Bon appétit!

A LOOK AT CANADA’S TOP 10 BEST NEW RESTAURANTS

Canada’s restaurant industry got a high-profile boost this fall with the Michelin Guide’s arrival in Toronto and Vancouver.

Now, Air Canada enroute’s Top 10 list of best new restaurants is back for the first time since 2019, with Toronto’s Restaurant 20 Victoria — and its “pitch-perfect sixcourse tasting menus” led by chef Julie Hyde and sous chef Jenna Reich — taking the top spot.

Montreal’s Mastard, Toronto’s MIMI Chinese, Ottawa’s Perch and Calgary’s Mot Tô rounded out the top five.

As with Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list, which returned in June after a two-year pandemic hiatus, Toronto and Calgary had a strong showing. Three of the restaurants in the Top 10 are in Toronto (Restaurant 20 Victoria, MIMI Chinese and, in seventh place, Fonda Balam) and two in Calgary (Mot Tô and Major Tom, eighth).

While most of the spots are in cities — including Ottawa (Perch) and Quebec City (Restaurant Alentours, 10th) — two fall into the destination restaurant category. Hearts Tavern & Bar (sixth) in Ontario’s Grey Highlands, and Fox & Monocle (ninth) in North Saanich, B.C., offer a taste of the restaurant scene’s more rural side.

MIMI Chinese takes diners on a culinary tour of China, with Hunan Chili sea bass, Cantonese crispy skin chicken and shrimp toasts served with hot mustard mayo.

A national panel of experts proposed the long list of more than 30 restaurants. Journalist Nancy Matsumoto then embarked on a month-long, cross-canada trip to arrive at the Top 10.

“From the culinary vision and quality of ingredients on the menu to the trappings and team spirit that surround it, every element factored into an equation that savours deliciousness above all,” according to Air Canada enroute, which is featuring the list in its November issue.

In 2020, Canada’s Best New Restaurants paused due to the pandemic. In 2021 (the 20th anniversary edition) it featured 15 restaurants across categories, such as Best Fine Dining (Toronto’s Pompette), Best Bar Dining (Calgary’s Jinbar) and Best Farm-to-table (Bika in Saint-blaise-sur-richelieu, Que.).

Accolades in the form of returning best-of lists and inaugural Michelin stars come at a pivotal time as the restaurant industry continues to recover.

Restaurateurs have encountered many challenges during the pandemic, including rising food costs, supply chain issues and labour shortages. Those who excel, despite the odds, deserve recognition, enroute highlights.

Even in the face of inflation, restaurant visits are up by five per cent compared to last year, according to NPD Group data. And though Canadians are still dining out less often than they were pre-pandemic, the gap is narrowing.

“Things are still increasing and have been since restaurants were able to open back up in February and March of this year . ... We’re edging up towards pre-pandemic levels,” NPD’S food service industry analyst Vince Sgabellone told Yahoo Finance Canada.

“It’s inspiring to see these restaurants make their mark with world-class cuisine while also leading the way on industry trends such as sustainability and workplace wellness,” said Andy Shibata, Air Canada’s vice president of brand. “We wish them all luck and success.”