Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Vancouver / British Columbia

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Vancouver / British Columbia? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Infusions Restaurant - Okanagan College

5.0

5 (322)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Farm-to-table

Kelowna

About the restaurant

Infusions Restaurant on the Okanagan College Kelowna campus showcases the exceptional talent of Culinary Arts students. Indulge in dishes like pecan-crusted rack of lamb with minted apple and potato gnocchi, or cornmeal apple cake with warm caramel sauce and mascarpone ice cream. Visit the Infusions Restaurant website to view all the delicious menu choices offered at reasonable prices for dinner as well as special seasonal menus.

*Restaurant hours are subject to change pending student curriculum.

Top review

Rodger

Dined 2 days ago

Food was excellent, salmon and beet were both perfectly cooked. Presentation was very nice. The restaurant was not busy the night we went, so it was very easy to have conversation. We all agreed we will definitely return and will recommend Infusions to our friends.

Salt & Brick - Kelowna

4.9

4.9 (810)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary Canadian

Kelowna

About the restaurant

Salt & Brick is truly Kelowna’s most unique culinary experience!

Salt & Brick features a Fresh Sheet Menu with well-thought-out share/small plates created daily by our talented chefs. Our one-of-a-kind food is combined with unique wines carefully curated by our team.

All reservations will have 1 hour and 45 minutes to enjoy their dining experience.

Top review

Ciara

Dined 7 days ago

Delicious food, always interesting and fresh and the combination of flavors is so good. We've been to Kelowna location a few times and will come back again.

Gather

4.8

4.8 (956)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary Italian

Kelowna

About the restaurant

At Gather, we curate intimate dining experiences. Our tables are designed for small groups, with many cozy settings. We offer reservations for up to groups of six. For larger parties we do offer one large table that accommodates up to 10 guest for our “TASTE OF GATHER” experience. Please contact paulo@coccarogroup.com for our “TASTE OF GATHER”.

Gather is a neighbourhood Korean & Italian restaurant, located at the base of the Innovation Center, that draws from both owners Chef Sung Ji Park and Luigi Coccaro’s heritage. Gather draws from both of Chef Sung Ji Park and Luigi Coccaro’s family connection as well, and was designed as a place where family, friends and colleagues are able to gather around a table, to share in a true culinary experience. The menu features a variety of small, medium and large plates that lends to sharing, as is customary in both Korean and Italian culture.

Top review

Suzanne

Dined on May 11, 2025

The whole experience at Gather is so satisfying…from the quality of the service to the wonderful food we leave there very content. Our waiter, Thibault, was so professional and attentive…but in my opinion the best feature at Gather is the consistency of the superior quality of the food…it is always exceptional!

Ugly Duckling

4.8

4.8 (236)

CAN$51 and over

Contemporary Canadian

Victoria

About the restaurant

Ugly Duckling takes its inspiration from the intersection between Coastal BC's magical landscapes and the rich cultural heritage of North America’s oldest Chinatown. We offer experiential dining built around two promises: to serve you only those things which we have made by hand; and to work really, really hard to make you smile. We can't wait to welcome you.

Top review

OksanaVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Great food. Great service. On the expensive side but worth it.

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Experience

Tasting Menu

Published on Main

4.7

4.7 (139)

CAN$51 and over

Contemporary Canadian

Mount Pleasant

About the restaurant

Published on Main is a Michelin-starred restaurant in Vancouver, offering a contemporary dining experience with a focus on local and seasonal ingredients. The restaurant's innovative menu and elegant ambiance have earned it critical acclaim, including a top ranking in Canada's 100 Best Restaurants.

Published on Main's menu is a testament to Chef Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson's creativity and passion. Each dish is a work of art, showcasing the freshest seasonal ingredients with innovative techniques and unexpected flavor combinations. From the amuse-bouche to the final dessert, every bite is a delightful surprise.

Published on Main is committed to using sustainable and locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant partners with local farmers and producers to ensure the highest quality ingredients, while minimizing its environmental impact.

Top review

Matthew

Dined 2 days ago

The food was inventive and delicious with particular attention paid to the smallest details.

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Experience

Tasting Menu - Green

Experience

Half Tasting Menu - Sage

ELEM

4.7

4.7 (170)

CAN$51 and over

Global, International

Mount Pleasant

About the restaurant

ELEM is a new restaurant and cocktail lab on Main + 5th.

Guests can expect to indulge in Top Chef Canada alum Mayekar’s bold cooking, featuring creative flavour-packed dishes that highlight the unique spices from cuisines around the world with local ingredients, alongside Winnie Sun’s inventive, element-inspired and sustainability-driven cocktails.

ELEM’s food menu is an exploration of flavours and spices from all corners of the world, including Bangkok, California, Spain, Mexico, Italy, and Mumbai – all inspired by Mayekar’s extensive travels and Indian heritage. There will also be a big focus on local BC-grown ingredients.

The 2,946 square foot, 76-seat space was designed by Vancouver-based Marko Simcich Architect and features three dining spaces and an open window into the kitchen to see the chefs at work.

Top review

Sami

Dined on May 8, 2025

Well worth the hype. This restaurant is fantastic

The Acorn

4.6

4.6 (139)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Vegetarian

Mount Pleasant

About the restaurant

The Acorn, a MICHELIN Recommended and award-winning restaurant, brings a fresh, modern approach to vegetable-forward dining in the heart of Vancouver’s Main Street. Known for its creative, locavore-driven menu, The Acorn delivers an unforgettable dining experience using locally sourced, peak-season ingredients. With options for vegans, vegetarians, and gluten-free diners, even the most dedicated carnivores leave satisfied.

Our commitment to sustainability runs deep. In our zero-waste kitchen and bar, every part of the ingredient shines—from the skins and stems to pits and peels—transformed into inventive dishes and drinks. We’re proud of our close relationships with local organic farmers, foragers, winemakers, and distillers, ensuring that 99% of what you enjoy on the plate (and sometimes the plate itself!) is grown, harvested, or crafted right here in BC and Western Canada. Signature cocktails shine while local wines showcase the harmony of Terroir to plate.

Top review

Keith

Dined 2 days ago

I would recommend Acorn to anyone looking for a creative chef and a thoroughly delicious dining experience.

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Experience

Dinner Reservation for Chef's Tasting Menu

Experience

Dinner A La Carte Reservation (Early Seating)

Experience

Dinner A La Carte Reservation (Late Seating)

Roar

4.6

4.6 (739)

CAN$30 and under

Canadian

Tofino

About the restaurant

ROAR is a restaurant rooted in rebellion. We honour the rebellious history of Tofino and we proudly rebel against the status quo. It’s the waves crashing and raging flames. It’s the roar of a rebellious nature.

This isn’t like any other restaurant. We cook with live fire, and all of our food and beverage is inspired by the local people, makers and ingredients of Tofino.

Just as you would gather with friends around the campfire, we invite you to get comfy here while we share the stories behind every one of our menu items as the fire roars in the background.

VIEW MENUS

Top review

Chris

Dined 4 days ago

Very nice brunch in a cool place! Service friendly, food tasty!

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Experience

Drag Brunch at ROAR!

Experience

Drag Apres Surf at ROAR!

Rudi

4.6

4.6 (19)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

European

Victoria

About the restaurant

Rudi grew up on the west coast. They have tasted the fruits of far off lands. Scents, sounds, images and the energy of the World’s most magnificent cities. Cities with a history. A culture. With roots. With experience.
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They bring this experience home with a sense of wonder and curiosity. Of longing and searching for their own identity. One they are committed to discover through craft and experimentation. To understand and discover their own identity. Their own version of their lineage.

The medium for this exploration is food. Not to replicate their great grandmother’s Rouladen, but to create something new, that would make her proud.

All dishes are designed for sharing, and are served when they are ready. We do our best to accommodate allergies however cannot guarantee anything without prior notice.

Top review

Natalie

Dined 3 days ago

This was a nice dining venue. It's family style - plates are meant to be shared and we like to dine this way. Beverages took a while to arrive (although we were only one of two tables in the room, but they were nicely prepared. First dishes took about 30 minutes to arrive (they are served as they prepared, in no particular order). We had some house cured meat and cheese - all delicious) We were offered fresh pepper for the fennel sausage pasta but then not again for any of the dishes that folllowed...although the only one that really needed it was the squash ravioli. We ordered the cabbage rolls but later were told they were "permanently off the menu". The cauliflower risotto, asparagus, ling cod, albacore tuna and pork w/ white beans were all superb. Unfortunately I think our server forgot the pork dish so it took about 75min to get to the table, long after we had finished everything else. Overall service was friendly but slow, food was really good and the ambiance was nice. The room is really warmed up from it's former incarnation with the cladding on the columns, window treatments, softer furnishing, murals and decals on the globe lighting. I would like to go back with my husband to share a few dishes and eat at the bar.

Combine Cafe & Bar

4.3

4.3 (17)

CAN$30 and under

Farm-to-table

Surrey

About the restaurant

Combine Cafe & Bar is a return to agricultural roots and a celebration of the ingredients and cultures that make this place unique. Here, hospitality weaves with community, inviting you to share the simple pleasure of honestly prepared food and drink.

Top review

Martha

Dined on May 11, 2025

Manager and server were really accommodating for my child and I . Didn’t know there was a complimentary drink for Mother’s Day. Very sweet Will be back again

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