The 21st Annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards went down yesterday at the Wall Center. There were lots of predictable winners and quite a few surprises as well. And as with every year there were as many disappointed people as there were happy ones. The better highlights I’ll save for the deathbed (except for the part when a high profile executive chef accidentally nailed an old lady in the head with a Nimby burger frisbee – that was just too awesome to keep to myself), plenty second-guessing of us judges, and an intoxicating array of after-parties that left half our finest rooms staffed with fabulous drunks, ecstatic winners and not a few honourable mentions wondering how it all went wrong. Results after the photos…
Restaurant of the Year
Gold: Blue Water Cafe
Silver: Cioppino’s
Bronze: West
Chef of the Year
Frank Pabst of Blue Water Cafe
Best New Restaurant
Gold: Campagnolo
Silver: Maenam
Bronze: Market
Best Regional
Gold: Bishop’s
Silver: “C”
Bronze: Blue Water Cafe
Best Seafood
Gold: Blue Water Cafe
Silver: “C” Restaurant
Bronze: Tojo’s
Best Small Plates
Gold: Cru
Silver: Bin 941
Bronze: Nook
Best Bar/Lounge
Gold: Uva Wine Bar
Silver: Pourhouse
Bronze: Bacchus at the Wedgewood
Best French (Formal)
Gold: Le Crocodile
Silver: Lumiere
Bronze: Market
Best French (Casual)
Gold: Pied-a-Terre
Silver: La Regalade
Bronze: DB Bistro Moderne
Best Italian (Formal)
Gold: Cioppino’s
Silver: Il Giardino
Bronze: Q4
Best Italian (Casual)
Gold: L’Altro Buca
Silver: Campagnolo
Bronze: La Quercia
Best European (Other)
Gold: Chambar
Silver: Irish Heather
Bronze: La Rua
Best Chinese (Formal)
Gold: Kirin
Silver: Sun Sui Wah
Bronze: Jade Seafood
Best Chinese (Formal)
Gold: Chen’s Shanghai Kitchen
Silver: Alvin Garden
Bronze: Koon Bo Seafood
Best Dim Sum
Gold: Kirin
Silver: Sun Sui Wah
Bronze: Gingeri
Best Japanese (Formal)
Gold: Tojo’s
Silver: Miku
Bronze: Octopus Garden
Best Japanese (Casual)
Gold: Kingyo
Silver: Dan
Bronze: Shuraku
Best Korean
Gold: Hanwoori
Silver: Sura
Bronze: Seoul House Royal
Best Thai
Gold: Maenam
Silver: Salathai
Bronze: Montri’s
Best Vietnamese
Gold: Phnom Penh
Silver: Pho Thai Ho
Bronze: Pho Tan
Best Asian (Other)
Gold: Spice Islands
Silver: Banana Leaf
Bronze: The Flying Tiger
Best Indian
Gold: Vij’s
Silver: Rangoli
Bronze: Ashiana Tandoori
Best Americas
Gold: Cobre
Silver: La Taqueria
Bronze: Latitude
Best Casual Chain
Gold: Cactus Club
Silver: Memphis Blues
Bronze: Joey
Best Steakhouse
Gold: Gotham
Silver: Hy’s
Bronze: The Shore Club
Best North Shore
Gold: Fraiche
Silver: La Regalade
Bronze: Gust0 di Quattro
Best Whistler
Gold: Araxi
Silver: Bearfoot Bistro
Bronze: Hy’s Steakhouse
Best Victoria
Gold: Zambri’s
Silver: Brasserie L’Ecole
Bronze: Cafe Brio
Best Vancouver Island
Gold: Sooke Harbour House
Silver: Amuse Bistro
Bronze: The Pointe at the Wickaninnish Inn
Best Okanagan
Gold: Waterfront Restaurant & Wine Bar
Silver: Bouchons Bistro
Bronze: Cabana Grille
Best Winery/Vineyard Dining
Gold: The Terrace at Mission Hill
Silver: Old Vines at Quail’s Gate
Bronze: Bacchus Bistro at Domaine Chaberton
Best Resort
Gold: The Pointe at the Wickaninnish Inn
Silver: Sooke Harbour House
Bronze: Fetch at the Black Rock
Best Service
Gold: Bishop’s
Silver: West
Bronze: Blue Water Cafe
Best Last Course
Gold: CinCin
Silver: Thomas Haas Patisserie
Bronze: West
Best Design
Gold: Market
Silver: Campagnolo
Bronze: Mis Trucos
Premier Crew
David Stanger (CinCin), Michael Stanger (The Beach House), Eryn Collins (Chambar), Katharine Manson (Refuel)
The Green Award
Andrea Carlson (Bishop’s)
Bartender of the Year
Shaun Layton (George Ultra Lounge)
Supplier/Producer of the Year
Sloping Hill Farms
Lifetime Achievement Award
Sinclair Philip (Sooke Harbour House)
That’s not Mark Shipway. It is Iain Philip.