1. Calgary, Alberta: The Wilde On 27
An airy dining room and patio in the Dorian Hotel overlooking downtown Calgary. Global influences abound in the meat- and seafood-centred menu accentuated by local seasonality. The room is comfortably stylish – as are the guests – and the service is attentive. ORDER UP: Weekend brunch is a hot ticket, with multiple food stations (think: raw bar, beef, pastry, cocktail, etc.) complementing à la carte creations. thewilderooftop.com
2. St. Catharines, oddBird
Foie gras
It’s tiny, it’s hip and it serves the most creative dishes in Niagara wine country. These are deceptively complex, with minimal but integral ingredients. Classics such as escargots or steak tartare are on point, as are the burgers and buttermilk fried chicken. Crave something rich and fancy? Bone marrow, foie gras and lobster Rockefeller are menu staples. As with the food, cocktails follow the seasons. The scene is often boisterous and feels just right. ORDER UP: Foie gras – in any of many forms – is the perfect snack paired with an opening glass from a tight list of wines and beers. oddbird.ca
3. Montreal, Quebéc: Vin Mon Lapin
Photo: Vin Mon Lapin/ 📸 : @dominique_lafond
Photo: Vin Mon Lapin/ 📸 : @dominique_lafond
This jewel of a neighbourhood restaurant has been voted the best restaurant in Canada two years in a row. It feels like a snack bar – its easy casualness belying inventive dishes that are lockstep with Quebec’s growing seasons existing light years beyond anything happening within the city’s perimeter. This is a cozy neighbourhood haunt for those who live in Little Italy and a foodie destination for anyone who follows restaurant rankingsof any sort. Though born in 2018, the restaurant has, in the past few years, hit its stride. Wines are brilliantly paired with constantly changing daily menus – it helps that Chef and Sommelier are married. Service is direct: You are tonight’s celebrity. Get there now. ORDER UP: Everything. This is farm-to-table with few parallels – fresh, surprising, ingredient-centric, restrained, euphoric and perfectly seasoned. vinmonlapin.com
4.Toronto, Ontario: Overpressure Club
Photo: @overpressureclub
Photo: @overpressureclub
This easygoing neighbourhood lounge is a stand-out in a busy cocktail scene, featuring pre-batched cocktails on tap bolstered by a collection of signature shaken-and-stirred drinks. Bartenders are meticulous, convivial and well-tattooed. Japanese-style whisky highballs perfectly accompany a small but serious menu of flavourful treats, from grilled Chinese greens to karaage. Great soundtrack, kept mercifully balanced in volume. ORDER UP: Loaded fries are a standout, and not your usual chip. overpressureclub.com
5.Santa Barbara, California: Satellite SB
Curried Lentils with Celeriac. Photo: Satellite SB
Breathtakingly creative vegetarian cuisine in a cozy arts district restaurant decorated with an outer space theme. The scene is healthy with a far-out vibe. The streetside patio is the place to be on a warm evening, as the action on State Street heats up. Inside, interstellar tchotchkes and an inviting bar ensure a good time. ORDER UP: Curried lentils with celeriac. satellitesb.com
6. Las Vegas: Nevada: Park On Fremont
Secret Garden. Photo: @parkonfremont
Fried Chicken, Crispy Applewood Bacon, Sunny-Side-Up Egg, and Brown Sugar Belgian Waffle. Photo: @parkonfremont
A sculpture garden invites locals and glitz- fleeing tourists to an oasis of peace and quiet, punctuated by a danceable deejay-curated soundtrack. Simple fare – perhaps the best burger this side of In-N-Out – along with healthy salads and vegetarian dishes draw a hip and happy clientele. Inside is a veritable art gallery – the display of taxidermy behind the long bar rivals the Smithsonian. The food is delicious, the vibe irresistible. parkonfremont.com
7. Santa Ynez, California: SY Kitchen
📸: @bill.macfadyen
GNOCCHI DI RICOTTA ALL’ANATRA Spinach ricotta gnocchi, braised duck ragu, porcini mushrooms, parmigiano. Photo @sykitchen
A quintessential wine-country dining experience. Casual, refined and full-on Italian – chef hails from Verona – with dishes that take full advantage of the year- round bounty from the Santa Ynez Valley and nearby producers. Pastas are a stand-out, simple and restrained. In season, tagliatelle is layered tableside with black truffles. Pappardelle is littered with nothing more than wild mushrooms, parmigiano and thyme. Wines lean heavy on local, bolstered by the usual Italian suspects. ORDER UP: The spinach ricotta gnocchi, braised duck ragu, porcini, parmigiano. sykitchen.com
8. Portland, Oregon: Gado Gado
Strawberry and basil-oil laced cocktail. Photo: @gadogadopdx
Grilled Citrus Albacore Tuna – it’s blood orange dashi, dragon fruit sambal matah, passionfruit, pandan oil. Photo: @gadogadopdx
A riot of colour and fabulous music meets the eyes and ears as a joyful greeter leads you to the table in this frisky restaurant-bar in Portland’s Hollywood district. Vegetarians and vegans will find plentiful delights such as coconut tomato curry or sweet potato and parsnip pakora. Meat eaters fret not, for dishes of Chinese sausage and shrimp siu mai await – and much more. The ingredient lists are long, the flavours deep and complex, and the night vibes elevated. Cocktails are a strength. MUST ORDER: Grilled Citrus Albacore Tuna – it’s blood orange dashi, dragon fruit sambal matah, passionfruit, pandan oil. gadogadopdx.com
9. Detroit, MIchigan: PAO
Photo: PAO Detroit
Singapore Noodles. Photo: PAO Detroit
Named one of America’s 50 Most Beautiful Restaurants by OpenTable and People magazine, PAO is located in Detroit’s Capitol Park, in a space once part of the Fox Theater complex. The interior blends historic features like soaring ceilings and vintage detailing with modern design elements, creating a stylish, dramatic atmosphere. In line with its bold aesthetic, PAO’s menu fuses traditional Asian flavours with innovative culinary techniques offering dishes like sushi, sashimi, and creative small plates that draw inspiration from across Asia. Standout items include: the Japanese Caesar Salad and Corned Beef Egg Rolls, which offer a unique twist on classic flavours. paodetroit.com
10.Vienna: Steirereck
Restaurant interior. Photo @steirereck
Sunflower with curry plant, yoghurt & yellow beans. Photo @steirereck
Inside a sleek and slightly imposing metal building anchoring the serene Stadtpark in downtown Vienna is a minimally decorated ode to fine dining that, once you are seated, feels like a warm embrace. Two Michelin stars are justified in every choreographed touch, as well as dishes that are visually arresting and plain delicious. Joyful, even. Ingredients come from the farm at a sister property out of town or from producers that are also close friends. This is a place for contemplative lingering (plan three hours for lunch). Wines and cocktails are paired exquisitely with every dish. Desserts are stunning. ORDER UP: The sunflower with curry plant, yoghurt & yellow beans. steirereck.at
