New Westminster restaurants took home awards from the 2017 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards.
Contemporary Mexican restaurant el Santo received Gold for Best Latin Restaurant, tying with Vancouver’s La Mezcaleria. Located on Columbia Street, el Santo strives to provide contemporary flavours created from fresh, local and substantial West Coast ingredients.
“We feel very privileged to receive this distinguished award and are absolutely thrilled to be recognized as one of Vancouver’s favourite Latin restaurants,” owner Alejandro Diaz said in a press release. “To have won this award with so many other amazing Latin restaurants in the city, especially being from New Westminster, is such an honour.”
A panel of 19 judges selected the Vancouver Magazine restaurant award winners, which celebrate the most creative menus, hottest new rooms and top chefs.
Diaz opened el Santo at 680 Columbia St. in December 2015 to showcase food from his homeland. In addition to an ever-changing menu filled with contemporary Mexican cuisine, it features more than 100 types of tequilas and mescals.
“El Santo’s hibiscus and jicama enchiladas and serious bar program kept our judges coming back time and again,” said Vancouver Magazine.
Two restaurants in River Market, both owned by chef Angus An, were also recognized at the wards ceremony on April 18.
In the Best Pan-Asian category, Freebird received a bronze and got “multiple slow claps for its Hainanese poached chicken and umami-rich dipping sauces.”
Longtail Kitchen picked up a silver in the Best Thai category, second only to An’s Maenam restaurant in Vancouver.
Fratelli, which has locations in Vancouver and New Westminster, picked up an honourable mention in the Best Bakery category.
Award-winning restaurant moves
The award-winning Freebird Chicken Shack is serving up an expanded menu in its new space in River Market.
Chef Angus An relocated the restaurant from a space in River Market to the space that was formerly home to Wally’s Burgers. The 800-square-foot counter-service eatery seats 24 in the newly renovated space that opened April 22.
The larger kitchen allows for an expanded menu, and An is adding fried and grilled items for eat-in or takeout orders, according to a press release.
