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As if restaurants aren’t cliff-edge businesses already, there’s been that other worry in 2018. Where did all the restaurant staff go? That is, the cook and server shortage had all but the big-tip restaurants scrambling to staff the front and back of house.

Some longtime restaurateurs eased the problem by streamlining operations, simplifying menus and going to counter service —like La Tana zeroing in on pastas, Chewie’s Biscuit Company on biscuit sandwiches, and Downlow Chicken Shack on spicy southern chicken.

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On the other hand, fine dining didn’t choke.A couple of players went big, investing in luxe operations because and there’s money to be made. Origo Club in Richmond and Elisa Steakhouse spent $5 million and $9 million dollars respectively pampering guests and standing out from the crowd in style.

Here’s our list of 10 bestnew restaurants, both lowbrow and highbrow, which opened in Metro Vancouver in 2018, in alphabetical order: