Best Casual Chain Restaurants 2011


Cactus Club Cafe

588 Burrard St.
604-682-0933
Cactusclubcafe.com

Under the careful hand of Rob Feenie and watchful eye of owner Richard Jaffray, Cactus Club’s genre-defining mix of high and low earned Gold again this year. “Somehow they please their chicken-wing-loving fan base while simultaneously nailing upscale dishes like citrus-spiked tuna tataki and Feenie’s beloved butternut squash ravioli,” one judge marvelled. Always-frenetic Hapa Izakaya (Silver) opened yet another location, thus achieving chain status. “It’s a chain that never feels like a chain,” said one judge—high praise in this category. Rival Guu, another non-chain-feeling chain, scored Bronze, while chef Chris Mills’s confident cooking at Joey and “the smoky allure” of Memphis Blues both warranted Honourable Mentions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finalists for Best Casual Chain Restaurants 2011

Hapa Izakaya
1479 Robson St.
604-689-4272
Hapaizakaya.com

Guu
838 Thurlow St.
604-685-8817
Guu-izakaya.com

Joey Restaurants
507 Burrard St.
604-915-5639
Joeyrestaurants.com

Memphis Blues
1342 Commercial Dr.
604-215-2599
Memphisbluesbbq.com

 
Return to all Restaurant Awards 2011 results