Nine Calgary restaurants are among the country’s best as determined by heavyweight industry officials.

The fifth edition of Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants, the definitive guide to Canada’s finest restaurants, was released at an awards gala held at The St. Regis Hotel in Toronto. The 2019 ranking of Canada’s best restaurants was voted by 98 food critics, leading chefs, top-notch restaurateurs, elite diners and food fanatics from coast-to-coast-to-coast.

Distroscale

Number 21 on the best 100 list is Darren MacLean’s Shokunin. “MacLean’s passion for (Japanese) cuisine translates to his own dishes, which span drinking snacks and ramen to yakitori. Venture beyond these offerings to the more ambitious plates and you will be rewarded by MacLean’s inventiveness and detailed commitment to the culinary traditions he is borrowing from.”

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Noted Calgary restauranteur Justin Leboe nabs back to back spots in the rankings. Number 28 is Model Milk for Leboe’s “restlessly imaginative cooking.” It notes “technique is never showy but always accomplished. The wine list is strong. Cocktails are smart and modern. Eight years on and Model Milk continues to show why it’s a perennial favourite.” Leboe’s Pigeonhole is ranked 29th. “Like its sister restaurant, Model Milk, this place is emphatically groovy, from decor to vibe.”

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Photo by Adrian Shellard / Calgary Herald

Sal Howell’s River Cafe was named twice. The cuisine overseen by chef Matthias Fong ranked 42 on the top 100 list, but also was named Most Eco-Friendly Restaurant. “The magical setting of Prince’s Island Park sets this restaurant apart. So, too, does its reverence for the environment — and its consequent commitment to all-Canadian cuisine forged from local ingredients.”

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Number 47 is Ten Foot Henry which wowed the judges for its menu which gives top billing to vegetables. “Chef Steve Smee’s vegetable-centric plates are never fussy. Instead, he enhances ingredients with subtle counterpoints of flavour and texture.”

Other Calgary restaurants on the list include Bar Von Der Fels (58), Bridgette Bar (70), Calcutta Cricket Club (82) and Rouge (89).

Toronto’s Alo was named the best restaurant for the third year in a row. Alo’s chef and owner, Patrick Kriss took home the title of Canada’s Most Outstanding Chef.