Local Restaurants Shine as OpenTable Announces 150 Best Neighbourhood Gems in Canada

OpenTable celebrates Canada's 150^th anniversary by recognizing local favourite eateries across the country

Eighty-seven per cent of Canadians say they are more likely to eat at a restaurant if it uses local, Canadian ingredients

TORONTO, April 4, 2017 /CNW/ -- This year marks the 150^th anniversary of the Great White North and to help Canadians celebrate, OpenTable, the world's leading provider of online restaurant reservations and part of The Priceline Group (NASDAQ: PCLN), today announced the 150 Best Neighbourhood Gems in Canada for 2017. These awards reflect the combined opinions of more than 480,000 restaurant reviews submitted by verified OpenTable diners for more than 2,000 restaurants in Canada.

From quaint European-style cafés to sizzling Asian kitchens and everything in between, this list honours Canada's 150^th anniversary by recognizing the unique local restaurants that define neighbourhoods across the country. The 150 Best Neighbourhood Gems list extends beyond the traditional dining hotspots of Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montréal, with neighbourhood eateries in places like Bragg Creek, Dollard-Des-Ormeaux and Penetanguishene all recognized. Including restaurants with multiple locations, Ontario has the greatest number of restaurants featured with 68 establishments, followed by Alberta with 37, British Columbia with 22, Québec with 15 and Manitoba with seven. Restaurants from Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia are also featured on this list.

"The restaurants highlighted on this list illustrate the variety of local tastes across the country as neighbourhoods in Canada become more diverse," said Ziv Schierau, Head of National Accounts for OpenTable Canada. "From the best-kept-secret eateries to more established restaurants, this list encourages Canadians to explore their own neighbourhood, as well as others, for their next dining out experience."

In addition to announcing the 150 Best Neighbourhood Gems in Canada, OpenTable today released survey data revealing diverse perspectives on Canadian cuisine and dining patterns. When it comes to where they eat, the survey found 55 per cent of Canadians prefer to dine close to their own neighbourhood instead of exploring other areas. Other survey results include:

• Eighty-nine percent of respondents said they have a positive view of Canadian cuisine and 87 per cent indicated they were more likely to eat at a restaurant if it used local, Canadian ingredients.
• When it comes to Canada's national food, maple syrup came out on top with 26 per cent of the vote narrowly beating poutine with 23 per cent. Alberta beef came in third with 11 per cent.
• Regional delicacies proved to be popular among Canadians with 21 per cent claiming Alberta beef as their favourite Canadian food followed by Pacific salmon (19 per cent) and poutine (15 per cent). Peameal bacon, butter tarts and Montréal smoked meat were also top responses.
• Canadians are adventurous – 37 per cent of survey respondents said they dine at a new restaurant in their neighbourhood at least once a month. When asked what kind of restaurant they'd like to see open in their neighbourhood, 28 per cent chose casual dining while 21 per cent said they'd prefer a bistro.

These findings are based on an online survey of more than 300 OpenTable diners conducted between January 2, 2017 and March 8, 2017.

The list of the 150 Best Neighbourhood Gems in Canada is generated solely from more than 480,000 restaurant reviews collected from verified OpenTable diners between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016. All restaurants with a minimum "overall" score and number of qualifying reviews were included for consideration. Qualifying restaurants were then scored and sorted according to the percentage of reviews for which "neighbourhood gem" was selected as a special feature. 

Based on this methodology, the 150 Best Neighbourhood Gems in Canada according to OpenTable diners are as follows (in alphabetical order):

Aberfoyle Mill – Guelph, Ontario
anew Table – Calgary, Alberta
Arms Reach Bistro – North Vancouver, British Columbia
Ascari Enoteca – Toronto, Ontario
Baldini – Toronto, Ontario
Barnstormer Brewing Company – Barrie, Ontario
The Bavarian Inn Restaurant – Bragg Creek, Alberta
Biagio Ristorante – Toronto, Ontario
Bishop's – Vancouver, British Columbia
Bistro 67 – Whitby, Ontario
Bistro Nolah – Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Québec
Block Kitchen + Bar – BANFF – Banff, Alberta
bloom. – Waterloo, Ontario
Borealis Grille & Bar – Kitchener – Kitchener, Ontario
Brooklyn Tavern – Toronto, Ontario
Cafe Carlo – Winnipeg, Manitoba
Campagnolo – Toronto – Toronto, Ontario
Canteen – Edmonton – Edmonton, Alberta
Carben Restaurant – Ottawa, Ontario
Carino Riserva – Calgary, Alberta
Carpaccio Restaurant & Wine Bar – Niagara Falls, Ontario
Casalinga Ristorante – Mississauga, Ontario
Cava – Toronto, Ontario
Chabrol – Toronto, Ontario
Chaise Café – Winnipeg, Manitoba
Chiado – Toronto, Ontario
Cibo Bistro – Edmonton, Alberta
Cilantro – Calgary, Alberta
Cinara – Vancouver, British Columbia
Corrientes Argentine Pizzeria – Winnipeg, Manitoba
Cucci Ristorante – Oakville, Ontario
DaiLo – Toronto, Ontario
De Dutch – Edmonton – Edmonton, Alberta
DiVino Wine Studio – Ottawa, Ontario
Earth to Table: Bread Bar – Guelph – Guelph, Ontario
Elisabeth's Chalet – Surrey, British Columbia
The Elm Tree – Toronto, Ontario
F'Amelia Ristorante – Toronto, Ontario
Fable Kitchen – Vancouver, British Columbia
Fauna – Ottawa, Ontario
Federico's Supper Club – Vancouver, British Columbia
Flor de Sal – Toronto, Ontario
Forage – Vancouver, British Columbia
The Glass Monkey – Edmonton, Alberta
Globe Bistro – Toronto, Ontario
Hobart's Steakhouse – Peterborough – Peterborough, Ontario
Homer Street Cafe & Bar – Vancouver, British Columbia
Hoogan & Beaufort – Montréal, Québec
Il Buco – Barrie, Ontario
Il Postino – Unionville, Ontario
Indian Street Food Co – Toronto, Ontario
Involtini Ristorante – Calgary, Alberta
Italian Farmhouse Restaurant & Bar – Bragg Creek, Alberta
Jake's Grill & Oyster House – Burlington, Ontario
Jan's On The Beach – White Rock, British Columbia
The Keg Steakhouse + Bar – Multiple Locations (Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario)
King Street Trio – Waterloo, Ontario
Kitchenette – Montréal, Québec
KOKO! Share Bar – Toronto, Ontario
Koutouki Taverna – Edmonton, Alberta
L'Unità Enoteca – Toronto, Ontario
La Brezza Ristorante – Calgary, Alberta
La Fabrique – Montréal, Québec
La Vecchia Ristorante – Toronto, Ontario
La Verità – Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Québec
La Vita E Bella – Calgary, Alberta
The Lake House – Calgary, Alberta
Laloux – Montréal, Québec
LaVinia – Toronto, Ontario
Lawrence Restaurant – Montréal, Québec
Le Chien Fumant – Montréal, Québec
Le Maitre D – Penetanguishene, Ontario
Le Surcouf – Montréal, Québec
Les Deux Singes de Montarvie – Montréal, Québec
Leyda's Restaurant – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Local Kitchen & Wine Bar – West Toronto – Toronto, Ontario
Lola Rosa Parc – Montréal, Québec
Louisiana Purchase – Edmonton, Alberta
Lula Lounge – Toronto, Ontario
Mangia E Bevi – West Vancouver, British Columbia
Marben – Toronto, Ontario
Mettawas Station Mediterranean Restaurant – Kingsville, Ontario
Miijidaa Cafe + Bistro – Guelph, Ontario
Mildred's Temple Kitchen – Toronto, Ontario
Moti Mahal Restaurant - 17th Ave – Calgary, Alberta
Neverland Tea Salon – Vancouver, British Columbia
Next Door Wine Bar – Calgary, Alberta
Niko's Bistro – Calgary, Alberta
Nineteen XIX – Multiple Locations (Alberta)
North and Navy – Ottawa, Ontario
Nuit Social – Toronto, Ontario
The Old Bavaria Haus – New Westminster, British Columbia
Old Surrey Restaurant – Surrey, British Columbia
Open Range – Calgary, Alberta
Original Hobart's Steakhouse – Lindsay – Lindsay, Ontario
Osteria Savio Volpe – Vancouver, British Columbia
Peasant Cookery – Winnipeg, Manitoba
Pigeonhole – Calgary, Alberta
Pineridge Hollow – RM of Springfield, Manitoba
Pizzeria Gusto – Winnipeg, Manitoba
PJ's Restaurant in the Atrium – Guelph, Ontario
Posto Pizzeria and Bar – Calgary, Alberta
Promenade Cafe and Wine – Winnipeg, Manitoba
Queen Margherita Pizza – Toronto, Ontario (Multiple Locations)
Rasoï – Montréal, Québec
Red Ox Inn – Edmonton, Alberta
Restaurant EVOO – Montréal, Québec
Rustica Steakhouse at Silvertip Golf Resort – Canmore, Alberta
Salt Wine Bar – Toronto, Ontario
Santorini Greek Taverna – Calgary, Alberta
Sarpa Restaurant – Richmond Hill, Ontario
Scopa Neighbourhood Italian – Calgary, Alberta
Smith Bros. Steakhouse Tavern – Toronto, Ontario
The Soca Kitchen – Ottawa, Ontario
Sole Restaurant – Waterloo, Ontario
Solstice Seasonal Cuisine – Edmonton, Alberta
Sorrel Rosedale – Toronto, Ontario
The Stone Cellar – Perth, Ontario
The Stubborn Goat Gastropub – Halifax, Nova Scotia
Tamarind East Indian Restaurant – Calgary, Alberta
Tap Restaurant – Surrey, British Columbia
Tavern on the Square – Westmount, Québec
Taverna Italian Kitchen – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Tavola – Vancouver, British Columbia
Terra Mare Restaurant – Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Québec
Terroni – Queen – Toronto, Ontario
Tony Capone's Italian Grill – Ottawa, Ontario
Tour de Feast – Vancouver, British Columbia
Trafalgars Bistro – Vancouver, British Columbia
Trattoria Taverniti – Toronto, Ontario
Trattoria Timone – Oakville, Ontario
Trio Ristorante & Pizzeria – Toronto, Ontario
Tutti Matti – Toronto, Ontario
Two-One Bistro – Calgary, Alberta
Tzin Wine & Tapas – Edmonton, Alberta
Uli's Restaurant – White Rock, British Columbia
Uncle Tony's – Toronto, Ontario
Vero Bistro Moderne – Calgary, Alberta
Vibo Restaurant – Toronto, Ontario
Villa Firenze – Calgary, Alberta
Vin Room – West – Calgary, Alberta
Violino Gastronomia Italiana – Edmonton, Alberta
Vivo Ristorante – Edmonton, Alberta
Wellington Court Restaurant + Catering – St. Catharines, Ontario
West Restaurant – Vancouver, British Columbia
The Westerly – Toronto, Ontario
Woodlot – Toronto, Ontario
Zee Grill – Toronto, Ontario
Zest Restaurant – Vancouver, British Columbia
Zizi trattoria – Woodbridge, Ontario

The complete list may also be viewed at http://www.opentable.com/m/150-best-neighbourhood-gem-restaurants-in-canada-2017. Diners can also read more about the 150 Best Neighbourhood Gems in Canada by visiting the OpenTable blog.

Follow OpenTable Canada on Twitter: @OpenTableCanada

About OpenTable Restaurant Reviews
Originally launched in November 2008, the OpenTable Reviews program helps diners find restaurants that best fit their dining occasions. Only diners who recently honoured an OpenTable reservation are invited to submit restaurant reviews. Visitors to OpenTable can access reviews for thousands of OpenTable restaurant partners across the United States, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Japan and the UK.  The OpenTable Reviews program has generated more than 40 million restaurant reviews by verified diners, establishing OpenTable as one of the largest and most trusted sources for restaurant reviews. 

About OpenTable
OpenTable, part of The Priceline Group (NASDAQ: PCLN), is the world's leading provider of online restaurant reservations, seating more than 21 million diners per month via online bookings across more than 40,000 restaurants. The OpenTable network connects restaurants and diners, helping diners discover and book the perfect table and helping restaurants deliver personalized hospitality to keep guests coming back. The OpenTable service enables diners to see which restaurants have available tables, select a restaurant based on verified diner reviews, menus, and other helpful information, and easily book a reservation. In addition to the company's website and mobile apps, OpenTable powers online reservations for nearly 600 partners, including many of the Internet's most popular global and local brands. For restaurants, the OpenTable hospitality solutions enable them to manage their reservation book, streamline their operations, and enhance their service levels. Since its inception in 1998, OpenTable has seated over 1 billion diners around the world and more than 48 million in Canada.  OpenTable is headquartered in San Francisco and has bookable restaurants in more than 20 countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, United Kingdom and the United States.

OpenTable, OpenTable.com, OpenTable logos, and other service names are the trademarks of OpenTable, Inc. and/or its affiliates.

SOURCE OpenTable

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