2023

PHOTOS: The 2023 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards

Snapshots from the 2023 VanMag Restaurant Awards at the Italian Cultural Centre.

By Vancouver Magazine /

On Monday, May 15, we celebrated the best restaurants in Vancouver and the local heroes of our culinary industry. Gathered at the Italian Cultural Centre, we honoured the people and eateries who continue to shape the diverse and evolving cuisine of the city. This year, we introduced three new award categories—Best Middle Eastern, Best B.C. Wine and Best Contemporary (formerly known as Best West Coast)—keeping up with the vast culinary spectrum that people in Vancouver have to offer.

Here’s some highlights from the event—FOMO warning.

All photos by Philip Chin.

Photos from the 2023 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards

AnnaLena not only won big at the awards but also won hearts with their bolo ties
Ponderosa Mushrooms cooked up a storm at the venue.
Suyo’s chef-owner Ricardo Valverde and CBC reporter and co-host of the Restaurant Awards Lien Yeung
Vij’ chef-owner Vikram Vij with finance and operations manager Oguz Istif
Bar Susu’s wine director Brittany Hoorne with the much-deserved Premier Crew award
Yasma wins VanMag’s first Best Middle Eastern Restaurant Award
Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar wins gold for Best Upscale
Premier Crew winner Chad Clark from L’Abattoir and journalist Fred Lee
Tara Davies wins a Premier Crew award for her exceptional work as manager of the Chupito and Cantina 189
Bartender of the Year Dylan Riches
The Paella Guys stole the show with their grandiose food presentation
Lifetime Achievement Award winner Don Guthro moved the audience with his heartfelt speech
Chef Ricardo Valverde and his team from Suyo Modern Peruvian
Poplar Grove Winery pop-up station wooed the guests with their rosé
The city’s fave chain Cactus Club remains a top choice for the judges—they took home the gold
Premier Crew winner Peter Van de Reep, bar manager, sommelier and server at Bar Gobo
Premier Crew winner Steve Edwards, general manager at Homer St. Cafe
The team from Kilimanjaro Snack House, winner of Best African and Caribbean
Caffe Umbria displayed a selection of non-alcoholic coffee-based beverages
The audience of 400+ at the Italian Cultural Centre
Sommelier of the Year Franco Michienzi
Sponsors provided food and drinks
The team from Elisa with the well-deserved Best Steakhouse award
Meet the team: art director Jenny Reed, editorial director Anicka Quin, associate editor Alyssa Hirose, editor-at-large Stacey McLachlan, editor in chief Janine Verreault, assistant editor Kerri Donaldson and BCBusiness editor in chief Nathan Caddell