It's no surprise that a country as geographically diverse as Canada has always had a mind-boggling bounty of local ingredients to do wonders with -- but thanks to a booming restaurant movement (and immigrant population), there's never been a better time to dine out at the top spots from coast to coast.
So how do you narrow down what's worth spending your hard-earned money on? We've seen lots of lists on the best restaurants in Canada this year, but they've been missing one important category: where the chefs eat.
In our "Grilled" series over the past year, we asked about 20 top chefs from Canada and around the world (think Renee Redzepi, David Chang and Daniel Boulud) which Canadian restaurants they would recommend, and some of the results may surprise you.
Check out the chefs' favourites (in no particular order) and weigh in with your own picks in the comments below:
Toque: Montreal
Recommended By:Chef Rob Feenie of Cactus Club Cafe, chef David Lee of Nota Bene,chefs Connie DeSousa and John Jackson of Charcut and chef Daniel Boulud of Daniel
Charcut: Calgary
Recommended By:Chef Rob Feenie of Cactus Club Cafe and chef Chuck Hughes of Garde Manger
Rose and Sons: Toronto
Recommended By:Chefs Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi
Hopgoods Foodliner: Toronto
Recommended By:Chef Rene Redzepi of Noma and chef David Chang of Momofuku
Maison Publique: Montreal
Recommended By:Chef Rob Gentile of Buca and chefs Connie DeSousa and John Jackson of Charcut
Edulis: Toronto
Recommended By:Chef Carl Heinrich, Richmond Station
Cafe Boulud: Toronto
Recommended By:Chef Rene Redzepi, Noma
Cafe Boulud: Toronto
Recommended By:Chef Rene Redzepi, Noma
Grand Electric: Toronto
Recommended By:Chef David Chang, Momofuku
Grand Electric: Toronto
Recommended By:Chef David Chang, Momofuku
Joe Beef: Montreal
Recommended By: Chefs Connie DeSousa and John Jackson, Charcut
Au Pied de Cochon: Montreal
Recommended By:Chefs Frédéric Morin and David McMillan of Joe Beef, chefs Connie DeSousa and John Jackson of Charcut and chef Daniel Boulud of Daniel
Le Crocodile: Vancouver
Recommended By: Chef Rob Feenie, Cactus Club Cafe
Sushi Kaji: Toronto
Recommended By:Chef David Lee, Nota Bene
Big Crow: Toronto
Recommended By:Chef David Lee, Nota Bene
L'Express: Montreal
Recommended By:Chefs Frédéric Morin and David McMillan, Joe Beef
Canoe: Toronto
Recommended By:Chef Rob Feenie, Cactus Club Cafe
Tuck Shop: Montreal
Recommended By:Chefs Frédéric Morin and David McMillan, Joe Beef
Monkland Tavern: Montreal
Recommended By:Chefs Frédéric Morin and David McMillan, Joe Beef
Park: Montreal
Recommended By: Chefs Connie DeSousa and John Jackson, Charcut
Garde Manger: Montreal
Recommended By: Chefs Connie DeSousa and John Jackson, Charcut
Raymond's: St. John's
Recommended By:Chef Chuck Hughes, Garde Manger
Bar Isabel: Toronto
Recommended By:Chef Chuck Hughes, Garde Manger
Haisai: Singhampton, Ont.
Recommended By:Chef Michael Smith, "Chef Michael's Kitchen"
Actinolite: Toronto
Recommended By:Chef Chuck Hughes, Garde Manger
West: Vancouver
Recommended By:Chef Chuck Hughes, Garde Manger
Langdon Hall: Cambridge, Ont.
Recommended By:Chef Michael Smith, "Chef Michael's Kitchen"
Rouge: Calgary
Recommended By:Chef Lynn Crawford, Ruby Watchco
Acadia: Toronto
Recommended By:Chef Daniel Boulud, Daniel
Sooke Harbour House: Sooke, B.C.
Recommended By:Chef Michael Smith, "Chef Michael's Kitchen"
Cioppino's: Vancouver
Recommended By:Chef Rob Feenie, Cactus Club Cafe
Inn at Bay Fortune: Bay Fortune, P.E.I.
Recommended By:Chef Michael Smith, "Chef Michael's Kitchen
Ferreira Cafe: Montreal
Recommended By:Chef Daniel Boulud, Daniel
C Restaurant: Vancouver
Recommended By:Chef Lynn Crawford, Ruby Watchco
Lee: Toronto
Recommended By:Chef Daniel Boulud, Daniel