Here are the restaurants I love in various cities. I hope you find this a helpful list, and let me know if you enjoy your dining experience at any one of these.
My favorite restaurants in Ottawa, Ontario are Eighteen (613-244-1188), Urban Pear (613-569-9305), Navarra (613-241-5500), Sidedoor (613-562-9331), Black Cat Bistro (613-569-9998), Taylor Wine Bar (613-730-5672), Supply and Demand (613-680-2949), Play (613-667-9207), Absinthe (613-761-1138), Wellington Gastro Pub (613-729-1315), Fraser Café (613-749-1444), Atelier (613-321-3537), Murray Street (613-562-7244), SmoqueShak (613-789-4245, casual lunch), and El Meson (613-744-8484).
Just across the river in Quebec, I like Le Baccara (819-772-6210), Le Tartuffe (819-776-6424) and Les Fougères (819-827-8942).
In the Picton area wine country of Prince Edward County, I like the Merrill Inn Restaurant (613-476-7451) and for lunch the patio restaurant at Huff Estates Winery (613-393-5802).
In Toronto, I like One Restaurant (416-961-9600), Luma (647-288-4715), George on Queen (416-368-6093), Nota Bene (416-977-6400), Biff’s Bistro (416-860-0086), The Boiler House (416-203-2121), Reds Wine Tavern (416-862-7337), Oliver & Bonnacini Cafe & Grill, Grano (416-440-1986), Chiado (416- 538-1910), Crush Wine Bar (416-977-1234), Scaramouche (416-961-8011), Catch (416-658-0568) and Starfish Oyster Bar (416-366-7827).
Ontario: Niagara: Cave Spring Cellars, On The Twenty: (800-701-8074), Hillebrand Estates Vineyard Café: 800-582-8412), Peller Estates Winery Restaurant: (905-468-4678), Peninsula Ridge, The Restaurant: (905-563-0900), Strewn Winery, Terroir La Cachette: (888-478-7396), Vineland Estates Winery, Winedeck Restaurant: (888-846-3526).
In Montreal: Toqué (514-499-2084), L’Épicier (514-878-2232), Ariel (514-282-9790), Olive + Gourmando, Bouillon Bilk, Maison Boulud, Joe Beef, Le Club Chasse et Pêche, Ferreira Café, Les 400 Coups, Pied au Cochon and the bring-your-own-bottle café La Colombe (514-849-8844). I also quite like L’eau a la Bouche (888-828-2991) and Bistro a Champlain (450-228-4988), both in the Laurentian Mountains for northern Quebec.
My favorite Halifax, Nova Scotia restaurants are: The Bicycle Thief (902-425-7993), Gio (902-425-1987), Cut Steakhouse (902-429-5120), ONYX (902-428-5680), Chives Canadian Bistro (902-420-9626), Jane’s on the Common (902-431-5683), FID (902-422-9162), Seasons (Atlantica Hotel) (902-423.1161), Saege Bistro (902-422-5870), DaMaurizio’s (902-423-0859), and Seven (902-444-4777). I like Fleur de Sel in Lunenburg (902-640-2121), Grand Pre Winery Restaurant in Annapolis Valley (902-542-1753) and Glenora Distillery Restaurant in Cape Breton (800-839-0491).
In the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia: The Sonora Room Restaurant at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery (877-498-0620), The Terrace Restaurant at Mission Hill Winery (250-768-6467) and Old Vines Restaurant at Quail’s Gate Estate Winery (800-420-9463).
In Vancouver: Vij’s, Bishop’s, Bao Bei, Maenam, Hawksworth, La Quercia, Cioppino’s, Blue Water Café, L’Abattoir and Araxi (Whistler).
For cities not listed here, check Maclean’s Magazine’s Top 50 Restaurants in Canada. (I was thrilled to be part of the review team in Ontario.)
In New York City: Per Se (212-823-9335), Cru (212-529-1700), Blue Hill (212-539-1776), Café Boulud (212-772-2600), The Modern (212-333-1220), Craft (212-780-0880), Del Posto (212-497-8090), Jean-Georges (212-299-3900), Eleven Madison Park Restaurant (212-889-0905), Hearth (646-602-1300), Insieme (212-582-1310), Town Restaurant (212-582-4445), Picholine (212-724-8585), The Tasting Room (212-358-7831), Union Square Café (212-243-4020), Landmarc (212-823-6123), A Voce (212-545-8555), L’Ecole run by the students of the French Culinary Institute: 46 Broadway in SoHo (212-219-3300).
In San Francisco, California: Michael Mina (415-397-7000) and Rubicon (415-434-4100).
In the Napa Valley Region: The French Laundry (707-944-2380), Bouchon (707-944-8037), Mustards Grill (707-944-2424).
In Healdsburg, Sonoma: Cyrus Restaurant (707-433-3311) and Barndiva (707-431-0100).
At Disneyworld in Orlando, my top picks in priority order are: Jiko, Victoria & Albert’s, California Grill, Narcoossee’s and Corel Reef. For all Disney dining reservations, call 407-939-3463. See my article on this in the articles section.
In Naples, Florida, I like: Bleu Provence (239-261-8239).
In Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona: Mosaic (480-563-9600), Mary Elaine’s (800-888-8234 or 480-941-8200), See Saw Tapanese Cuisine (480-481-9463) and Rancho Pinot Grill (480-367-8030).
In Las Vegas, I like: Aureole At the Madalay Bay Resort(702-632-7401) and Picasso at the Bellagio Hotel (877-234-6358).
In London, England: River Café (44 20 77366296), Gordon Ramsay (44 20 7352 4441), St. John (44 20 7251 0848) and Bibendum (44 20 7581 5817).
In Rome, Italy: La Pergola (39 06 35091), Il Pagliaccio (06 68 809595), Agata e Romeo (39 06 4466115), Trito Antica Trattoria (06 6798181) and Via Antonio Serra (39 06 3337192).
In Athens, Greece: Spondi Relais and Chateaux (30 210 7564021)
In Barbados, I like the following (in priority order): Calbaza (246-424-4557), The Cliff (246-432-1922)and The Tides (246-432-8356)
In Turks & Caicos: Amanyara (649-941-8133), Le Bagatelle at Gansevoort (649-941-7555), Coyaba Restaurant (649-946-5186) and Coco Bistro (649-946-5369).
In Australia, try these Sydney restaurants: Rockpool (02 9252 1888), Bill’s (612 9360 9631), Icebergs Restaurant and Bar (612 9365 9000), Guillaume at Bennelong Sydney Opera House (612 9241 1999), Forty One Chifley Tower (612 9221 2500),
In the Hunter Valley: Robert’s Restaurant (612 4998 7330) and Shakey Tables, Hunter Valley Lodge (612 4938 1744).
In Adelaide: Magille Estate Restaurant at Penfolds Winery (618 8301 5551). In the Barossa Valley: The Peppers Louise (08 8562 4144). In Melbourne: Vue de Monde (613 9691 3888), Taxi (613 9654 8808), MoVida Bar de Tapas (03 9663 3038), Seagrass (03 9696 7655) and for breakfast Melba in the Langham Hotel (613 8696 8888).
Other than that, your best bet is to do a web search or to consult a restaurant guide.