John Gilchrist's best new restaurants in Calgary this year

The drop in oil prices has not changed the way Calgarians feel about food. At least not yet.

"Smaller restaurants have done remarkably well because I think we become habituated to going out," saysrestaurant critic John Gilchrist. "It's what we do with our social time."

• John Gilchrist: Calgary's best Neighbour Day eats

"Maybe we don't have a bottle of wine, we have a glass," he added. "Maybe we don't go for the top entree, we go mid-range. But people are still going out and dining."

The Calgary Eyeopenerrestaurant reviewersayshe had a hard time narrowing down his top picks for restaurants that opened in 2015.

He couldn't decide on an overall winner,so there is a three-way tie for first place this year.

"They are my three equal favourites and are listed in alphabetical order," he says.

10)Las Canarias

Gilchrist says this place is "run by a couple of guys from the Canary Islands" hence the name, Las Canrias. He says thisSpanish style restaurant has a lovely atmosphere and excellent food in Royal Oak.

8888 Country Hills Blvd.N.W., 403-475-4165

9) NativeTongues Taqueria

This place does "nixtamalization" whichGilchrist describes as"hard-core taco making."They bring in dried corn from Mexico, soak it toremove the hull and grind the corn into flour to make their own tortillas. Gilchrist also likes that their bar focuses onmezcal.

23512 Ave.S.W., 403-263-9444

8) Cannibale

Gilchist sayschef Jarod Traxel whips up some of the best sandwiches in Calgary.

814 FirstAve.N.E., 403-515-0065

7) Ikemen Ramen Bar

Also a favourite amongst the crew of theCalgary Eyeopener at CBC Radio.

21710 St.N.W., 403-452-2148

6) Parc Bistro

The owners of theBonterra, Cibo and Scopa scooped up this restaurant, formerly Borgo, and renovated it to look just like a French bistro.

81816 Ave.S.W., 403-454-2700

5) Suzette Bistro

Crepes galore at thisnew Mission restaurant the brainchild of theteam behind Cassis Bistro, which was one ofGilchrist's top restaurants a few years ago.

2210 FourthSt.S.W., 403-802-0036

4) Food Truck PD3

"You're going to have to wait about five months for this one," saysGilchrist. Only openduringCanmore's highseason (the summer), this unique eatery serves both fast food and dining from aretired, double-decker BritishLeyland bus (the PD3). It'sparked in anempty lot onCanmore'sMain Street.

806 Main St., Canmore, 403-675-3663

T-1)Whitehall

Modern British food? Yes, it really does exist. And Gilchrist says thisnew restaurant in Bridgelandis knocking it out of the ballpark with dishes like torched and confit mackerel filletand bison leg cottage pie.

24 Fourth St.N.E., 587-349-9008

T-1) Pigeonhole

"Very eclectic menu. It's more small plates, sharing style ... Food is front and centre here," saysGilchrist.

• Calgary's Pigeonhole named best new restaurant in Canada by enRoute magazine

30617 Ave.S.W., 403-452-4694

T-1) Charbar

From the owners of Charcut, this Argentinianrestaurant dishes upultra dry-aged porterhouse andthree styles of chimichurriin the historic and newlyrenovated Simmons Building.

618 Confluence Way S.E., 403-452-3115