10.) Mak N Ming (Vancouver)
Being honest, I have no idea when I would go back to Vancouver. However, if I were to, or if I were to know someone who was who was hunting for recommendations, I would definitely toss out Mak N Ming, which is not possible anymore. It was a husband and wife co-chef spot that served an Asian Fusion (in the best form of that term) 7-course tasting menu. Nothing was groundbreaking, but for the pricepoint, you don't need ground breaking, you just need solidly great food, which Mak N Ming produced. They had a great ramen, an invetive dish called "dirt" (picture above), and some other great dishes with enough flavor and spice to know that these were authentic folks cooking it up. Sucks that it's gone, but great that it was there when I went.
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8.) The Petrol Station (Houston)
Part gourmet burger bar, part craft beer mecca, all buult into a small country house in a residential street halfway between Houston downtown and The Woodlands. The Petrol Station was a great spot. I once called it the best craft beer bar in America. Granted, that may not have been true, but it had probably the best food of any craft beer bar I've been to. The burgers were excellent. The place had some great beer options from all over the country, not necessarily just from Texas. It was a super dependable spot that I would go to when arriving into Houston in the evening on a project I did in late 2018. Petrol Station to my knowledge cclosed before Covid. Unsure why as it was always fairly busy. There are equally good spots in Houston (such as my beloved Hop Scholar Ale House), but this had that perfect combination of food and drink in a residential setting.
7.) Habitat Living Sound (Calgary)
Truly one of the best EDM clubs I've been to in North America. Perfect size, great crowd control, drinks weren't too expensive (like $8 for a mixed drink, which had a good enough amount of alcohol). Wasn't the hardest stuff in terms of music, but also wasn't that type of atmosphere. It was bright enough to see people, and the crowd was cool, young and carefree enough that it was better seeing people and making connections. The Calgary crowd that summer weekend was a perfect blend to make it a fun spot. Honestly, it should be higher, but given my age now I wonder if I would find the place as appealing today as I did four years ago. Still, from what I can tell there hasn't been a similar place to go for this type of fun in Calgary today.
6.) Janse & Co (Cape Town)
There are many fine restaurants in Cape Town remaining, and as I've shown from 2022 through 2023 (and soon to be 2024), the closing of Janse & Co hasn't stopped me from going back. But still, Janse & Co., was a pretty perfect set-up. Chose a 6/7/8 course list out of about 15-18 options, all super South African in spriit, produce and design. All came out with the precision and exactness of a five star tasting spot. Becuase it was - my favorite part was the random local South Africa fish they would pull in, thinks like Jacopever and what-not. Because there's still a wealth of other dining options in Cape Town it isn't higher up.
5.) Robin Square (Montreal)
I think I went here about five times. First was on a bachelor party, where we gorged down basically the entire menu over the course of two hours, including triple helpings of some dessert that we effectively called "The Momma." Not for no reason, the place was a super new Canadian style spot with Father adn Mother as chef, and kids as the front of house adn bartender. The food was great, particularly what I remember being some of the best pork belly preparations. Let's cut to the chase though, one of the reasons why I have a fond memory of this place was one waitress that weved me on a couple occassions - once the barchelor party and a second for work - who was truly one of the most beautiful people I'd ever seen. She also moonlighted as a DJ and was super chill. But honestly even if they didn't have this superstar waiting tables, this would be a long forgotten spot.
4.) Falling Rock Tap House (Denver)
Most of these places closed due to Covid. To some degree, Falling Rock was similar in that it was open the last time I went to Denver in January 2020, and closed by the time I went back in August 2021. However it closed due to some weird rent dispute with its landlord. If any place wouldn't close due to Covid, it was this one. It was stuffed at all times. It had about 30 beers on tap at all times, including a majority being Colorado local brews. Tons of stouts. Tons of great options. A great low-key vibe and decor, despite being placed a stone's throw from Coors Field. What's even worse is that there really is no similar place that has come up to replace it. Denver is a beer haven in the US, and its startling that there's no option that has come up to take the mantle from Falling Rock, which makes the loss of it even worse.
3.) Earth Bread & Brewery (Germantown)
I actually don't think I've written about this place previously, which is a shame. This is a weird spot in a suburb of Philly that I took a few ventures out to on the way to Parx casino a few times. Basically it was a spot in a charming, quiet little town that served its own craft beer, and flatbreads (pizza, basically). It was perfect. The waitresses were nice, good enough memories to basically remember me by the end of it. The flatbreads were amazing, and huge for the price. They were eco-conscious, being one of the first places I remember that gave you foil to wrap up any leftover slices. Covid was the death of Earth Bread & Brewery, sadly, and my aimless drives into random town PA will never be the same,.
2.) Reset (Cape Town)
To be honest, I don't know why I have this so high up given Cpae Town has a fairly similar EDM spot still open named Modular. But as each Saturday with tis lenghty lines attest - the Cape could use another EDM spot, and for that reason I rue the loss of the superior Reset. It had two levels, one with darker, harder musign downstairs and lighter but still authentically good music upstairs. Three bars. Great crowds. Good crowd control. It all added up to just a great spot. Reset was a great, great spot. I named it my 3rd favorite EDM spot recently and for good reason. What I really loved most was the combination of the two floors with separate vibes, boths o close to each other but differents worles to enjoy. And most places I go to with that type of set-up heavily favor one or the other. Here, they both got equal attention and care.
1.) Canis (Toronto)
Nothing will top losing this. I first when to Canis in 2019, when I had my flight back home after a week on site cancelled. It was a small place, seating about 24 people or so. A tasting menu joint with some incredible neat, tweezery, brillaint food but zero pretension. The staff were incredible. The food was divine, featuring inventive preparations on Canada based ingredients. I always loved the start with a hard taco and duck terrine done in the most playful way. The place was so well intentioned. Covid ruined it. I've tried to find alternatives in Toronto, but none truly come close, with both Canoe and Alo being more expensive and arguably not as good. Canis will long be in my memory.
