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Restaurant Awards 2009

The winners of Vancouver magazine's 20th Annual Restaurant Awards
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The winners of Vancouver magazine's 20th Annual Restaurant Awards

In a year of change and challenge, the restaurants that thrived were those that nailed the basics: great food, smart pricing, and intuitive service. Here, we celebrate them. Plus, a look at timeless rooms, the culinary godfather, and dining fads of yore.

 

Click on category to view winners:

Restaurant of the Year

Chef of the Year

Best New Restaurant

Lifetime Achievement

Green Award

Best Service

Best Bar/Lounge

Best Metro Vancouver Destination

Cover image by John Sinal

Best Regional

Best Small Plates

Best Formal Italian

Best Casual Italian

Best Other European

Best Formal French

Best Casual French

Best Seafood

Best Formal Japanese

Best Casual Japanese

Best Formal Chinese

Best Casual Chinese

Best Dim Sum

Best Indian

Best Korean

Best Thai

Best Vietnamese

Best Other Asian

Best of the Americas

Best Steakhouse/Chops

Best BBQ

Best Casual Chain

Best North Shore

Best Whistler

Best Victoria

Best Vancouver Island

Best Resort Dining

Best Okanagan

Best Winery/Vineyard Dining

Best Last Course

Sommelier of the Year

Bartender of the Year

Premier Crew

Design of the Year

Producer/Supplier of the Year

Ingredient of the Year

PLUS

Rooms that Stand the Test of Time

Umberto Menghi: The Godfather of Vancouver Fine Dining

The Unluckiest Spots to Open a Restaurant

Our Judges and Methodology

 

 

Recent Comments

Discussed

A simple design allows for easy recognition and allows the design to be versatile & memorable.
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by edevrim123 on Nov 13 2009 at 4:08 AM

The cooking is all the passion for the new taste and finding the new tower defense games is all the passion i have.
Regards,
Marie.......

by john on Nov 12 2009 at 11:02 PM
by rickmarshel on Nov 12 2009 at 12:49 AM

There’s always a funny story to tell after a night includes sweeping the Best Japanese category recently added in Milan Hotels knowing they’ve had a changing experience.
Regards,
--john--

by john on Nov 10 2009 at 3:19 AM

This is a fantastic restaurant, besides Lumiere I would say definately the top in vancouver, my wife and I recently celebrated our 25th anniversary there and the service was excellent.
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by emil300 on Nov 9 2009 at 6:10 AM

My wife and I recently celebrated our 25th anniversary there and the service was excellent. This is a fantastic restaurant, besides Lumiere I would say definately the top in vancouver.
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by JJFlemming on Nov 8 2009 at 7:07 AM

Robert Belcham (best chef award) is a genius. I have been following his 'work of arts' on a plate for many years. This award is truly deserved to be in his posession.
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by Rocko22 on Nov 5 2009 at 6:00 PM

A quantity of the best restaurants, of course, have feet in both camps, looking at the job of their family and paying close heed to growers and the land, while using the latest tech and techniques to explain their best qualities to the table as plainly as likely. The very best do it invisibly.

Maria J.
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by MariaS on Oct 30 2009 at 5:50 AM

Investment in fine wine has attracted fraudsters who prey on their victims' ignorance of this sector of the wine market. Wine fraudsters often work by charging excessively high prices for off-vintage or lower-status wines from famous wine regions, while claiming that they are offering a sound investment unaffected by economic cycles. Like any investment, proper research is essential before investing.

Thanks,
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by jnsseo on Oct 29 2009 at 1:03 AM
by 4insure on Oct 22 2009 at 8:18 PM
by rickmarshel on Oct 20 2009 at 11:29 PM
by rickmarshel on Oct 20 2009 at 11:24 PM

congrats to all the winners.....this restaurant is awesome along with the service they provide..im so glad to see the winners list...once again thanks for sharing the views with us.New York office space

by saada on Oct 16 2009 at 12:17 AM

How would a wine maker produce a sweet wine. A dry wine?

Thanks,
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by suzain123 on Oct 14 2009 at 9:14 PM

I think that the restaurant of the year award should have gone to LIFT. This is a fantastic restaurant. Every time i eat there seeing the view is fantastic. Not to mention how great the food is. And every other time im there i see some of our local hockey playing canucks there as well (although i wont mention any names) =)

John Gold
Scrap Gold Vancouver

by john gold on Oct 12 2009 at 11:22 AM

Honoring the best restaurants is a great way of recognizing the stupendous work done by them. Surely all the restaurants that have been shortlisted for the awards must be the best in the business so even if they do not win the prize in a particular category it does not mean they are not good, they all are winners.

Keith,

Food Delivery

by Keith Russel on Oct 3 2009 at 1:05 AM

This is the tenth consecutive time that it has been held. This time Bacchus at the Wedgewood has been recognized as the best Bar and Lounge on Vancouver by the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards.
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by mobilenter4 on Sep 29 2009 at 7:42 AM

Ahh the good life!

Thanks for the extensive list!

I'll definetely check each and every one of 'em.

I've been to Le Crocodile and i liked it.

The one that blew me away is Stromboly.

Excellent service.

---
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by csorenson on Sep 25 2009 at 5:22 AM

Nice article......I m planning to open new restaurant , I m sure this blog will helpful for me.....
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by steven00 on Sep 15 2009 at 3:39 AM

What are the government documents and licenses that I would require to open a restaurant?
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by steven00 on Sep 15 2009 at 3:35 AM

Hi,

Who can a person contact to haul away a big container of grease from a fastfood restaraunt???

Australian wine

by qazik on Sep 10 2009 at 9:07 PM

Really? Les Faux Bourgeois? I was actually super-disappointed with them. Maybe it was an off night, but the service wasn't great, there was blood on my bread plate, and the food was only okay. Granted, the price was right, and it was trendy, but price alone shouldn't be enough to attract business, and the whole experience just didn't live up to the hype. However, La Quercia was tremendous. So, good call there.

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by emvandee on Aug 18 2009 at 9:06 AM

For formal french dining in downtown vancouver Le Crocodile is fantastic, very intimate atmosphere, excellent food and a great selection of wines. They also had an amazing chocolate mousse the last time i was there,

regards,
JR
Vancouver Limo

by vancouver-limo on Aug 11 2009 at 10:22 PM

Thanks, JR. Here's the link to Hapa Izakaya. And here's a link to a round-up of 11 izakayas in Vancouver.

by vanmag on Jul 6 2009 at 11:21 AM

My personal favorite for japanese would have to be hapa izakaya on Robson street, fantastic service ( even although it takes time to get a table sometimes ) the food is fantastic , ive noticed they use alot if not all chiefs from japan, and just generally a nice atmosphere.

Regards,
JR Kavanagh
Vancouver Limo

follow me on www.twitter.com/vancouverlimo for more dining experiences!

by JR Kavanagh on Jun 30 2009 at 10:18 PM

Vancouver BC has some of my favorite restaurants, i am from the east coast and travel there each winter to see family and go skiing. I can't say enough good things about the city i am just in love with it. We sell restaurant equipment and have worked with a number of local places even a few in this article.

by mikese on Jun 2 2009 at 10:37 AM

This is a fantastic restaurant, besides Lumiere I would say definately the top in vancouver, my wife and I recently celebrated our 25th anniversary there and the service was excellent.

JR Kavanagh
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by vancouver-limousine on May 22 2009 at 7:13 AM