I attended the Where Vancouver Magazine 22 Annual Where to Dine Awards on April 25, 2018, held at the D/6 Bar and Lounge at the Douglas Hotel in Parq Vancouver. Prior to the awards ceremony there was a reception featuring delicious eats along with a stunning dessert buffet table. The awards were handed out to local restaurateurs during the afternoon event, hosted by man-about-town Fred Lee. Each year, Where magazine asks readers to name the best places to dine in Vancouver and Whistler, and 22 of the 29 awards were based on readers’ selections.
READERS’ CHOICE – VANCOUVER
Patio: Cactus Club Cafe
Chinese: Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie
Pub Fare: The Irish Heather
Indian: Vij’s Restaurant
Latin: Cuchillo
Beer Experience: Parallel 49 Brewing
Japanese: Miku Restaurant
Italian: Savio Volpe
Asian: Chi Modern Vietnamese Kitchen
Seafood: Blue Water Cafe
Food Cart: Japadog
West Coast: Coast
French: Le Crocodile
Steak: Gotham Steakhouse & Bar
European: Bauhaus
Brunch: Twisted Fork Bistro
Fine Dining: Hawksworth Restaurant
Dessert: Thierry
Hotel Dining: Notch8 Restaurant & Bar at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
READERS’ CHOICE – WHISTLER
Casual Dining: Caramba! Restaurante
Après-Ski: Dusty’s Bar & BBQ
Fine Dining: Araxi Restaurant + Oyster Bar
CRITICS’ CHOICE
Fanny Bay Oyster Bar received the Sustainable Seafood Award. It is presented to the restaurant that best exemplifies practices of sourcing, serving and promoting sustainable species outlined under the Ocean Wise Program, as determined by the BC Seafood Alliance, Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre and Where Vancouver.
Members of Les Clefs d’Or, the city’s premier hotel concierges, chose Five Sails Restaurant to receive the Silver Service Award, for consistently delivering the ultimate guest experience: an exceptional combination of food, service and hospitality.
The Leadership Award was presented to Frank Pabst of Blue Water Cafe for the impact he’s had on Vancouver’s dining scene. The Les Dames d’Escoffier Trailblazer Award went to Mary Mackay of Terra Breads to recognize her long-time commitment to excellence.
Where Vancouver food editor Tim Pawsey chose Botanist as Vancouver’s Best New Restaurant, and Hunter Gather as Whistler’s Best New Restaurant. The Salmon House on the Hill was honoured with the Editor’s Choice award.
Where is the world’s largest publisher of visitor magazines. Where Vancouver is published nine times a year, and is distributed in more than 12,000 hotel rooms in downtown Vancouver alone. Where’s editors, writers and photographers share what they see in the city they live in. That means Where readers get the best the city has to offer.
By: Richard Wolak