Award-Winning Restaurant in Victoria Named Best in Canada

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Victoria’s Marilena Café and Raw Bar was recently named the Best New Restaurant in all of Canada.

Voted on by a panel of food critics, chefs, restaurateurs, discerning diners and industry insiders from across the country, Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants Magazine revealed its extensive compilation of top dining destinations for 2024 in May.

Judges evaluated restaurants based on the entire dining experience including service, décor, the depth of the cellar and food quality.

The menu at Marilena emphasizes seafood, a Japanese-inspired raw bar, cocktails and a 42-page wine program, with Executive Chef Kristian Eligh at the helm.

“…it’s culinary ambition that makes this place interesting. The goal was to give coastal Victoria the grand, modern seafood restaurant it’s theoretically entitled to,” reads the Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants Magazine review.

“Their combined menus are vast, but not at the expense of detail… Service is slick and the wine cellar as ambitious as the rest of the program.”

You may recognize the names of a few of the other restaurants the team behind Marilena has launched. Blue Water Cafe, Elisa, CinCin, Whistler’s Araxi, Il Caminetto and Bar Oso, as well as New York City’s Oceans and Carlotto. Toptable Group does not disappoint with this addition to their portfolio that opened last year.

Hometown Chef

An avid free diver and fisherman, Eligh returns to his hometown with a menu that draws inspiration from memorable West Coast cuisine with an emphasis on local and globally sourced seafood.

Prior to Marilena, he held positions in world-renowned Michelin-star restaurants like Jean George in New York City, The French Laundry in Napa and Blackbird in Chicago. Most recently, Eligh spent six years as Culinary Director for Vancouver-based Hawksworth Restaurant Group, leading the Nightingale and Hawksworth teams respectively, achieving accolades such as Vancouver Magazine’s Chef of the Year in 2011 and 2012.

According to the Marilena website, inspired by local offerings, Eligh’s approachable dishes celebrate global flavours accented by seasonal ingredients, creating an unforgettable dining experience for guests.

“Chef Kristian looks forward to delivering a hospitality experience that speaks to the Victoria community and to be able to contribute to the growing dining scene on Vancouver Island.”

The Experience

The restaurant was also ranked number 27 for Canada’s best restaurants on Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants List, making it the only Victoria restaurant to make the list.

Marilena features local and global seafood paired with high-quality sustainable ingredients that adhere to the highest standards. Guests can choose from a selection of nigiri, sashimi and sushi rolls at the impressive Japanese raw bar.

Marilena’s expansive wine list celebrates far-reaching varietals from notable regions while also honouring the Island’s premier wineries.

The 27-page collection of premium vodka, gin, tequila, mezcal, rum, whiskey, brandy, cognac and aperitifs was meticulously curated by mixologist Jayce Kadyschuk.

The next time you are looking for a date night spot or want to treat a visiting friend to the best Vancouver Island has to offer, consider making a reservation at Marilena Café and Raw Bar.

Learn more at
marilenacafe.com.

Top 10 Best Restaurants in Canada:

1. Marliena Cafe and Raw Bar

2. Casa Paco (Toronto, ON)

3. Sushi Yugen (Toronto, ON)

4. Bar Prima (Toronto, ON)

5. Sabayon (Montreal, QC)

6. Casavant (Montreal, QC)

7. Espace Old Mill (Stanbridge, QC)

8. Buvette Daphnée (Ottawa, ON)

9. Parapluie (Montreal, QC)

10. Magari by Oca (Vancouver, BC)

Stacie Gaetz
Stacie Gaetzhttp://grandmag.ca
Stacie is the managing editor of GRAND. She runs on exploring new and exciting places and getting to the heart of people's stories. If you have a story she should know about, reach her at [email protected]