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People eat with their eyes.
From the visual presentation of the food on the plate to a restaurant's decor,
these visual cues add to the dining experience. All across Canada,
top restaurants excel in these departments and several take that visual component
to the next level--literally. Some of Canada's noted restaurants are positioned
high above city skylines, while some lie quietly along peaceful waters, and
some surrounded by nature, all providing magnificent views of the sea and urban
landscapes.
Starting on the West Coast
with Vancouver's waterfront,
crossing through the prairies and into the Rockies,
and then stretching eastward to Canada's entertainment and cultural hub of
Toronto, these places
feature some of the best restaurants with stunning views.
WEST COAST DINING
Vancouver, British
Columbia is gaining quite the reputation as a foodie destination in
Western Canada. With an abundance of seafood and local produce, restaurants
can highlight the fresh flavours of Pacific Coast cuisine. Vancouver's lovely
waterfront and bustling downtown make for an ideal setting for several of the
city's best restaurants.
Aqua Riva
Enjoy waterfront dining at Aqua
Riva, offering harbour front views of Burrard Inlet and the North Shore
Skyline. Located downtown next to Canada
Place, Aqua Riva is within walking distance to many hotels
in the area. The window-wrapped dining room and bar allows patrons to indulge
in Pacific Coast delicacies while watching the cruise ships sail in and out
of the harbour. The menu consists of tapas and starters, including thin crust
pizzas featuring bold flavours such as wood roasted barbecue duck. Lunch and
dinner highlight Vancouver's prime seafood with dishes such as wood grilled
wild salmon and Pacific cioppino--a hearty seafood and fish stew featuring salmon,
sablefish, dungeness crab, clams, mussels, clams, and prawns. To complete the
visual appeal, the restaurant's decor features murals and nautical themes, adding
to this waterfront dining experience.
The Observatory
Begin this dining experience with a scenic gondola ride (included with reservations)
to the top of Grouse
Mountain in Northern
Vancouver. From here, one can enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean and Gulf Islands, with the city of Vancouver in the distance. Patrons of the Observatory
restaurant will dine on West Coast cuisine, where the emphasis is on fresh,
regional ingredients. Hand-selected wines, chosen by the in-house sommelier,
complement the dishes served here. To experience the ultimate in food and wine
pairing, the Observatory offers a prix fixe menu featuring multiple courses
paired with various wines. An a la carte menu is also available for those wanting
to pick and choose their own selections. Sample menu dishes include local oysters
dressed with a sherry mignonette, beef tenderloin with black truffle jus, magret
of Barbary duck with a green peppercorn sabayon, and for dessert, a vanilla
bean panna cotta.
Stanley Park
Any visit to Vancouver would not be complete without a trip to Stanley
Park, the city's forested playground situated along the harbour. Several
dining options are available in the park, including Prospect Point Cafe and
the Sequoia Grill.
Prospect Point Cafe
Stanley Park's highest point, Prospect Point offers visitors panoramic views
of the North Shore Mountains, the Lion's Gate Bridge and the Burrard Inlet.
The on-site Prospect
Point Cafe offers a full service restaurant, allowing patrons
to indulge their taste buds while taking in the beautiful scenery. Favourites
at this eatery include the Prospect Point ice-cream, an ideal way to cool down
on a summer's day, and the fish and chips made with Granville
Island Draft Beer Batter. Other menu items include a number of fresh
salmon dishes, grilled burgers and sandwiches, and pasta entrees.
Sequoia Grill
Found at Ferguson Point, the Sequoia Grill offers ocean views surrounded
by towering trees. The restaurant's menu highlights the best of Vancouver's
bounty, including such dishes as BC Albacore tuna tartar, mussels bathed in
a red curry coconut broth, and cedar plank salmon topped with a maple whiskey
glaze. A brunch menu is offered on the weekends, making for a lovely way to
spend the morning.
Glo EuroPub & Grill
Victoria
Only a day trip from Vancouver, Victoria
also offers pleasant sights and eats. One of the newest restaurants on the scene
is the Glo EuroPub & Grill. Touted as one of Vancouver
Island's best patios, the Glo EuroPub & Grill features a 180-degree
view of Victoria's Selkirk Waterway. Patrons can enjoy brunch, lunch, dinner
and late night bites on the patio, taking in views of the harbour at any time
of the day. Blankets are provided for cooler evenings making this outdoor experience
comfortable and enjoyable. Minutes from downtown, the grill offers a retro-modern
interior with a contemporary menu featuring gourmet pizza, burgers, steaks,
seafood and pastas. An extensive wine list and drinks menu also make this place
a popular social gathering venue.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN BITES
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Maligne
Lake 2 |
Jasper
National Park and Lake
Louise are two of the most popular destinations in the Canadian Rockies.
After a day of exploring the area's wildlife, mountains, lakes and forests,
visitors will be pleased to note the Rockies offers some prime dining venues,
offering hearty food and awe-inspiring views.
The View Restaurant
Perched above Maligne
Lake in Jasper Park at the day lodge, the View
Restaurant lives up to its name offering breathtaking views of the Canadian
Rockies. Maligne Lake, found 40 km (25 mi) southeast of the Jasper
townsite, is the park's oldest attraction and the largest lake in the Canadian
Rocky Mountains. The View Restaurant's multi-levelled sundeck is the ideal lunch
spot after a day of exploring the park. This popular venue features homestyle
dining with homemade soup, stew, vegetarian chili, salads, and sandwiches on
the menu. Baked goods, including European tortes, breads, pastries and cookies
are also available from the bakery found on-site.
Fairview Dining Room
Located at the prestigious Chateau
Lake Louise, the Fairview
Dining Room affords views of Lake Louise's turquoise waters from its
multi-tiered dining room. This 4 Diamond establishment specializes in Canadian
cuisine, offering such items as grilled Alberta
beef tenderloin, maple glazed Quebec
duck breast, slow poached Atlantic salmon and seared scallops.
EAST COAST EATS
Canada's largest city, Toronto,
Ontario offers its residents
and visitors an eclectic dining scene, with over 7,000 restaurants located here.
From fine dining to local eateries, all types of cuisines are represented, indicative
of Toronto's diverse, multicultural population.
Canoe
For an impressive view of the city check out Canoe,
perched on the 54th floor of the TD Bank Tower, part of the Toronto-Dominion Centre. Located in
the Financial
District, this restaurant attracts a corporate clientele, matching its
upscale environment and decor, featuring wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling glass
windows, polished wooden floors and clean and stylish furnishings. Canoe's menu
highlights Canadian cuisine with an emphasis on seafood and grilled meats; bison
striploin with Northern Woods mushrooms and peppercorn sauce, roast suckling
pig, and broiled BC sablefish are just a sample of Canoe's modern approach to
Canadian fare.
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Tower 3 |
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360 The Restaurant
Dine high above Toronto's city streets, found 51 m (1,151 ft) below, at
360 The Restaurant, situated in the CN
Tower--Toronto's most recognizable landmark. The restaurant is one of
the world's highest revolving restaurants and offers ever-changing views of the
city, completing a rotation every 72 minutes. Regional ingredients are the focus
of the menu, which features innovative, market fresh cuisine. An extensive wine list
of over 550 wines also adds to the dining experience. For a more casual meal,
head down to the look out level to the Horizons Cafe, offering lighter meals.
C5 Restaurant
Found atop the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal of the Royal
Ontario Museum, the C5 Restaurant offers an ultra modern culinary
experience. It gets its name from being situated on the 5th Crystal of the glass
and aluminum structure, which was designed by architect Daniel Libeskind and
consists of five interlocking and self supporting prismatic structures. Inside,
patrons continue to be visually stimulated with angled windows providing urban
views and interesting lighting effects. A sensational glass sculpture named “Hearsay,” by
Canadian designer Jeff Goodman, adorns the space, adding to the intimate surroundings
of this crystal palace. The menu itself features inspired selections, fusing
the flavours of Toronto's ethnic markets and Ontario's local ingredients. Vindaloo
scented Dorset lamb loin, and duck confit and foie gras served with a Thai curry
onion tartlet are some of the noted creations by Chef de Cuisine, Ted Corrado.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- Vancouver Harbour;
Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Maligne Lake; Jasper
National Park, AB, Canada
- CN Tower; Toronto,
ON, Canada
Canada
