Michelin Guide Vancouver 2022 – The Full List

31 Oct 2022

Journalist

When a Michelin Guide is bestowed upon a city it has the feeling of a graduation. Years and years of hard work, culminating in a rash of stars going to the finest restaurants in a city is a rite of passage that gives a culinary scene a sense of belonging to the international order of the ‘best’ food in the world.

The Vancouver Michelin Guide

The newest member of this exclusive dining club is Vancouver, Canada. The little city that could is likely one of the smaller major cities on the Michelin Guide list, but a worthy addition that packs an exciting punch from a wide range of stellar and often challenging cuisines.

You can’t really put Vancouver in a box. There is one of the largest Chinatowns in the world. There’s a bustling indigenous food scene that harkens back to a simpler time. There are white-table-clothed French fine-dining institutions. And there are small-seated charmers that wow with bold flavour combinations unique to the ingredients in the Pacific Northwest.

Vancouver restaurants that received a star

At the official unveiling on 27 October, 2022, taking place at the Vancouver Convention Center, restaurateurs and chefs eagerly awaited the results as the ceremony opened with the Eagle Song Dancers doing a Squamish ritual presentation that is exemplary of the city’s indigenous pride.

Ultimately, Vancouver received eight stars for eight restaurants. There were no two- or three-star restaurants, but an additional 12 establishments achieved a Bib Gourmand rating, as chefs were equally elated and disappointed with their newfound fame.

But it’s not just stars that Michelin awards, other honorees included the Michelin Service Award which represents professionalism in the restaurant business, and was given to the GM, Justin Isidro, at Kissa Tanto, a restaurant which also received a star.

Another honorary award is the Michelin Sommelier Award - the wine director Jayton Paul from Published on Main received the accolade, while the restaurant also earned a star.

Jeff-Savage-bartender-the botanist-vancouver

_{Jeff Savage at The Botanist, Vancouver}

A final honorary award was the Exceptional Cocktails Award, which went to expert mixologists Grant Sceney and Jeff Savage at The Botanist, which was noted as a recommended restaurant.

“It’s an immense honour to receive such a special award for doing what we love to do every day. Making not only cocktails, but experiences for our guests is something very near and dear to our hearts. I want to extend a massive thank you to our entire team, and I want to particularly thank our guests who continue to sit at our bar and grant us the ability to do what we love to do,” said Savage.

_{Andrea Carlson}

One of the true standouts of the newly minted restaurants was Burdock & Co. a one-starred restaurant helmed by chef Andrea Carlson. Burdock epitomises Vancouver’s quirky yet refined culinary scene. The shy Carlson thrives on seasonal, organic ingredients that she sources from local suppliers in addition to an urban farm that helps employ many of the growing unhoused population of the city.

“It is a tremendous accomplishment to be recognised on an international level. Burdock & Co. has always been true to our core values of supporting local organic agriculture and we are thrilled to be recognised for our creative, chef-driven menus that change through the season and reflect those relationships,” Carlson said.

warm-ricotta-persimmon-honeycomb-burdock-and-co-vancouver

_{Burdock & Co. warm ricotta with caramelised persimmon and honeycomb}

On the opposite end of the culinary spectrum is Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill, a dark and moody Mediterranean joint helmed by chef/culinary magician Pino Posteraro. Cioppino’s didn’t receive any stars but was recognised as a Recommended Restaurant for its one-of-a-kind dishes that can run the gamut, from seared scallops with balsamic reductions, to lighthearted and oh-so-fluffy gnocchi with parmigiano foam and white truffles. Cioppino’s had previously been recognised with a three-fork designation from Gambero Rosso – the Italian equivalent of the Michelin Guide.

“Without sounding arrogant, after 41 years in this business, I don’t need validation, but a Michelin star is a wonderful reward not only for me but for the whole team and an amazing clear stimulation for the young generations in order for them to understand why so much hard work, attention to detail, and meticulous routine everyday is necessary. It’s an injection of culinary life. Of course, with the full understanding of the fact that at the end we are just cooks that we have to bring joy and happiness to people with our creations, keeping humble and grounded and never forgetting hospitality and customer satisfaction essential to the thriving and success of our business,” said Posteraro.

Not only do the chefs and restaurateurs of Vancouver appreciate the Michelin Guide, but its arrival in the city will drive tourism, create jobs, pack hotels, and ultimately bring attention to the little city that could.

See the full list of starred Vancouver restaurants below.