Pizzeria Libretto, Toronto
When Chef Rocco Agostino and Proprietor Max Rimaldi opened this cozy pizzeria on Ossington, area food scored big. This casually chic pizzeria has an open-kitchen design so patrons can watch their pizzas cook over wood-burning fires (Cosmo Kramer would love it). More importantly, the pizzas adhere to guidelines set out by the Veracé Pizza Napoletana Association and the Italian Government (they're sort of like the Stone Cutters and Free Masons of Italian food). Not surprisingly, Pizzeria Libretto has garnered a loyal following thanks to its creative cuisine and off-the-cuff atmosphere. 221 Ossington Avenue, Toronto, ON, 416-532-8000…Full Story



Provisions, Montreal
This is not your average stacked lunch joint. Rather, this high-end St. Laurent sandwich Mecca redefines the Joey Tribbiani favourite. The chicken sandwich combines chicken confit with a thin slice of crackling, oven-roasted dried tomatoes, house mayo, and lettuce, all piled onto homemade focaccia. Salads (i.e. fennel, cabbage, and apple or warm green beans with mustard togarashi and poached eggs) and soups (i.e. tomoato consommé wwith blanched asparagus tips and chorizo) round out the selection, but the sandwiches are the stars. The only draw back: Provisions is a lunch-only affair. 1595 St-Laurent Boulevard, Montreal, QC, 514-844-9656…Full Story



La Quercia, Vancouver
Despite being their first venture, La Quercia's chefs and co-proprietors, Adam Pegg and Lucais Syme, quickly built up a good reputation and a loyal following in the foodie realm. Before La Quercia, the two were involved in Parkside and La Buca, a pair of restaurants that proved themselves worthy thanks to the basics (i.e. good cooking and a dedicated staff). The concept here is deceptively simple: take two established chefs and let them loose in their own confines. They didn't worry about extravagant designs or cheap gimmicks, instead focusing on the quality of food. The smallish menu features a number of seasonally changing pastas, meats, and fishes. Everything is made to order in-house. Here, pre-boiling and pre-production are verboten. That policy includes breads, cheeses, and the delectable dessert card. Since the menu is always in flux, it's hard to point to a specialty, but the safe bet is arancini. A specialty that Syme imported from earlier endeavours, it's divine. Also, try the hand-rolled gnocchi di polenta ai funghi served with fresh mushrooms. 3689 West Fourth Avenue, Vancouver, B.C., 604-676-1007…Full Story



Rasoi, Calgary
Upon moving to Morocco, JoJo Bistro owner, Mohammed Guelli handed the reins to Jash Sandhu who renamed the joint and revamped the menu. He didn't so much take over a business as reinvent one. The short menu includes unique twists on Indian food. Try, for instance, the watercress and goat milk yogurt soup or the cumin-crusted beef tenderloin with wilted spinach and black lentils. The only letdown: the redundant name (Rasoi means "kitchen"). 2215 33 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, 403-246-0082 …Full Story



r.tl, Vancouver
Regional Tasting Lounge is, happily, exactly what it sounds like: a lounge where you can taste food divided by region (I told you so). R.tl divides its menu into three regions; two of the three regions change up every few months, while the third, acting as the constant, is Coastal British Columbian Fare. Currently, r.tl features Middle Eastern and Spanish cuisine; next up: French and Portugese. Even within these countrywide categories, r.tl breaks down dishes to specific provinces, counties, or regions. The great thing about this concept -- aside from the acronym cool -- is innate ability to keep things fresh. Of course, this is a proverbial double-edge sword. Inevitably there are nights where you just want pad Thai; well, get over it. 1130 Mainland Street Vancouver, BC, 604 638 1550…Full Story



Rumi Grill and Cafe, Montreal
In the era of cell phones and Wikipedia, people want quality yet also crave speed. For both, find your way to Rumi's on St. Laurent Boulevard. More accessible than the original, the Rumi Grill and Café offers simple, expertly made fare. For fast food, Rumi is surprisingly good, and relatively cheap, but it's still not as fast as, say, McDonalds. After you've dined here, your foodlust will never again call out for the Big Mac. 4403 St. Laurent Boulevard, Montreal, QC, 514-670-6770…Full Story



Rush, Calgary
Globally trained Chef, Justin Leboe, helms this Vintage Group venture. Leboe has an impressive CV that features tenures at Waterloo House in Bermuda and the Belvedere at the Peninsula Hotel Beverly Hills. He also logged hours in Vancouver as a Tournant at Century Grill and a Saucier at C Restaurant. Rush is his Calgary debut. Here, Leboe et al have a contemporary ethos that will have a staunch malleability thanks to a reliance on seasonal ingredients. Featuring fixed, a la carte, and tasting menus (depending on whether you're in the lounge or dining room), this is luxurious multi-pronged dining. Expect innovative art plates and an out-of-the-gate exuberance. We recommend sticking to the tasting menu. Offered in three- or five-course packages, it rotates daily. For more timid souls, Leboe's delightful, Mediterranean-inspired selection includes plenty of classic entrées, such as caviar and lobster starter plates to a rather tame selection of mains: fork-tender pork that's been slow-cooked for 12 hours, superthick lamb chops, and a grilled halibut served over a cushion of mashed potatoes. 207 9th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, 403-271-7874 …Full Story



Table 17, Toronto
Leslieville's standout European bistro comes from the former owners of the now-closed Izakaya. Replete with dark wood, high ceilings, and a menu stocked with comfort food, the well-appointed spot has been packed since it opened. Nowhere else can you nibble on an ever-changing Italian, Spanish and French cuisine lineup. Mains offered include oven-roasted pickerel and rainbow trout with ramp beurre-blanc. The best part: it won't put a major dent in your wallet. 782 Queen Street East, Toronto, ON, 416-519-1851…Full Story