The annual list of best new restaurants in the country, according to Air Canada, is fast approaching, with two locations in Greater Victoria among the shortlist of finalists.
On Tuesday, Air Canada unveiled the names of the 31 finalists, which included Rabbit Rabbit, in Victoria – and Janevca, in Esquimalt.
They were among nine restaurants in B.C. that were selected as finalists, with the top 10 to be announced on Nov. 17.
Rabbit Rabbit, located at 658 Herald St. in downtown Victoria, specializes in locally-sourced ingredients and a changing menu depending on the season.
“Rabbit Rabbit is like a reward at the end of the day,” writes Air Canada. “Tucked into a heritage storefront, the room is a dream in maroon and puce, low light pooling across mosaic tile and the sweep of a bar.”
The airline, which has been making its “Best New Restaurants” list since 2002, praised not only Rabbit Rabbit’s food, but also its drinks.
“Owner Sydney Cooper’s wine list is a booklet of small producers bearing her own notes. She curates cocktails like a shimmering sangria, a blend of skin-contact wine, Japanese plum wine, and a splash of secrets,” writes Air Canada.
Meanwhile, the company says the food at Rabbit Rabbit takes its inspiration from a range of cultures.
“Find Filet-o-Fish bao on the afternoon menu, lasagna layered with gochujang bolognese and miso brown butter tomato sauce at night,” says Air Canada.
“Clever and whimsical, Rabbit Rabbit will leave you with the impression you’ve been out somewhere and into something.”
Esquimalt representation
Across the harbour, Janevca, located at 429 Lampson St. in Esquimalt, was also praised for its unique and tasty fusion of flavours.
“Fire defines chef Andrea Alridge’s cooking, her Filipino and Jamaican heritage voiced in family-style dishes,” says Air Canada.
“Charcoal-oil Castelvetrano olives and Hokkaido scallop crudo with pyanggang sauce lead to Haida Gwaii halibut.”
The company also highlighted the restaurant’s rich atmosphere, as it’s located in a former mansion built in 1906.
“Founder Lenny Moy restored the English Inn into a velvet-and-timber reverie, with antiques collected abroad: Savoy Hotel dishware, the Buckingham Palace gates from The Crown,” says Air Canada.
“The leaves of the dining room’s replica Japanese maple change seasonally. A Douglas fir from the grounds was milled into tables, now arranged to reconstruct its silhouette.”
Victoria is no stranger to being featured on Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants list.
In 2024, southwestern Indian restaurant Café Malabar – now located along Victoria’s Inner Harbour, was named one of the top 10 best new restaurants in the country.
The year before that, Marilena Café & Raw Bar in downtown Victoria was also featured on the top 10 list.
Air Canada says it uses a panel of food journalists, chefs, and “culinary storytellers” to nominate new restaurants, before a single anonymous food taster tries each of the eateries and selects the finalists.
Andrew Shibata, brand vice president at Air Canada, says the annual list is a celebration of Canada’s “diverse culinary scene.”
“Food connects us to our roots, our communities, and to one another,” he said in a statement.
“Year after year, we are proud to showcase the people and places shaping Canada’s culinary identity – inspiring Canadians to discover new destinations and create unforgettable trips around the country’s most exciting dining experiences,” said Shibata.
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