Gold: Elio Volpe
The newest edition to the Banda Volpi Group’s extraordinary catalogue of restaurants (Pepino’s, Caffè La Tana) came out swinging this past year. Cambie Village hot spot Elio Volpe secured gold with its casual-yet-refined coastal Italian cuisine. One judge said it all in one word: “Exceptional.” The chewy-yet-crisp crust of the restaurant’s famed wood-fired pizza stands up to the weight of an array of toppings (like a mountain of lambrusco onions, squash and burrata) while the expertly cooked pasta (like the spaghetti alle vongole that features bouncy calamari in addition to bivalves) is enough to get the top eaters in the city to drop their jaws in awe. Shared plates like a crackling-crisp branzino and arancini bursting with artichoke hearts make the restaurant ideal for groups, while the bustling bar area establishes a fantastic environment for a solo meal.
540 W 17th Ave.
eliovolpe.com
Silver: CinCin
CinCin is a longstanding vet of our awards and proof that consistency is a necessity when it comes to mastering cuisine. It grabs silver this year thanks to its wood-fired proteins (the Alberta lamb rack is a standout) and delicate handmade pastas (the rigatoni with stracciatella an example of true Italian-style simplicity).
1154 Robson St.
cincin.net
Bronze: La Quercia and L’Ufficio
Bronze goes to La Quercia and L’Ufficio for their authentic lesser-seen dishes like tripe on toast and strangolapreti (a gnudi-like pasta) served with smoked ricotta and brown butter.
3689 W 4th Ave.
laquercia.ca
Honourable Mentions
Giardino
1328 Hornby St.
umberto.com/giardino
Savio Volpe
615 Kingsway
saviovolpe.com
