What one judge calls “the mecca of vegetarian cuisine in Vancouver since inception,” TheAcorn takes home gold just in time for its 10-year anniversary. A decade in and the team is continuing to forge a path of creative and innovative veggie-focused dishes that have truly altered the way this city thinks about vegetarian dining. The menu changes seasonally and elevates locally farmed and foraged ingredients with the high-end treatment that they deserve. Shira Blustein and Brian Luptak—owner and chef, respectively—have also released an adventurous but accessible 2021 cookbook that serves to highlight their “root to stem” approach.
Aleph and Nightshade share bronze this year—Nightshade is the new kid on the block, and although its namesake comes from a single family of vegetables, the Yaletown haunt has an expansive menu that crosses the globe for inspiration. Aleph lays down a focused Middle Eastern menu that leans into both the flavour and nostalgia departments.
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