{"id":290802,"date":"2025-11-18T10:32:34","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T10:32:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/290802\/"},"modified":"2025-11-18T10:32:34","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T10:32:34","slug":"this-east-coast-spot-was-named-canadas-best-new-restaurant-for-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/290802\/","title":{"rendered":"This East Coast spot was named Canada’s best new restaurant for 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

A \u201cwaterfront gem\u201d in the heart of downtown Halifax has taken first place in Air Canada\u2019s Best New Restaurants<\/a> 2025 Top 10 list. Mystic<\/a>, led by chef Malcolm Campbell, opened its doors last September, blending the bounty of Nova Scotia\u2019s land and sea with global influences.<\/p>\n

\u201cSignature dishes highlight sustainable, locally sourced ingredients and maritime-inspired flavours, marrying inventive technique with timeless tradition,\u201d according to Air Canada.<\/p>\n

Mystic offers two seven-course tasting menus \u2014 Fauna and Biota, $175 each \u2014 that spotlight seafood and shift with the seasons. Current offerings include Acadian caviar, lobster raviolo with Nova Scotia-grown saffron chanterelles, and Arctic char with sea asparagus and scallop. The restaurant is launching \u201cThe Short Form\u201d three-course menu on Dec. 1. \u201cWith just 12 seats per night, this intimate format distills the essence of the full experience into its purest form \u2014 a study in precision, restraint and seasonality,\u201d Mystic said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Chef Danny Smiles\u2019 Le Violon<\/a> in Montreal, which vaulted to international fame this summer as the epicentre of Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau<\/a> dating rumours, placed second for its \u201chyper-seasonal menu built on locally sourced ingredients, with artful plating and bold flavour combinations that reflect the province\u2019s rich gastronomic heritage.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of Toronto\u2019s Michelin-starred<\/a> restaurants, chef Eric Chong\u2019s aKin<\/a>, rounded out the top three. Chong\u2019s 10-course tasting menu explores Asian flavours and \u201c(pushes) the boundaries of modern Canadian dining,\u201d according to Air Canada. This season\u2019s menu, which costs $225, reimagines the street food of Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, China, Vietnam and Singapore with dishes such as karaage with caviar, tom yum with Hokkaido uni and Hainan chicken rice.<\/p>\n

The selection process for Air Canada\u2019s Best New Restaurants 2025 started with a panel of 39 culinary experts, including Nuit Regular<\/a>, chef and co-owner of six Toronto restaurants, Calgary-based food writer Dan Clapson<\/a> and chef and educator Lori McCarthy<\/a>, who lives, forages and hunts in Witless Bay, Nfld.<\/p>\n

This year, the 31 finalists spanned 10 cities, including Winnipeg<\/a>, St. John\u2019s<\/a> and Burlington, Ont.<\/a>, as well as the usual suspects, namely Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. An anonymous culinary expert visited all 31, conducting \u201ca rigorous assessment of every aspect of the dining experience\u201d to arrive at the top 10.<\/p>\n

Four of the top 10 restaurants are in Vancouver, three are in Toronto, two are in Montreal and one is in Halifax.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis year\u2019s winners remind us of the bold creativity shaping the Canadian culinary scene today,\u201d Andy Shibata, vice president, brand at Air Canada, said in a statement. \u201cWhether it is the reinvention of Canadian classics or a chef pouring their heart into an omakase experience, each restaurant reflects its community in a different way. And together they show the incredible range of flavour and culture across the country. We are proud to shine a spotlight on their work and inspire more people to explore Canada through its food.\u201d<\/p>\n

Air Canada\u2019s Best New Restaurants 2025 \u2014 Top 10<\/p>\n

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