Restaurant insiders pick the best eats in Vancouver for 2012

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      A team of Straight staffers called up more than 100 local restaurateurs, chefs, and managers, and asked them to name the best restaurants in Vancouver in several categories. Here's what they picked.

      Best Chef

      1. David Hawksworth
      2. Pino Posteraro
      3. Lee Cooper

      Best New

      1. Hawksworth Restaurant
        801 West Georgia Street, 604-673-7000
      2. Ensemble Restaurant & Bar
        850 Thurlow Street, 604-569-1770
      3. Nicli Antica Pizzeria
        62 East Cordova, 604-669-6985

      Best West Coast

      1. Bishop's Restaurant
        2183 West 4th Avenue, 604-738-2025
      2. Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar (tie)
        1095 Hamilton Street, 604-688-8078
      3. West (tie)
        2881 Granville Street, 604-738-8938
      4. C Restaurant (tie)
        2–1600 Howe Street, 604-681-1164
      5. Hawksworth (tie)
        801 West Georgia Street, 604-673-7000

      Best French

      1. Le Crocodile
        100–909 Burrard Street, 604-669-4298
      2. Les Faux Bourgeois
        663 East 15th Avenue, 604-873-9733
      3. Bistro Pastis
        2153 West 4th Avenue, 604-731-5020

      Best Chinese

      1. Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie
        163 Keefer Street, 604-688-0876
      2. Sun Sui Wah Seafood Restaurant
        3888 Main Street, 604-872-8822
        102–4940 No. 3 Road, Richmond, 604-273-8208
      3. Kirin Seafood Restaurant
        Various locations

      Best Japanese

      1. Tojo's
        1133 West Broadway, 604-872-8050
      2. Hapa Izakaya
        Various locations
      3. Guu (tie) Various locations
      4. Kingyo Izakaya (tie)
        871 Denman Street, 604-608-1677

      Best Italian

      1. La Quercia
        3689 West 4th Avenue, 604-676-1007
      2. Cioppino's Mediterranean Grill & Enoteca
        1133 Hamilton Street, 604-688-7466
        1129 Hamilton Street, 604-685-8462
      3. Il Giardino
        1382 Hornby Street, 604-669-2422

      Best Indian

      1. Vij's
        1480 West 11th Avenue, 604-736-6664
      2. Rangoli
        1488 West 11th Avenue, 604-736-5711
      3. Six tied for third place

      Best Other Asian

      1. Maenam
        1938 West 4th Avenue, 604-730-5579
      2. Phnom Penh
        244 East Georgia Street, 604-734-8898
      3. Banana Leaf
        Various locations

      Best Latin American

      1. Cobre Nuevo Latino Cuisine
        52 Powell Street, 604-669-2396
      2. La Taqueria
        322 West Hastings Street, 604-568-4406
        2549 Cambie Street, 604-558-2549
      3. Doña Cata Mexican Food
        5076 Victoria Drive, 604-436-2232

      Comments

      11 Comments

      Moodier

      Mar 24, 2012 at 9:35am

      What no vegan?

      Charlie Smith

      Mar 24, 2012 at 12:00pm

      We had vegan content in this issue, including the readers' choice for the most vegan-friendly restaurant and an article about vegan cooking by Stephen Hui.

      Charlie Smith

      Coffee Bean

      Mar 26, 2012 at 11:05pm

      Caffe Artigiano is listed as the best in the independent coffee shop category as well as being listed in the chain coffee shop category. Isn't this a contradiction.

      dave c

      Jun 11, 2012 at 2:42am

      Cobre seems to be closed from the end of march to September.

      steve tyler

      Jun 16, 2012 at 9:27pm

      looks like you managed to identify all the expensive restaurants for each food category

      Music too darn loud

      Sep 16, 2012 at 2:02am

      Now if only some of these restaurants would turn down the volume of their awful music! When will restauranteurs learn that many of us want to have a conversation with friends when we are out for dinner? some of the Vancouver restaurants are playing music for the staff - not the patrons...forget the music..the hum of people chatting and laughing is what creates a good ambiance.

      Sandra Bachleitner

      Oct 8, 2012 at 8:16pm

      Not true of the Indian Rangoli's is very reasonable and delicious too!!!! I am writing in response to the comment that you managed to pick all of the expensive eateries.

      Taco

      Nov 14, 2012 at 12:01pm

      3.Doña Cata Mexican Food!!!!!!! WHAT!!!!!!!

      Let just say Doña Cata Mexican Food
      should not have made the top 3 list...hell it shouldnt even make the top 100.

      Justin90

      Nov 15, 2012 at 5:25pm

      These awards are all farce. Do you really believe that the restaurants mentioned on this list are the best in city ? If you are a foodie like I am and have been around in the city then the only way I can beleive that some of them got listed is either they have either paid for their listings or they probably requested all their family / friends & employees to vote for them.

      Jay

      Jan 8, 2013 at 12:09pm

      Justin90: Given that you a foodie and have considerable experience dining out in Vancouver, how about you provide some of your top picks?