It has been more than 20 years since Air Canada enRoute first set out on a search for Canada’s Best New Restaurants — sending one food writer on an eating marathon across the country to dine under a fake name, entirely on our tab. Restaurants have just one night to make an impression, and we expect no freebies and no special treatment.
The annual search starts with our national panel of experts, who nominate recent openings in their regions — that means any food establishment that was up and running between late spring 2022 and 2023. Then, we puzzle together an itinerary of flights, meal reservations and hotel stays from coast to coast to coast, and the journey begins.
Food journalist Amy Rosen, who set out on enRoute’s first–ever mission to find the country’s best, returned as our writer for Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2023. This year, she visited more than 30 restaurants in 15 cities and communities, from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island, discovering the best îles flottantes, the snazziest decor and the most tantalizing tartares (vegan included) that this nation has to offer. We proudly celebrate all these restaurants for celebrating what we all do best: eating — and cooking — together.