Where to eat in Canada

Incredible landscapes, famously friendly people, a relaxed way of life – there are plenty of reasons to visit Canada. But more and more of us are making the trip there to sample the food on offer. The country’s cuisine has evolved massively over the past few decades, with fine dining and casual restaurants alike making the most of incredible seafood, foraged ingredients and international influences thanks to Canada’s famously multicultural society.

There are countless restaurants, cafés and bars dotted all over Canada that are worth paying a visit to, but we’ve chosen five that we think truly represent modern Canadian cuisine. If you’re planning a visit or just want to see what’s on offer in the country’s dining rooms, take a look at some of the stunning restaurants below.

With less than fifty covers this small, unassuming restaurant in Toronto’s Queen West area might look like your average neighbourhood hangout, but the countless awards and status as the sixth best restaurant in Canada makes it a must-visit in the city. The chef, Jason Carter, is revered as one of the country’s greatest chefs, earning his stripes with some of Canada’s culinary legends before venturing out on his own to open Dandylion.

The short, affordable, frequently changing menu puts vegetables in the spotlight, with meat and fish playing second fiddle to greens. Asian and European influences are fused together with finesse and the relaxed, casual atmosphere does away with the formalities that sometimes accompany fine dining. It’s the perfect place to get a taste of Canada’s modern food scene, and sample dishes cooked by one of it’s most respected chefs.

restaurantdandylion.com

With a CV including some of the UK’s best Michelin-starred restaurants such as Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons and The Square, David Hawksworth returned to his hometown of Vancouver to open his eponymous restaurant in 2011. Ever since, he has been winning awards, wowing diners and creating some of the city’s most beautiful and delicious dishes.

Hawksworth is fine dining at its finest, with dishes such as Vietnamese lemongrass sturgeon, roasted bison striploin and Nova Scotia lobster on the menu. The four dining rooms each have their own personality, with an Art Deco-inspired Pearl Room and the more contemporary Art Room offering plenty to look at. It’s no surprise that it’s listed as number three on the Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list – the sophisticated menu, beautiful interiors and skill of the head chef has turned Hawksworth into something legendary.

hawksworthrestaurant.com

Relying on which ingredients are available at the local market each day, Le H4C has been a Québécois stalwart ever since it opened its doors in 2013. With the mission of making haute cuisine as accessible and inviting as possible, head chef Danny Bolduc uses local ingredients such as snow crab, Québec halibut and fiddleheads (young fern fronds) to create truly inspirational food.

The restaurant itself is situated in the Saint-Henri area of Montréal and is housed inside an old bank, with the vault converted into a wine cellar with real wow factor. Le H4C is particularly popular for its brunches, which include homemade jams, beignets and pancakes, but the dinner service is a true testament to just how innovative Canada’s food scene has become.

leh4c.com