars 4th ave, and 5th street SW great steak

[elsonic]

I did go to a good brew pub on St. Denis with excellent lamb burgers.

that was probably Bières & Compagnie on St-Denis corner Marie-Anne. a very nice place indeed.

http://www.canadiancafes.com/cafes/cafe447/photo2.gif

[Aylmer]

The Green Door in Ottawa is wonderful!

[Ayreonaut]

Route 40 is TVs only restaurant that could even be considered. When it moved from Black Diamond to Turner Valley a few years ago it was named the top new restaurant in the Calgary area, which included Banff as well, by the dude from CBC. Some of the best items on the menu would be the grilled steelhead wrap, and the seared bison pasta (forget which type) with mushroom sauce. It's either that, Chinese, or breakfast here.

[Aylmer]

I think I wet myself drooling over the description...

:(:)

[Rusty van Reddick]

Goflamesgo- I love Moti Mahal too, and since I live a few steps from there I must also say that it smells soooooo good. But there is also excellent Indian at much better prices at Surya and Mirchi, both in the beltline.

We had to abandon plans for Brava Bistro for my b-day tonight, "private function," so we went to JARO Blue instead. It was fantastic- get their taro frites, they're super thin and completely delectable. The duck confit risotto croquettes are great too. Five plates, two deserts, one glass of wine and one lychee martini for the birthday boy was $87, and THAT is a great deal, especially for Calgary.

[Ayreonaut]

Sounds like it was nice, hope you had a good birthday.

[O-Town Hockey]

The Green Door in Ottawa is wonderful!

The Green Door creeps me out with the massive amounts of armpit hair sported by all of the female servers....not to mention the lack of meat!

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/images/bigpot6.jpg

[Cambridgite]

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/images/bigpot6.jpg

Yes!! Maddox rocks! Where do you think I got my avatar from?

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=iphone :rock:

[BlackRedGold]

My number two choice is Mexicali Rosa's. Not the priciest or best rated, but I challenge people to find a place that makes better nachos and margaritas(according to my friend Melissa... ;) ). The atmosphere(southwestern States) is very unique and Mexi's boasts some of the best TexMex in the region.

My god, Mexi's is the Tex-Mex version of Olive Garden. I can't think of a worse TexMex place in the region.

The only redeeming aspect of the place to me is the Dow's Lake patio.

[clynnog]

that was probably Bières & Compagnie on St-Denis corner Marie-Anne. a very nice place indeed.

http://www.canadiancafes.com/cafes/cafe447/photo2.gif


I now remember the place...it was called L'amere a'boire at 2049, rue St-Denis, not too far south of Sherbrooke. Lovely beer and food.

[elsonic]

^ their beer (brewed in the backstore) is excellent.

I remember my best meal in Vancouver was a japanese restaurant on Robson - 5 or 6 blocs from the park - «King of Guawazi or Guezo or Gaziko»??

[MolsonExport]

^been there too, but dammed if I can remember the correct name!

[Ottawade]

I don't know if i would call them the "best" however my regular eat outs in Ottawa:

Ada's for breakfast
Manx for lunch
Oz cafe for a drink or the Wine bar on 3rd for a drink

And for a late night snack I head down the block for House of Georgie and Sorentos for Pizza (gravy?!?!? :P)

[Kilgore Trout]

I remember my best meal in Vancouver was a japanese restaurant on Robson - 5 or 6 blocs from the park - «King of Guawazi or Guezo or Gaziko»??

http://www.bcplaces.net/VanStreets/Robson/RobsonPics/aDSC04152%20-%201508%20Robson.jpg

[graupner]

Chez l'Épicier in Montreal is one of the most stunning place in Canada.
http://www.housenumbers.ca/LFilet.jpg

Some fried pineaples with the most tender albertan beef you'll ever eat?
http://www.housenumbers.ca/LFront.jpg


5 raw oysters prepared in the most incredible ways you would imagine.
http://www.housenumbers.ca/LOysters.jpg

[Nicko999]

look delicious:slob:

[Greco Roman]

For me, I would have to say Alicia's in the North End in Winnipeg. Best Ukranian food outside of my Baba's house :) , and of course I'm speaking from a completely biased point of view as a Ukranian :D

[Rico Rommheim]

My favorite watering hole/restaurant is being attacked by the goons that run L'office de la langue francaise....

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2008/02/14/qc-olf-0214.html
Quebec language police nab Montreal bar for vintage posters
Last Updated: Thursday, February 14, 2008 | 6:10 PM ET
CBC News
An Irish pub in Montreal will fight an order from Quebec's language watchdog to take down antique advertising posters from its walls.

The Office de la langue francaise (OLF) issued the order to McKibbins Irish Pub on Feb. 6, informing the tavern it was violating Quebec's language charter by displaying the imported vintage posters.

The wall hangings include vintage advertisements for Guinness and St. James Gate Dublin, imported from Ireland.

McKibbins owner Rick Fon told CBC News he will not take the posters down because they serve as decoration, not to advertise beer.

The OLF said it received a complaint about the pub and sent an inspector to investigate the downtown watering hole.

The inspector ruled McKibbins' bilingual menu, bar service and vintage posters do not respect article 58 of Quebec's language charter.

The OLF was not available for comment on Thursday.

[PhilippeMtl]

I tried a small 30 seats bistro yesterday evening with my girlfriend, Bistro Sur la Rivière, the bavette was the better I have ever had. The fries with the homemade mayo was also a great experience . The wine card was complete and the crème brûlée was incredible.

All of that for 65$

[vid]

ENGLISH SUBTITLES???

Off with his head!!!!!!!!

We should create an Office of the English Language and see how they like it.

[elsonic]

I tried a small 30 seats bistro yesterday evening with my girlfriend, Bistro Sur la Rivière, the bavette was the better I have ever had. The fries with the homemade mayo was also a great experience . The wine card was complete and the crème brûlée was incredible.

All of that for 65$

I had their bavette too a couple of months ago : PERFECT!! the spot is hidden, wich had to the charm.

Kilgore, yes!!! Gyoza King, correct. very nice place, and cheap.

about that language issue thing, that's ridiculous :koko: it's not advertising, it's design, or art... whatever.

[graupner]

My favorite watering hole/restaurant is being attacked by the goons that run L'office de la langue francaise....

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2008/02/14/qc-olf-0214.html

How fucking stupid, this place is the kingdom of irish people in Montreal. I went there to get drunk a few times, it was really fun with all the redheads :jester:

[Rico Rommheim]

What bothers me is that someone actually showed up there to have a drink and then decided to call the OLF the next day! He must of been tanked!