Fine Dining Lovers

“Hey Palu is one of the best drinking rooms in the city.” — Stuart Ralston

“Joël Watanabe is a good friend, and his restaurant is a seamless blend of Italian and Japanese cuisine. The food is very well thought out and doesn’t feel like fusion at all. It’s an effortless, perfect marriage of two iconic cuisines, and it’s very delicious.” — Angus An

“Now I live in Prospect Heights, in Brooklyn and a place like Walter’s is great, on a nice day, to sit outside and eat oysters.” — Suzanne Cupps

“The pork that they cook with the congee is the best, so juicy and nice.” — Thitid Tassanakajohn

“I haven’t been here in a while but there’s something about the atmosphere there, it’s lovely. One of the best lunch memories I have in New York was here when I had a simple crepe with lemon and powdered sugar, it was just one of those days I’ll remember.” — Suzanne Cupps

“This place opened during Covid in 2020, on a stretch of road that was being torn up in the Broadway Corridor.” — Angus An

“The best place to get modern Australian barbeque, set in a lively atmosphere.” — JULIEN ROYER

“I’ve gone back here for years because it does what it does – real quality sushi – properly and always delivers.” — Stuart Ralston

“The food is very easy going, but full of flavour, very Thai, more on the Isan side, from the northeast of the country.” — Thitid Tassanakajohn

“Candlenut takes a contemporary approach to Peranakan cuisine, presenting a refined showcase of local flavours.” — JULIEN ROYER

“I was in New York for a wedding and ate at César. Some of the best little bites I've eaten in a restaurant – fantastic food.” — Mark Birchall

“For me, the best is Phed Mark. They make it very dry, very spicy.” — Thitid Tassanakajohn

“their seafood is incredibly fresh and well-executed, and the friendly team makes the experience engaging and enjoyable.” — JULIEN ROYER

“If there’s venison or aged beef on, that’s where I’d go. Their wine list is really impressive and you feel so well looked after.” — Stuart Ralston

“In my neighborhood, I love going to Dante for drinks and crispy chicken. I live two blocks away, so it’s my last stop when I want to have a drink and some snacks.” — Jean-Georges Vongerichten

“It’s amazing and still family-owned.” — Thitid Tassanakajohn

“I love Torrisi by the Carbone group. I think it's the best Italian in Soho. I have the linguini with their clams and plum tomato on top. They're close to Nolita and Chinatown so they do a pasta, it’s almost like Chinese food. They do a beef ragu with Jamaican spices and spaghetti. If you look at the menu, it’s not just Italian and it’s so amazing. The tortellini with ricotta and tomato sauce is like a pillow.” — Jean-Georges Vongerichten

“This place makes you feel at home immediately. Homemade pasta to die for, including ‘yesterday’s lasagna’ which we all know is better than today’s lasagna. I love this place.” — Lorna McNee

“If I want to go for a tasting menu, I go to Atomix. It’s twelve little dishes, super-inspired. You can only go with two people or else you can’t even talk because it’s a counter. It’s for fourteen seats, and they have two seatings a night. We go and just have a delightful meal.” — Jean-Georges Vongerichten

“And there’s another Asian place I love, which not too many people know, called Omen. It’s Kyoto cuisine—like udon, miso cod, tofu—you know, it's not just raw fish, but deliciously cooked cuisine.” — Jean-Georges Vongerichten

“Incredible products are cooked with heart by chef James Murray and the cocktails are a great reason to go in themselves.” — Stuart Ralston

“This is one of my favourite sushi spots in Vancouver and one of the original omakase bars. Masa-san is a super gracious host, very Japanese, and his flavours are unique, with red vinegar rice that’s super delicious. They won a Michelin star last year.” — Angus An

“I don’t eat a lot of Italian food, but I feel like the space is charming and just feels nice to sit with friends.” — Suzanne Cupps

“I think this is the best barbecue in the world. It’s super casual in Richmond, with a few places to sit. It’s literally a hole in the wall, in the corner of a parkade underneath a Superstore.” — Angus An

“This one is the equivalent of Jay Fai, but in the papaya salad world.” — Thitid Tassanakajohn

“Homemade Indian food with real culture. If you sit in, it's not just your usual curry you should get. Dive into the fish and the lamb chops. You should try the tapas menu and get loads of different Indian dishes; they really know how to work their spice here.” — Lorna McNee

“It's got great energy and atmosphere as soon as you step in the door. The food is delicious. They do a wide variety of sharing plates with lots of different flavors that interest your palate and make you excited about getting stuck in. The portions are generous and a great value point. They do great drinks and cocktails and it's always my go to for a night out with friends.” — Lorna McNee

“There’s no unnecessary noise on the plate, just flavour combinations that make sense and cooking that shows restraint.” — Stuart Ralston

“Ardfern on a Sunday is up there with the best places to eat and drink in the city. It’s relaxed but dialled in.” — Stuart Ralston

“They do lots of different sandwiches on homemade breads. Great pastries and cakes. They now even have a sit-in cafe which offers brunch items. The Turkish eggs are my go to every time. Generous portions with an amazing coffee.” — Lorna McNee

“The restaurant has a very cool concept; it’s maybe my favourite in Bangkok right now.” — Thitid Tassanakajohn

“A place I would visit for refined Cantonese cuisine. Every detail in this Michelin-starred restaurant is well-considered, and the service is exceptional.” — JULIEN ROYER

“It’s my favourite street food.” — Thitid Tassanakajohn

“This place needs no introduction – they won number one last year in Canada’s 100 Best, and number three this year. Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson is a very talented chef with a really good balance of modern technique and classic fermentation who brings a lot of harmony and flavour to his dishes.” — Angus An

“They do the most incredible burgers—I swear there is a whole chicken on there. Delicious toppings and specials on every month. They do salt and chili chips, which are the best I've had.” — Lorna McNee

“Chef Sam Leung is one of the most creative Chinese chefs in the city. He’s a super sweet guy who tried to retire, but that didn’t last long – and it’s really to our benefit. New Fishport is a bit out of the way in South Vancouver, but it has some of the most creative, traditional Chinese dishes around.” — Angus An

“In London, I went to Yannick Alléno’s Pavyllon at the Four Seasons. I had almost like a wagyu and mushroom terrine – I think they grill and glaze it. They serve you a lobster with I think a choron sauce and crispy potatoes. It was beautiful. So, so good.” — Mark Birchall

“It’s great because I don’t like making reservations and you can always get in. It’s probably the restaurant I’ve eaten at the most in the last five years and I like the lunch. I dream about the eggs and roti with Thai sausage. I also love the khao soi, the crab rice, and the sundae (Uncle Boon’s Famous Coconut Sundae). It’s my favorite dessert in all of New York.” — Suzanne Cupps

“Noi is like a drinking place where you can get local spirits and very high-level snacks, but it’s still very affordable.” — Thitid Tassanakajohn

“has been popular for a really long time and has two of the most talented chefs in the country, Alex Chen and Roger Ma. They showcase local products really well, with a good balance of classical French and lighter Asian flavours, which works really well here in a city with a large Asian population.” — Angus An

“This is what French cooking is actually about: respect for ingredients, technique that exists to support flavour, and sauces with body and depth.” — Stuart Ralston

“One of those places chefs really love, with bold flavours, sharp execution and no dilution of character.” — Stuart Ralston