62: Joe Beef, Montreal

There is a legend in Montreal of a gentleman by the name of Joe Beef, who was a saintly character that opened up a bar in the 1880’s that stuck around for almost one hundred years. He is rumored to have accommodated scores of homeless people on cold winter nights and also to feed beer to his great number of bar pets who, in return, provided the entertainment. Chef David McMillan left the hoity-toity Rosalie to start up his own “Joe Beef” in homage to a great man who has otherwise no commemoration in Montreal. The décor is woodsy and rustic and the food is fresh. Located right near Atwater market, McMillan often finds himself picking up the freshest ingredients for that night’s service. Enjoy the cheap wine menu, the ripe raw bar and the hearty traditional French cuisine just as Joe Beef would have liked it. –J.T. 2491 Notre-Dame St. W, Montreal, QC. 514-935-6504
101 Essential Restaurants: Complete Guide

61: Fare Bistro, Toronto

A bistro, yes, but not another pompous French operation: this is a Leslieville space. The result is an intimate room that seems much larger than it is and the whimsy continues in the kitchen. Chef Brad Clark has created a menu based on fresh ingredients and the intelligent use of herbs where his training at Le Select really shows. Chef Brad Clark's Fare might lack the cottage-y French thrust of its predecessor (change is good), but the little bistro makes for compelling, adrenaline-fueled dining just the same. –E.J. 1097 Queen East, Toronto, ON. 416-645-0914
101 Essential Restaurants: Complete Guide

60: Rice Bar, Toronto

Rice Bar has evolved from Kensington newcomer to neighbourhood staple over a summer full of P.S. Sundays that had hungry pedestrians gathering at owner Brock Shepherd’s door. The menu is healthy, tasty and do-it-yourself. Guests have a choice of vegetable, meat, tofu, sauce, and rice to create their own personal rice bowl with. The good thing is, with ingredients like kimchi, black beans, miso BBQ sauce and more, it’s hard to make a bad bowl. It all tastes good. Drinks are for dessert at the Rice Bar. Sip on the Azul Cocktail made with star anise and lemon zest infused Shochu mixed and poured over apple-ginger caviar. The prices are cheap and the food isn’t. Who could ask for more? –J.T. 319 Augusta Avenue, Toronto, ON. 416-922-7423
101 Essential Restaurants: Complete Guide

59: Jacobs & Co., Toronto

Jacobs & Co. is a quintessential steakhouse for the velvet rope crowd. Valet drivers relieve you of your automobile and the concierge attends to your bidding, but the menu is still all about meat. You see plenty of it as the glass-walled aging room is showcased in the dining room. In keeping with the cellar theme, the menu reads like a fine wine list, stating the grade and origin of the desired meat with a mini pedigree about the flavors and aging process. Executive Chef Ben Gundy is sure to cook you up something delicious and nutritious- ok…delicious for sure. - E.J. 12 Brant Street, Toronto, ON. 416-366-0200
101 Essential Restaurants: Complete Guide

58: Globe, Montreal

While the cost of dinner will run $100 plus per person, this resto is doing well. What do you get out of this experience? For one, it’s the place to see and be seen. Secondly, the gorgeous décor designed by Jean-Pierre Viau is the ultimate in classy art nouveau. The most important feature, however, is the menu and quality of cuisine. Mains are consistently memorable with Chef Alex Rolland behind the stove. Try the quail with raspberry sauce, roasted corn-fed chicken, salmon, or slow-cooked rabbit. While the staff is hot and the bouncers friendly, on any given night you’re guaranteed to run into someone who thinks they’re part of Montreal’s elite and will do anything to affirm this. Wear pointy-toed heels for some post-dinner action. –S.B. 3455 Saint-Laurent Blvd., Montreal, QC. 514-284-3823
101 Essential Restaurants: Complete Guide

57: Cru, Vancouver

A little love can go a long way and it does at Cru Wine Bar. Husband and wife team, Mark Taylor and Dana Reinhardt, have struck a chord of the loveliest tune with the pairing of their skills. Taylor acts as the house sommelier and his wine list is award winning. Reinhardt runs the kitchen as Executive Chef and compliments her food to Mark’s wine picks. Try a flight of reds and a few selections from the small plate menu to sample the greatest variety without overdoing it. –J.T. 1459 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC. 604-677-4111
101 Essential Restaurants: Complete Guide

56: Chambar, Vancouver

Chambar is one of the most elegant rooms to dine in citywide, but you’re bound to forget about your surroundings as you savor the delicious French cuisine that makes you close your eyes and imagine Provence. Chef Nico Schuerman and his wife Karri run Chambar, and their love is felt in the warm ambiance of the place. Try the moules frites or the five-spice rubbed duck breast if you want to experience Schuerman’s expertise for yourself. –J.T. 560 Beatty Street, Vancouver, BC. 604-879-7119
101 Essential Restaurants: Complete Guide

55: Auberge du Pommier, Toronto

We've talked about culinary field trips before (i.e. once in a while it's nice to go to Riverside or all the way up to Yonge and Eglinton), but this French gem is a different story entirely. Like Columbus's detractors, I thought that the world ended at Bloor (wait- something in this sentence seems amiss). Then I discovered Dupont; later, St. Clair and, finally Eglinton. Now I know there's more. All the way up at 4150 Yonge Street (seriously, it's at the 401) is one of the best restaurants in Toronto, period. Serving French fare from Coq au Vin to Steak Tartare, it draws foodies from all over the GTA. It may not be cheap, but it's like a vacation- so feel free to break out the plastic. -S.T. 4150 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON. 416-222-2220
101 Essential Restaurants: Complete Guide

54: Celestin, Toronto

The bright, creamy innards of a refurbished 1920’s bank make up Celestin, the tiny slice of France that resides in the heart of Toronto. Chef Pascal Ribreau has devised a robust menu of the best plates France has to offer - including juicy prawns, fois gras and crispy-skinned quail. The food may be traditional but the presentation is far from it. Plates are presented in such an artistic manner it takes one a moment to dig in because the presentation deserves an instant of admiration. –J.T. 623 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, ON. 416-544-9035
101 Essential Restaurants: Complete Guide

53: Café 668, Toronto

New digs, but the menu hasn’t gone through as much change as the décor, thankfully. Owner Hon Quach brought Vietnamese food to new heights with his vegetarian-friendly original menu, and it would have been a shame to change it. Concentrating on the original menu, Café 668 complements the regular vegetarian card with Vietnamese flourishes. Many plates center on wheat gluten (used as a high protein meat substitute), sparked with unexpected flavour combinations. But the "Wheat of Meat" makes its way into other plates. The new spot does boast a liquor license, so there is now the option of enjoying a glass of wine with your stir fry. Drink up! –J.T. 885 Dundas West, Toronto, ON. 416-703-0668
101 Essential Restaurants: Complete Guide