Restaurant of the Year 2009

Gold: Cioppino’s/Enoteca

Silver: Blue Water Cafe
Bronze: West
Honourable Mention: C & Vij’s

Bold, hearty flavours are the hallmark of Yaletown’s Cioppino’s (Gold), where chef Pino Posteraro’s pastas are always stellar (“pappardelle with four-hour-braised veal cheeks and porcini mushrooms will make you weep,” said one judge) and his succulent, spit-roasted duck breast with candied-orange reduction is cooked to juicy perfection. A stomping ground for Canucks, politicos, and corporate players, Posteraro’s room also caters private events for visiting celebs like Bill Clinton. At Blue Water Cafe (Silver), Frank Pabst’s remarkable menu, creative sushi by Yoshi Tabo, and a wine list with amazing depth expertly navigated by Chris van Nus, all contribute to a top-drawer experience. Of West (Bronze), one critic said: “Transitioning between chefs is never easy. Retaining all aspects of West’s superb service and ambiance, Warren Geraghty has not only carried the mantle, but has done so under close scrutiny and with great regional flair.” Honourable Mentions to C (“chef Quang Dang is a magician in the kitchen”) and Vij’s (“a room that, remarkably, never fails to thrill”).